Born in the outskirts of Pisa, he has been playing diatonic harmonica since
1987 and gained experience in several blues
bands. Few years later he collaborated with the Blues Harbour, Michael Coleman,
Nick Becattini & The Serious Fun.
He approached Jazz by studying chromatic harmonica (as an autodidact) and listening
to Stevie Wonder and
Toots Thielemans,
but especially to saxophonists such as C.Parker, A.Pepper, J.Coltrane, Sonny Stitt,
and pianists such as B. Evans,
Bud Powell.
In 1992 and 1993
he attended the Siena
Jazz summer workshops and played with B. Tommaso's Lab Orchestra and the
Clinics of Boston Berklee College of Music in Perugia for UMBRIA JAZZ.
In 1993/1994
he attended the C.A.M. school of music in Scandicci (FI), as a student of
Luca Flores,
whom he performed with. He joined the DUKE OF ABRUZZI BIG BAND directed by
A. Fabbri,
performing in several theatres and auditoriums in Tuscany, accompanying extraordinary
jazz players such as P. Fresu and M. Giammarco. In 1995
he played for the soundtrack of «Io No Spik Inglish», a movie by the Vanzina brothers,
starring P.Villaggio. He was finalist for Euro Jazz Festival in Oristano and for
Summer Jazz Fest in Prato. He recorded a live performance with P. Fresu.
In 1996 he began to study harmony and jazz
improvisation techniques with Riccardo Arrighini. He also attended the summer workshops
of WE LOVE JAZZ '96 (with Benny Golson, Kenny Burrel,
Ron Carter and Joe Chambers) and BERKLEE IN UMBRIA with Gorge Garzone.
In 1996/1997
he attended the C.P.M. in Siena with
Marco Tamburini and Maurizio Giammarco. He also attended the workshops
given by the pianist
E. Pieranunzi,
by the double bass player Palle Danielsson, and by the soprano saxophonist DAVE
LIEBMAN.
In 1997 he took part in EUROPE JAZZ CONTEST
in Overijse (Bruxelles).
In march 1998 he recorded "Boppin' on Harp"
with the pianist
Stefano Bollani.
He performed at Barga Jazz Festival, with
E. Pieranunzi,
A. Kramer, M. Giammarco,
M. Tamburini, S. Bollani, P. Tonolo and S. Gibellini. He also perfomed
at Mentana Jazz Festival (Rome), where he got a scholarship to attend Berklee in
Umbria.
In the 1999 editions of Chicago Blues Festival
and Umbria Jazz Festival he performed with the Sugar Blue Band at Rosa's Lounge
in Chicago and with Pat Metheny in Perugia.
From 1995 to 2000
he tought at Civica Scuola di Musica in Capannori (Lucca, Italy).
In 1999 he studied arrangement with Mauro Grossi.
From 2000 to 2004
he took part in the «ETNOCLASSIC» project, which resulted in the album «ZORONGO»
(EMA Records).
In 2001 he collaborated with the
Gerardo Di Lella
BIG BAND, with the «Vince Lateano Trio» in S. Francisco. In New York he worked with
P. D'Rivera and Randy Brecker.
In 2002 he took part in BeatOnto Jazz, with
F. Bosso,
as well as in Resort Playa Pesquero of Holguin Cuba.
In 2003 he moved to La Habana (Cuba) to work
with various and important jazz players from the Popular Cuban music at «La Zorra
Y El Cuervo» jazz club. He also collaborated with the composer and pianist Mauro
Grossi. He played in Bangkok with the jazz singer Cherryl Hayes.
In 2004 he carried out the "Encanto Latino"
project, conceived together with the bass player and composer Alberto Bientinesi.
In 2005 Esperanto Mediterraneo "Luca
Flores 10 anni dopo" (Firenze), Teatro delle Commedie (Livorno) with Bobo
Rondelli
In 2006 he performed at Cavatappi Jazz Club
wiht Fabrizio Bosso,
at Colle Jazz (Associazione ToscanaJazz, Collesalvetti, LI), again at Cavatappi
Jazz Club with Sandro Gibellini, Ares Tavolazzi, Alan Farrington, Radio Tre Suite,
La Stanza della Musica (RAI Radio Tre, Roma).
In 2007 Concert of the teachers of the Jazz
Dep. at Scuola Bonamici di Pisa, with
Andrea Pellegrini,
Il CIRCOLO LUCCA JAZZ, Umbria Jazz (Deco Hotel), with
R. Sellani,
G. Basso, M. Manzi, M. Morriconi. Seravezza (Toscana Jazz), Barga Jazz
2007, with S. Onorati, G. Evangelista,
A. Fabbri.
A Monterosso (Cinque Terre - La Spezia) with Stefano "Cocco" Cantini and "I Poeti
del Mare" with string quartet di Toscana Jazz.
