Mike Gotthard/Gergo Borlai Group

Mike Gotthard/Gergo Borlai Group | Modern Jazz Fusion (HU)

Mike Gotthard/Gergo Borlai Group

Modern Jazz Fusion | HU

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE

2026/27 | Dates upon request (EU Resident band)


Line-up

Mike Gotthard | guitar
Gergő Borlai, Mohini Dey, Jesús Molina, Scott Kinsey, Al Di Meola, Gary Willis, Hadrien Feraud, Anton Davidyants, Kornél Fekete-Kovács, Dániel Szebényi

Martin Gudics | bass
Gergő Borlai, Frank Gambale, Boca Gambale, Tom Schuman, HAUSER, Péter Ferencz, Attila Závodi, Olivér Magán, Marcell Gudics

Erik Tempfli | keyboards
Bori Hegedűs, Petra Gubik, Dániel Görögh, Frankie Látó, Gergő Szakács, Dániel Szebényi, Dávid Kovács, Peta Lukács, Sándor Zsemlye

Gergő Borlai | drums
Scott Kinsey, Gary Willis, Jimmy Haslip, Hadrien Feraud, Nathan East, Bob Mintzer, Al Di Meola, Matthew Garrison, Scott Henderson


Style

A modern fusion quartet led by guitar, where Mike Gotthard’s blues-rock phrasing meets a broader, more fluid jazz grammar. The rhythm section of Gergő Borlai and Martin Gudics drives the project toward an elastic, sharply defined groove able to absorb odd meters without losing immediacy. Erik Tempfli completes the DNA with open harmonic thinking and a contemporary timbral palette: the result is music that is sensual in attack, brutal in energy, and always melodic in design.


Profile

Mike Gotthard/Gergo Borlai Group is the most compact and readable form of Mike Gotthard’s authorial language: a project built on original compositions that move through jazz, blues, rock, and funk without treating genres as fenced territories, but rather as reservoirs of accents, timbres, and dynamics. Around Gotthard’s guitar, the band works through contrasts: tension and singability, rhythmic precision and spontaneity, electric impact and harmonic breadth. Borlai brings international-level metric drive, Gudics holds the center with a mobile, reactive bass voice, while Tempfli opens depth and color through keyboards that can be both structural and narrative. The dominant traits are energetic articulation, a modern fusion harmonic vocabulary, tight interplay, and a clear live-performance vocation: not a simple all-star vehicle, but an ensemble with its own identity, recognizable for its balance of technique, groove, and writing.


Details

Mike Gotthard
A Hungarian guitarist and composer, he forms the expressive center of the project with phrasing that blends blues lyricism, rock attack, and jazz-fusion development. Official and critical sources describe him as an author more interested in musical narrative than in technical display, with a language built on melody, groove, and reciprocal listening. Within the band, he is the main vector of aesthetic direction: themes, dynamic shifts, and formal design remain readable even when the ensemble opens into improvisation.

“Misi is a real bomb of energy whose musicality can speak equally to rock lovers and jazz devotees.” (György Szentgallay, review of “Intellectual Brutality”, 2016-11-11)

Martin Gudics
A bassist able to move across fusion, songwriter-driven pop, smooth jazz, and high-intensity technical contexts, he brings rhythmic elasticity and structural awareness to the group. His role goes beyond support: he builds links between guitar and drums, keeps metric transitions fluid, and strengthens the groove element without weighing down the texture. Within the band’s DNA, he represents the pole of balance: precise, but always in service of collective musical unity.

“By now we can say with pride that Martin Gudics belongs to the elite of bass players not only in his country, but worldwide.” (JazzMa.hu, presentation of “BVDA”, 2024-04-17)

Erik Tempfli
A pianist, keyboardist, and Artisjus Award-winning composer, he brings broad harmonic thinking and a timbral awareness that avoids both mere filling and decorative virtuosity. His parts help define the group’s breathing space: pads, organ colors, electric piano textures, and modern comping become tools of architecture rather than simple color. He is the member who most clearly expands the quartet’s tonal horizon and reinforces its melodic-contemporary side.

“The natural lightness of his touch is in perfect harmony with his personality; his playing and musical humour evoke the very greatest.” (JazzMa.hu editorial, 2020-12-12)

Gergő Borlai
An internationally established drummer and composer, Borlai acts as an identity accelerator for the project: rhythmic precision, dynamic control, advanced fusion vocabulary, and the ability to make even the most complex metric turns feel organic. His presence transforms the ensemble from an author-led group into a band with strong performance traction. In the group’s DNA he carries weight both as rhythmic engine and as a marker of prestige: his signature is recognizable in the energy, the clarity of pulse, and the dramatic handling of climaxes.

“Gergo has become one of the most exciting up-and-coming drummers today and continues to be recognized with each jaw-dropping solo.” (Drumeo, 2022-08-19)

 


Biography

Mike Gotthard is a Hungarian guitarist and composer whose work bridges blues phrasing, modern fusion, and a strong live-performance instinct. Gergő Borlai, with an international career spanning hundreds of recordings and top-tier collaborations, brings world-class rhythmic identity and prestige to the ensemble. Together with Martin Gudics and Erik Tempfli, the group delivers a modern jazz fusion format built on compositional clarity, high-impact groove, and advanced interplay.


