Interviews

Right Tempo Records is headed up by Rocco Paniani, the Milan based music head who has been around the jazzy house music scene since the 90s. His label has recently released a must have collection of memorable house cuts. We get the chance to talk to a true music lover about the new comp Caviar Jazz, his hometown of Milan, and his inspirations.

Thank you for taking the time to talk. Where are you this moment and how are you spending the day?

Right now I'm at the office, preparing two new Bandcamp releases for Monday. The first is Painè 'Bene Remixes', featuring reworks by Quantic, The Herbalizer, and a club version. The second is Gak Sato ‘Gak Sato & Friends', with amazing remixes from artists like Jimi Tenor, Amon Tobin, Kid Loco, Flanger, and Yukihiro Fukutomi. So yes … busy busy, as always! :)

Can you introduce yourself to our readers.

I'm Rocco Pandiani, founder of Right Tempo (established in 1993), and I run the labels Right Tempo, Easy Tempo, Mono Jazz, and Right Tempo Pro. Music has been at the center of my life for over 40 years. I've produced more than 100 releases, contributed radio shows to Worldwide FM, and currently host a monthly show on Totally Wired Radio called The Right Tempo, which airs every 4th Sunday of the month from 11 AM to 1 PM.

My musical passions include jazz, soul, funk, Latin, Afro, and Brazilian sounds, rhythms and styles that continue to inspire everything I do.

Where are you based currently?

I'm based in Milano, Italy — a city that's always had a strong connection to design, fashion, and of course, music. It's been the perfect home base for developing the Right Tempo labels and staying connected with both the Italian and international music scenes.

What is it you love most about the city in which you live?

What I love most about Milan is its unique balance between tradition and innovation. It's a city deeply rooted in culture, yet always forward-looking. There's a constant exchange here … it is a very productive and vital city, which has always inspired me. Milan gave me the space and energy to grow creatively and to connect with people who share a passion for music and ideas.

How is the health of the music scene where you are?

The music scene in Milan and Italy in general isn’t as vibrant as it was in the ‘90s and early 2000s. There’s been a noticeable cultural shift, and many spaces for creative expression have disappeared. That said, this only deepens our motivation at Right Tempo to keep pushing forward. We see it as a call to action to continue investing in quality music and to keep delivering beauty and depth, even when the broader landscape feels challenging.

How is the health of the music scene generally in your opinion?

I feel that over the past couple of years, there’s been a kind of renaissance. Music moves in cycles … like a flower. It blooms, fades, and then makes space for something new to grow. Right now, it feels like that new flower is beginning to grow again. It’s an exciting time, full of fresh energy and possibilities. :) It is not an easy time for the ‘garden’ … it a time in which we should all extend ourselves to make it better.

Who are the icons who have inspired the music that you put out?

Professionally, I’ve been deeply inspired by people like Gilles Peterson, Colin Curtis, Paul Murphy, Dean Rudland, Kevin Beadle, and Bob Jones, among many others, pioneers who helped shape the UK’s jazz, soul, and rare groove scenes. That late '80s and early '90s jazzy movement had a huge influence on my professional life and on Right Tempo.

Musically, my heroes include Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, and Terry Callier on the soul side and Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver and many others on the jazz side. Timeless artists whose sound continues to resonate. From the newer wave, I’ve always loved Galliano, Young Disciples, and UFO for the way they blended the genres I love with style and groove.

And I have to mention The Blues Brothers movie — it was a turning point in my life. I saw the light!

How did you come to the label. What led up to its beginning?

To be honest, until my late twenties, I was pretty aimless. I was lacking skills, motivation and direction. But then I discovered something profound: how music has the power to truly uplift people’s lives and connect them on a deeper level. That made me see things in a whole new way. I decided to pour all my energy, passion, and time into sharing music that matters. Right Tempo was born from that drive … blending a uniquely Italian touch with a broad, international perspective. It’s been my way of giving back to the world what music gave to me … for me, music became more than a career; it became a reason to live.

What is the music mission of the label.

Like I said before, music gave me a reason to live, and that feeling is at the heart of Right Tempo. When we started, we wanted to share the beautiful Italian sounds from the ’60s and ’70s with the world through the acid jazz scene and we did it through labels like Easy Tempo and Right Tempo Classics. Now, our mission is to create new music here in Italy and send it out to the world to share our musical roots and culture in a way that feels real and alive.

What have been some of your key releases over the years?

There have been so many highlights along the way, but a few really stand out. The Easy Tempo Cinematic Series brought a fresh, immersive vibe to soundtrack lovers and has become a legend for three generation of groove lovers. Easy Tempo also featured gems like Piero Umiliani and Piero Piccioni’s unforgettable scores. Stefano Torossi’s Feelings is considered an all time masterpiece in the Library Music field. On the more modern sounds, Painè’s Spontaneous captured some truly unique moods, while Gak Sato’s Tangram took us on a mesmerizing journey through original sound textures.

We’ve also celebrated classics like Vincent Montana’s Heavy Vibes—he’s truly the godfather of disco—and A Journey to the Dawn, a retrospective on Theresa Records compiled by myself with Gilles Peterson. Recently, we’ve spotlighted modern jazz talents like Attilio Zanchi with Mingus Portrait and Emanuele Cisi’s Rushin. The Congregation compilation by Jazzcat brought together some of the scene’s finest artists, and right now, we’re thrilled about Caviar Jazz by Da Funkie Juinkie & Cosmic Girl — a fresh and exciting new chapter for the label.

