Lorenzo Venza: the eg interview

News:
16-03-2008:
While essential guitar is off line, I've republished my interviews for essentialguitarist.com


Lorenzo Venza interviewed by Laurie Monk March 2006

Lorenzo Venza is an upcoming guitar player from Siena in Italy. He is one of the new breed of players who are incorporating many musical styles and influences into their playing, delivering exciting and vibrant new guitar driven music.

EG: I understand your first musical experiences were playing piano rather than guitar. Do you still play piano or keyboards or to help you write music?

Lorenzo Venza: I started studying piano from the age of five until the age of seven years old. Then I stopped, but I took up piano again when I started playing guitar. That was when I was about fourteen or fifteen years old. I did this because the piano affords a different harmonic approach than the guitar. Also I got different musical composition ideas from piano and it was different from a learning point of view.

I have never considered myself a pianist, even if I include a lot of pianists among my favourites players. Players like Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, the great Michel Camilo, Lenny Tristano, Joe Zawinul, particularly with Miles Davis and with Weather Report. Also Scott Kinsey; in the classical music world I like: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Vladimir Horowitz and all the repertory for this instrument from Mozart to Franz Liszt: I am especially grateful to my parents for inspirating me with classical music. They ensured that I lived in close contact with this kind of music since I was born!

EG: Thats really interesting, I have to agree with your musical choices! Lale Larsson got me into listening to piano music, I particularly like Keith Jarrett and Michael Camilo. Do you think guitar players would benefit from listening to more keyboard music or writing for or playing with a keyboard player?

Lorenzo Venza: Piano music gives me a real inspiration. I think that every guitarist should try to listen to piano players, there's a lot to learn about their comping or about their improvising concepts: For example the Michael Camilo trio is an unbelievable kind of jazz/latin-fusion,really brilliant and groovy.

EG: Along with restarting playing piano you said you started guitar at the age of 14. What made you want switch to playing guitar?

Lorenzo Venza: Playing guitar started like a game to me, as it does for a lot of people. The first year I played, I tuned my guitar in order to make some difficult chords more simple to play.

EG: Laughs...

Lorenzo Venza: At that time I loved rock, especially metal, from Guns n' Roses to Megadeth, but I also liked Pink Floyd's sound and I tried to play their songs by ear, like almost all guitar players do in their first approach: that let me develop a good ear.

EG: After you got some experience under your belt in Siena you attended the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. Why did you select that option?

Lorenzo Venza: As a matter of fact I only attended the Musicians Institute for a summer term. This was thanks to my teacher in Siena, who had studied there. He gave me the idea and he knew the addresses of the M.I's teachers. While there I really received a lot of incite into playing and to carry on and to grow musically: I've listened and seen more in that short period than in all my life, at least as guitar is concerned!

EG: That sounds as though it was a really good experience for you. I understand while at MI you had lessons with TJ Helmerich and Brett Garsed. I was talking with Magnus Olsson about his experiences at MI and he said that he gained some interesting rhythm concepts from TJ and Bretts' sense of melody. Did meeting them change your musicality in anyway?

Lorenzo Venza: When I went to MI I was 19 and I already knew most parts of their style. Again this was thanks to my teacher.

EG: Who was you teacher in Siena?

Lorenzo Venza: His name is Michele Gammarota, he is studing medicine now , but he is very good guitar player with many original musical ideas.

EG: Ok, So you knew Brett and TJ's styles pretty well?

Lorenzo Venza: Yes, I could say that both of them are innovative and extremely melodic musicians, who have really influenced my playing: especially I consider Brett Garsed the most up to date fusion guitar player, like a sort of evolution of Larry Carlton, at ease with every kind of sound, a real maestro, with a most unique style you could conceive.

EG: I noticed you use a lot of hybrid picking, was that one of the styles you had before meeting Brett Garsed in MI?

Lorenzo Venza: Yes, I started to use the Hybrid-picking after I saw Shawn Lane in one of his videos: I realized it offered rhythmic sounds and different timbres, allowing me to use the legato technique without the risk of a waving time and to keep the rhythm well defined and solid. Afterwards, when I discovered Brett Garsed or Greg Howe's technique, I saw the further possibilities that this technique offered and I applied myself to improve, as still I do, even now!

I've also analysed Hybrid or chicken pickin's technique in others musicians like Albert Lee, Danny Gatton, Jerry Donahue and Michael Lee Firkins. He is a fantastic player and does not get the adulation that he deserves as a musician, in my opinion.

EG: I have had the good fortune to see Micheal Lee Firkins live, an amazing player. I also got to see Jerry Donahue of the Telecasters fame recently, he was amazing particularly his behind the nut bends. Have you added any country techniques like that, or the banjo roll Micheal Lee Firkins uses, to your playing?

Lorenzo Venza: Maybe in the future I'll begin to study some of these techniques, but not know as I use my

hand's finger just to play my stuff, with no country influence...

EG: Back to you time at MI, did you pick up anything from TJ's eight finger technique?