Discography

Mike Gotthard
Intellectual Brutality — album — 2016
9 Wheels — single — 2021
Flotation — single — 2024
The Electric Shock Live Session — EP — 2025
The Group Live Session — single — 2026
Sensual Brutality — album — 2026
LesMi — single — 2026

Martin Gudics
Ups & Down — album with Peet Project — 2020
Sweet Lemon — album with Peet Project — 2022
Global Warning — Oliver Zisko album featuring Martin Gudics — 2022
Hard to Say Goodbye — single with Dániel Szebényi and Gudics Twins — 2023
Sensual Brutality — album with Mike Gotthard/Gergő Borlai — 2026
LesMi — single with Mike Gotthard/Gergő Borlai — 2026

Erik Tempfli
Altató — song performed at A Dal with Bori Hegedűs — 2021
Anya — single with Bori Hegedűs — 2022
Unalmas felnőtt — single with Bori Hegedűs and Johanna Lengyel — 2022
ReStar — album with Kodály Spicy Jazz — 2025
Sensual Brutality live set with Mike Gotthard Group — repertory documented from 2024 to 2026

Gergő Borlai
17 — album — 1998
Sausage — album — 2004
M.M.M. — album — 2010
ARC Trio — album — 2018
The Missing Song — album — 2020
Burger Joint on Oxnard Street — single — 2023
Monster Pop — single — 2023
A New Normal — single — 2025
Sensual Brutality — album with Mike Gotthard — 2026
LesMi — single with Mike Gotthard — 2026


Quotes

“Misi is a real bomb of energy whose musicality can speak equally to rock lovers and jazz devotees.”
György Szentgallay | JazzMa.hu | 2016-11-11

“The natural lightness of his touch is in perfect harmony with his personality; his playing and musical humour evoke the very greatest.”
JazzMa.hu editorial | 2020-12-12

“By now we can say with pride that Martin Gudics belongs to the elite of bass players not only in his country, but worldwide.”
JazzMa.hu editorial | 2024-04-17

“Gergo has become one of the most exciting up-and-coming drummers today and continues to be recognized with each jaw-dropping solo.”
Drumeo | 2022-08-19


Reviews

Gotthárd Mihály: Intellectual Brutality / JazzMa.hu / György Szentgallay / 2016-11-11

Katartikus elektrosokk Solymáron / JazzMa.hu / Géza Barcsik / 2020-09-15

‘I meet new inspirations almost every day’ / Secret Eclectic / 2021-03-16

Lamantin Jazz Fesztivál szerda / JazzMa.hu / László Czika / 2025-07-04

WHATS GOING ON

Davide Pannozzo ft. Etienne Stadwijk & Steve Ferrone

DAVIDE PANNOZZO Trio ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & STEVE FERRONE | Soul-Funk Blues Fusion (USA)

DAVIDE PANNOZZO Trio

ft.

ETIENNE STADWIJK & STEVE FERRONE

Soul-Funk Blues Fusion | USA

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE

2026 | October 15th to 27th

DavidePannozzo3 DAVIDE PANNOZZO Trio ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & STEVE FERRONE | Soul-Funk Blues Fusion (USA)
DavidePannozzo3 DAVIDE PANNOZZO Trio ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & STEVE FERRONE | Soul-Funk Blues Fusion (USA)
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Line-up

Davide Pannozzo | Guitar, vocals
George Benson, Steve Jordan, Will Lee, David Garfield, Phil Palmer, Matt Schofield, Oz Noy, Robben Ford

Etienne Stadwijk | Piano, keyboards, synth bass
Paul Simon, Maxwell, Marcus Miller, Richard Bona, Nona Hendryx, Harry Belafonte

Steve Ferrone | Drums
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Average White Band, Eric Clapton, Duran Duran, George Harrison, Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson


Style

Contemporary blues wired into funk and jazz, with modern arrangements and a true stage-first drive. An iconic rhythm engine and a keyboard chair that can become bass: a trio that sounds like a full band. Set for October 2026, the music moves between wide grooves, singable themes, and high-intensity improvisation without losing song focus.


Profile

Davide Pannozzo leads an essential yet ambitious trio: guitar and vocals up front, with an expanded sound built on the idea of orchestrating every tune. The palette is modern blues, shot through with fusion accents and a decisive funk pulse; improvisation never becomes an end in itself, but stays narrative, shaping dynamics, timbre, and forward motion. Etienne Stadwijk works in textures and counterlines, switching between piano and keyboards while deploying a deep synth bass that redraws the balance of the band: the bass role turns mobile, harmonic, and rhythmic all at once. Steve Ferrone brings the authority of decades at the top of international rock and R&B: timing, weight, and space, with an elasticity that keeps the trio tight and always breathing. The result is high-voltage music rooted in tradition and designed for the present.


Details

Davide Pannozzo | Guitar, vocals
Classical training with an electric identity: a singing phrasing, controlled attack, and a vocabulary that crosses modern blues with jazz sensibility. In original material he favors clear themes and open-ended codas, letting the solo become a second verse. In trio format, the guitar carries melody and harmony without losing rhythmic weight.

“Today there are very few artists who can inspire and be full of ideas: Davide Pannozzo is one of them. From the first listen you know something special is happening…” (Will Lee, GUITARlab Blog, 2018-12-04)

Etienne Stadwijk | Piano, keyboards, synth bass
Pianist and keyboardist with Surinamese roots, Berklee training, and a New York base. His signature is the balance between European voicings, world colors, and an R&B-born sense of pocket. In this project he is also the harmonic bass, shaping synth-bass lines that give body and direction to the groove.

“The band was very tight, with really successful solos… (including Stadwijk’s).” (Maciek Pysz, London Jazz News, 2013-10-08)

Steve Ferrone | Drums
A benchmark for solidity and musicality: heavy hits when needed, but above all control of dynamics. His drumming connects rock, funk, and pop through a precise idea of space, letting the song breathe. In trio, he is the engine that makes every density shift feel inevitable, from raw blues to wide-open fusion.

“Over the past four decades, Ferrone’s taste, timing and impeccable groove have served him extremely well…” (Joe Bosso, MusicRadar, 2010-08-26)


 


Biography

Davide Pannozzo is an Italian guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, and educator whose work connects blues roots, soul dynamics, and jazz-informed phrasing. Based between Europe and the United States, he has collaborated with players such as Steve Ferrone, Will Lee, Oz Noy, and David Garfield, building a profile that combines songwriter instinct, groove awareness, and a modern electric guitar voice designed for both records and the stage.


Discography

Davide Pannozzo
Albums/EPs: Born Electric; A Portrait of Jimi Hendrix; Unconditional Love; Room for Joy. Singles: Be Blessed; Keep On Loving You; Love Is a Simple Thing; Without You, Once Again; St. Louis Blues; Imagine; Plug It In; Leroy’s Blues; The Thrill Is Gone; Christmas In New York.

