7
Mar, 2026
Mikah Maquá | IndiePop/Rock (NL)

Mikah Maquá | Quirky Alt-Pop Rock (NL)

Mikah Maquá

Quirky Alt-Pop Rock | NL

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE

2026-2027 | July 1st, 2026 to December 31st, 2027

Line-up

Mikah Maquá | Voice
Fay Arapatsani | Drums
Federica Fornaro | Guitar
SiYu Liu | Keys

Shortly about Mikah

Mikah Maquá stands out for her sharp songwriting, turning vulnerability, irony and neurodivergent self-awareness into catchy, emotionally direct indie-pop. A two-time finalist of the European Music Contest in the singer-songwriter category (2018 and 2021), she was also selected for the Hedon Beurs 2025 development trajectory. In 2026 she released her debut EP people pleaser with support from Music Support Overijssel, confirming her as a rising voice with both personality and momentum.

Style

Confessional indie-pop with the nerve of alt-rock and the bounce of spring-loaded guitars. Retro-leaning keys and sharp backbeats keep the songs moving between irony, tension, and release. The band DNA is intimate but not soft: melodic, emotionally direct, and built for dynamic live lift.

Profile

Mikah Maquá sits where diaristic indie-pop meets wiry alternative rock. The center of gravity is a voice-first songwriting identity shaped by confession, irony, and emotional overshare, then pushed outward by a rhythm section that favors momentum over polish and by guitar work with a rougher art-rock edge. Fay Arapatsani brings physicality and dark-toned dynamic contrast from an art-pop and heavy-alt background; Federica Fornaro widens the harmonic field with psych, prog, and jazz-adjacent color, adding grain, tension, and movement rather than decorative texture. With keys functioning as both glue and counterpoint, the project lands in a sweet spot between catchy hooks and nervous energy: retro synth flashes, springy riffs, abrupt emotional pivots, and a live interplay that turns vulnerability into impact.

Details

Mikah Maquá
Dutch-Canadian singer-songwriter Maaike Girardin fronts the project with a writing voice built on self-exposure, humor, and emotional contradiction. Public profiles consistently frame the material around neurodivergence, people-pleasing, awkward love stories, and revenge-fantasy wit, but the songs stay hook-led rather than purely confessional. Production and release history point to a collaborative studio axis with Lennert Klaui, giving the project a polished but still elastic alt-pop frame. Live, the material is built to scale from intimate confession to sharp collective lift.

“Her relatable yet catchy pop songs let vulnerability collide with brutality.” (Hedon Zwolle event text, 2026-01-22)

Fay Arapatsani
Athens-born and based in Utrecht, Fay Arapatsani brings a drummer-songwriter sensibility that favors weight, contour, and dramatic pacing. Her public bio maps a path from early piano study into drums, composition, and darker art-pop writing, with threads of ethnic jazz, pop, fusion, and electronics. That background translates well inside Mikah Maquá’s frame: she can support hook-based material while adding urgency, asymmetry, and a harder emotional undercurrent.

“The Greek artist carries the set with her powerful rock voice, which she can take impressively high.” (Rogier van Nierop, 3voor12 Leiden, 2025-12-23)

Federica Fornaro
Federica Fornaro adds the project’s rougher guitar grain. Her documented work with Basiliscus P points to a player comfortable with psych rock, prog structures, 1990s alternative edges, and jazz-adjacent openness, which makes her especially useful in a band that needs songs to move beyond pure singer-songwriter framing. She is less about ornamental lead lines than about shape, texture, and expansion: widening choruses, introducing friction, and giving hooks a more physical body.

“A talented and eclectic Messina band.” (Nadia Cornetti, Off Topic Magazine, 2022-12-21)

SiYu Liu
SiYu Liu is the keys chair in this lineup. In band-DNA terms, the role is important: keys soften transitions, reinforce hooks, and connect the project’s retro-pop sheen to its more nervous rock edge. Public-facing January 2026 band posts identify the keys position as Sharon Liu under the handle @cactusinpoppy, so this profile keeps the role in the lineup while avoiding unverified biographical or discographic claims beyond its ensemble function.

 

Biography

Mikah Maquá is the project of Dutch-Canadian songwriter Maaike Girardin, building songs around awkward honesty, pop immediacy, and emotional whiplash. Public-facing bios and event texts consistently frame the act as a mix of retro synths, springy guitars, and catchy songwriting that turns vulnerability, humor, and instability into hooks built for the stage rather than the diary page.

