Bassist, Band Leader, Educator Lello Molinari was born and raised in Naples, Italy. Lello Molinari studied Contrabass at the Scuola Civica in Sesto San Giovanni (MI). In 1985 Lello joined the Italian Vocal Ensemble. With the IVE Lello performed on national Radio and Television, as well as in jazz festivals such as: Pescara Jazz and Pompei Jazz. In ’86 the IVE recorded “Chiaroscuro” for the label “Red Records”, featuring Mike Melillo on Piano. That year Lello moved to Boston thanks to a scholarship from Berklee College of Music. In 1988 Lello lead the International Quartet through an European tour performing in Italy, Holland, and France, in festivals such as Umbria Jazz. In ’89 Lello received his Bachelors’ Degree from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Performance. In 1990 Lello was awarded a scholarship from the Boston Jazz Society, as deserving young Jazz talent. In ’91 Lello joined the Either Orchestra and toured the US and Canada, performing at events such as Toronto Jazz Festival and the Boston Globe Jazz Festival. That same year Lello also toured Italy with the George Garzone Quartet, and received his Master’s Degree from the New England Conservatory in Jazz Studies. While at NEC Lello studied for two years with Master Bassist Dave Holland. In ’92 the Lello Molinari Quintet was a winner in the Hennessy Cognac Best of Boston Jazz Search, and released its first Cd “No More Mr. Nice Guy” for “Accurate Records”. In ’93 Lello joined the Melrose Symphony Orchestra as their principal bassist and recorded several CDs. In ’94 Lello and his Quintet recorded their second Cd live at the RegattaBar Jazz Festival, titled “On A Boston Night” and released by “Accurate Records”. For the first 4 years starting in ’95, Lello participated in the Valtellina Jazz Festival performing with Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Diorio, Victor Lewis, and Dominique Eade. In ’96 Lello’s Quartet performed at the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, in ’97 the Quartet performed at the Verona Jazz Festival. In 2000 Lello recorded his third Cd as a leader titled “Multiple Personalities” and released in 2001 by “Splas(h) Records”. It features George Garzone, Mick Goodrick, Frank Carlberg, Marcello Pellitteri, Bob Gullotti, Jeff Galindo, and Chiara Civello. In 2001 Lello toured Japan for 18 days with Makoto Takenaka, John Hazilla, and Bob Reynolds. In 2002 Lello performed at the Sant’Elpidio Jazz Festival with Kenny Wheeler, Greg Burke, John Hazilla, Rick DiMuzio, Garrison Fewell, and Lisa Thorson. Since 2003 Lello is the co-founder of the group “3Play+”. It features Phil Grenadier on Trumpet, Josh Rosen on Piano, and Marcello Pellitteri on Drums. 3Play+ has just released their first CD (2009) featuring also Mick Goodrick on Guitar and George Garzone on Saxes. The Cd is titled “American Waltz” and released by “Ziggle Zaggle Music Records”. In 2004 Lello was commissioned to write the arrangements for a concert with the “Melrose Symphony Orchestra” featuring the “Lello Molinari Trio”. It also featured Cristine Correa on vocals and Greg Hopkins on Trumpet. In addition to the “Melrose Symphony Orchestra”, Lello is a bassist with the “Cape Ann Symphony”, the “Hillyer Festival Orchestra”, the “Salem Philarmonic” and the Gordon College Orchestra. Lello is a Professor at Berklee College of Music, where he has been teaching Ensembles since 1997. At Berklee he founded the “Dave Holland Ensemble” that has been in existence since 1998.
