Antonio mazzei
Antonio Mazzei is pianist, composer and producer. After receiving a scholarship, he attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City, where he studied with Fred Hersch and Kevin Hays.
In 2009, he recorded “Contrastes”, his first album as a leader. As a sideman and other collaborations with Paquito D'Rivera, Marta Gómez, Nella, Joel Frahm, Rubén Blades, and Steve Khan among others. He has also worked as a producer for several songwriters, 2019 Latin Grammy "Best New Artist" Nella, 2018 Independent Music Award Winning Album: Luz Pinos "Mariposa Azul" and Camila Perez “Souvenir".
He formed Chroma in 2016 along with artist Sheyla Tohme: a multidisciplinary project that combines improvisational music with visual arts. The project was possible thanks to The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts (VAEA) grant.
In 2018 his first solo work is released: "Reveries"
"On this record, Antonio teases out structural affinities among free jazz and postimpressionist classical, shaping a unique and identifiable voice. The repertoire varies between Mazzei’s compositions, free improvisations and popular songs, at times using prepared piano".
In 2020, Antonio joins Jazz Messenger saxophonist Jean Toussaint's Quartet in Barcelona with drummer David Xirgu and bassist Horacio Fumero.
In 2022, the Antonio Mazzei trio, featuring Doug Weiss and David Xirgu is released. Produced by former Jazz Messenger, Jean Toussaint.
Mazzei has played on several Grammy Award-nominated albums. He has taught at the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City and Taller de Musics in Barcelona, where he currently resides.
“Antonio’s music is the perfect balance of intellect and passion. He plays who he is! Bravo!”
— Bruce Gertz
“A very fine composer and a player with a wide range of influences, put together into a very
personal style.”
— Luis Perdomo
“Antonio is a sensitivity pianist and with an already identifiable composition voice.”
— Edward Simon
"...a strong yet sensitive soloist, with an invigorating sense of unpredictability, but also melodic in a highly personal way. Each track is an admirable vehicle for the pianist’s astounding blend of sheer emotion with technical virtuosity, all supported by a great deal of melodic substance."
— Jordi Pujol (Fresh Sound Records)