“Midnight in Europe” Tour
New album “Midnight in Europe”
A new live album “Midnight in Europe” by the ZZ Quartet is out now on CD and vinyl.
“This new outing by the ZZ Quartet, co-led by guitarist Ratko Zjaca and accordionist Simone Zanchini, finds the intrepid improvisers and virtuosos on their respective instruments stretching and exploring in a live setting.
Zjaca and Zanchini present an eclectic set of music that organically blends aspects of jazz, classical, folkloric, world music and rock, with just a touch of humor along the way from the fertile imaginations of these stellar improvisors.
They succeeded in grand fashion on these two unforgettable October nights in 2019 at the Milestone Jazz Club and the Bologna Jazz Festival. From structured forms to sublime ballads to free flowing conversations on the bandstand, the ZZ Quartet speaks in a myriad of tongues on Midnight in Europe.”
– Bill Milkowski
Bill Milkowski is a regular contributor to Downbeat, Jazziz and Guitar Player in the United States as well as Jazzthing in Germany. He is also the author of “JACO: The Extraordinary and Tragic Life of Jaco Pastorius” and co-author of “Here And Now: The Autobiography of Pat Martino” and author of a biography of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards.
Dave Liebman about this new live album: “Passionate… lyrical… one of a kind with virtuoso performance, this is music that should be heard by all music lovers.”
Steve Swallow about the new live album: “This recording reminds me how much fun a musical gathering can be. It’s good to recall that music, particularly improvised music, is rooted in dancing – the urge to shake that thing is universal, transcends all borders. We need music these days more than ever, and here’s just what the doctor ordered”.
European Discography Award for Artistic Creation in Jazz Music
Ratko received the European discography award for the artistic creation in jazz music from Nisville Jazz Festival Organization 2021.
Croatian Composer Society Award 2019
Ratko received the award for authorship and artistic creation in jazz music from the Croatian Composer Society.
World Accordion Ambassador Award 2019
Simone Zanchini received the award of World Accordion Ambassador from the city of Castelfidaro – Accordion City.
“Don’t Try This Anywhere” wins Orpheus Award 2016
The CD “Don’t Try This Anywhere” has won the Orpheus Award for 2016 – the best Italian production 2015 for jazz music.
New CD releases
Don’t Try This Anywhere
Out now – Simone Zanchini, Ratko Zjaca, Adam Nussbaum, John Patitucci and Stefano Bedetti, recorded in New York City.
Beyond The Lines (In + Out Records)
A new CD with original music from all members of the quartet is out now.
The Way We Talk (In + Out Records)
This CD is out now.
“On this outstanding album, Croatia’s Ratko Zjaca and Italy’s Simone Zanchini manifest a level of creative compatibility that can genuinely be described as phenomenal. And they receive impeccable support from Macedonia’s Martin Gjakonovski and America’s Adam Nussbaum.” – Mike Hennessey