Etienne Stadwijk
Albums/EPs: Lagos Pepper Soup; To Love Again -…; Olatuja; Waltz for Eli. Singles: Then Why?!; Wig Glue.

Steve Ferrone
Albums/EPs: It Up: Steve Ferrone and Friends Live at La Ve Lee; More Head (Steve Ferrone’s Farm Fur); Steve Ferrone & Friends Live; Steve Ferrone & Friends Mo’Live.


Quotes

  • “Today there are very few artists who can inspire and be full of ideas: Davide Pannozzo is one of them. From the first listen you know something special is happening…” Will Lee, GUITARlab Blog, 2018-12-04
  • “If you like Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Carl Verheyen, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton, then this album and this cool cat are definitely for you.” Simon Redley, Music Republic Magazine, 2017-10-19
  • “Over the past four decades, Ferrone’s taste, timing and impeccable groove have served him extremely well…” Joe Bosso, MusicRadar, 2010-08-26
  • “The band was very tight, with really successful solos… (including Stadwijk’s).” Maciek Pysz, London Jazz News, 2013-10-08
  • “Keyboardist and producer Etienne Stadwijk has released a powerful and moving track…” A.A. Cristi, BroadwayWorld, 2020-06-22
  • “An outstanding album, Steve Ferrone & Friends Live…” Planet Drum, 2014-09-16

Reviews

  • Davide Pannozzo & Loud Stuff – Born Electric – Bman’s Blues Report – 2012-04-18 – https://bmansbluesreport.com/2012/04/18/davide-pannozzo-loud-stuff-born-electric-new-release-review/
  • Davide Pannozzo – Unconditional Love – Music Republic Magazine | Simon Redley – 2017-10-19 – https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2017/10/davide-pannozzo-unconditional-love-unconditional-love-global-publishing-19th-october-2017/
  • Celebrated guitarist Davide Pannozzo releases new single Be Blessed – Rock and Blues Muse – 2022-07-07 – https://www.rockandbluesmuse.com/2022/07/07/celebrated-guitarist-davide-pannozzo-releases-new-single-be-blessed/
  • Review: Richard Bona at Pizza Express – London Jazz News | Maciek Pysz – 2013-10-08 – https://londonjazznews.com/2013/10/08/review-richard-bona-at-pizza-expres/
  • Multi-Instrumentalist and Producer Etienne Stadwijk Releases a Powerful Response to the Current Social Climate – BroadwayWorld | A.A. Cristi – 2020-06-22 – https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Multi-Instrumentalist-and-Producer-Etienne-Stadwijk-Releases-a-Powerful-Response-to-the-Current-Social-Climate-20200622
  • Tom Petty drummer Steve Ferrone talks groove, Charlie Watts and more – MusicRadar | Joe Bosso – 2010-08-26 – https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/tom-petty-drummer-steve-ferrone-talks-groove-charlie-watts-and-more-289800
  • Steve Ferrone and Friends Live with Tracktion 5 – Planet Drum – 2014-09-16 – https://www.planet-drum.com/steve-ferrone-and-friends-live-with-tracktion-5/

BOOKING REQUEST

Bobby Sparks

BOBBY SPARKS II | Fusion Jazz (USA)

BOBBY SPARKS II

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE
2025 | NOVEMBER TOUR CANCELLED

2026 | TBA

Bobby1 BOBBY SPARKS II | Fusion Jazz (USA)
Bobby1 BOBBY SPARKS II | Fusion Jazz (USA)
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Bobby Sparks II – Keys, Composer, Producer – US

A master of groove, texture, and genre fusion, Bobby Sparks II is one of the most explosive and versatile keyboardists of his generation. Known for his work with Snarky Puppy, Marcus Miller, Prince, Herbie Hancock, Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg, and St. Vincent, Sparks blends jazz, funk, gospel, soul, hip-hop, and cinematic sound design into a powerful and unmistakable musical voice.

His live project brings together a collective of high-caliber musicians, creating an electrifying stage experience. The music is dynamic, unpredictable, and deeply rooted in the traditions of Black American Music, while pushing boundaries with cutting-edge improvisation and production sensibility.

Bobby Sparks II’s performances have been described as orchestral and raw, mixing the lush textures of analog synths and organs with high-impact rhythm sections and searing solos. Whether it’s a small club or a major festival, the energy is magnetic and the musicality is second to none.

Live Line-Up

Bobby Sparks – Keys

Snarky Puppy, Prince, Herbie Hancock, Marcus Miller, Snoop Dogg, St. Vincent

Jay Mack – Bass

Erykah Badu, Kirk Franklin, Mononeon

Keith Anderson – Sax

Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Kanye West, Erykah Badu

Cam – Guitar

Nile Rodgers, Musiq Soulchild

DeAnthony McGee – EWI

Snarky Puppy, Kirk Franklin

Adarian Roberts – Drums

Tye Tribbett, Kirk Franklin

Official website: https://bobbysparksmusic.com/

Wayne Krantz Power Trio ft. Evan Marien & Josh Dion

WAYNE KRANTZ TRIO ft. EVAN MARIEN & JOSH DION | Fusion Jazz (USA)

WAYNE KRANTZ SUGAR TRIO
ft. Evan Marien & Josh Dion

AVAILABLE IN EUROPE
2025 | MARCH

WayneKrantzPowerTrioftEvanMarienJoshDion WAYNE KRANTZ TRIO ft. EVAN MARIEN & JOSH DION | Fusion Jazz (USA)
WayneKrantzPowerTrioftEvanMarienJoshDion WAYNE KRANTZ TRIO ft. EVAN MARIEN & JOSH DION | Fusion Jazz (USA)
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Line up

Wayne Krantz | Guitar

Steely Dan, Michael Brecker, Donald Fagen, Billy Cobham, Chris Potter, David Binney, Carla Bley, Keith Carlock, Tim Lefebvre, Pino Palladino, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Patitucci, Tal Wilkenfeld, Anton Fig, Jeremy Stacey, Paul Stacey, Gabriela Anders, Kenny Wollesen, Nate Wood, Henry Hey, Owen Biddle

