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| LINK QUARTET |
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| PROFILE |
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THE LINK QUARTET - NEW 2009 BIOGRAPHY
The Link Quartet is the greatest Hammond beat band in the world and during their 3-year break demand has remained high. Resulting in: 3 compilations (Keep It Moving / Evolution / Long Live The Link) of out-of-print and unreleased tracks; continuous appearances on various artist’s packages from the UK to Japan; and a full-on assault of digital-download reissues (highlighted by even more out of print and unreleased). The Link Quartet also diversified into a whole host of new sounds and identities featuring the outrageously talented Paolo “Apollo” Negri disintegrating the plastic and ivory on nearly every kind of keyboard he could get his hands on: Fred Leslie’s missing Link (deep funk); Low Fidelity Jet-Set Orchestra (library/ nu-jazz); The Futuro Seven (space-fi); Wicked Minds/Electric Swan (prog rock); and the “A Bigger Tomorrow” (soul groove) solo album to name a few.
“This is Paolo…what a talent; if he’d been from the UK he’d have given James Taylor a very hard run for the UK fantasy-funk Hammond player/keyboardist.” (Craig Charles live on air – Funk and Soul Show, BBC, March 2009)
But there simply was no denying the compelling need to return to the raw Hammond blast of The Link Quartet groove where go-go girls, European performance cars, and espresso bars reign supreme. A mere week after Paolo’s March 2009 showcase at the SXSW Music Festival (Austin, TX), The Link Quartet were back in business with a session that resulted in two monster grooves built from pure energy and the basic instinct of that lustful DNA that few possess.
The pressure was on to deliver a master quickly for the looming summer tour, but the result has not a single ounce of seeming rushed, and confirms, underscores, and shouts to heaven in triplicate that the time for The Link Quartet’s return to rule the Hammond beat kingdom is clearly here and now.
“Fast Girls & Sexy Cars” and “Drummore” is their stronger-than-ever raw power in evidence: the breakneck power-pop pace of one and the laid-back-beat of the other. The soaring Hammond, sultry guitar, driving drums, and deeeeep bass have put The Link Quartet firmly in their own future – and that’s a place we all desire to be living.
Paolo “Apollo” Negri (Hammond) and Renzo Bassi (bass) are joined by new mates Marco “Majo” Murtas (guitar) and Alberto “Pato” Maffi (drums) and will be in the studio this autumn for the 6th album on Hammondbeat Records. Founding drummer Tony Face will continue as manager and part-time percussionist for the band.
THE LINK QUARTET - ORIGINAL 2004 BIOGRAPHY
The Link Quartet were formed in 1991 by Renzo Bassi (bass), Mauarizio Girgenti (hammond), Giulio “Link” Cardini (guitar), and Chuck Bergenzi (drums). Joined by Tony “Face” Bacciocchi (percussion) in 1993, The Link Quartet would spend several years building their reputation as a leading force in the Italian club scene playing their special blend of 6T’s Hammond-fueled beat music.
In 1998, the band, with a growing lineup that featured a horn section, would finally record their self-titled debut single for Spain’s Animal Records. Featuring 3 original songs, including the self-important “Link Theme”, which after 7 years was certainly deserved! This in combination with a tour with UK’s leading Hammond powerhouse The James Taylor Quartet, left The Link Quartet prime for golden opportunities.
A 2nd single for Animal, “Sgnapp”, followed in 1999, and sported a new and improved Hammond prodigy in the form Paolo “Apollo” Negri, whose nickname is truly deserved. More changes would occur leading up to the first Link Quartet album, with guitarist Cardini and drummer Bergonzi’s spots being filled by Fausto Mazza and Vittorio Solinas respectively, and the horn section gone, the band were back down to 5. Simply titled “Episode 1”, and including a somewhat loungier interpretation of the funk sound, the record solidly demonstrated the bands ability to grasp, and make their own, the spy flavoured tunes by the likes of Quincy Jones and Lalo Schifrin. “Episode 1” was released in 2001 as a limited run of 200 copies, which managed to find their way around the world via direct Internet sales, but alas they still had not broken out to find international fame.
