Carlo Maria Barile: Manhattan Suite … and other Stories

Artist(s)

Carlo Maria Barile was born in Ferrara in 1989. He was taught to play piano and drums in Bari at the music school “Il Pentagramma”. In 2007 he won a scholarship for the Five Week Summer Performance Program at “Berklee College of Music” in Boston (MA); after graduating from secondary school with top marks, he graduated cum laude in organ execution and composition from the Conservatory “Niccolò Piccinni” in Bari, under the supervision of Margherita Quarta. In 2011 he took the Konzertexamen in organ with professor Tomasz Adam Nowak at the “Hochschule für Musik” in Detmold, Germany, obtaining the mark sehr gut. In 2016 he obtained a second - level Professional Master’s Degree cum laude in Early Music at the Conservatory “San Pietro a Majella”, under Antonio Florio. He kept improving under the guidance of teachers such as the Thomasorganist Ullrich Böhme, Naji Hakim and Ton Koopman. He held solo performances as a classical organist and harpsichordist and jazz piano player in locations such as the Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola-Jazz in Lincoln Center, the Steinway Hall and St. Peter’s Church in New York City; Toledo Cathedral and the Iglesia del Salvador in Granada, Spain, the Petruzzelli Theatre in Bari, Notre Dame des Champs church in Paris, the Valère Basilica in Sion, Switzerland; he also performed at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, the Lambertkirche in Münster and at the Markuskirche in Munich, Germany. As basso continuo player he performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Muziekcentrum de Bijloke in Gent, Belgium and the auditorium in Castel Sant’Elmo as a part of the ensemble “Cappella Neapolitana”, conducted by Antonio Florio. At the Royal Chapel of the Treasure of St. Januarius in Naples he took part in the first performance in present times of the Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Secundum Mattheum, composed by Giovanni Maria Trabaci and conducted by Rosario Totaro. He played the harmonium in the Petite Messe Solennelle, performed by the Ghislieri Choir & Consort conducted by Giulio Prandi, organised by the Teatru Manoel and held at St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta for Gioacchino Rossini’s 150th death anniversary celebrations. Moreover, he teaches piano and theory at the music school “Il Pentagramma” in Bari.

MICHELE DI MONTE: Michele Di Monte has been studying drums since an early age. After his classical studies he starts experimenting and searching new ways to play the drums, exchanging ideas with Italian and foreign drummers. He plays as a session drummer in concerts and recording studios with his own bands or collaborating with well-known musicians such as Irio De Paula, Tony Scott, Urbie Green, Joy Garrison and Crystal White. Since 1986 he has been teaching drums and music theory at the music school “Il Pentagramma” in Bari.

VITO DI MODUGNO: Born in Bari (Italy), Vito Di Modugno was voted among the best organ players in the world in “Downbeat” magazine’s poll. He began his musical studies very early, guided by his father Pino Di Modugno, an experienced and well-known accordionist, he studied piano, organ, electric bass and upright bass. He participated as soloist in concerts with the Symphony Orchestra “Arturo Toscanini” of Parma, playing organ in Jon Lord’s Concerto for Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra based on the Deep Purple piece from 1969. He was invited to perform in the United States with saxophonists Jerry Bergonzi and Carol Sudhalter. The Italian jazz magazine “Musica Jazz” included him among players specializing in Hammond Organ in their supplement with CD dedicated to the history of the instrument. He is winner for several times of the Jazzit Magazine award for Best Italian Organist. He has taught at the “N. Piccinni” Conservatory, Bari, and has given masterclasses in jazz at Espartina – Sevilla (Spain). He teaches at the "E. R. Duni" Conservatory, Matera, and at “Il Pentagramma” Music School, Bari, Italy.