MARCO IACOBINI (2014)

Please let me introduce a wonderful player from Italy. Marco Iacobini is currently one of the most exciting players out there in Europe. He's got monster chops, great sense of melody and strong songwriting ability. What else do we wish for?

1. Your new album is a great mixture of hard rock, funk and jazz fusion. What was your main goal, your initial vision when you started working on this record?

My first target, when I work on the new stuff, is always to write only good music. I spend a lot of time to write and arrange all parts of every songs. I'm not interested to follow an only one musical direction. I try to make all my best. I have a very personal approach to my music.

When I work on the first step of a new work, on the composition, I don't know if my album will go in the fusion style direction, or rock direction or jazz. I think that my musical vision is the crossing of all these musical styles.

2. Only a handful of players could successfully melt the above mentioned styles. Is it difficult for you or does it come from you naturally?

For me to try to melt all these styles is natural. It's my musical vision. I was raised with a lot of different musical influences: Classical music, Jazz, Fusion, Rock. So,  for me, is enough natural to write music full of elements coming from different musical styles.

3. As I listen to the record, mostly American players come to mind such as Andy Timmons and Neil Zaza. The calm and peaceful vibe of the guitar is similar to them. Do you feel the musical relationship with them?

I love both, Andy and Neil. Their music is one of my greatest musical influence. I appreciate the music of Neil from 20 years, he's a good player and fantastic composer. I'm very happy that him is endorser Carvin and I think that he deserve all his success. I have a great estimate for Andy, one of my favorite guitarists ever. His music is fantastic and he's a very versatile musician. I've seen him live in a lot of different situation, with his band, with Protocol, the project of Simon Phillips. He's always a super musician and a cool guy. I think that the most important thing that we have in common is surely the melodic phrasing. 

4. How could you describe your own playing style?

I don't know. I was raised listening a lot of different fantastic guitarists like: Steve Lukather, Eddie Van Halen, Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and many more. Surely my style has been influenced by their music. I think that a lot of elements coming from the music of each these players has influenced, in the prominent way, my guitar style. My favorite guitar player is Steve Lukather. I love his sound, his phrasing. But I have a different style from him, I have my personal style. But Luke is the King. ;-) 

5. How did you work out the solos for the songs? I feel serious theory behind them...

Yes, for me, the solo is one of the most important part of the composition. I write instrumental music, so, the solo is the apex, the highest point of the song and at the emotional level must communicate these kind of impact. In every song, fast, fusion or ballad.

6. You gathered an incredible guest line up for that particular record, Thomas Lang, Dave Weckl, 

Tony Levin, Mike Terrana, Carl Verheyen, Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan and so many others were on board. Please tell us the stories behind their guest appearances!

About Tony Levin. The first time that I met Tony Levin was in 2006. I had the great pleasure to play as opening act at the first gig of the European tour for his Band. Was a great gig !!!! After, I asked for him to play on my album and Tony has been willing to play. He has recorded two songs here in Italy, one with bass and one with stick. He's a fantastic player and very kind man.

About Stu Hamm, I contacted Stu by email and he was immediately interested to play on my new album. He was here in Roma and he has recorded his bass on a lot of songs. The second time that he was here, he introduced me to Joel Taylor, Incredible drummer. One of my favorite drummer ever.

Mike Terrana is a great friend. I met Mike here in Roma during his clinic and I asked for him to play some tracks. He was immediately willing to play and after few weeks, he was in studio for the recording sessions. Fantastic drummer. We have played live together in december here in Italy.

Incredible sound. I'm sure that we will play again togheter live very soon.

Carl Verheyen is one of my mentors. I love his guitar style, his phrasing, his sound. I met Carl, few years ago in Rome, during his gig and after at NAMM show. He's a very kind person and incredible musician. We will work togheter again in the future.

About Billy Sheehan, I know him by his wife Elizabeth. She introduced me to Billy and he was interested to record one track on my new album.I would like to thank both Billy and Elizabeth for this great chance.

Dave Weckl is a good friend of my executive producer Francesco Desmaele. Dave has recorded on two tracks. Amazing drumming, great sound and fantastic playing. Dave is a great artist.

