Maurizio Bozzi · Arezzo, 22 June 1957

Bozorius

bassist, producer, composer, teacher — and the reason this label exists.

A life in bass

1971

Starts on bass at 14, in a dance band led by his father, an accordionist, and his uncle on sax — next to his cousin Enzo Ghinazzi, “Pupo”.

1978

Session bassist on Manuel Santos’ South American tour. Jaco Pastorius and the Californian rock scene are the heroes.

1981

World tour with Pupo. Meets Angel “Pocho” Gatti — two studio albums and a live record at the Zagreb jazz festival.

1982

Co-founds the jazz-rock FestaGroup with Fabrizio Festa: Congo Square, Montreux Live, Strings.

1986

Il Basso Elettrico comes out and sells over 20,000 copies. Two more methods follow with Berben.

Sessions

Eros Ramazzotti, Raf, Marco Masini, Fiordaliso, Zucchero; on stage with Larry Coryell and Al Di Meola.

2004

Founds Drycastle Records: around eighty albums and his acclaimed methods.

Arezzo

For many years artistic director of the Jazz Club Arezzo, still a leading figure of the city’s jazz scene.

On stage, on the road

Early life and musical foundations

Bozorius was born on June 22, 1957, in Arezzo, Italy, to Mario Bozzi and Silvana Benigni. He began playing bass at the age of 14 in a dance music group led by his father, a skilled accordionist, and his uncle, a saxophonist. Notably, he played alongside his cousin, Enzo Ghinazzi, known worldwide as “Pupo.”

In the early ’70s, Bozorius was deeply influenced by the Californian rock scene and electric jazz, especially the virtuosic style of Jaco Pastorius. His journey in music began with various blues-rock and jazz bands. In 1978, he gained international exposure, joining the South American tour of Manuel Santos as a session musician.

Collaboration with international artists

The 80s marked a turning point for Bozorius, joining the world tour with Pupo in 1981/82. In the same period he crossed paths with renowned jazz pianist and composer Angel “Pocho” Gatti, known for his work with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Astor Piazzolla and Jerry Mulligan. Together, they produced two studio albums and recorded a live album at the International Jazz Festival in Zagreb.

Bozorius’ creative journey continued in 1982 when he co-founded the jazz-rock group “Festa Group” with pianist and composer Fabrizio Festa. Their collaborations spanned over a decade, producing albums like “Congo Square,” “Montreux Live,” and “Strings”, and performing in jazz festivals across Europe. The duo’s synergy extended into the 1990s, working on contemporary music pieces that graced prestigious Italian theaters.

Acclaimed bassist and producer

In 1986, Bozorius published his first electric bass technique book, Il Basso Elettrico, which sold over 20,000 copies. This was followed by two more instructional books: L’improvvisazione nel basso elettrico and I grandi riff del basso elettrico (Berben Publishing). His technical expertise, both as a performer and educator, solidified his reputation in the music industry.

Throughout his career, Bozorius played as a session musician for top Italian pop stars such as Eros Ramazzotti, Raf, Marco Masini, Fiordaliso and Zucchero, while also collaborating with notable jazz musicians. His versatility in crossing genres made him a popular name in both jazz and pop music worlds.

Bozorius continued to expand his musical horizons, performing with legendary artists like Larry Coryell and Al Di Meola and later becoming the artistic director of the Jazz Club Arezzo. In 2004, he founded his own record label, Drycastle Records, producing around 80 albums and publishing his acclaimed methods.