Josh Dion | Drums

John Scofield, Wayne Krantz, Bill Evans, Chuck Loeb, Esperanza Spalding, Lucius, Chris Thile

Evan Marien | Bass

Tigran Hamasyan, Tim Miller, Virgil Donati, Elliot Moss, Justin Brown, Allan Holdsworth, Dana Hawkins, Fredrik Thordendal, Plini, Aaron Marshall, J3PO, Cory Wong, Zac Zinger, Button Masher, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

WAYNE KRANTZ

Wayne KrantzWayne Krantz was born in Corvallis, Oregon. He released his first album, Signals, in 1990, sporting an array of recognized jazz musicians such as Dennis Chambers, Don Alias, Anthony Jackson, and others.
In 1992, he formed a trio with bassist Lincoln Goines and drummer Zach Danziger and recorded two albums with them, Long To Be Loose (1993) and 2 Drink Minimum (1995), a live album, and began playing regularly at the 55 Bar, a jazz club in New York City. In 1996, Krantz released an acoustic album with Leni Stern, dubbed Separate Cages. After playing with Steely Dan for several years, Krantz formed a new trio in 1997 with Tim Lefebvre on bass and Keith Carlock on drums; on June 28, 2007, he played his final regular Thursday night gig at New York’s 55 Bar. As of October and November 2018, he is playing regularly at 55 Bar again with a rotating cast of sidemen.

Wayne Krantz’s first three solo albums were released on the jazz label Enja Records. His next three albums, 1999’s Greenwich Mean, 2003’s Your Basic Live, and 2007’s Your Basic Live ’06 were all released from Wayne’s private website. Like 2 Drink Minimum, these albums are excerpts of various sets at the 55 Bar. These albums also include more use of effects pedals, and are more unscripted and improvised than the previous three. He contributed to Donald Fagen’s release Morph the Cat, and toured with Fagen’s band in early 2006. He was featured on tenor saxophonist Chris Potter’s 2006 release, Underground.

Wayne Krantz signed with record label Abstract Logix to release his first studio record in over fifteen years. Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (2009) features the core trio of Krantz, Carlock on drums and Lefebvre on bass. In 2012, Krantz released Howie 61 (a reference to Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited), which includes performances by Keith Carlock, James Genus, John Patitucci, Charley Drayton, Tal Wilkenfeld, Vinnie Colaiuta, Anton Fig, Yasushi Miura, Jeremy Stacey, Paul Stacey, Pino Palladino, Gabriela Anders, Kenny Wollesen, Nate Wood, Henry Hey and Owen Biddle. In 2014, Krantz released “Good Piranha/Bad Piranha,” a live-in-the-studio album featuring his two dominant trio combinations at the time: Nate Wood/Keith Carlock and Tim Lefebvre/Nate Wood. The bands each recorded the same four cover songs with radically different improvisational results.

https://www.waynekrantz.com/

EVAN MARIEN

Evan MarienEvan Marien is an award-winning bassist, composer, producer, author, educator, and 3D artist, born and raised in the cornfields of Decatur, Illinois. He graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2009 and has lived in the NYC area since 2010.

Known for his collaborations with drummer Dana Hawkins, he has also performed in the bands of Tigran Hamasyan, Wayne Krantz, Tim Miller, Virgil Donati, Elliot Moss, Justin Brown’s NYEUSI, and was the last bassist to perform in guitar legend Allan Holdsworth’s band.

His latest release, ‘Elysian’ features Dana Hawkins, Tigran Hamasyan, Fredrik Thordendal, Plini, Intervals, J3PO, Tim Miller, Cory Wong, Zac Zinger, Button Masher, and Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.

You can hear his bass playing on numerous albums such as Tigran Hamasyan’s “The Call Within,” Virgil Donati’s “In This Life,” and “Ruination”, and Steve Hunt’s “Connections”.

His playing can also be heard on the Mitski song ‘Nobody,’ for which he received a gold record for participating on the album ‘Be The Cowboy,’ as well as on the songs ‘Should’ve Been Me’ and ‘That’s Our Lamp’ from her most recent album, ‘Laurel Hell’.

In partnership with MadeMusicStudio, Evan has composed music for renowned brands such as AT&T, Lexus, and NPR. Most recently, he won a 2022 CLIO award for composing the sonic logo and anthem for Turner Classic Movies (TCM).

As an author, he has written numerous books about his distinctive Hexatonic method for the bass guitar, as well as created video courses describing his specialized right hand technique. His first book, ‘Transcriptions Vol. 1,’ was an Amazon Best Seller in its first week of release.

Evan is also a part-time faculty member at The New School in New York City, where he specializes in providing private lessons to the next generation of contemporary musicians.

Evan Marien is a MarkBass artist!

Evan Marien

https://www.evanmarien.com/

JOSH DION

Josh DionJosh Dion was born at the tail end of the disco funk era, when popular radio bore the sounds of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and ‘four on the floor’ drum beats! Raised in Storrs, CT, Josh started playing his father’s drums before he even started kindergarten. He grew up playing drums to the simple and beat driven sounds of Nick Mason and Ringo Starr. He also lived across the hall from his older brother, who not only followed the Grateful Dead, but introduced him to Cream at the tender age of seven. Rightfully so, Cream, Zeppelin and the Stones led Dion to Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson and beyond.

A prodigious talent, Josh started playing professionally at age eight and was invited to shed with the UConn Jazz Studies program by the time he was twelve. While he was impressing people with his percussion skills, he was playing piano and singing in his local church, developing talents which would eventually help him stand out even among the world class drummers in whose company he has now found himself.

After a stint in the music program at New Jersey’s William Paterson University, he has made New York City his home. Josh’s college days were greeted by an immersion in the Jam band scene with NYC funk band ulu, who toured the Eastern half of the US. Josh was soon noticed by jazz guitarist Chuck Loeb, who offered Josh an opportunity to be seen and heard by a whole new level of the music audience. From that platform, he has gone on to work with some of the major brand names of the music world: Candy Dulfer, Spyro Gyra, Will Lee, Pat Martino, Jeff Kashiwa, Jason Miles, Anthony Jackson, Edgar Winter, Randy Brecker, Bob James, Eric Marienthal, Til Bronner, Jim Beard, Ivan Lins and on and on.