Discography

Mikah Maquá
Singles: something to remember (2025), wish you were dead (2025), ADHD (mental break-up) (2025), someone else (2026), HELLO?! (2026). EP: people pleaser (2026).

Fay Arapatsani
Single: Hardpill (2024). EP: will I go under (2024). With Amalphi: album Acheron I (2019), EP Valley – Serpent – Womb (2023).

Federica Fornaro
With Basiliscus P: album Placenta (2017), singles Urban Safari (2022) and Magenta (2022), album Spuma (2022). Feature: Giadar, Mirror in the Mirror feat. Federica Fornaro (2022). Additional credited appearance: La Stanza della Nonna, Dove gli occhi non possono arrivare (2019).

SiYu Liu
No public discography could be independently verified under the supplied name.

Quotes

  • “Her relatable yet catchy pop songs let vulnerability collide with brutality.” Hedon Zwolle, 2026-01-22
  • “The Dutch-Canadian artist makes a mix of retro synths, springy guitars and catchy pop songs.” Poppunt Overijssel, 2026-01-22
  • “This band has the most unique sound of the evening.” Rogier van Nierop, 3voor12 Leiden, 2025-12-23
  • “The Greek artist carries the set with her powerful rock voice, which she can take impressively high.” Rogier van Nierop, 3voor12 Leiden, 2025-12-23
  • “A talented and eclectic Messina band.” Nadia Cornetti, Off Topic Magazine, 2022-12-21
  • “A more mature, experimental, complex and enveloping sound.” Laura Lipari, LetteraEmme, 2022-10-13

Reviews

  • Mikah Maquá brengt met hulp van MSO debuut EP uit – Poppunt Overijssel – 2026-01-20 – https://poppuntoverijssel.nl/mikah-maqua-brengt-met-hulp-van-mso-debuut-ep-uit/
  • Van zangles in De Meerpaal naar eigen muziek: Mikah Maquá’s muzikale reis – FlevoPost – 2025-12-24 – https://flevopost.nl/dronten/van-zangles-in-de-meerpaal-naar-eigen-muziek-mikah-maqua-s-muzikale-reis-47898303.html
  • MIKAH MAQUÁ – Hedon Zwolle – 2026-01-22 – https://www.hedon-zwolle.nl/voorstelling/32766/mikah-maqua
  • Formula Indie Schedule 5th to 11st January 2026 – European Indie Music Network – 2026-01-05 – https://euroindiemusic.info/2026/01/05/formula-indie-schedule-5th-to-11st-january-2026/
  • Euro Indie Music Chart 3.26 – European Indie Music Network – 2026-01-27 – https://euroindiemusic.info/2026/01/27/euro-indie-music-chart-3-26/
  • Douze points voor Griekenland – 3voor12 Leiden | Rogier van Nierop – 2025-12-23 – https://3voor12.vpro.nl/lokaal/leiden/artikelen/overzicht/2025/december/Nobel-Award-2025-finale.html
  • Basiliscus P – Spuma (Tuma Records/The Orchard, 2022) – Off Topic Magazine | Nadia Cornetti – 2022-12-21 – https://offtopicmagazine.net/2022/12/21/basiliscus-p-spuma/
  • Urban Safari: il nuovo singolo dei Basiliscus P in uscita il 13 ottobre 2022 – LetteraEmme | Laura Lipari – 2022-10-13 – https://www.letteraemme.it/urban-safari-il-nuovo-singolo-dei-basiliscus-p-in-uscita-il-13-ottobre-2022/
  • Interview – Basiliscus P – Indie-Roccia | Smoking Area – 2022-09-08 – https://www.indie-roccia.it/interviste/interview-basiliscus-p/
WHAT’S GOING ON

https://www.coralriff.biz/events/

BOOKING REQUEST

7
Mar, 2026
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)
DavidePannozzo3
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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

7
Mar, 2026
MATT VON RODERICK Trio ft. Dominique Di Piazza & Joel Taylor

MATT VON RODERICK Trio ft. Dominique Di Piazza & Joel Taylor | Contemporary Jazz (USA)

MATT VON RODERICK Trio

ft. Dominique Di Piazza & Joel Taylor

Contemporary Jazz | USA

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE

2026 | 18/30 November

Line-up

Matt Von Roderick | Trumpet, vocals
Jon Batiste, Brad Mehldau, Dionne Warwick, Neil Diamond, Saturday Night Live Band, Super Furry Animals