Lorenzo Venza: Yes, most of his linear and chromatic ideas inspire me and I think that this is quite clear in my technique! Also his way of using bending. In the past I deeply studied that technique, but I realized that if I continued I would have nothing different to say from what TJ has already done, so I gave up, before becoming a useless clone!

EG: Laughs...When you returned to Siena to undertake some Jazz training, I understand you transferred to Rome to complete your studies. How did this experience extend your musical knowledge?

Lorenzo Venza: In Siena, I attended Siena Jazz seminars, where I learnt very much about jazz structures and that kind of concept of improvisation. Afterwards, when I moved to Rome, in 2000, I first studied at U. M., the Università della Musica and then at Percentomusica, the school where I graduated in 2004 and this was where I studied with such great Italian musicians as Umberto Fiorentino, Fabio Zeppetella, Stefano Micarelli, Massimo Fedeli, Maurizio Lazzaro and many others. There I really professionally grew and filled the gap I had in the beginning of my career.

EG: As well as the Italian musicians you mentioned, you also say you studied with players like Frank Gambale, Eddy Palermo, William Stravato and Joe Diorio. What techniques or attitudes to playing did you get from meeting these great players?

Lorenzo Venza: I attended seminars taken by these great guitar players and I tried to learn something from each of them. Something about musicality and technique. Seeing musicians like Joe Diorio or Eddie Palermo from close up is really exciting. It makes you understand how these players make music appear effortless.

I saw William Stravato in a number of different music seminars and I found him absolutely great! It's almost necessary to see him live, to understand how clever he is, even more than on his studio recordings. Also, I think William Stravato continually grows with his music and certainly he is producing better and better things.

EG: I have been listening to a number of your tracks. You incorporated a real funk sound to your playing. Which funk players have influenced you and can you recommend artists that other guitarists may benefit from listening to?

Lorenzo Venza: Oh, yes I deeply love funk! I could say that, besides great guitar players like Greg Howe or Nuno Bettencourt, It is important to remember great bands and musicians from the past to the current day, bands such as Parliament, Funkadelic, Maceo Parker, all the Motown school, up to Tower of Power, Dave Matthews Band and Ani di Franco.

EG: I'll have to dig some funk out. Along with you, Italy is really on fire at the moment with really great players and young talents Alex Masi, Nico Stufano, Alex Stornello, William Stravato, Salavtore Russo, Willam Dotto, Alessandro Benvenutti, Fabrizio Leo Bicio, Filippe De Vecchi to name but a few. Have you worked with any of these players and what do think is making Italy stand out as one of the great guitar countries right now?

Lorenzo Venza: I've known many of them, especially by using the Internet. Actually, I agree, it seems that in Italy there are better and better guitar players! For example, I think that the way "Sonic Design" by Alessandro Benvenuti is played is really amazing. I also like it because of his brilliant and pleasant compositions: he was at the recent Ritchie Kotzen gig, that I opened with my band LSD; he told me he really appreciated our show and it was a great honour for me.

EG: That's a really great story. Alessandro has a great sound to.

Lorenzo Venza: Thanks... Fabrizio Leo too is a real freak of nature as it's quite clear if you listen to his music: I think the fact that he signed for Shrapnel is really great.

EG: Yes, he's got great pop sensibilities as well as very smooth arpeggio work. Definitely one to watch for.

Lorenzo Venza: Another musician I think I should name is, surely, Leonardo Porcheddu,

EG: Is that the guy who has played with Mistheria?.

Lorenzo Venza: Yes and he has played in a band with me "Beyond Abstract", a complete guitar player, powerful and with a high technical level; then Daniele Gottardo, another friend of mine I hope to work with again in the future, a very particular musician with a fantastic control of his instrument;

EG: Yes I really liked the work that I have heard from Daniele Gottardo (Gottyboy) and William Dotto. Are there any others you would recommend?

Lorenzo Venza: Emanuele Perilli from Radio Vipers ( I hope he will manage to record something of his own, I think it would be great); Antonello Sassone, he is a crazy genious!; Luigi Rinaldi and Dario Orlando,two old friend of mine and remarkable players I collaborate with; and last but not least, Giacomo Paradiso, from EGO (http://www.essentialgenreobsession.com), my pupil and friend. He will certainly make a fantastic progressive metal record in the near future. I've surely forgotten someone, there are so many good musicians!

EG: Yes, I would not blame you for missing someone out, there are so many great Italian players for fans of guitar to hear. Moving on, I have heard your playing on "4.15 Bradford executive" with keyboard wizard, Alex Argento. I know your a big fan of Allan Holdsworth. I have seen Allan a number of times live, where I was blown away with his playing, almost too intense. What do you think is special about Allan?

Lorenzo Venza: Well, Allan's an extraordinary musician, unique, one of a kind, and maybe it was fortunate for a lot of people that he didn't achieve great success in the 70's, as he is doing today, because I think there wouldn't been enough space for a lot of other guitar people!

EG: Laughs...

Lorenzo Venza: I've seen him live two or three times and it's always been a great pleasure and very emotional: words can't describe what I think about his playing. I've been listening to his music from such a long time and I think he's a living miracle!... Stop!

