Marcello Di Leonardo
drums

Born in Pescara (Italy) in 1969. In 1992, after classical training and many jazz workshops, he moved to Rome. Here he had his early experiences with world-renowned musicians such as Tony Scott, Massimo Urbani, Benny Golson, Jon Faddis. Later he started an intense musical activity in Spain and Portugal where he had the opportunity to play and record with Rick Margitza, Phil Markowitz, Bill Pierce, and Ed Neumeister, Steve Slagle. In 1996 he joined the quartet of Maria Pia De Vito with Enzo Pietropaoli and Danilo Rea (Rita Marcotulli the following year). At the same time the enduring partnership with Battista Lena commited him to the "Banda Sonora", "Mille Corde", "I Cosmonauti Russi" projects together with Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Gianni Coscia and Gabriele Mirabassi (Umbria Jazz '97 , Odeon Theater Paris '98, Beijing and Shangai Jazz Festival '98). Always with Lena he collaborated in the production of several soundtracks for films by Francesca Archibugi and Paolo Virzì. In 2000 he became the drummer of the Enrico Pieranunzi trio who on several occasions hosted Marc Johnson (bass). With the roman pianist he also joined the "Evans Remembered", "Sgt. Pepper and Mr. Miles"(Roccella Jonica 2000) and "Fellini Jazz" projects. In the latter project he replaces Paul Motian in a tour alongside trumpeter Bert Joris, saxophonist Tony Malaby and Marc Johnson (Auditorium Parco Della Musica Roma 2003). In 2001 he played with the guitarists Mundell Lowe, John Pisano and Philip Catherine at Jazz'n Fall Festival in Pescara. With the quartet of the saxophonist Rosario Giuliani he carried out an intense activity in France as a result of a record deal with the Dreyfus Jazz label and performed at the major international festivals like Jazz in Vienne, JVC Jazz Festival, Jazz in Marciac, Amphijazz de Lyon, Dinant Jazz Nights, Jazz Des Cinq Continents (France), North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), London Jazz Festival, Ankara Jazz Festival, Audi Jazz Festival (Germany). He also participated at the "Italian Jazz in New York" festival in the historic Smoke club. This quartet occasionally hosted some world famous artists such as Joe Locke, Philip Catherine, Bob Mintzer (Jazz & Image 2002, Rome). From 2004 for three consecutive years he has been involved in the television show "Il senso della vita" conducted by Paolo Bonolis with the band of Stefano Di Battista. With the latter he played in two musicals with Alessandro Preziosi, "Datemi tre caravelle" (Teatro Antico di Taormina) and "Il ponte" (Auditorium della Conciliazione of Rome, Teatro Municipale Cilea ​​Reggio Calabria, Auditorium della Guardia di Finanza de L'Aquila). He played with Ivan Lins at Umbria Jazz and Veneto Jazz in 2004 and with Enrico Rava at the Milano Jazzin 'Festival. In 2013 with Rosario Giuliani, Fabrizio Bosso and Enzo Pietropaoli set up "The Golden Circle", based on the music of Ornette Coleman (Qatar Jazz Festival 2016, Umbria Jazz 2016). He recorded three albums for the Cam Jazz with the pianist Claudio Filippini beside Luca Bulgarelli on bass. In 2016 the trio performed in Tokyo at the Italian Institute of Culture and at the Delhi Jazz Festival. In 2014 he was involved in the project "The Beat goes on" by Elisabetta Antonini with Francesco Bearzatti, Luca Mannutza and Paolino Dalla Porta. Among other collaborations to remember, those with Ben Allison, Riccardo Del Fra, Robin Eubanks. He has recorded over 40 CDs. He currently teaches jazz drums at the "L. Campiani" Conservatory in Mantua.
Collaborates with Eduardo De Crescenzo from 2012 to the Essenze jazz project.

Julian Oliver Mazzariello
piano

Introducing one of the most vibrant jazz pianists to arrive on the scene in recent years. Combining virtuosity and sophistication with inspiring phrasing and refined agility, he is an audacious talent with the power to move both the feet and the heart. Born in the UK, Julian studied piano from an early age, moving to Italy as a teenager to pursue his love of music and culture. Immersing himself in the local music scene, his classical training and modern sensibility resulted in being in high demand on the Italian music scene. He has since collaborated with a variety of groups and singers all over the world. Not only has he appeared extensively on the Italian Jazz scene, he has worked with multiple international musicians, with soloists and with full bands. and is equally at ease with a full band. Not only is this a musician with range, energy and technical virtuosity, he is a performer of the highest calibre.

