Gianni Virone and Alessandro Chiappetta - Axes Duo (2026)

My collaboration with guitarist Alessandro Chiappetta has lasted for over twenty years, a long musical journey characterized by research, experimentation, and a deep artistic connection. Over the years, we have developed a common language that has allowed us to explore different styles and sounds, while always keeping alive the desire to innovate and reinvent ourselves.

Through numerous concerts, recordings, and shared projects, we have refined our musical dialogue, finding a unique balance between saxophone and guitar. This synergy has led us to reinterpret jazz standards in our own way, experimenting with new harmonic and improvisational solutions.

Our experience together is not only the result of musical understanding but also of a solid friendship, which has made every performance a moment of authentic and inspired exchange. This album represents an important milestone in our artistic journey, a tribute to the passion and creativity that have accompanied us for two decades.

The choice of such a diverse repertoire stemmed from the desire to explore different improvisational directions and to fully express the potential of our duo. The saxophone-guitar formation gives these pieces, commonly referred to as “standards,” a new, more dynamic, and chamber-like character. The absence of the traditional rhythm section with bass and drums has pushed us to find alternative solutions for the accompaniments, constantly testing ourselves in a delicate balance between our parts.

“Axes” expresses our constant musical equilibrium, the search for harmony between sound, dynamics, and improvisation.

Gianni Virone