EG: Laughs...as well as Alex Argento, you have been playing with keyboard wizard Lorenzo Antonelli. Are you naturally drawn to playing with great keyboard players?

Lorenzo Venza: Yes, as I said, I love piano and keyboards and it's a real pleasure to play with good performers with these instruments. Alex Argento is a clever and absolutely original musician, he can translate on keyboard the same groove as Greg Howe or Pat Metheny do with guitar. His next solo album is nearing release and I think it will be a big hit with American music fans.

Also, the "Beyond Abstact" and "Utopia's" keyboard player (http://www.utopiaweb.net), is a very clever guy who's playing justs gets better and better. I'm collaborating with him for a instrumental project and results are very interesting.

EG: Those projects sound really interesting. I look forward to hearing both of them! Moving on, you mentioned earlier you have been influenced by late Shawn Lane?

Lorenzo Venza: Certainly Shawn has influenced my own way of playing. I think there are definite overlaps of his style and mine, especially concerning composition. Most of all for his way of playing in a trio, live, with a sound that allows you to play both harmonically and in solo parts in a off-hand manner. He was a sublime guitar player, I don't think a lot of people will be able to play in that way: his short passage on this planet has left us a clear sign of his remarkable genius.

EG: Yes, a tragic loss to the guitar and music world. On the lighter side, you were recently featured in a truthinshredding guitar players poll with amongst others Ed Degenaro. I know that the voting got quite hectic at one point, were you aware of the interest in this poll?

Lorenzo Venza: Laughs...of course! I've followed it with curiosity! I nearly became deeply moved by it, it's a pity the poll ended.

EG: Laughs...thats only because you were catching up! Are there any albums you would recommend guitar players and fans to listen expand their their musical horizons?

Lorenzo Venza: I think a guitar player should listen to records where there's not only guitar! It' very important. We don't have to dwell on only one kind of music, it takes more to become versatile. We are what we eat! I think to have good improvisation techniques you have to look back and listen to Charlie Parker's jazz, especially live, listen to "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis, his work in the quintet with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Also the John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins' soloist experiences; you have to listen to the roots of jazz-rock, of the Seventies, to realize how much it's still alive in present day fusion: John McLaughlin or Jeff Beck's records, but also "Soft-Machine", or "Return to Forever" up until the up-to-date Tribal Tech with the fantastic Scott Henderson.

As concerns guitar records, I don't need to make any suggestion, every guitar player has its own favourite, every guitar player has made at least one or two good works, so, just keep listening!

EG: Cool, some interesting tips for music fans. You seem to have been involved with a number of bands recently, "Beyond Abstract" and "LSD". Can you let us into what your current recording plans are for these bands and if you have any plans for a solo release?

Lorenzo Venza: As mentioned earlier "Beyond Abstract" was born from a project of mine with Leonardo Porcheddu. Now we are currently in a musical hiatus, so I don't know what will happen in the future. We played live a lot and produced some good jazz/rock.

With LSD I'm going to make a record, as a matter of fact we already have some pieces and we want to test them live and we're looking for a production, deal, at least for distribution. I consider this band as my real solo project. I play with two marvellous musicians, Santi Romano and Danielle Natrella, I couldn't ask for more.

Although I like to consider LSD as a solo project, I really love playing in it because of the band context and I know that in this case the interaction among musicians is mentally very different from playing as a support for a solo musician, as I guess it was for Scott Henderson with Tribal Tech.

EG: It sounds like your really enjoying playing with LSD. With regard to your playing what are the current guitars and effects rig you are using right now?

Lorenzo Venza: For my main instrument, I mostly use my Fender Mexico, modified by the lute-maker Carmine De Jaco. I also use an Epiphone Sheraton, especially for jazz. Then I simply have a rack with a T.C. Electronics m-one, a JMP- 1 Marshall and a Brunetti finale with a Brunetti 2X12 speaker. In the studio I always use my old combo 8080 valvestate that makes my sound.

EG: What do you currently use for recording?

Lorenzo Venza: I've nothing so complicated for home recording, I simply use a pre-amplified mixer Fostex, an audio schedule Terratec and as software Cakewalk, Sonar or Cubase. I will certainly use a recording studio for my record.

EG: A lot of interest in guitar playing has been sparked by the ability to make DVD and video available cheaply. Do you plan to record or release and video footage for commercial release?

Lorenzo Venza: Some time ago a friend of mine, Riccardo Solimena, from www.musicistiweb.com, asked me to make a guitar tuition DVD: the reason why I haven't done it yet is only the lack of time to find a good and useful lessons. As teaching is one of my main activities I think I need to make it as good as I can, also from a quality video's point of view.

EG: I will look out for your DVD when it arrives. Lorenzo, that's been really great interview. I am really looking forward to hearing some more music from you in the future, which I am sure we'll cover at "Essential Guitarist". Thanks so much for taking the time out to talk to us, it has been great talking to you.

Lorenzo Venza: Thank you and thanks to Essential Guitarist, it's been a pleasure. Keep on playing!