Drummer, composer, and producer Tommaso Cappellato, blends the boundaries of jazz, funk, hip-hop, house, and avant-garde music, crafting a distinctive beat-oriented style that reflects his rich, diverse global influences. His journey began within a musical family in Northern Italy, leading him to embrace the piano at age 8 and later, the drums at 11. His passion for straight-ahead jazz started at the age of 15, and led him to a nine-year stint in New York City at the age of 20 on a full-ride scholarship from the New School University, which he recalls as his formative years. By 2010, his focus had shifted from being solely a jazz drummer to becoming a creative band leader and producer. This transformation found its first realization in the album “Cosm’ethic” with a project titled “Astral Travel,” and was released on the UK label Jazz Re:freshed in 2013. This project caught the attention of figures like Gilles Peterson, and in 2014 he was named Best New Artist of the Year by Japanese radio, Inter FM. He then embarked on a solo journey, blending drums and electronics, culminating in the release of “Aforemention” in 2016, which was performed all over the world. In 2018, Tommaso found himself back in his hometown of Padova, Italy, where Collettivo Immaginario was born – a jazz trio playing mostly original compositions and fusing jazz-funk with beats and Italian library music. After their debut album “Trasforma” was released in September 2022, the ensemble has been steadily outputting several singles (“Oltreoceano”, “Libra”, “Tempo Al Tempo”) towards the completion of their new full album to be published in the fall of 2024. Three years later in 2021, he moved to Los Angeles where he founded his first music label, Domanda Music, and released his first solo project as a producer, titled “Pioneered”, that critics described as “incredible from start to finish” (TJ Gorton/Beat Caffeine), which further solidified his place in the city’s vibrant music scene. In 2022, he founded “Explorare” a new LA-based improv ensemble collective, concert series and record label, which has since performed in many of the most prestigious venues in LA. Their new self-titled album “Explorare” was released on October 14, 2023.
“Brilliant, amazing drummer!”
GILLES PETERSON (BBC6/WORLDWIDE FM)
“One man, live on stage, concocting wild sonic mash‐ups of the jazz and techno traditions”
MARK DE CLIVE‐LOWE
“Connecting deeply with his vision of time, texture, rhythm, space, and soul!”
CARLOS NIÑO
“Tommaso has created a near perfect collection which mixes elements of fusion, spiritual and that extra something.”
TONY MINVIELLE (JAZZFM UK)
“A brave revival of jazz poetry counterculture, this album can stand with antecedents from Harlem and Beats to Gil Scott-Heron.”
THE WIRE
“A superb new recording from one of the most active, musically diverse, and forward-thinking artists exploring new ground in music today.”
TJ GORTON (BEAT CAFFEINE)
“This exciting ensemble of improvisers is led by internationally in-demand drummer, producer and composer, Tommaso Cappellato, and features vocalist Dwight Trible, ‘the voice of spiritual jazz’, very much in the lineage of Leon Thomas and Andy Bey.”
VIDEO PREMIER @ MUSIC IS MY SANCTUARY
“Tommaso Cappellato is a consistent thread running through much of the new guard of Italian jazz. An active drummer and composer, Cappellato released his fifth solo album, Butterflying. Throughout, Butterflying has the masterful delicacy that’s steadily becoming Cappellato’s signature.”
“ITALY’S FUTURE JAZZ SCENE” ARTIST FEATURE ON BANDCAMP DAILY
“The concept is for me to be a vessel channeling ancient elements with futuristic soundscapes.”
INTERVIEW WITH SUNHOUSE SENSORY PERCUSSION
Tommaso Cappellato has performed at festivals and venues drawing an international audience such as:
WINTER JAZZFEST, New York; PDX JAZZ FESTIVAL, Portland; WORLDWIDE FESTIVAL, Switzerland; LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL, London; ÜBERJAZZ, Hamburg; TERRAFORMA, Milan; JAZZ RE:FEST, London; DANCITY, Italy; SOUTHERN SOUL FESTIVAL, Montenegro; JAZZ RE:FOUND, Italy; OSHTOORA, Egypt; LOW END THEORY, Los Angeles; DINGWALLS, London; BLUE WHALE, Los Angeles; NUBLU, New York; JAZZ RE:FRESHED, London; SOUL IN THE HORN, New York; JAZZ CAFE, London.
He is a sought-after teacher and mentor for drummers and hybrid percussionists, and has received numerous awards such as:
2018 – Artist in Residence at Pioneer Works, Brooklyn (USA)
2017 – Artist in Residence at Venice Biennale (French Pavilion)
2014 – Best New Artist, Japanese Radio Inter FM (Japan)
USA
Kyle Dick: kyle@naymlis.com
UK/Europe
Marco Saurini: marco@relife.it
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