Dominique Di Piazza | Bass
John McLaughlin, Trilok Gurtu, Bireli Lagrene, Dennis Chambers, Didier Lockwood, Andre Ceccarelli, Gordon Beck, Vic Juris, U. Srinivas, Zakir Hussain

Joel Taylor | Drums
Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Joe Sample, Michael Buble, Stanley Clarke, Herb Alpert, Frank Gambale, Brian Bromberg, Yanni, Andy Summers

Style

A contemporary jazz trio where lyric trumpet-and-voice phrasing meets chordal bass design and high-definition drums. The language moves between intimate songcraft, modal lift, and fusion-grade momentum without losing warmth. Elegant on the surface, restless underneath: this is ensemble jazz built on tone, propulsion, and real-time dialogue.

Profile

Led by Matt Von Roderick’s trumpet-and-voice language, this trio projects a modern jazz identity that balances lyricism, uplift, and edge. Dominique Di Piazza shifts the bass from foundation to harmonic co-author: chordal attack, rapid articulation, and a singing upper register give the ensemble unusual vertical depth. Joel Taylor supplies the architectural frame, combining fusion-trained clarity with the restraint of a first-call accompanist. The resulting band DNA is airy but precise, melodic yet electrically charged: open forms, strong hook-awareness, and a pulse that can pivot from brushed intimacy to high-definition propulsion without breaking the narrative line.

In practical terms, this is a project that can work in jazz clubs, crossover series, and contemporary festival settings alike, because its center of gravity is not genre display but communicative improvisation, ensemble intelligence, and tone-led storytelling.

Details

Matt Von Roderick
Matt Von Roderick brings a highly personal front-line language rooted in jazz trumpet, crooning lyricism, and vocal-trumpet multiphonics. His profile combines conservatory pedigree with stagecraft: he can phrase like a singer, shape atmosphere like an arranger, and still land a melody with straight-ahead clarity. The effect is both classic and post-genre, with an emotional directness that keeps experimentation accessible.

“Fresh, innovative, and just plain different.” (Woodrow Wilkins, All About Jazz, 2005-10-13)

Dominique Di Piazza
Dominique Di Piazza remains one of the rare electric bassists who can alter an ensemble’s harmonic geometry in real time. His right-hand technique, chordal reach, and fast upper-register articulation make the bass function as both engine and second harmonic instrument. In this trio context, he expands the music from support into co-composition, bringing Mediterranean color, fusion fluency, and deep improvisational authority.

“One of the truly important electric-bassists of our time.” (Damian Erskine, Bass Musician Magazine, 2009-02-01)

Joel Taylor
Joel Taylor is the kind of drummer who gives sophisticated projects both polish and momentum. His language is clean, clear, adaptable, and structurally intelligent: strong time, exact cymbal definition, and a refined sense of when to drive and when to leave air. In this line-up, he acts less as commentator than as force-shaper, translating complex motion into flow.

“Possessing a clean, clear, punchy style that he can adapt to any environment.” (Ken Micallef, Modern Drummer, 2019-12-27)

 

Biography

Los Angeles-based trumpeter, vocalist, songwriter, producer, and educator Matt Von Roderick has built a genre-crossing profile that connects jazz trumpet tradition, crooner phrasing, and modern songwriting. He studied at New York University through the Vilar Global Fellowship in the Performing Arts, where he worked with trumpet master Mark Gould, former chair of brass at both the Metropolitan Opera and Juilliard. Active across jazz and contemporary settings, he has developed a signature language that moves fluidly from standards and lyric balladry to post-genre original work while keeping melody, atmosphere, and emotional directness at the center.

Discography

Matt Von Roderick
Albums: So It Goes (2005), So It Goes (2007), A Book Of Five Rings (2008), Hero’s Journey (2016), Celestial Heart (2023), The Perfect Storm (2025). Singles and EPs: Signs (2025), See Me (2025), Coexistence (2025), Wind on My Face (2025), I’m Old Fashioned (2026).

Dominique Di Piazza
Albums: Spiritual Hymns (2002), Seven Steps To Heaven (2003), Front Page (2004), Princess Sita (2008), Living Hope (2016), Il canto delle montagne (2016), Travel (2021). Singles and EPs: Rain in Seoul (2023).

Joel Taylor
Verified recording credits: Tribute by Yanni, Jaco by Brian Bromberg, Basses Loaded by Brian Bromberg.