Meanwhile, Josh Dion has been developing his solo career with the CD releases of the Josh Dion Band (www.joshdionband.net), their debut “Give Love” and the imminent “Josh Dion Band Live.” The Josh Dion Band has another studio release planned for early 2007.

“Give Love” was greeted with effusive praise by the UK’s Drummer magazine, who described it as “Brian Wilson meets Hall and Oates, with possibly Bruce Springsteen looking in and drums that sound like they were recorded at Muscle Shoals Studios. This is a collection of epic songs that build and move as songs used to in the old days when songwriters were exactly that and labels like Motown and Stax were market leaders…Great voice, great drums and great, great tunes…Dion is a young player that is going to create a very big impression indeed. Not only can this fella lay down a super funky beat, but he sings with a soulful voice that totally melts your mind…You are going to be hearing more from this extremely talented young musician…If there is any justice in this world, Dion will be huge.” YEAH!

Josh also enjoys nature-walking, driving, and attending history lectures.

GEAR LIST
Absolute Maple Nouveau
ABD-1518JF 18″x14″
ATT-1512J 12″x8″
AFT-1516 16″x16″
ASD-0545 14″x5.5″
MNS-1470EJ Elvin Jones Signature

https://www.yamaha.com/artists/joshdion.html

Daraa Tribes

DARAA TRIBES | Tribal Fusion & Saharan Blues (MA)

DARAA TRIBES Tribal Fusion & Saharan Blues (MA)

SANDS 8 1 DARAA TRIBES | Tribal Fusion & Saharan Blues (MA)
SANDS 8 1 DARAA TRIBES | Tribal Fusion & Saharan Blues (MA)
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Line-up

Rachid Berazougui | Electric guitar, vocals
Playing For Change (Live Outside); international festival circuits (EU/UK/NA)

Mustapha Aqermim | Rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Collective songwriting; linguistic/organizational bridge in international collaborations

Abdelkebir Saadi | Bass, backing vocals
Grounding rhythm section between Regaga and desert‑blues groove; full‑band live set

Abdelhafid “Hafid” Ami | Percussion (cajón/krakebs), backing vocals
Polyrhythms and ritual patterns (Lkaaba) integrated into an electric set

Mohamed Sabir | Drums
Drummer in the band’s amplified live configuration; adds a more driving full-kit pulse to the groove

Balkhir Razgui | Vocals, percussion (founder, in memoriam)
Founding voice of the project (2014–2024)

Style

Tribal Fusion and Saharan Blues from the palm groves of Tagounite: desert‑guitar riffs, trance percussion and call‑and‑response that turn the stage into a shared rite.

Profile

Daraa Tribes formed in 2014 in Tagounite, an oasis town in Morocco’s Draa Valley: a group of friends from different tribes translating their home’s coexistence into sound. Their “blues of the desert” intertwines Gnawa, Sahraoui, Amazigh and Regaga idioms into a contemporary language—dry, hypnotic electric guitars, a pulsing bass, polyrhythmic percussion and multilingual chorus lines (Darija, Tamazight, Hassani). On stage the band builds by accumulation: circular grooves, minimal variation and tight interplay that draws the audience into a collective dance. After consolidating an international trajectory across festivals and clubs, Daraa Tribes have just wrapped up a UK mini‑tour (Bristol–London–Manchester), reaffirming the project’s high‑intensity live dimension.

Details 

Rachid Berazougui writes and sings part of the repertoire with a desert‑tone electric guitar that leads the set’s hypnosis. (“Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of sound that is the heartbeat of Daraa Tribes.” Playing For Change, 2025-04-01)

Mustapha Aqermim is a rhythmic and narrative engine: the band’s identity grew “in a circle,” without hierarchy, from sharing traditions. (“We didn’t plan to start a band. We just started playing together…” Matt Ross, Arab News, 2020-08-16)

UK mini‑tour (just concluded): Jam Jar (Bristol, 2026-01-03), Hootananny (Brixton, 2026-01-07), Band on the Wall (Manchester, 2026-01-11).

Sound imprint: desert‑guitar groove with a Gnawa edge—a writing approach that stays danceable even at its most ritual. (“…incorporate their Moroccan roots into a lilting groove… the edge of the North African Gnawa sounds.” Tony Benjamin, Bristol24/7, 2026-01-02)

Discography

  • Alwan (EP, 2017)

  • Igharman (LP, 2018)

  • Zamane (EP, 2019)

  • Lakbayl (single, 2021)

  • Sahara (single, 2022)

  • Torat Vol. 1 (EP, 2024)

MUSIC REVIEWS

Listening Now : Daraa Tribes – Bshara | 2024-02-02
https://lastdaydeaf.com/listening-now-daraa-tribes-bshara/

Torat Vol. 1, au fil du nouvel EP des Daraa Tribes | 2024-01-29
https://djolo.net/torat-vol-1-au-fil-nouvel-ep-daraa-tribes/

BSHARA REVIEW: The Vitality of North African Pastoral Life | 2024-01-25
https://music.coralriff.biz/bshara-vitality-north-african-pastoral-life/

Daraa Tribes Evoke the Vitality of North African Pastoral Life in the Traditional and Saharan Blues Fusion of “Bshara” | 2024-01-24
https://queencitysoundsandart.wordpress.com/2024/01/24/daraa-tribes-evoke-the-vitality-of-north-african-pastoral-life-in-the-traditional-and-saharan-blues-fusion-of-bshara/

Daily Discovery: Daraa Tribes – Bshara | 2024-01-17
https://rhythmpassport.com/daily-discovery-daraa-tribes-bshara/

Daily Discovery: Daraa Tribes – Sahara (Official Video) | 2022-10-18
https://rhythmpassport.com/daily-discovery-daraa-tribes-sahara-official-video/

