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About Frank Macchia:
Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Frank started on the clarinet at the age of ten years old. Soon afterward he began studies on bassoon, saxophone and flute. By the age of fourteen he began studying composition, writing jazz and classical pieces for his high school band and orchestra and for jazz ensembles that rehearsed at the local union hall, including trumpeter Mike Vax’s Big Band.
In 1975-76 Frank wrote jazz/classical hybrid works that were performed by the San Francisco Symphony and local professional jazz musicians at the Summer Music Workshop Programs, and he composed and conducted an orchestral overture for his high school graduation ceremony.
In 1976 Frank attended Berklee College of Music, studying woodwinds with Joseph Viola, Joe Allard, Steve Grossman and composition/arranging with Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson, Greg Hopkins, Tony Texiera, and Ken Pullig. From 1976-80 he performed and composed for the top student ensembles as well as performing with his own ensembles. He also won Down Beat magazine’s DB award for original big band composition in 1979.
After graduating with a degree in traditional composition, Frank taught at Berklee at the tender age of 20, as well as performed throughout the New England area with his 8-piece fusion group, ’Booga-Booga’. In 1981 Frank moved back to the San Francisco area where he continued working as a musician and composer/arranger over the next ten years, performing concerts with such artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Rita Moreno, Tony Bennett, Jack Jones, Clare Fischer, Chuck Mangione, and the Temptations, to name a few.
In 1991 Frank toured Germany performing in productions of West Side Story and 42nd Street, and when that tour was over, he found himself in Los Angeles, where he has remained ever since. Since 1992 he has worked as a composer/orchestrator on many films and television projects, including Superman Returns. From 1997-2001 he created a series of five original audio horror stories CDs with full underscore entitled “Little Evil Things”, which received critical acclaim. In 2003 he completed the jazz/world CD “The Galapagos Suite”, a six movement suite based on the animals of the Galapagos Islands, where he and his wife Tracy visited. His CD, “Animals” was released in Fall 2004, and the follow-up “Mo’ Animals” in Winter 2006, featuring Frank on multi-woodwinds and a roster of some of Los Angeles’ best musicians.
Review of Emotion:
‘Taking a complete break from his humorously arranged Animal series of releases, Frank Macchia has put out a recording featuring the juxtaposition of tenor saxophone and orchestra. Not simply a sax and strings release, Emotions is a sumptuous collection of carefully arranged music with Macchia’s tenor saxophone gliding in and out of the well-conceived passages. This is undoubtedly the best mixture of orchestra and horn since Stan Getz’ sojourn with Eddie Sauter on Focus over four decades ago. Each of Macchia’s movements in “Emotions – Suite for Saxophone and Strings” accurately conveys the title of each feeling. The agitated strings on “Anger” are sliced through by Macchia’s biting tenor. “Joy” and “Hope” are sublime and serene, with gentle, yearning nuances supplied by The Prague Orchestra. “Prayer for Earth,” with Macchia’s bass flute floating throughout the piece, is haunting and reverent. Traditional songs like “The Lonesome Road” and “Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair” are given breathtakingly gorgeous readings, and the leader’s sax is a perfect complement – never intrusive nor inhibited. It is a long time since music has been quite so daring, yet so beguiling. Emotions is a surprise release for anyone looking for some fresh air.’ —George Harris, All About Jazz, December 6, 2006
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