In 2002, Animal Records reissued “Episode 1”, which gave the band a better shot at global exposure, but also misrepresented the direction the band was beginning to move. Cardini returned to guitar duties, and Bacciocchi took over the drummer stool. The band settled back to their 6T’s roots, and traded in much of that lounge signature back to the funkier Hammond beat scene. And, they were at last a quartet once again, with the syncronicity and purpose necessary to make a great record.
Along with the sound, The Link Quartet began to retool their image as well. With an eye on the United States, the band were determined to make an album that would demonstrate that they could carry the raw live energy from their shows into the studio. This was accomplished by writing more original material, and applying that creativity in a more aggressive way to both how they arranged cover songs, but even in how they were selected. They worked tirelessly with their new label producer, Hammondbeat, and their audiences in refining the material before commiting to it fully. This interaction with the audience was essential in defining what material was best suited to making this new record great.
At the end of 2002 The Link Quartet released the album that took a decade to come to be. Many who had enjoyed “Episode 1”, but did not consider it to be a record of greatness, were skeptical that The Link Quartet could evolve as a leader of the beat scene beyond their Italian borders. “Beat.It” proved to indeed be a record of greatness and was well received by all that heard it and are passionate about the genre.
In 2003, filmmaker Jeffrey Bunzendahl was introduced to the band, and was "blown away" by their powerful sound. He later incorporated 5 songs from Beat.It into his spy film "Wilson Chance", and authorized a companion CD to be produced entitled "Wilson Chance: The Sound Of Danger", which was released in February 2004 (Hammondbeat Records) and preceded by "The Sound Of Danger Tour", The Link Quartet's first live appearances ever in the United States.
The Link Quartet returned to the United States for a tour in June 2004, which included dates on the West Coast and headlining the MODchicago weekender. They completed their 3rd studio album entitled "Italian Playboys" which was released in November '04 to much critical praise, and much touring in Europe through late summer '05.
Now in their 15th year, The Link Quartet are taking a bit of break to establish their new direction. Founding member and drummer Tony Face left the band recently to focus on things closer to home. Hammondbeat Records is readying the release "Evolution" which will take the listener through LQ's formation years (1997-2001) on record, from their first EP through the debut album "Episode 1", and will include everything before their breakout album "Beat.It". Also, though 2005 was quiet, LQ did record several new songs for the european compilation market which will be compiled onto one disc entitled "Decade" as a tribute to LQ first 10 years on record. Both CD's will be available from Hammondbeat Records by the end of 2006.
RELATED BANDS
Fred Leslie's Missing Link
Paolo "Apollo" Negri
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PAOLO "APOLLO" NEGRI
Joined Band: 1997
Role: Hammond organ
Birth: 1980 - Milano, Italy
Band-ography: Link Quartet, Mastica, Wicked Minds, Titty Twister Orchestra, Nice Price
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RENZO BASSI
Joined Band: 1991
Role: bass guitar
Birth: 1960 - Piacenza, Italy
Band-ography: Timepills
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MARCO "MAJO" MURTAS
Joined Band: 2008
Role: guitar
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ALBERTO "PATO" MAFFI
Joined Band: 2008
Role: drums
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| Former Members |
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GIULIO "LINK" CARDINI
Years with Band: 1991-2007
Role: guitar
Band-ography: Boppin Shoes (rockabilly)
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TONY "FACE" BACCIOCCHI
Years with Band: 1993-2006
Role: drums, percussion
Band-ography: Link Quartet, Not Moving (1981-88, punk'n'roll), Timepills (1989-91, beat rock), Lilith (1991-98, folk rock), Hermits (1997-99, garage punk), Tony Face Big Roll Band, + 20 other bands!
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MAURIZIO GIRGENTI
Years with Band: 1991-97
Role: organ:hammond
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CHUCK BERGONZI
Years with Band: 1991-98
Role: drums
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ANGELO FANZINI
Years with Band: 1996-99
Role: sax
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GIANCARLO GROPPI
Years with Band: 1998-99
Role: sax
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FAUSTO MAZZA
Years with Band: 2000-01
Role: guitar
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VITTORIO SOLINAS
Years with Band: 1998-01
Role: drums
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MONICA BEGHI
Years with Band: 1997-99
Role: sax
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NICOLA BERNARDONI
Years with Band: 2007
Role: drums
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