Massimo “Max” Paparella, classe 1975, pianista, arrangiatore e compositore iscritto SIAE con una passione particolare per l’Organo Hammond e gli strumenti vintage. Da oltre 15 anni nel settore dalla musica, ha stretto numerose collaborazioni in ambito live ed in studio di registrazione come strumentista, compositore e arrangiatore. La sua carriera musicale inizia con il rock progressive (1993 - 1996) passando ad approfondire gli studi nell’ambito del jazz e blues (1997 - 2001). Dopo varie esperienze in gruppi jazz e fusion si dedica completamente all’attività di compositore, arrangiatore musicale e assistente fonico presso l’ MJA Recording Studio di Bologna di cui fu socio e fondatore (1999 - 2004). In questo periodo collabora inoltre con alcuni DJ di Latte&Miele e di Tam Tam Network per la realizzazione di produzioni nell’ambito della musica Dance e House. Terminata l’esperienza con lo studio MJA ha continuato l’attività di arrangiatore, perfezionando gli studi in teoria musicale e composizione oltre a quelli pianistici in ambito blues e jazz. La sua formazione musicale è stata influenzata inizialmente dai Beatles; successivamente la passione per il jazz lo ha portato ad ascoltare Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea e i Weather Report dando una svolta decisiva riguardo l’indirizzo dei suoi studi futuri. In seguito ha scoperto che la sua vera natura era decisamente più funk. Il suo stile infatti si ispira molto alla musica di Tom Scott and L.A.Express, Brian Auger, James Brown, Rufus Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, James Taylor Quartet, Incognito e Jamiroquai. Dal 2006 continua a svolgere l’attività di arrangiatore, musicista e sound engineer in studio, in collaborazione con il chitarrista/producer Simone Stefanini, con il quale realizza songwriting - mixing - mastering per etichette discografiche ed artisti. Dal 2007 ha iniziato numerose collaborazioni; con Luca "Tornado" Testoni (chitarrista "Skiantos") per la realizzazione di colonne sonore televisive per RTI S.p.A. (Gruppo Mediaset),con il DJ/Producer Luca Asta in produzioni house/minimal (progetto "Shattered") per l’etichetta Synestesya - Asta Records , con l’etichetta americana Selekta Recordings nell’ambito di produzioni house. Dal 2008 sta lavorando ad un progetto personale nell’ambito della musica funk che ha coinvolto altri musicisti di grande valore. La nascita della MGP Band (alias Max & The Groove Project), lo ha portato alla realizzazione del suo primo album solista dal titolo “Stack ‘em high” (Hammondbeat, USA, 2008). Il disco vede anche la partecipazione di un’ artista d’eccezione oltre che amico, Paolo “Apollo” Negri (organista/tastierista Link Quartet). Ultima ma non meno importante, ha stretto una collaborazione con l’etichetta IRMA Records per il progetto lounge "PeepStyle".

Dall'inizio 2009 è nuovamente in studio per la realizzazione di nuovi album, con la cantante jazz Melissa Stott per il loro progetto lounge/bossa "Cool Finn" e con altri collaboratori per l'uscita di "Peepstyle Vol.2" (IRMA Records). Dall' estate 2009 ha ripreso a stringere nuove collaborazioni in ambito live, in particolare con la cantautrice Erika Biavati e con la cantante Sophia Karim Lawani in qualità di organista hammond. Ha partecipato alla 22° edizione del "Porretta Soul Festival" con la "Sophia Karim Lawani Band".

Massimo "Max" Paparella, born in 1975, pianist, arranger and SIAE-registered composer with a special passion for Hammond organ and vintage instruments. He has over fifthteen years' experience in the music field, both as a live and studio musician. He began playing progressive rock (1993 - 1996), before focusing his studies on jazz and blues (1997 - 2001), playing in different groups. Between 1999 and 2004 he ran a recording studio in Bologna, Italy (MJA Recording Studio) with two associates, working mainly as a composer, arranger and later as sound assistant. During the same period he worked with DJs from the national and local radio stations Latte&Miele and Tam Tam Network on various dance and house music productions. Following his experience with Studio MJA, he continued working as an arranger and freelance sound engineer, as well as furthering his studies in jazz piano. His musical education was initially influenced by the Beatles. Later his passion for jazz led him to discover Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Weather Report, bringing about a decisive change in the course of his future studies. Since his initial pure jazz beginnings, he has been influenced by the funk music of Tom Scott and L.A.Express, James Brown, Rufus Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Earth Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, as well as the more recent sounds of the James Taylor Quartet, Incognito and Jamiroquai. He is currently working on a personal blues-soul-funk project MGP Band (alias Max & The Groove Project), in addition to his work as an arranger, sound engineer and studio instrumentalist. In 2008 he has realized his first solo album “Stack ‘em high” (Hammondbeat, USA, 2008). The making of the album saw the participation of a number of superb musicians and friends, including Paolo "Apollo" Negri (Link Quartet) considered one of the finest Hammond organ players in the world. His latest collaborations are with Luca "Tornado" Testoni (guitarist of "Skiantos") on film and television music for RTI S.p.A. (Mediaset Group), with the Dj/Producer Luca Asta for house music productions ("Shattered Project") with the label Synestesya - Asta Records and the label IRMA Records for lounge music productions ("PeepStyle Project").