Give us an overview of Caviar Jazz

Caviar Jazz is a loving and tasteful tribute to the golden era of House music, infused with a smooth jazz touch. I connected with Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl through social media, and when they shared this compilation with me, I was very pleased but it was actually my wife who went absolutely crazy for it! That sparked the decision to bring it to life through the label. The music really captures that special time when we both used to hit the clubs and dance the night away, so it holds a lot of personal meaning for us.

How long did it take to come together? Did it flow easily, or did it take some time to perfect?

t was definitely a big project and not without its challenges. Collaborating across different continents and cultures isn’t always easy, and securing the licenses took time and effort. We also invested a lot of time and resources to make sure every track sounded incredible and that the vinyl pressing was up to quality of the music … massive. It was a long process, but seeing the final result, a really strong album we’re proud of, made it all worth it.

Tell us a about some of the artists involved in the release.

This compilation features some true legends of the dance world. From Masters At Work to Daft Punk, Janet Jackson to Frankie Knuckles. All pioneers who helped shape the house sound we love. We’re also proud to include Italian talents like Cricco Castelli and Josma, adding a local flavor that complements the global vibe.

The album flows beautifully, with an exotic touch brought by Mondo Grosso’s track, remixed by Joe Claussell and Louie Vega, two masters known for their soulful, deep grooves. But the real standout is the exclusive Jo Boyer edit crafted by Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl just for this release. It’s been receiving huge airplay and incredible feedback from DJs and listeners alike, truly making it a highlight of the project.

Do you take some time - after you have compiled a project – to leave it alone for a while to evaluate?

In this case, the compilers Da Funkie Junkie & Cosmic Girl have actually been working on this project for over 12 years, so it was incredibly well thought-out and perfectly matured before seeing the light of day. Sometimes, great things just need time to develop fully and this was definitely one of those cases.

Do you find the feedback of others is important to you in the music release process?

Yes, for sure. Music is all about connecting with people. I always start with my own ideas . I don’t try to copy anyone else (I started this way with the choice of the name Right Tempo!). But once I’m working on something, I like to get feedback from different people. It helps make the final choices with a wider perspective. So, the idea starts with me, but it really grows when I hear what others think.

What are some of the challenges in putting out music currently?

It’s definitely tough right now. Especially if you really care about giving people the best quality in the music, the sound, and in the way the record is manufactured and packaged. You put in a lot of time and money, but then you have to sell it for the same price as cheaper, lower-quality stuff. So really, you do it because you believe in music and want to respect it as an elevated art form, even if it’s not always easy.

What drives you to create/ work in music do you think?

I think it’s a mix of my background, my sensitivity, my personal style, my dreams and sometimes just lucky coincidences. But what really matters, I think, is that behind every good project there’s a meaningful story in its entirety. The way it starts, how it grows, with all its challenges and highlights. I believe that honest stories, with everything that comes along, is what makes the projects truly come alive.

What other artists do you think are making great music right now?

I spend a lot of time focused on my own work. Sometimes 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week so my listening time for pleasure is so tiny and often takes me back to the music I grew up with. The classics. Maybe it’s a bit selfish, but when you can enjoy caviar, why settle for less? :) Also, I guess it’s partly a generational thing, I’m 62 now. That said, I do really appreciate what some labels are doing, like Outernational Sounds, Jazz Rooms, Echo Chamber, ATA, Brownswood, and a few others. I’m also a big fan of Emanative’s work. There’s definitely great music being made today, even if my heart often lives in the past.

What was the last record you purchased?

It was Bennie Green’s Soul Stirrin’, the first mono pressing on Blue Note. I needed it to rip the title track for The Jazz Sinners compilation coming out in early October. Pretty excited about it! :)

What has been a highlight of the last year for you ?

Definitely Emanuele Cisi’s Rushin’ album. An incredible soul-spiritual jazz record made with a powerhouse quartet. The album really takes me back to those classic 60’s and 70’s inspired recordings I love listening to in my free time. It’s been a real highlight for me this past year. Working with giants like Emanuele and Dado Moroni (piano) Jorge Rossy (drums) and Nicolas Thys (bass). They entered the studio … they broke through … and they left leaving a milestone on today’s international jazz

What can we expect next from you?

Coming this October, via LASGO Worldwide Media, is a special compilation called The Jazz Sinners: Soul Stirrin’. True to Right Tempo’s style, it’s our personal take on the fantastic jazz heritage of the ’50s and ’60s, with a cinematic and, if I may say, somewhat sinful and mysterious twist. We invested a lot to source near-mint original pressings to deliver truly extraordinary sound quality. I got the test pressing a few weeks ago, and honestly, it sounds shockingly good. I’m really excited for everyone to hear it!

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about you?

Music isn’t just my work—it’s a big part of who I am. Every song and story I share through Right Tempo and through my radio shows means a lot to me. I feel lucky to keep dealing with music and connecting with people around the world. What I hope most is to pass on the same love and respect for music that has meant so much to me.

Check out the latest release from Right Tempo.