Quotes

  • “Fresh, innovative, and just plain different.” Woodrow Wilkins, All About Jazz, 2005-10-13
  • “Among a group of young jazz composers who are unafraid to step beyond traditional constraints.” Celeste Sunderland, All About Jazz, 2005-12-13
  • “Few have the mastery of their chosen instrument that Dominique Di Piazza has displayed throughout his career.” Damian Erskine, Bass Musician Magazine, 2009-02-01
  • “Possessing a clean, clear, punchy style that he can adapt to any environment.” Ken Micallef, Modern Drummer, 2019-12-27
  • “A drummer dripping with impeccable touch and timing.” Sea of Tranquility, 2017-05-07

Reviews

  • Matt Shulman: So It Goes – All About Jazz – Woodrow Wilkins – 2005-10-13 – https://www.allaboutjazz.com/so-it-goes-matt-shulman-jaggo-records-review-by-woodrow-wilkins
  • Matt Shulman: So It Goes – All About Jazz – Celeste Sunderland – 2005-12-13 – https://www.allaboutjazz.com/so-it-goes-matt-shulman-jaggo-records-review-by-celeste-sunderland
  • Matt Von Roderick: Hero’s Journey – Jazz Weekly – 2016-07-18 – https://jazzweekly.com/2016/07/matt-von-roderick-heros-journey/
  • Matt Von Roderick Celestial Heart – Making A Scene – 2023-07-21 – https://www.makingascene.org/matt-von-roderick-celestial-heart/
  • Front Page: Front Page – All About Jazz – Walter Kolosky – 2004-01-12 – https://www.allaboutjazz.com/front-page-front-page-sunnyside-records-review-by-walter-kolosky
  • Dominique di Piazza: Spiritual Hymns – All About Jazz – Phil DiPietro – 2002-05-14 – https://www.allaboutjazz.com/spiritual-hymns-dominique-di-piazza-canaan-music-review-by-phil-dipietro
  • Dominique di Piazza: Princess Sita – All About Jazz – Phil DiPietro – 2008-08-19 – https://www.allaboutjazz.com/princess-sita-dominique-di-piazza-picanto-records-review-by-phil-dipietro
  • Joel Taylor – Modern Drummer – Ken Micallef – 2019-12-27 – https://www.moderndrummer.com/article/february-2020-joel-taylor/

BOOKING REQUEST

13
Feb, 2026
CONFLUENCE TRIO ft. Alessandro Napolitano, Bill O’Connell & Dany Noel | Contemporary Latin Jazz (IT/US/CU)

CONFLUENCE TRIO ft. Alessandro Napolitano, Bill O’Connell & Dany Noel | Contemporary Latin Jazz (IT/US/CU)

CONFLUENCE TRIO

ft. Alessandro Napolitano, Bill O’Connell & Dany Noel

Contemporary Latin Jazz (IT/US/CU)

AVAILABILITY FOR EUROPE

2026 | TBA

Line-up

Alessandro Napolitano | Drums
Dennis Chambers, Virgil Donati, Jerry Bergonzi, Joey DeFrancesco, Eric Marienthal, Fabrizio Bosso, Rosario Giuliani.

Bill O’Connell | Piano
Mongo Santamaría, Jerry González / Fort Apache Band, Dave Valentin, Paquito D’Rivera; collaborations also include Chet Baker and Gato Barbieri.

Dany Noel | Electric Bass & Vocals
Pino Daniele, Paolo Fresu, Omara Portuondo, Vicente Amigo.

Style

A groove-forward, drummer-led trio where Afro‑Cuban clave and Brazilian pulse meet contemporary jazz harmony—odd meters, polymetric turns, and lyrical improvisation.

Overall profile 

Italian drummer/composer Alessandro Napolitano convenes a transatlantic meeting point in Confluence Trio, pairing New York Latin‑jazz authority Bill O’Connell with Cuban bassist/vocalist Dany Noel. The debut album Beyond Borders (Soundiva; available 2025-12-01 in digital and physical formats) frames seven originals and three reimagined standards as a single narrative arc: odd‑meter themes, conversational polyrhythms, and open improvisation that never abandons melody.

The band DNA is Rhythm/Groove first (clave awareness, tumbao/montuno as engines, metric elasticity), with a post‑bop/Latin harmonic palette (extended voicings, modal color, chromatic side‑steps) and a clear division of roles: drums as narrative architect, piano as rhythmic-harmonic driver, bass/voice as melodic anchor. The result is a compact, high-impact trio sound designed for audiences who want both danceable momentum and modern-jazz depth.