Joli moment de convivialité dans le Sahara avec la Daraa Tribes | 2022-10-10
https://djolo.net/joli-moment-convivialite-dans-sahara-avec-daraa-tribes/

LAKBAYL | BLOGS’ REVIEWS | 2021-10-17
https://music.coralriff.biz/lakbayl-blog-reviews-single-release/

Toutes les Daraa Tribes se réunissent sur Lakbayl | 2021-10-08
https://djolo.net/toutes-les-daraa-tribes-se-reunissent-sur-lakbayl/

All the Daraa Tribes meet on Lakbayl | REVIEW ON DJOLO | 2021-10-08
https://music.coralriff.biz/all-daraa-tribes-meet-lakbayl-review-on-djolo/

Globalism //4 | 2021-10-04
https://lastdaydeaf.com/globalism-4/

UltraRadar. Nueva música alternativa mundial – Octubre 2021 | 2021-10-01
https://planarteria.com/2021/10/ultraradar-nueva-musica-alternativa-mundial-octubre-2021/

Quotes 

“…incorporate their Moroccan roots into a lilting groove… the edge of the North African Gnawa sounds.”

Tony Benjamin, Bristol 24/7, 2026-01-02) — https://www.bristol247.com/culture/music/bristols-month-in-world-music-january-2026/

“We are delighted to welcome back Daraa Tribes as the celebratory closing act of our first digital festival.”

Liverpool Arab Arts Festival, 2020-07-18) — https://www.arabartsfestival.com/events/daraa-tribes/

“The track… fusing ancient rhythms with contemporary flair… offering listeners a sonic journey.”

Last Day Deaf, 2024-02-02 — https://lastdaydeaf.com/listening-now-daraa-tribes-bshara/


Reviews / articles / profiles

Profiles & bio

UK tour (just concluded)

Live reviews

Torat Vol. 1

TORAT Vol. 1 from DARAA TRIBES is OUT!

TORAT Vol. 1 from DARAA TRIBES is OUT!

Torat Vol. 1

Moroccan desert blues band Daraa Tribes releases their new EP Torat Vol. 1. It is the band’s third EP and third release with label Coral Riff Music.

‘Torat’ means ‘tradition’ in Moroccan Arabic and reflects the ancestral, traditional music that not only influenced this new release, but can be heard through traditional percussion and vocal styles in each song on the EP.

Songs like ‘Bshara’ and ‘Lghram’ come directly from traditional Hassania, Amazigh, and Daraoua ancestral customs found throughout southern Morocco and across North Africa.

This reflection and representation of traditional music is met with an eclectic modern blues/rock style apparent on each track. This is a continuation of Daraa Tribes efforts on each of the band’s previous releases to innovate upon ancestral cultural traditions, using them as a foundation for their creative process.

The band simultaneously released a lyric video for the song ‘Bshara’, translated into both Hassania Arabic and English. This song tells the story of the Aarib tribe, nomadic in origin, and their historical relationship with their surrounding environments. Major themes include a cultural, social, and economic importance placed upon camels, music customs performed by the tribal youth, and greeting other tribal members traveling from Afar. These themes are not just common among nomadic Hassania culture historically in North Africa, but are still very much part of modern cultural life in the Sahara desert of Morocco.

DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO - (USA) ROCK - JAZZ NO TEXT

DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO | Polyphonic Jazz Rock (USA)

DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO

Polyphonic Jazz Rock (USA)

AVAILABILITY

2026 | OCTOBER 1st to 17th

DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO - (USA) ROCK - JAZZ NO TEXT
DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO - (USA) ROCK - JAZZ NO TEXT
DANIELE GOTTARDO TRIO - (USA) ROCK - JAZZ NO TEXT
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Line Up

Daniele Gottardo | Guitar

Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Guthrie Govan, Greg Howe, Eric Johnson, Zakk Wylde, Nuno Bettencourt, Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan

Nicolò Vese | Bass

Daniele Liverani, Federico Vese, Gabriele Bullita, Nico Di Battista, James Senese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Sanremo, Ne Obliviscaris, Caligula’s Horse

Giuseppe Risitano | Drums

Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Stefano Di Battista, Fabrizio Bosso, Tullio De Piscopo, Maria Pia De Vito, Gianluca Petrella, Roberto Gatto, Danilo Rea, Rita Marcotulli

Style

Polyphonic jazz-rock where the electric guitar behaves like a full ensemble voice. Contrapuntal writing, modern harmony, odd-meter architecture and wide-screen dynamics. Virtuosity always serving form and narrative.

Profile

Daniele Gottardo Trio is built around a rare premise: the guitar is treated as orchestration. Gottardo’s writing layers melodic lead lines with inner voices, counterpoint and chamber-like voicings, then locks them into contemporary grooves where rock drive and jazz articulation coexist without compromise. The sound stays clear and composed even at high intensity—less a soloist with accompaniment, more three musicians sharing multiple roles at once.

That polyphonic idea extends to the rhythm section. Bassist Nicolò Vese expands the harmonic field through counterlines, register shifts and chordal color, moving between supportive foundation and melodic engine with a modern prog-fusion touch. Drummer Giuseppe Risitano completes the architecture with a contemporary-jazz approach to time and dynamics: a precise pocket when needed, open texture when the arrangement calls for air, and an instinct for shaping transitions as part of the form.

The band’s signature sits at the intersection of modern fusion and progressive attitude: intricate voicings, tight rhythmic design, and a cinematic sense of arc.

Recognition

Often cited as included by Steve Vai among the world’s “Top 10 Emerging Guitarists”, Daniele Gottardo has also been publicly singled out by Vai as a rare “blue-moon” discovery—and introduced as his “favorite new young guitar player.”

Details

Daniele Gottardo’s catalog is shaped by long-form composition for electric guitar, where orchestration, counterpoint, and modern harmony become structural elements. The writing favors clarity under pressure: layered voices and designed dynamics that keep dense material readable.

