Marco Renzi, the permanent Director of the Italian Big Band, formed the group in 1993. The Italian Big Band members come from the most important State Conservatories of music and the group is formed in the classical arrangement of a jazz ensemble: five trumpets, five trombones, five saxophones, piano, guitar, double bass and drums. The repertoire is varied and at times unusual, drawing from composers of jazz, academic and pop background, such as Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Glenn Miller, Cole Porter, Count Basie, Tito Puente, Perez Prado, Chich Corea, Nino Tora, Carlo Trovajoli, Giovanni D’Anzi, Gorni Kramer, Carlo Alberto Rossi, Domenico Modugno, Bruno Martino, Lucio Battisti. All renowned and loved composers whose works are attentively selected and interpreted with care, using original arrangements and transcribing unedited scores to make masterful recordings.

Italian Big Band’s work, in effect, represents a delicate cultural operation whose principal objective is to reintroduce people to the big band tradition that is rich with masterpieces. Big band music isn’t fully appreciated in Italy though there are a few bands playing the music and, for the most part, these groups devote themselves to performing new pieces rather than reinterpreting fundamental classics. Because of the group’s singular composition (lack of strings and predominance of winds) the Italian Big Band listener enjoys the virtuosity of both soloist and ensemble, the improvisational ability, the interpretative versatility, the opportunity to listen to powerfully performed, high quality music. No group has ever put itself to the task of keeping Italian big band music alive – its unforgettable pieces and memorable composers.

All of the Italian Big Band members boast great technical expertise and experience in this musical genre, with a history of important orchestral and soloist activity. Since 1994, when the Italian Big Band was formed, they have performed in television transmissions like Seconda Serata on Raiuno, Domenica In…, Telethon, Uno Mattina, and Concerto with Renzo Arbore for Rai International. From October 1995 to June 1996 the band was resident guest on the radio program Che Domenica Ragazzi, broadcast each Sunday at 10:00am by Radiodue. It was the first big band to make two greatly successful tours in the United Arabian Emirates upon invitation by the Italian Embassy. From 1996 to 1998 the group was resident guest of the radio program Stasera a Via Asiago 10 broadcast by Radiodue and edited by Umberto Broccoli. The Italian Big Band has recorded three CD’s under the Fonè label (CD003, CD007, Top Audio Selection Vol. 2) and two other CD’s (one live) containing new pieces will be released soon.