Originally from the picturesque city of Catania, Sicily, I began playing guitar at the age of ten. Music was always present at home: my father, a passionate listener, regularly attended performances at the Teatro Massimo Vincenzo Bellini and filled the house with symphony music after long days at work. Those early sounds quietly shaped my musical curiosity.
It wasn’t until I started taking private lessons at a local music school, however, that the guitar truly became central to my life. I found myself practicing for hours after school, drawn into the discipline and expressive possibilities of the instrument. Early on, my studies focused on fingerstyle guitar and blues, but exposure to the vibrant local jazz scene soon changed everything. Hearing musicians perform at local festivals — and listening to jazz educators and composers up close — opened a new world that captured my imagination.
As my interest in jazz deepened, so did my commitment to understanding music more fully. Alongside guitar studies, I immersed myself in theory, ear training, and composition, gradually building a foundation that allowed me to engage with music beyond the instrument itself. Although performance opportunities were limited at times, the process of learning, listening, and refining my craft proved formative, grounding my approach in both discipline and curiosity.
In 2000, I relocated to Dublin, a city whose eclectic and diverse music scene provided the perfect environment for artistic growth. The openness of the scene encouraged exploration across styles and contexts, while frequent performance opportunities allowed me to develop my voice as a player. During this period, I also pursued further studies in composition, an experience that challenged me to move beyond interpretation and into creating original music — a turning point that reshaped my relationship with jazz.
Over the years, my musical interests have continued to evolve and while my roots remain firmly planted in traditional and mainstream jazz, I am fascinated by contemporary and modern jazz forms. Their fluidity, openness, and constant reinvention resonate deeply with me, fueling an ongoing commitment to growth — both as a guitarist and as a composer.
Recent Comments