| Biography | Maurizio Minardi is a pianist, accordionist, saxophonist, composer and arranger, based in London since September 2008.
Maurizio completed his studies in piano, organ and composition at the Conservatorio Martini Bologna, Italy. He also holds a certificate in Musicology from Dams University Bologna. He perfected his jazz studies through workshops with Barry Harris, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Danilo Rea and Simone Zanchini.
Maurizio founded, composed, produced and arranged the music for the electronic pop group Oz and the jazz-tango group Quartetto Magritte, recording four and three albums respectively.
In 2011, he also produced and released the orchestral-electronic album Works to critical acclaim.
He has written songs for popular Italian singers such as Gianni Morandi, Barbara Cola and Franz Campi, and has participated as a songwriter in Italy's largest festival, Sanremo.
Italian broadcaster Rai has published Maurizio's album 'Tangology', comprising songs inspired by tango. British DJ Paul Murphy has mixed and published Maurizio's song Malanotte on his Afro Art Record label. Maurizio has also provided piano accompaniment to the lead singer of the Puppini Sisters at several Italian concerts.
In 2010 Maurizio recorded the CD Improfives with Roberto Manzin, Francesco Lo Castro, Nick Pini and Francesco Mendolia.
In 2010 the Sonnambula is included in the soundtrack of USA movie 'Mango Tango'
In 2011, together with Dott Reed, Maurizio composed 'Honestly' (also the jingle of the Italian BNL advert). He also recorded two songs with Nicola Hitchcock (the voice of Mandalay).
In 2012 Maurizio recorded at Livingston Studios (London) and released his new CD, 'My Piano Trio', with Nick Pini and Jason Reeve. He has also been on tour with the Royal Shakespeare Company during the early part of 2012.
In the UK Maurizio has performed with a number of artists including Carmen Souza, Antonio Forcione, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dott Reed, Maciek Pysz, Asaf Sirkis, Brandon Allen, Quentin Collins, Yuri Goloubev, Alex Hutton, Rick James, Gabrielle Ducomble, Roberto Manzin.
Maurizio has played a range of venues and festivals, including Pizza Express Jazz Club, the Royal Albert Hall Ignite Series, Upstairs at Ronnie Scott's, the Apollo Hammersmith, the Lost Theatre, the Bloomsbury Theatre, Hull Jazz Festival, Olivers Jazz Club, Spice of Life, Jazz Café Posk, The Vortex, Green Note and Charlie Wright's. |