Born on the outskirts of London, 1978, Julian began classical piano lessons at age 7 and immediately demonstrated a passion and dedication to his studies, alongside an ability to improvise and experiment. By the age of 13, having left mainstream education to study music full time, he had already won National Telegraph Young Jazz Musician of the Year" and reached the finals of nationally televised talent show “291 Club” as Future Shock with Jose Joyette. By 17 he had completed the entire Associated Boards Music curriculum and was looking for new challenges.
Making the decision to move to his Italian father’s home town in the Salerno region, he is immediately captivated by the lifestyle and vibrant local music scene he finds there.
Within months he finds himself performing with the likes of The Deidda Brothers, Amedeo Ariano, Giovanni Amato, Jerry Popolo, Pietro Vitale, Giampiero Virtuoso and eventually becomes part of the "Daniele Scannapieco Quartet" with Stefano di Battista and Andrè Ceccarelli and soon of the "High Five Quintet" with Fabrizio Bosso and Lorenzo Tucci.
Dario Deidda’s "Three from the Ghetto" recording, produced by Gegè Telesforo and a touring stint with Telesforo in "Pure Funk Live" led to a series of higher profile collaborations with the likes of Enrico Rava, Mariapia De Vito, Roberto Gatto, Giovanni Tommaso.
It was during this period that he caught the attention of Lucio Dalla. Over the subsequent 5 years, Julian accompanies Dalla on numerous international dates including the Opera Di Vienna, appears on the live album “In quella notte di stelle”, a live concert DVD of the Avo Session performance in Brasil, and a studio album featuring a duet of Somewhere Over The Rainbow, with Dalla on clarinet.
Now firmly on the international touring stage, Julian continues to work with a diverse mix of musicians including Fiorella Mannoia, Mario Biondi , Alex Britti and Fabio Concato and Paris based drummer André Ceccarelli. His appearance on the “Sweet People" recording with Ceccarelli, released on CAMjazz led to his inclusion in the revamped lineup of legendary fusion band TROC, with Alex Ligertwood from the Carlos Santana Group. This tour saw Julian on Fender Rhodes in various festivals such as "Jazz a Juan", "Nice/Miami Festival" and "La nuit della Guitar" in Patrimonio.
In 2012, he records the “Tandem” album for Verve with Fabrizio Bosso, which begins a series of collaborations with the trumpeter in various projects including as a duo, a quartet and as a small orchestral ensemble, appearing in clubs and festivals globally. By 2018 Julian had appeared in Japan, China, Korea, UK, Germany and Russia. He chose Paris, though, as the venue to record and release ‘Debut’, the first title under his own name. Featuring Andrè Ceccarelli and Remy Vignoló, this was an accomplished, confident and mature first offering.
Julian joined Eduardo De Crescenzo’s Essenze Jazz Project quintet in 2018.
For De Crescenzo, it sees an artist reimagining a musical landscape decades in the making, reflecting and exploring as they go. For Mazzariello, De Crescenzo’s diverse, richly melodic back catalogue provides the perfect canvas to experiment. It is the perfect opportunity for the mixture of virtuosity, sensitivity and unbridled expression that has defined his musical journey so far.
In 2021 he is the pianist for AVVENNE A NAPOLI passione per voce e piano, a project in which Eduardo De Crescenzo, together with Julian, interprets the repertoire of Classic Neapolitan Songs of the period widely indicated between 1800 and 1950. A precious concert that intends to give us back the authentic spirit of that time with all it’s unsurpassed modernity. (Avvenne a Napoli)

Daniele Scannapieco
tenor and soprano saxophones

He was born in Campagna, near Salerno, in 1970. An artist born into the profession because the musician son of a musician father, he grows in contact with the jazz environment, "campano" first , and then Italian and European.
In 1990 he completed his classical studies and graduated in clarinet at the Music Conservatory of Salerno. In the same period he cooperates with Pietro Condorelli, Antonio Golino, Maria Pia De Vito, the Deidda brothers.
In 1991 he moves to Rome , where he starts working together with Roberto Gatto, Stefano Sabatini, Stefano Di Battista, Giovanni Tommaso, Tony Scott, Umberto Fiorentino; Enzo Pietropaoli; Stefano Bollani, Fabrizio Bosso, Dino and Franco Piana, Flavio Boltro, Dado Moroni...
A number of collaborations with foreign artists :Henri Salvador, Joe Lovano, Hilton Ruiz, Greg Hutchinson, Joe Locke, Ira Coleman, Dee Dee Bridgewater...