“Once in a blue moon… I come across a guitar talent that is truly stimulating to me… Daniele Gottardo is one of those people.” (Steve Vai, Vai.com, 2014-04-25)

Nicolò Vese approaches the bass as a shared-role instrument: opening harmonic space, doubling and counterlining with intent, shifting between foundation and thematic voice without breaking the groove.

Giuseppe Risitano balances precision and air: strong time feel when the architecture needs a spine, and elastic dynamics when the arrangement asks for depth and perspective.

Discography

Albums

INkBlot Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2022-10-31

Giant Nuts (Daniele Gottardo & The Nuts) Label: Self-released Release date: 2016-05-01

Non Temperato Label: Self-released Release date: 2014-03-15

Frenzy of Ecstasy Label: Digital Nations Release date: 2010-03-15

Singles

Now’s the Time Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2025-04-18

Four On Six Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2025-02-07

Liadov – Mazurka in F minor, Op. 57 No. 3 Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2023-10-13

My Favorite Things Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2023-02-24

Ziprexa’s Lake (2022 Remaster) Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2022-12-23

Spirals Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2022-07-29

Bittersweetness Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2022-07-01

Blue Salt Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2022-05-27

The Little Match Girl (Orchestral Version) Label: Daniele Gottardo Release date: 2015-03-01

Quotes

“His technique is stunning… the harmonic/melodic atmospheres he creates have unique qualities.” — Steve Vai, Vai.com post, 2014-04-25 — https://www.vai.com/danielle-gottardo/

“He has an elegant touch, stunning intonation, innovational style, and he honors the melody.” — Steve Vai, statement quoted by Guitar World, 2017-01-26 — https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/steve-vai-reveals-his-favorite-new-guitar-player-video

“It definitely cheers me up when I hear… players who have something unique and distinctive to say.” — Guthrie Govan, interview with Sonic State Amped, 2013-06-21 — https://sonicstate.com/amped/2013/06/21/interview-guthrie-govan-talks-about-the-new-aristocrats-album/

“His tapping game is off the charts.” — Phil Weller, Guitar World (Apex Breed tour news), 2025-12-22 — https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/concerts-gigs-tours/apex-breed-tour-2025

Italian guitar virtuoso… combines… with mind-blowing modern-rock guitar techniques.” — Oscar Jordan, Vintage Guitar, 2023-01 (issue) — https://www.vintageguitar.com/49501/daniele-gottardo/

Reviews

Steve Vai Reveals His Favorite New Guitar Player — Guitar World — Christopher Scapelliti — 2017-01-26 — https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/steve-vai-reveals-his-favorite-new-guitar-player-video

Meet Daniele Gottardo, Steve Vai’s favorite new young guitar player — Guitar World — Mark McStea — 2023-05-16 — https://www.guitarworld.com/features/danielle-gottardo-inkblot

Messina – “Daniele Gottardo Trio” live al Retronouveau di Messina1 — Radio Medua — 2025-09-15 — https://www.radiomedua.it/news/messina-daniele-gottardo-trio-live-al-retronouveau-di-messina1/

Daniele Gottardo Trio in concerto al Retronouveau — The Messineser — 2025-09-16 — https://themessineser.it/daniele-gottardo-trio-in-concerto-al-retronouveau/

Daniele Gottardo – Frenzy Of Ecstasy — SpazioRock — Fabio Milano — 2011-06-07 — https://www.spaziorock.it/archivio/recensione.php?id=1919

Daniele Gottardo: Non Temperato (2014) album review — Rockbook.hu — (author not listed) — (date not displayed on page) — https://www.rockbook.hu/hirek/daniele-gottardo-non-temperato-2014-album-review

NEW ALBUMS (Album of the Month: Daniele Gottardo – INkBlot, 10/10) — Guitar Techniques (Pocketmags) — JS — (issue month shown: February 2023; exact day not displayed) — https://pocketmags.com/es/guitar-techniques-magazine/february-2023/articles/new-albums

Daniele Gottardo: “I remember thinking Yngwie Malmsteen’s playing was amazing, and I wondered if the scalloped neck was his secret” — Guitar World — Mark McStea — 2023-05-16 — https://www.guitarworld.com/features/danielle-gottardo-inkblot

Daniele Gottardo — Vintage Guitar — Oscar Jordan — (issue month shown: January 2023; exact day not displayed) — https://www.vintageguitar.com/49501/daniele-gottardo/

Daniele Gottardo – Frenzy Of Ecstasy — Metallized.it — (author/date not accessible via current fetch) — https://www.metallized.it/recensione.php?id=3402

Daniele Gottardo – Frenzy Of Ecstasy — Metalwave.it — (author/date not accessible via current fetch) — https://www.metalwave.it/recensione.php?id=3207

 

DAVIDE PANNOZZO TRIO ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & CLINT DE GANON

DAVIDE PANNOZZO TRIO | Blues/Funk/Fusion (USA)

Davide Pannozzo Trio | Fusion Jazz-Funk (USA)

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE
2025 | September
2026 | TBA

DAVIDE PANNOZZO TRIO
ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & CLINT DE GANON
DAVIDE PANNOZZO TRIO
ft. ETIENNE STADWIJK & CLINT DE GANON
Davide Pannozzo Trio Title
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Davide Pannozzo | Guitar

Danny Gottlieb, Pippo Matino, Nathan East, Verdine White, Andrew Gouche, Mel Brown, George Benson, David Garfield, Phil Palmer, Nicola Piovani, Steve Jordan, Will Lee, Oleta Adams, Oz Noy, Shawn Pelton

Etienne Stadwijk | Piano

Louis Sclavis, Michel Portal, Tigran Hamasyan, Manu Katché, Youn Sun Nah

Clint De Ganon | Drums

Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Bob Mintzer, Paul Simon, Lizz Wright

A visionary, modern, and emotionally charged project, the Davide Pannozzo Trio blends the language of contemporary jazz with the deep roots of soul, blues, and Afro-American tradition, delivering a sound that is both authentic and strikingly relevant.