The first time I met Thomas Lang was when my friend Francesco Desmaele, a great photographer, told me that he was going to the U.S. to take some photo shots for Thomas. Muso is the label record owned by Thomas. At the beginning, I didn’t have an idea if Thomas was interested but after, he gave me a chance to sign a contract with his company. During the NAMM show of 2013, I met Thomas with his wife Elizabeth and I can say only that they are great persons and I would like to thank them for the incredible promotion of my new album. To work with them is fantastic.

7. Which songs like the most on the record?

I don't have favorite songs on my album. It’s very hard to say what song is my favorite. I love all songs in the same way. But the first song "The Great Rush" was great fun to record and maybe the song closer to my heart is the second song "Where The Angels Come Down " because this song is dedicated to my Grandmother, who passed away 5 years ago.

8. All the songs were written by yourself except 18F, which is Stu Hamm's composition. How did it end up on the album?

Stu has written this song and at the beginning, he was interested to propose this track to some his musicians friends in L.A. When he was in Rome, for the recording session of my new album, he asked me if I could be interested to play this song togheter in the studio. After the recording, during the listening, he asked me if i could be interested to put the song in my new album and I told him, yes, surely. 18F is the seat number that Stu reserves always on intercontinental flights.

9. You are endorsed by Carvin guitars. Please introduce your main instruments to us!

About my Carvin guitar, in May 2008, Carvin gave me the chance to build my custom electric guitar on my specs. My signature model. It was a great honor and pleasure for me to be an endorser of a great company like Carvin. With great support of Joel Kiesel and Alan Colquitt, I received the first prototype the first week of May 2008, after three months of hard work about designing and building. The guitar is a bolt-on plus, custom model, to my specs. The body is consists of two parts of wonderful swamp ash from Southern California with a quilted maple top, attached to a Hard Rock quarter sawn maple neck and bird’s eye maple fretboard. The electronics have been designed by Carvin, pick-up configuration H, S, H. Floyd Rose, with locking nut and sperzel tuners. Headstock reverse. Black hardware.
I was very happy and proud to play my custom guitar on my new album. The sound is cool, amazing, great feel, incredible playability and the look is wonderful. Thanks Carvin for having built, for me the best guitar in the world.

10. As I see the photos were made during the sessions, Marshall JCM 2000 DSL amps were used while recording. Are they your favorites?

Yes, I love the sound of Marshall DSL JCM 2000 1OOW.

But only the amps made from 1998 to 2000. The recent versions have a different sound. I don't like the new models. But I use a lot of different amps during the recording sessions. I was raised with Marshall amps. When I play Marshall, I'm at home.

11. What kind of amp settings did you prefer in the studio?

The set up of my gear for the recording sessions is not easy to explain. I use always my rack with CAE preamp and amp selector by Bob Bradshaw. With this unit I can engage and select my amps by foot controller via midi. Often, I use 4 different Marshall amps:

Marshall Plexi 1959 of 1971

Marshall Plexi 1959 of 1973 modded,

Marshall JCM 800 of 1982 modded,

Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 of 1998,

These amps are for crunch and lead sound. Fender Princeton Reverb for clean sound. Bogner Ecstasy 101B also for crunch and lead sound. CAE 3+ preamp modded SE by Bob Bradshaw for other sounds.

I use also Carvin V3 amp and VT50 amp. Like pedals, I often use the Visual Sound pedals.
Visual Sound is a great company made by great people. I love the Visual Sound pedals. I would like to thank my great friends Steven Bliss and Bob Weil for their incredible support and friendship. Thank you guys, you're very special people, always in my heart. I love the technology, but today, I'm not sure that all this new guitar technology is good for the creativity. I remember when with two pedals and one amp head, you could play a lot of great things. Now, If there are no good musical ideas, all this new guitar technology is nothing.

12. How about your pedal board?

I love the Visual Sound pedals. My favorite pedals like overdrive are Jekyll/Hyde and VSXO. I use also an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 of 1981 and Tim Pierce overdrive by J Rockett pedals. My favorite delay is the Visual Sound Dual Tap delay. Like chorus Arion Stereo Chorus vintage. Benrod Wave Box., T.C. Electronics Ditto looper. Garage Tone Oil can Phaser by Visual Sound. Jim Dunlop Cry Baby custom mod. Visual Volume by Visual Sound. Only George L's cable. Visual Sound or MXR/CAE power supply. Pedaltrain like pedalboard.

Check out Marco at: www.marcoiacobini.com