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Antonio Barbagallo

Antonio Barbagallo is a jazz vocalist, guitar player, and composer from Catania, Italy.Arriving on US shores, Barbagallo studied with Barry Harris, one of the few living icons of Be-bop. As luck would have it, he was selected to play guitar in the European School for Jazz Conductors and Instrumentalists' orchestra directed by Gunther Schuller. Based in Palermo, this was the pioneer school for "jazz conducting" in Europe, if not in the world. French horn player/composer/arranger/conductor and foremost jazz expert Schuller is a legend in jazz history, particularly for his contribution to the experimental "third stream movement," a midpoint between jazz and classical music. Not one to pass up such an extraordinary opportunity, Antonio returned to his native country for 3 years. Following this great experience with "Maestro" Schuller, Barbagallo relocated once again to New York polished and ready to face his future.

Antonio Barbagallo's debut, “Colemania” (Ollio, 2004), is a tribute to his greatest inspiration: saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman. The CD features a mix of original compositions with lyrics written by his friend and collaborator, Gaetano Messina, as well as a combination of modern jazz standards and Brazilian jazz. Following its release, Barbagallo worked with the compatriot Grammy-nominated trumpeter Fabio Morgera on his 2006 "Need For Peace" (Small) providing vocals on two of the CD's original songs. In late 2009 came the opportunity for Barbagallo to compose music for the Lee Barton-directed film, “A Debt in the Life,” starring French beauty Floanne Ankah currently making the festival circuit.

That year ushered in a new quartet with Craig Hartley on piano, Chris Brown on drums, and bassist Ugonna Okegwo, giving birth to "Splendida Luce," Antonio's brand new CD. Released by Koine Italy, the Dodicilune imprint which showcases outstanding classical jazz & crossover singers, this newest work boasts special guests Fabio Morgera and rising star saxophonist Stacy Dillard. “Splendida Luce” has quickly become a press favorite and Antonio is performing live in support of the CD with various special guests.

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Here is the huge and pleasant surprise of a Catanese who lives in New York. Guitar player, interpreter and composer Barbagallo is, above all, an imaginative performer who uses his guitar to support his extremely unique voice: raucous, filled with strong "chiaroscuro" traits, and melancholic; is able to swing, to tell a story, to improvise and express himself in English as well as in Portuguese and Italian. "Splendida Luce" is the portrait of an authentic jazz singer who uses his voice as an instrument and knows jazz, not only the vocal side of it, as he demonstrates the hard choice of a balanced repertoire of rare modern jazz standards by Mingus, La Faro, Lins, and Nascimento, and Barbagallo's original songs. -- Musica Jazz

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Splendida Luce

Dodicilune Records
2010

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