DAVIDE PANNOZZO – Guitar and voice
A guitarist, composer, and producer based in New York City, Davide Pannozzo is widely recognized as one of the most influential voices in today’s guitar scene. His collaborations span a long list of music legends, including George Benson, David Garfield, Steve Jordan, Phil Palmer, Will Lee, Oz Noy, Nathan East, Verdine White, Mel Brown, and Oleta Adams. Pannozzo’s refined technique and soulful touch allow him to effortlessly bridge jazz, blues, fusion, and classical influences, forging a unique and immediately recognizable guitar language.

ETIENNE STADWIJK – Piano
A Dutch pianist and keyboardist with Surinamese roots, Etienne Stadwijk is a prominent name on the international scene. Having performed and recorded with Michel Portal, Louis Sclavis, Tigran Hamasyan, Manu Katché, and Youn Sun Nah, he brings to the trio a lyrical, wide-ranging approach that draws from European jazz, world music, and electronic influences. His elegant phrasing and melodic sensitivity offer the perfect counterpoint to Pannozzo’s guitar, creating a musical dialogue rich in nuance.

Link on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/it/artist/395683-Etienne-Stadwijk

CLINT DE GANON – Drums
A world-class drummer, Clint De Ganon has worked with icons such as Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, Bob Mintzer, Paul Simon, and Lizz Wright. His mastery of groove and his ability to support with finesse or burst into virtuosic energy make him essential to the rhythmic balance of the trio. His playing is tight, inventive, and the beating heart of this project.

Link on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/it/artist/319912-Clint-De-Ganon

DISCOGRAPHY AND RELEASES
Davide Pannozzo has released a number of critically acclaimed albums, earning praise from international media and radio airplay across Europe and the United States. Notable works include “Born Electric” (2017), recorded in New York with Will Lee, Steve Jordan, and David Garfield, and “Unconditional Love” (2019), an album that seamlessly blends jazz-blues tradition with modern textures, recorded between Italy and the USA. His EP “Blessed” (2021) further defined his artistic identity with standout tracks like “One Heart,” “Talk To Me,” and “Fallin’,” highlighting his talent as a songwriter who fuses technical brilliance with emotional depth. His releases are available on all major digital platforms, and many of his compositions have become staples for new-generation guitarists and instrumental music enthusiasts. With sophisticated arrangements, deep harmonic exploration, and lyrics that touch on universal themes, Pannozzo’s work is a powerful mix of authenticity and innovation.

A DISTINCTIVE ARTISTIC VISION
The Davide Pannozzo Trio stands out for its original repertoire, drawing from the guitarist’s own compositions as well as reimagined classics from the Afro-American tradition. Each performance is a sonic journey combining jazz improvisation, musical storytelling, and refined interplay.

This project marks a new chapter in Pannozzo’s career—one that embraces mature and conscious writing while balancing accessibility and research, emotion and experimentation. The result is music that speaks to all audiences: profound, engaging, elegant, and alive.

ROOTED IN GREATNESS
The trio’s sound is deeply informed by the personal and artistic history of its members. Pannozzo’s long-standing relationships with artists like Pippo Matino, Nathan East, Verdine White, Andrew Gouche, Steve Jordan, and George Benson, as well as his immersion in New York’s high-level music production scene, give the trio a signature touch shaped by direct exposure to some of the world’s most important musicians.

IMPROVISATION, RESEARCH, EMOTION
Live performances are where the trio’s music truly comes to life. No concert is ever the same. Every show is a unique event shaped by real-time interaction among musicians, the acoustics of the venue, and the energy of the audience. The setlist evolves through original pieces, open improvisation, and moments of high emotional intensity.

Pannozzo’s playing merges seamlessly with that of his bandmates in a continuous flow that shifts between introspective ballads, tight grooves, meditative spaces, and collective virtuosity.

A TRIO FOR FESTIVALS, CLUBS, AND GLOBAL STAGES
With its formal elegance, communicative strength, and emotional charge, the Davide Pannozzo Trio is ideally suited for leading stages in today’s international jazz and world music scenes. It’s a project designed for theatres, major festivals, sophisticated jazz clubs, and all venues seeking powerful, heartfelt, and authentic music.

Jeff Berlin 4tet @ Voru Kannel - Lien On Me

Jeff Berlin 4tet @ Voru Kannel – Lien On Me

Jeff Berlin 4tet @ Voru Kannel, (Voru, Estonia)

“Lien On Me”

Jeff Berlin 4tet | SPRING TOUR 2023
Live @ Voru Kannel 04.04.2023

Line up:
Jeff Berlin | Bass
Jorge Vera | Piano
Emilio García | Guitar
Asaf Sirkis | Drums

More about Jeff:

https://www.jeffberlinmusicgroup.com/


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JEFF BERLIN 4TET | SPRING TOUR 2023

JEFF BERLIN 4tet | SPRING TOUR 2023

JEFF BERLIN 4tet

with Emilio García, Jorge Vera and Asaf Sirkis

SPRING TOUR 2023

JEFF BERLIN 4TET | SPRING TOUR 2023

APRIL 4 | EE | Voru @ Voru Kannel

APRIL 5 | FI | Hämeelinna @ Suistoklubi

APRIL 6 | FI | Pori @ Validi Karkia

APRIL 11| IT | Milano @ Blue Note Milano

APRIL 13 | IT | Pescara @ Kabala Club c/ Caffè Letterario 5 Sensi

APRIL 15 | IT | Aversa (CE) @ Lennie Tristano

APRIL 16 | IT | Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA) @ Club 1799 c/ Teatro Luciani

APRIL 17 | IT | Rende (CS) @ Teatro Auditorium “UNICAL”

APRIL 20 | IT | Messina @ Retronouveau

APRIL 21 | IT | CLINIC | Palermo @ Accademia Musicale “Catarsi”

APRIL 22 | IT | Polistena (RC) @ LSS THEATER

APRIL 25 | IT | Firenze @ Jazz Club Firenze

APRIL 27 | IT | Roma @ Auditorium “Parco della Musica”

APRIL 30 | IT | Foggia @ Cantine Arpi

LINKS

JEFF BERLIN 4tet | Fusion Jazz (USA/CL)

https://www.jeffberlinmusicgroup.com/