Cristiano Micalizzi

Cristiano Micalizzi began early musical studies under the guidance of his father, composer Franco Micalizzi. He began at a very young age to work with him in the recording studio as a drummer and percussionist and simultaneously played with a variety of jazz and fusion ensembles in various clubs and theaters in the capital.

In March 1990, at the “First Competition for Young European Jazz Talents” (organized by RAI Radio Televisione Italiana and sponsored by Yves Saint Laurent) he was chosen by an international jury to be part of the orchestra conducted by American arranger and flutist James Newton.

In July of that year, he participated in clinics held by Berklee College of Music in Boston during Umbria Jazz, winning a scholarship that allowed him to leave for the American school where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Performance.

While in the United States, he had the opportunity to play with several up-and-coming musicians including bassist Matt Garrison and guitarist Torsten De Winkel. During the same period he recorded with the group “Oversize quartet” a jazz CD for Accurate Records (AC-4800) and took part in several concerts with a prestigious Boston big band conducted by Tom Roli Jr. with whom he participated in the Festival international de jazz in Montreal.

Upon returning to Italy, in addition to collaborating each year as an assistant to the American Berklee faculty at the Umbria Jazz clinics, he began successfully performing with various artists and groups in a variety of musical contexts. To date, he has played with: Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini, Max Gazzé, Carmen Consoli, Daniele Silvestri, Ron, Loredana Berté, Ornella Vanoni, Riccardo Cocciante, Gianni Morandi, Massimo Ranieri, Anna Oxa, Maurizio Lauzi, Tiziana Rivale, Francesca Alotta, Scialpi, Silvia Salemi, Gianni Togni, Neri per caso, Eramo and Passavanti, Bungaro, Tiromancino, The Rolling Stones Project (Darryl Jones, Bernard Fowler, Tim Ries), Frank McComb, Crystal White, Herbie Goins, Jim Kelly, Bruce Bartlett, Jean-Pierre Como (Jean-Luc Ponty), Joy Malcolm (Incognito), Dave Binney, Lynley Marthe (Joe Zawinul Syndicate), Z-Star, Sharlene Hector (Basement Jaxx), Belinda Skinner, Deitra Farr, Ben Sidran, Tollak Ollestad, Stefano Di Battista, Marcello Rosa, Gegé Telesforo, Pippo Matino and Rocco Zifarelli.

Finally, he published thirteen methods for drums published by Ricordi entitled Drumming System, Drumming System 2, Drumming System 3, Rhythmic Reading, Rudiment Reading, Drum set Reading, Encyclopedia of Rhythms for Drums and Bass, The Drummer’s Reading, The Drummer’s Technique, The Drummer’s Rhythms and Fills, The Drummer’s Plat-Along, The First Drum Method, The First Percussion Method, and Grooves for drums and bass distributed in the United States by Hal Leonard.