Dario Piccioni is an Italian electric bass and double bass player, composer, born in Rome. His music includes influences ranging from jazz, fusion, world music, progressive rock.
Collaborations:
He has performed live and appears in record projects with nationally and internationally renowned artists including Ralph Towner, Perico Sambeat, Stephane Belmondo, Philip Catherine, Javier Girotto, Rosario Giuliani, Danilo Rea, Rita Marcotulli, Patrizia Scascitelli, Maria Pia De Vito, Fabio Zeppetella, Eddy Palermo.
He has collaborated for the theater with Sergio Rubini, Pino Quartullo, Mariangela D’Abbraccio, Manuela Kustermann, Gennaro Cannavacciuolo, Lunetta Savino, Laura Marinoni, Elisabetta Pozzi and with personalities of italian television as Stefano Meloccaro.
Individual Awards:
– Best Double Bass Player “Be Jazz – European Contest 2017”, with jury chaired by M°Philippe Catherine; Leuven (Belgium).
– Best Artist “Conad Jazz Contest – Umbria Jazz 2017”, with jury chaired by M° Giuseppe Vessicchio; Perugia (Italy).
– Best Instrumental Performer “Johnny Raducanu International Jazz Competition 2022”; Braila (Romania).
– First Prize “Premio Jazz Isio Saba 2022” for innovation and creativity in jazz; Cagliari (Italy).
– Second Prize – “Roma Jazz Contest 2023 – Jazz Soloist ” – with jury chaired by Danilo Rea, Bruno Biriaco, Javier Girotto; Rome (Italy).
– Third Prize “European Biennial Double Bass Congress 2018 – Jazz Soloist Competition”, with jury chaired by M° Furio Di Castri; Lucca(Italy).
– Special Jury Prize as Best Talent “Scuola Rock Event 2005”, Roma (Italy), with jury chaired by M°Gianfranco Gullotto (Saint Louis College of Music, Rome); Rome (Italy).
Ensemble Awards:
– First Prize “Johnny Raducanu International Jazz Competition 2022”; Braila (Romania).
– First Prize “Premio Jazz Isio Saba 2022 for innovation and creativity in jazz”, as the ensemble leader; Cagliari (Italy).
– Second Prize “Premio Chicco Bettinardi 2017”; Piacenza (Italy).
– Audience Award “Premio Chicco Bettinardi 2017”; Piacenza (Italy).
– Fourth Prize “Premio Claudio Abbado 2015”;Rome (Italy).
Finalist:
– “LazioSound 2023 – Jazzology”, with jury chaired by Serena Brancale, Conservatorio di Musica “Licino Refice”; Frosinone (Italy).
– “LazioSound 2021 – Jazzology “, with jury chaired by Roberto Gatto; Spazio Rossellini; Rome (Italy).
– “Premio Marco Tamburini 2024”, with jury chaired by Enrico Bracco, Gabriele Evangelista; Teatro Sociale; Rovigo (Italy).
– “Premio Randazzo 2019 – Jazz Soloist”, with jury chaired by Dado Moroni; Zō Spazi Culturali Contemporanei; Catania (Italy).
Scholarships and collaboration grants:
– “S.Louis College of Music – Rome” – One Year Scholarship with the Special Jury Prize as Best Talent “Scuola Rock Event 2005”, Roma (Italy), with jury chaired by M°Gianfranco Gullotto (Saint Louis College of Music, Rome); Rome (Italy).
– “Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles” Erasmus plus 2015 from EU; Brussels (Belgium).
– “Conservatorio Superior de Música Joaquín Rodrigo” Erasmus plus 2017 from EU;Valencia (Spain).
– “Berklee College – Valencia Campus Scholarship” – three semester graduate program 2018, Valencia (Spain).
– “Progetto Air 2024 – MIDJ Musicisti Italiani di Jazz funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and SIAE” – One month residence at Italian Institute of Culture; Mexico City (Mexico).
Studies:
He approaches music by studying piano at young age; subsequently he approaches the study of the electric bass winning a scholarship at the “Saint Louis College Of Music” in Rome, which he attended for six years under the guidance of M°Gianfranco Gullotto. In the same years he also obtained a degree at the Anthropology Department of the Faculty of Literature and Philosophy at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, by discussing a thesis in the field of Ethnomusicology studies on the African American pianist and composer Sun Ra. Graduated with honors in jazz double bass at the Conservatory of Rome “Santa Cecilia” and at the international master of specialization in “Contemporary Performance – Production Concentration” at the “Berklee College of Music” in Valencia Campus in Spain, under the guidance of well known bassist Gary Willis; he subsequently obtained the first level master’s degree in “techniques of musical – choreutic improvisation” with honors at National Dance Academy in Rome, and the II level master’s degree in “classical-contemporary music interpretation” at the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory of Rome, under the guidance of M° Daniele Roccato.
Releases as Bandleader/Composer:
– “Limesnauta” (Caligola Music, 2019).
– “Carpet Stories” (Auand Records , 2021).
– “Hortus Del Rio” (Filibusta Records, 2023).
– “Rabdomantis” (Bnc Music, 2026).
Residencies:
– “The Jazz Cafè Bahrein – Cipriani” – Marassi Al Bahrain; Manama (Bahrein) – June 2024 – electric/acoustic bass player and band leader.
– “Mexico City Italian Institute of Culture – AIR 2024” – Coyoacan; Mexico City (Mexico) – April 2024 – acoustic bass player and band leader.
– “Hong Kong Island Hotel” – Hong Kong Island, (Hong Kong SAR) – electric/acoustic bass player.
– “Borgo in Jazz 2020” – Vinchiaturo, Campobasso (Italy) – October 2020 (week 1) – acoustic bass player and band leader.
Orchestral Experience:
– Section double bassist “Le Destin Du Carmen” (G. Bizet), Conductor M° Vincenzo Gardani, Mythos Opera Festival production, Teatro Argentina, Rome, Italy, January 2022.
– Section double bassist “Interviste ai Fantasmi – a theatrical opera”, music by Giacomo Puccini and other composers, Conductor M° Vincenzo Gardani, Milano Aps and Media Visione Theatre production, Chiostro della Biblioteca Sormani, Milan, Italy, July 28, 2024.
– Section double bassist Orchestral Tour in People’s Republic of China (25 concerts), “Lake Como Orchestra”, Conductor M° Roberto Gianola, production Beijing Jingshi Culture Media Co. Ltd. various cities, People’s Republic of China, December/January/February 2023-2024.
– Section double bassist Orchestral Tour in People’s Republic of China (20 concerts), “Campania International Orchestra”, Conductor M° Veaceslav Quadrini Ceaicovschi, production Beijing Jingshi Culture Media Co. Ltd., various cities People’s Republic of China, July-August 2025.
– Principal double bassist “La Traviata” (G.Verdi), Conductor M° Simon Zerpa, Mythos Opera Festival production, Teatro Italia, Rome, Italy.