Member details

Alessandro Napolitano — Drums
• Leads the trio as composer and form-shaper, foregrounding odd meters and polymetric design as expressive tools.
• Beyond Borders blends jazz, Afro‑Cuban jazz, Brazilian Latin-jazz and fusion with an emphasis on rhythmic architecture and collective interplay.
• Direction from the kit is “compositional”: cueing dynamics, re‑framing sections, and keeping the narrative arc in focus.
(“A record marked by a broad, skillful use of odd meters, polymeters and polyrhythms.” — Stefano Dentice, Sound Contest, 2025-12-02)

Bill O’Connell — Piano
• A key New York voice in Latin jazz: montuno fluency, post‑bop clarity, and a pianist’s ability to steer the groove from inside the harmony.
• Longstanding work across the Latin‑jazz continuum (including Dave Valentin, Jerry González and Mongo Santamaría) informs the trio’s rhythmic confidence.
• In Confluence Trio, his touch moves from percussive engine to luminous colorist, shaping transitions and harmonic perspective.
(“His signal contributions to Latin jazz with Dave Valentin, Jerry Gonzalez and Mongo Santamaria are familiar to devotees.” — Richard J. Salvucci, All About Jazz, 2023-08-19)

Dany Noel — Electric Bass & Vocals
• Cuban-born, Madrid-based bassist/vocalist with deep roots in Afro‑Latin forms and a flexible modern time-feel.
• Singing bass tone and vocal presence add a song‑centered layer to the trio’s explorations (voice featured on selected tracks).
• Functions as both anchor and catalyst: locking tumbao, opening melodic counterlines, and coloring the texture with voice.
(“Noel was ripping through a fast solo while simultaneously vocalising it.” — Sebastian Scotney, London Jazz News, 2016-10-02)

Discography highlights

Beyond Borders — Alessandro Napolitano Confluence Trio (Soundiva)
• Availability: digital + physical from 2025-12-01.
• 10 tracks: 7 originals (O’Connell: “Alpha Alpha”, “Sitting Bull”; Noel: “Confluence”, “Despertar”, “Sullelgada”; Napolitano: “Mentality Disease”, bonus track “My Voice”) + 3 standards (“Bésame Mucho”, “Chan Chan”, “Summertime”).
• Produced in collaboration with Laboratori d’Arte (Soc. Coop.) with support from IMAIE (Bando Nuove Produzioni Discografiche 2024/2025).

Alessandro

  • 2000 — Berklee College of Music scholarship (as reported in multiple Italian press/bios).

  • 2012 — Curator/organizer of “Drum Day” events; documented as an active educator/scene catalyst in Southern Italy.

  • 2015 — Listed by Modern Drummer among “100 Best Drum Teachers in the World” (reported in Italian press/bios).

  • 2025 — Beyond Borders released with Soundiva (with Laboratori d’Arte) and supported by IMAIE’s “Nuove Produzioni Discografiche 2024/2025”.

Bill

  • Four-time recipient — SESAC “Jazz Writer of the Year” (award count stated in official bio and major press listings).

  • 2022 — GRAMMY nomination (Best Instrumental Arrangement) for a Latin-jazz retooling of “Chopsticks,” on Richard Baratta’s The Reel Deal.

  • 1977 — First major Latin-jazz break: joins Mongo Santamaría’s band (Latin-jazz/salsa NYC scene).

  • 1980s–2011 — Long-running role as musical director/keyboardist with Dave Valentín (recording + touring era documented in profile features).

Dany

  • 2004 — Co-founds ITALUBA with drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernández (bassist, composer, arranger).

  • Mid-2000s — ITALUBA described in official/venue bios as GRAMMY-nominated for ITALUBA 1 (Best Latin Jazz Album).

  • 2006 — Debut solo album Mi Sentir (also as vocalist); presented at MIDEM (Cannes).

  • 2019 — ITALUBA Big Band project wins CubaDisco in the Jazz category (award listings for CubaDisco 2019).

  • 2020 — Laurus releases a custom “Dany Noel” signature bass model (endorsement milestone; reported in event listings/endorser pages).

  • Ongoing — Documented collaborations span Cuban roots and global jazz: Omara Portuondo, Celia Cruz, Roy Hargrove, Chucho Valdés, Bebo Valdés, Giovanni Hidalgo, Rubén Blades, Paquito D’Rivera, and others (multiple festival/venue bios).

BOOKING REQUEST
WHAT’S GOING ON

https://www.coralriff.biz/events/