Currently he is working on several albums in studio with the jazz singer Melissa Stott for their lounge/bossa project called "Cool Finn" and with others collaborators for "Peepstyle Vol.2" (IRMA Records). From the Summer 2009 he has also reprise with his activity of live musician in different musical situations like the singers Erika Biavati and Sophia Karim Lawani. He has also played at the 22th edition of "Porretta Soul Festival" with the "Sophia Karim Lawani Band".

PAST PRODUCTIONS & COLLABORATIONS:

2000 : CD Album "MOTORE SENZA LIMITI" (Arranged and played keyboards, piano and hammond organ on all 6 tracks. Songs and lyrics composed by Gabriele Orsi, guitar and Ricky Randellini, voice)

2002 : CD Single "RESCUE" (GAMEBOX Project - Aky Records, ITA) Printed also on Tam Tam Compilation Autumn 2002

2003 : CD Album "COSE PREZIOSE" (Arranged and played keyboards, piano and hammond organ on all 8 tracks. Songs composed by Massimo Paparella, Gabriele Orsi, guitar. Lyrics by Max Finelli, voice)

2004 : CD Album "THE SOUNDS OF FREEDOM" of Paola Granati (Arranged and played keyboards, piano and hammond organ on all 10 tracks. Songs and lyrics composed by Paola Granati, voice)

RECENT PRODUCTIONS & COLLABORATIONS:

2007 : "A Bigger Tomorrow" 2 CD (Paolo "Apollo" Negri - Label : Hammondbeat Records, USA)




2007 : "Max Paparella - Groove Project Vol.1" digital CD (Max Paparella, remix by DLo and Dj Mourad - Label : Selekta Recordings, USA)


2008 : "How many times" digital CD (remix by Max Paparella - Label : Selekta Recordings, USA)



2008 : "Muesli" CD (Tony Fine & Donuts - Label : Soulville Rec., ITA)



2008 : "Stack 'em high" digital CD (Max Paparella feat.Paolo "Apollo" Negri - Label : Hammondbeat Records, USA)

Paolo “Apollo” Negri is a kind of Italian James Taylor. With his band “Link Quartet” and as a solo artist he has already published various records with the Hammondbeat. And it is now the turn of Max Paparella to make his Hammondbeat debut with the album “Stack ‘Em High”, where Negri plays as guest musician. Max Paparella lives in Bologna, where he ran a recording studio for several years. As well as jazz music, Paparella also produces music for film and TV. “Stack ‘Em High” sounds without exception like a “modern” production. Throughout the record, where it makes sense, Paparella uses vintage instruments (Yamaha C3, Hammond C3, Fender Rhodes MK1 and MK2, Hohner D6, Wurlitzer or Moog) and combines these with computer drum and bass programmings. And it works very well. For my taste, Paparella goes a little too far in his use of the computer-produced woodwind sounds, which spoils the wonderfully warm, valvular sound of the vintage keyboards somewhat. What we hear on “Stack ‘Em High” is anything but the classic acid jazz Hammond instrumental sound, which groups like the James Taylor Quartet have been producing for twenty years. Instead Paparella seeks to wrap a Hammond/Rhodes/Moog jazz up into a very modern “lounge” production. Mostly it is reminiscent of the 1990 JTQ album “Do Your Own Thing”, where Taylor chose a similar path. “Stack ‘Em High” shows us, in times when experts struggle to distinguish whether the Hammond B3 is truly standing in the studio or whether it is a virtual plug-in, that modern and classical production methods can complement each other perfectly. To those who are currently swimming on the retro fashion wave of recording everything in analogue, on 24-track tapes with valvular microphones, let it be said: just as there is only good or bad music, there are only good or bad productions – regardless of the technique used. When all that we hear on an album is a lot of hissing, and the high frequencies are missing, the record has no soul, it just sounds shit. “Stack ‘Em High” is impressive, both musically and in terms of production, and shows us that time (thankfully) is moving on, and that things can – or rather must – change.

Thomas Berghaus (from “uptown strut” magazine, n°2 Autumn/Winter 2008)

2009 : "PeepStyle Vol.1" digital CD (PeepStyle alias Max Paparella - Label : One Eyed Fish, ITA)

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