Marco di Cotiis flew into Maccaroni restaurant this week for a month long residence of wailing sax at the famous Kuta Italian eatery.

He’s a very accomplished saxophone player from Florence, Italy and will be spending most evenings of August serenading diners as he waltz around the tables of Maca’s playing classy tunes with aid from the DJ Box.

Last night was the first big gig with ‘Hey Baby Tribal Sax’ with DJ Fabio from kissthebeat. An appreciative audience was feeling the grooves by the sax meister as he wailed across the floor, both up-stairs and down.

You can catch Marco doing his stuff every night till 24 August.

On Tribal Sax and Blowing for Mr Blob

Marco de Cotiis has been playing music since he was ten years old. That’s when he started learning the clarinet in his native Florence but later moved onto the saxophone. Lately, he’s made a name for himself in the clubbing world accompanying House Music DJs in some of the best clubs in Europe but right now he’s here in Bali as special guest resident musician for Maccaroni Restaurant in Kuta. We met him at Maccaroni on Monday morning to ask him how he felt about Bali and other assorted things.

It’s his first time in Indonesia and we asked him to describe what’s been happening at the restaurant since he’s been here.
“I normally start playing around 10pm but it depends on how busy we are. If there are a lot of people I start earlier. I start by walking around the tables and playing the sax with some Tribal House with a mix of Jazz/Blues from the DJ booth. It’s fun and diners really seem to enjoy it. Later, it gets louder.”

You made an album last year. Can you tell me about that?
“It was called ‘Hey Baby Tribal Sax’ and was a collaboration with a DJ called Marco Laschi. As the name implies the backing is Tribal House with me accompanying on sax.”

How has it gone?
“We pressed it on vinyl for the DJs to use and we’ve sold a few thousand around Europe.”

You went to Jakarta to play last Friday night. How’d it go?
“I played in La Dolce Vida and later at Centro. Not a huge crowd at Dolce Vida but there was about 2000 people at Centro. Wow, it was amazing and the crowd went crazy. It was quite an experience.”

Where do you normally play in Europe?
“I’m resident musician at YAB [a club run by Pino Presta] and also Meccano, both in Florence and also sometimes play in Switzerland, France [Jazz Venues] and all over Italy. I also have a music school in Florence called Contratempo and a Jazz/Blues band called Mr Blob which keeps me very busy.”

What’s coming up for you now?
“I’m here playing at Maccaroni till 22 August. I’ve been making a new album collaborating again with Marco Laschi and using some vocals from Mobin Master Blaster Project/ Vicious from Australia. ‘It’s called You Are Going to Get It’ and it’ll be out soon.”

And what do you think of Bali and Maccaroni Club?
“It’s Fantastic! Maccaroni is a class club and I’m happy to have the experience of coming to Indonesia.”

Look out for Marco playing his sophisticated sounds at Maccaroni every night of the week and especially Thursdays and Saturdays when he’s with kissthebeat.com DJs pumping out that Tribal Jazz Soul House sound. Also there’s a plan to get a backing drumer and bass down there one of these nights. Keep your eyes on it, it could be any time and sure to be a blast for jazz lovers. SS.