Alessio Menconi and Nigel Price have been collaborating both as members of a quartet and in duo since 2022.
As a duo, they play songs that include jazz standards, along with Brazilian, Italian, and international pop songs, rearranged to create intimate and poetic atmospheres and to offer a performance of musical virtuosity. At the Institute, the Duo will play songs such as ‘Up jumped spring’ by Freddie Hubbard, ‘Nuovo Cinema Paradiso – Love theme’ by Ennio Morricone, ‘Michelle’ by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and many more.
Alessio Menconi born in Genoa (Italy) won “Best Soloist” at Gran Prix du Jazz 1993 and “Best Italian Jazz Guitarist” at Eddie Lang award, the most important competitions for guitarists in Italy. He played in tour in more than 40 countries around the world, recording over 50 CDs with musicians such as Billy Cobham, Paolo Conte, Jimmy Cobb, Jeff Berlin, Toninho Horta, Aldo Romano, Shawnn Monteiro, Danny Gottlieb, Gary Husband, Enrico Rava, Daniel Humair, Stefano Bollani, Albert “tootie” Heath, and Paolo Fresu. In 2003, he was the only Italian musician who played in the CD ‘Voodoo crossing-a tribute to Jimi Hendrix’ with Robben Ford, Steve Lukather, Hiram Bullock, Larry Coryell and many others. Today, he teaches jazz guitar and ensemble at La Spezia and Genoa Conservatories. He gained the “Jazz Lighthouse” career award in 2009. In 2011, he was the only Italian guitarist to be included in CD compilations of world best jazz guitarist. In 2014, his CD ‘Sketches of Miles’ was included between 100 best jazz records of the year in the magazine ‘Jazz It’.
Nigel Price is one of the most highly regarded and in-demand guitarists on the UK jazz scene today. He spent three years with UK funk legends, the James Taylor Quartet, voted No.1 in the 2016, British Jazz Awards for “Best Guitarist”. He is also a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s, where he’s played around 600 times. His blend of flowing bebop lines and deep blues feeling has made him popular with jazz, blues, and funk audiences across the world. In addition to live performances, Price has released several critically acclaimed albums as a bandleader, including ‘Heads and Tales’ and ‘Wes Reimagined.’ He is known for his ability to seamlessly blend various jazz styles, including bebop, blues, and Latin, into his playing. He is considered one of the top jazz guitarists in the UK and continues to be a major force in the genre.