(Fusion, Funk Groove) The Link Quartet - 2 albums: Beat.It - 2002, Italian Playboys - 2004, FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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.