PHIL
PHIL MARKOWITZ TRIO
PHIL MARKOWITZ TRIO
Phil Markowitz, Piano
Massimiliano Rolff, Double Bass
Tony Arco, Drums
New York–based pianist Phil Markowitz is a forty–year veteran of the international jazz scene, devoted to exploring the full expressive potential of improvisation within the jazz tradition.
His performances feature original compositions that span a wide spectrum—from incisive, chromatic explorations to deeply lyrical, post–romantic ballads. Inventive, virtuosic, yet always engaging, Markowitz offers a forward-looking vision of contemporary music.
From May 15 to May 30, 2026, Phil Markowitz will tour Europe at the helm of his new Italian trio, joined by bassist Massimiliano Rolff and drummer Tony Arco—two of the most acclaimed and experienced rhythm section players on the European jazz scene.
Phil Markovitz recordings as leader include “Perputity” on Dottime Records, “Catalysis” on Sunnyside Records, “Taxi Ride” (which features an incredible reunion with his lifelong friend, Toots Thielemans), “In the Woods”, “Sno Peas”, with Eddie Gomez and Al Foster and “Restless Dreams” (with vibraphonist Joe Locke).
Mr. Markowitz leads his own trio, and a quartet and duo with violinist Zach Brock, and is the pianist in the all-star group “Saxophone Summit” (David Liebman, Joe Lovano and Greg Osby and Billy Hart). His credentials span a cornucopia of jazz; from the traditional to the avant-garde; from his early associations with Chet Baker and Toots Thielemans, through his multi decade affiliations with Bob Mintzer and David Liebman.
In 1979, he joined Chet Baker’s band. That four-year association yielded such recordings as “Broken Wing”, “Live at Nick’s Place”, “Two A Day”, and “Live at Chateauvalion”. Phil has also performed and/or recorded with Mel Lewis, Marion McPartland, Phil Woods, Ravi Coltrane, Michael Brecker, Lionel Hampton, Nick Brignola, Joe Chambers, Miroslav Vitous, and Joe Williams. Phil has a long association with Bob Mintzer and was the pianist on 15 big band and small group recordings including “In The Moment”, “Live at MCG”, the Grammy Award-winning “Homage to Count Basie”, “Quality Time”, “Latin in Manhattan”, and “Big Band Trane”.
Phil’s notoriety as a composer came in the late 1970’s when he was playing in a NYC club with legendary jazz harmonica player, Toots Thielemans As they were playing Phil’s composition, “Sno’ Peas”, pianist Bill Evans walked in, loved the song, and asked Toots to bring it to their upcoming recording session. Evans’ and Thielemans’ subsequent recording of “Sno’ Peas” on the classic Grammy-nominated album, “Affinity”, put Markowitz on the map as a venerable jazz composer.
For the past 27 years Phil has been playing, touring, and recording with NEA saxophone master Dave Liebman. Phil has served as pianist, composer, and/or producer with the quintet on “New Vista”, “Voyage”, “Return of the Tenor”, “Songs for My Daughter”, “Miles Away”, “Turn It Around”, and two duo albums, “But Beautiful” and “Manhattan Dialogues”, which was recorded in Greenfield Hall at the Manhattan School of Music. The all-star group “Saxophone Summit” has released 4 recordings including “Gathering of the Spirits”, “Seraphic Light”, “Visitation”, “Compassion- The Music of John Coltrane”, and tours regularly in the US and Europe.
Massimiliano Rolff’s music, rooted in a profound knowledge of jazz tradition and shaped by a distinctive personal approach to composition, has in recent years become a point of reference for many jazz enthusiasts in Italy. Over the course of a 20-year career, the Ligurian bassist has performed continuously in some of the world’s most renowned jazz clubs and festivals, both as a bandleader and alongside some of the most important jazz musicians on the international scene.
He has performed in festivals, clubs, and theatres across Italy, the Netherlands, France, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, Israel, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the USA, Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay — both leading his own ensembles and supporting some of the most acclaimed artists in recent jazz history, including Steve Grossman, Scott Hamilton, Jesse Davis, Dave Kikoski, Phil Woods, Dave Schnitter, Perico Sambeat, Eric Legnini, Danny Grissett, Eliot Zigmund, Peter King, Herb Geller, and Rachel Gould. In Italy, he frequently performs with long-time friends and collaborators such as Fabrizio Bosso, Dado Moroni, Emanuele Cisi, Flavio Boltro, Gabriele Mirabassi, Francesca Tandoi, Gianluca Petrella and Alessio Menconi, among others. Since 2006, Rolff has released nine highly acclaimed albums as a leader and composer, a book of original scores, and a multidisciplinary theatre production combining visuals, dance, and orchestra. He has also contributed as a sideman to dozens of recordings.
Tony Arco began studying the instrument under the guidance of Enrico Lucchini, and then met Tullio De Piscopo, with whom he established a deep bond of friendship that continues today. His training was completed in the United States, where he was a student of prestigious teachers and performers such as Gary Chaffee, Bob Moses and Alan Dawson. In 1990 he was the drummer of the legendary “Wally’s Jazz Club” in Boston, where he was part of the groups of Roy Hargrove and Antonio Hart, also playing with many other American musicians, including John Medesky and George Garzone. Specialist in extended ensembles, Arco has collaborated with symphony orchestras and big bands and today is unanimously considered a point of reference for jazz drum teaching, as well as being involved in artistic collaborations at the highest levels of Italian and international jazz, with musicians such as Dave Liebman and Joe Calderazzo. Arco is the drummer of the Civica Jazz Band. Tony Arco is one of the most important Italian drummers and a highly respected teacher.
He is involved in high-level artistic projects in Italy and internationally, and to date has performed with artists such as: Mark Murphy, Bobby Watson, Kenny Barron, Charles Tolliver, Dave Liebman, James Newton, Carl Anderson, Marcus Stockhausen, David Murray , Eddie Daniels, Joe Diorio, Evan Parker, Phil Markovitz, Sonny Fortune, Jesse Davis, Andrew Hill, Red Holloway, Emil Richards, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Wheeler, Nnenna Freelon, Pat LaBarbera, Albert and Jimmy Heath, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joey Calderazzo, Steve Grossman, George Whitty, Scott Hamilton.
