Simone Zanchini made a presentation with performances of his “No Cage” Album at PIF Castelfidardo 2026, September 12.

The album was released on 31 August 2026 by Ars Spoletium, catalogue number AS0370CP. Simone Zanchini – No Cage €15

Simone writes: “I have always put freedom first in my life, before anything else, even before music. Freedom in the noblest sense of the word and in all its possible meanings. I have always perceived a sense of musical freedom, without definitions and without barriers.

NO CAGE according to me is definitely a hymn to freedom. Being free, in my life as in my music, means having courage, it means moving forward “in a straight line” on one’s own path without ever compromising even when it is disadvantageous.

The main “driver” in my artistic journey has also always been research. A search for my sound, for a personal language, a search for an expression that represents, as much as possible, my inner world.

I play accordion and love it, but despite decades of extensive technical studies, I have always felt like a musician expressing himself through it rather than being purely an accordionist. They are two very different concepts!

I’ve been embracing this box with bellows for 45 years now, and the more time passes, the more I realize that the pursuit of a beautiful sound, a personal sound, is the most lacking ingredient in the accordion world; I rarely listen to an accordionist today (whether classical or jazz) with his own sound, a personal sound, well-crafted and expressing true exploration.

During the recording of this work I wondered what is the point of releasing a CD, today. From a practical standpoint, in a time when most people don’t even own a CD player anymore, perhaps it doesn’t make much sense.

However, from an artistic perspective, it certainly makes sense. Yes, because for an artist, specifically for an improvising jazz musician, the making of an album is not only a goal, it marks and defines the point of a new start.

Making an album is the result of a study, a journey, it’s like packaging ideas, creativity, and all research in one place.

NO CAGE is a collection of a series of newly-composed or improvised pieces, with the addition of some of my older compositions that I had never recorded alone. The pieces may seem distant or even alien to each other, instead they are all connected by the same “common thread”.

The incessant search for “sound” supported by the use of electronic is a fundamental element of this work. Most of the songs were overdubbed with two, sometimes even three, accordions in multitrack.
I dedicate this album to all free people, to all those musicians who seek a personal path. I dedicate it to all those musicians to whom the accordion and “accordionism” are not enough, but “use” the same as a means of expression, coating it with new life.

I dedicate this album to all those who have the courage to take risks, who look to the future and who attempt in some way to modernize and push forward the expressive possibilities of this instrument.
I dedicate it to those musicians who have set aside their ego to pursue an introspective path, expressing music that looks inward and not outward.

Finally, I dedicate this album to the two people closest to me and whom I love: Sara Calvanelli, great woman and extraordinary musician and to the sweet and sagacious Maia Calvanelli, whom I specifically thank for the beautiful graphic work of “handwriting” this CD.

Simone Zanchini – No Cage €15. Released by Ars Spoletium, catalogue number AS0370CP.
Track List:
1. Choro Romagnolo – music of Simone Zanchini 5:06
2. Camilo (Cienfuegos) – music of Simone Zanchini 3:51
3. Lina 99 – music of Simone Zanchini 3:09
4. Smile Please music of Simone Zanchini 2:27
5. Morte Accidentale di un Anarchico 2:29
6. Armando’s Waltz- music of Simone Zanchini 5:01
7. 26-2 – music of John Coltrane 1:57
8. Ballata per G.- music of Simone Zanchini 2:53
9. Caffè Finale – music of Simone Zanchini 3:20
10. Bikers H.D. – music of Simone Zanchini 4:42
11. Donna Lee – music of Charlie Parker 1:39
12. Vicinanza (The Nearness of You) – music of Hoagy Carmichael & Simone Zanchini 6:02