ABOUT

Biography

Riccardo Chiaberta (Verbania - Italy, 1986) approached music studying piano at the age of 9. He began to study drums and percussions with Davide Merlino in 1999. He graduated in Jazz (Bachelor Degree) with highest honours at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” in Como. He achieved a Masters Degree in Jazz with highest honours at the Conservatory “G. Verdi” in Milan. He studied piano with Ramberto Ciammarughi (Mirsolav Vitous, Randy Brecker, Vinne Collaiuta) from 2007 to 2013, and drums with Fabrizio Sferra (Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Enrico Pieranunzi) from 2010 to 2011. He attended many master-classes and workshops, such as: Siena Jazz, Gregory Hutchinson, John Riley, Roberto Gatto, Massimo Manzi, Mike Manieri, Andrea Dulbecco, Matteo Moretti, Stefano Battaglia and Summer Jazz School di Fara Music. Riccardo played in many jazz festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, Tones on the Stones, MITO Milano, JAZZaltro, Abeat festival, Ah Um Jazz festival and Sarpi in Jazz.His debut album “Lux” has been released in October 2015 by Honolulu records, a label founded by Riccardo together with other seven musicians based in Milan, Brussels and Amsterdam. In December 2018 he released a piano solo album entitled “A Bird Told Me”, a collection of his compositions that shows Riccardo in a new light as a piano player.He is co-leader of Kino Trio, along with Bruno Heinen on piano and Michele Tacchi on electric bass. Babel Label released their debut album “Il Cielo Sopra Berlino” in April 2019.Riccardo is part of the Palestinian singer Reem Kelani’s band and many other contemporary jazz bands such as Dugong, Moonfish, RCT and the alternative rock band Kettle of Kites. He is also part of the Future Changes Quartet led by Paolino Dalla Porta (Pat Metheny, Oregon, Kenny Wheeler), along with Nicolò Ricci on tenor saxophone and Dario Trapani on electric guitar. The debut album “Moonlanding” has been released in November 2016 by Tuk Music, the jazz label led by Paolo Fresu.Riccardo has worked with artists such as Ivo Neame, David Friedman, Andrea Di Biase, Maria Chiara Argirò, Antonio Zambrini, Simone Daclon, Andrea Dulbecco, Simona Severini, Emanuele Cisi, Pietro Tonolo, Tino Tracanna, Achille Succi, Gaetano Partipilo, Guido Bombardieri, Dimitri Grechi Espinoza, Giovanni Falzone, Alberto Mandarini, Marco Decimo, Michele Tacchi, and Michele Caiati amongst others.    Riccardo achieved the highest ranks in many Italian jazz contests. He won the first prize at “Chicco Bettinardi Contest 2015”, “Jazz by the Pool Competition 2012”, “Contest Fara Music 2010” (winning a scholarship for best musician) and at “Concorso Percfest 2010”. He won the second prize at “Conad Jazz Contest 2015”, “Conad Jazz Contest 2014” and “Conad Jazz Contest 2013” of Umbria Jazz, and at “Jimmy Woode Contest” of Tuscia in Jazz 2013. Riccardo Chiaberta is endorser of Bosphorus Cymbals.

PIANO SOLO

 "A Bird Told Me" represents a collection of compositions written over the past 8 years and it shows Riccardo in a new light as a piano player.All compositions by Riccardo Chiaberta except "A Bird Told Me" by Dario Trapani and "Dolce Sorriso" by Giovanni Chiaberta.Tape-recorded by Pierluigi Ballarin in December 2017 and performed in Verbania, Riccardo's hometown in the North of Italy, on the upright piano which belonged to his grandfather. Cover photo by Dario Chiaberta.

 

NIRGUNA

 Nirguna is a sextet led by the drummer and they play his compositions.They released the debut album “Lux” for the label Honolulu Records in October 2015. Achille Succi – alto sax/bass clarinetNicolò Ricci – tenor saxDario Trapani – guitarLorenzo Blardone – piano/rhodesMarco Rottoli – double bassRiccardo Chiaberta – drums/arrangements "Riccardo Chiaberta has done something rather unusual in today's hyper technical jazz climate. He has made a sublime recording in which sophisticated compositional and instrumental devices are put entirely at the service of a naturally flowing and heartfelt musical offering. Lux puts melody in front, something unusual for a recording led by a drummer, and something that also explains why Chiaberta's drumming balances so effectively the role of support and direction."Gregory Burk "I met Riccardo at the Conservatory in Milan and has been my student for two years. I immediately appreciated his technical skills, his rare musical sensitivity so I early involved him in my trio. His great quality as human being was another surprise, valuable in sharing and enriching my musical project. I recently discovered his great qualities as a leader and composer, beautifully expressed in "Nirguna". Given his remarkable musical culture, I imagined he had also these qualities but a first release of this level was for me a great discovery."Tino Tracanna (Director of Jazz Faculty at the Conservatory in Milan)     

OTHER PROJECTS:

 DugongKettle of KitesKino TrioReem KelaniPaolino dalla Porta Future ChangesRCTMoonfish

Discography

KETTLE OF KITES, “Arrows”, 2019KINO TRIO, “Il Cielo Sopra Berlino”, Babel Label, 2019RICCARDO CHIABERTA, "A Bird Told Me", Honolulu records, 2018.DUGONG, “The Big Other”, Honolulu records, 2018.RCT,“Reality Control Test”, Honolulu records, 2018.GIOVANNI AGOSTI TRIO, “Stretching”, Honolulu records, 2016.PAOLINO DALLA PORTA FUTURE CHANGE 4ET, “Moonlanding”, Tuk Music, 2016.RICCARDO CHIABERTA NIRGUNA, "Lux", Honolulu Records, 2015.SIMONE PRANDO, "/'kasa/", PSS!01, 2015.MARCO GIONGRANDI SOARES, “Departures”, Honolulu records, 2015.COLLETTIVO T. MONK, “Ugly Beauty”, Honolulu records. 2015.DIMITRI GRECHI ESPINOZA, TITO MANGIALAJO RANTZER, “When We Forgot the Melody – Vol. 2”, Rudi records, 2014.MU, “Nest of Giants”, Abeat records, 2014.DUGONG, “Miscommunication”, Zone di Musica, 2013.ZEITGEBER ENSEMBLE, “Resalio”, Dodicilune records, 2013.MU, “Dropouts”, Abeat records, 2012.CARMELO EMANUELE PATTI QUARTET, “Flowing Clouds”, autoprodotto, 2012.MU, “Mu play Crookers”, Luckybeard records, 2012MU, “Sensilenti”, Abeat records, 2011.MU, “Il qui e l’ora”, VideoRadio records, 2010.MU, “Mu”, VideoRadio records, 2009.  

Contact

riccardochiaberta@gmail.com