Intense is his live activity : Daniele Scannapieco is present in the most important jazz programs of clubs and festivals, in Italy as well as abroad.
From 2001 to 2004, on a world tour with Dee Dee Bridgewater, he performs in the most prestigious theaters in the world.
He is co-leader and founder – with Fabrizio Bosso – of the quintet "High Five 5et" (with Lorenzo Tucci, Tommaso Scannapieco and Luca Mannutza). With this group he has made two records in Italy : "Jazz for more" and "Jazz desire" (VVJ-EMI).
He then makes three records with "High Five 5et"; for the prestigious Blue Note/EMI, one of them "live", at the Blue Note in Tokyo, titled "Live for Fun".
In 2004, with the French label "Night and Day", he publishes the album titled with his name "Scannapieco", in which André Ceccarelli, Eric Legnini, Stefano Di Battista, Fabrizio Bosso will play.
Then "Never more" comes, his second album as a leader, recorded with Greg Hutchinson, Ira Coleman, Dado Moroni, Fabrizio Bosso (VVJ-EMI).
In 2008, with the album "Lifetime", he wins the "Italian Jazz Awards", in the section "best album".
He contributes to important recordings with: Henri Salvador, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Paco Sery, Roberto Gatto, Giovanni Tommaso (Apogeo) ...
From 2000 to 2008 he collaborates with Nicola Conte. He has played in many of his records and in the main festivals in Europe.
From 2006 to 2015 he collaborates with Mario Biondi, both in the recording studio and on tour.
In 2003 he won the European award Django d'or for the "best joung" and the Positano award for "the best musician from Campania".

As a significant representative of Italian jazz he has been repeatedly invited to concerts organized by Umbria Jazz in New York, in Puerto Rico and to the Melbourne Jazz Festival...
He has played at the historic "Birdland" with Giovanni Tommaso's 4et. Then in China, with Roberto Gatto "Special 5et" ... Numerous are his concerts in Japan.
In 2012 he begins collaborating with Eduardo De Crescenzo in the musical project Essenze Jazz. He will be with him both in the recording room and on tour.
For years, Scannapieco has been considered one of the great talents of Italian and European jazz, able to express articulated and complex musical concepts without ever losing contact with audience's emotion.

Susanna Krasznai
cellist

Susanna Krasznai was born in Hungary in 1969. She began studying the cello at an early age and ganed her degree at the "Franz Liszt Conservatorium" with distinction under the tutorship of Zoltan Kornfeld.
That same year 1991, she worked with both the "Gyor Philarmonic Orchestra" and the "Opera".
She was a member of the "Bela Bartok Youth Orchestra" in Budapest and also performed in the "Symphony Orchestra XXVI Musical international" in Belgium.
In 1993 Susanna moved to Italy and worked as first cellist with many orchestras such as:
"I Pomeriggi Musicali", "Orchestra Accademia Musicale Romana", "Orchestra XXI secolo", and the female ensemble "Le Muse".
She as collaborated with conductors and composrs: Laura Simionato, Giovanni Pelliccia, Bruno Tommaso, Peppe Vessicchio, Renato Serio, Pippo Caruso, Franco Piersanti, Andrea Guerra, Savio Riccardi, Nicola Piovani.
Among her films soundtrack recordings "Venuto al Mondo" directed by Sergio Castellitto, played by Penelope Cruz, composed by Eduardo Cruz and Arturo Annecchino, "La Stoffa dei Sogni" directed by Gianfranco Cabiddu, played by Sergio Rubini, composed by Franco Piersanti, are the most important.
She has recorded for the Vatican Radio and performed in many television programs, such as: "David di Donatello", "50 Canzonissime di Sanremo", "Natale in Vaticano", "Sabato Italiano", "Garda che Musical", "Notti sul Ghiaccio", "Prodigi".
In 2008 Susanna joined the "Piazza Vittorio Orchestra", taking part in a special version of "The Magic Flute" di Mozart, touring throughout the world: London, Paris, Lyon, Toronto, Lisbon, Athens, Barcelona, Rotterdam, Hanover, Bahrain, Luxembourg, Helsinky.
In 2011 she was first cellist in the "Universal Italian Orchestra" conducted by Renato Serio for the "6 Zero Tour" with Renato Zero.
IN 2013 she worked with Fiorella Mannoia, making a DVD of the "A Te" live concert dedicated to Lucio Dalla, followed by concerts at the Rome Auditorium and in 2017 a television program.
In the same year performed "Music for Love" by Fabrizio Bosso arranged by Paolo Silvestri.
From 2012 Susanna has been working with Peppe Vessicchio in the ensemble "I Solisti del Sesto Armonico" in the "International Arts Festival" givin concerts all over Italy.
In concert with Eduardo De Crescenzo, with the project "Essenze jazz" in the 2018/2019 concert season.