In 2008 International Harmonic Festival "HARMONICA
SUR CHER" in St. Agnan sur Cher, GREY CAT FESTIVAL in Follonica (GR).
In 2009 New Album with R. Arrighini trio
"Harmonitaly", City Vibes at the Teatro Studio in Scandicci with
Javier Girotto.
Musicastrada (Montopoli Jazz) Festival, Collinarea (opening of
Stefano Bollani
Carioca),
In 2010 Caprillina Jazz (Livorno), Parco
San Rossore with the actor Claudio Lobbia.
2011 Ex Wide (Pisa), "Sogni" by Beppe Dati
(Era's Theater) (Pi), Calambrone "American's Theater"with Paolo Vallesi, Obi Hall
with Leonardo Pieraccioni.
Some of the concerts performed in Italy:
Europa musica (FI), Teatro Odeon (Ponsacco, PI), Festival di Melfi (Città di Melfi,
PZ), Musica a Palazzo Pretorio (Certaldo, FI), Gezziamoci «Onyx» (Matera), Musica
per gli Uffizi (FI), Mousiké 2002 (Pomaretto,
TO), Piemonte in musica (TO), Antiquariato e Musica (LU), Beat Onto Jazz Festival
(Bitonto, BA), Jazz Fest Cerisano (CS), Università di Cosenza (CS), Festival Piemonte
in Musica (Gravere, TO), Teatro Cinghio (Parma), Jazz Chalet (Torre del Lago Puccini,
LU), Mattinate Musicali a P. Ducale (LU), Armonie della Sera (Rivoli, TO), Europa
Musica(Arezzo), Festival di Musica Etnica (Lido di Casalecchio, BO), Rassegna Concertistica
2001 (Capannori, LU), Effetto Venezia (LI),
Festival Viaggiando in Musica (Sirmione, BS), Festival Intemazionale Barga Jazz
(Barga, LU), Palazzo degli Uffizi (FI), Associazione Percussionistica (Umbertide,
PG), Drome (Roma), Tribù (Nocera Inferiore SA), Mentana Jazz Festival (Mentana,
Roma), Dr.Jazz (PI), Università di S. Anna (PI)
DISCOGRAFIA: 1990 Denny North & Blues Harbour "The Next Blues
Generation" (Minotauro Records) 1993 Scott Alan Hansen "Non Mi Vergogno" (Morning
Star Rec) 1995 Filippo Gaetani "What's Cooking At Le Bozze"
(Foné Rec) 1998 "Boppin' on Harp" (con S. Bollani) 1999 Malina "Gently Hard" (CIS Records) 1999 Marco Macchiarini & the Sugar Night Band
"Amico Mio Harley" (MM CD 1001-2) 1999 Maurizio Geri Swingtet "A cielo aperto"
(Visage Music) 2000 "Wheels's Steps" (Wheels's Steps Quartet) 2001 Etnoclassic "Zorongo" (EMA Records) 2003Michela Lombardi
"Small Day Tomorrow" (Philology W709.2) 2005 "Loco Por Cuba" (A. Bientinesi) 2009 "HARMONITALY" (Sam Records)
Federico Bertelli Jazz Quartet Featuring Nicola Stilo Latin Blossom
1 Living (Federico Bertelli)
2 Nuestro Bolero (arr. e comp. by Pedro Lopez)
3 Funk in Deep Freeze (Hank Mobley)
4 Waiting (Federico Bertelli arr. P. Pirro)
5 Claudia (Chucho Valdes arr. P. Pirro)
6 Carioquinha (W. Acevedo arr. P. Pirro)
7 Soul Eyes (Mal Waldron)
8 Smania 90 (Piergiorgio Pirro)
9 Lotus Blossom ( Billy Strayhorn)
Personnel:
Federico Bertelli harmonica, Piergiorgio Pirro piano & arr.,Gabriele Evangelista
doublebass, Stefano Tamborrino drums
Guests: Nicola Stilo flute on 1,2,4,5,6/Roberto Rossi trombone solo on 3,4/Simone
Padovani percussion, on 1,2,4,5
Rossano Emili bass clarinet(solo on 6), baritone sax on 4 e 6/Tony Cattano Trombone
(solo on 6) 4 e 6
Mirco Rubegni trumpet, Michele Tino alto sax on 4 e 6.
