Michela Lombardi

"Michela is an outstanding singer, a terrific new talent. She sounds like a hip angel. She writes great lyrics too. Working with her was a revelation." (Phil Woods) Three upcoming news from MICHELA LOMBARDI: • She has recorded three songs by Ennio Morricone for Riccardo Arrighini’s next release (spring/summer 2012) “NOTHIN’ BUT MORRICONE”: “Gabriel’s Oboe”, “Song For Elena” – from «Nuovo Cinema Paradiso» and “Deborah’s Theme” – from «Once Upon A Time In America». • With Riccardo Fassi, Luca Pirozzi and Alessandro Marzi she has arranged some of Madonna’s hits for the “Madonna Mia!” project, produced by Alfredo Saitto. Debut: Rome, March 29th (@28DiVino) and April 4th (@BeBop). • She has recorded 11 new songs with Riccardo Dellocchio (Patti Smith’s Italian guitarist) – this new project’s name is “Lazy Afternoon In June”. June is approaching, stay tuned! Elegant, intense, delicate. So has been described Michela Lombardi’s approach to jazz. She’s characterized by a deep love for jazz tradition and by a vivid expressiveness sometimes bluesy and soulful. A storyteller bound to the literary value of the repertoire she chooses to sing. As Phil Woods points out, she’s got a talent as a lyricist for her own songs and for vocalese tunes. So he chose her to sing (and write some lyrics) on two cds: • The Phil Woods Songbook – vol.1 & 2 (Philology, 2010) For the first time Phil Woods has gathered his own songs with lyrics and recorded them as a Songbook. Way back in the 90’s, with the name of art “Malina”, her debut album Gently Hard (Cis Records/Edel, 1999), was hailed as a “pop-rock gem”, as you can read on www.cdbaby.com/malina, and a single by the cd was licensed by TommyBoy/Warner (N.Y.). The first song (“Lemoncake”) features Stefano Bollani on accordeon. Ever since her debut on the jazz scene with the cd “Small Day Tomorrow” (Philology, 2004), she’s mentioned every year among the “Best Musicians” in the TOP JAZZ POLLS on Musica Jazz magazine. In 2007 Philology label released her cd “Starry Eyed Again (Chet On Our Minds)”, recorded with Riccardo Arrighini (the pianist who toured the world with the alto sax enfant-prodige Francesco Cafiso) and enthusiastically reviewd by Alan Bargebuhr for Cadence Magazine, N.Y. In 2008 she published two recordings: • “So April Hearted” (M.A.P./Lush Tales, 2008 – which contains mostly new songs) was mentioned by Musica Jazz magazine among the Best Albums of the Year. • “Swingaholic” (Philology, 2008) received an Italian Jazz Awards 2008 nominee as Best Jazz Act. Nico Gori (the clarinet/sax player who plays and records with Stefano Bollani) is featured on both records. In 2009 Philology label released the 2 cds: “Moonlight Becomes You (Thinking Of Chet, vol.1)” and “Still In My Heart (Thinking Of Chet, vol.2)”, dedicated to Chet Baker’s repertoire, featuring Renato Sellani (piano), Massimo Moriconi (doublebass) and Stefano Bagnoli (drums). Michela’s signature also appears close to Burt Bacharach’s below the title of a recent song written by the great American songwriter (“How The Heart Knows”) as she wrote the official Italian lyrics, as sung by popstar Karima Ammar’s debut album on Sony label. Michela started performing live at 14 with rock/soul/blues bands. She got involved into jazz music at 20 and studied with Michèle Hendricks, Norma Winstone, Jay Clayton, Rachel Gould, Sheila Jordan, Giacomo Gates, Donna McElroy (Berklee Clinics 2001), Shawnn Monteiro (she was her assistant during We Love Jazz Workshops) and many others. She was among the twelve finalists at Brussels International Young Jazz Singers Competition in 2006 and she received a Special Mention at Crest Jazz Vocal Concours (France) in 2007. As a composer, she won the Audience Prize at the Italian Competition for Female Jazz Composers "Note di Donna" at Piacenza Jazz Club in 2009. She has a Philosophy degree (maximum mark with distinction) at the University of Pisa, a master in Theatre & Communication (maximum mark) and a Jazz degree at "L. Cherubini" Florence Conservatory. Michela Lombardi sang at the Opera House in Tel Aviv (Israel) for the Jazz season opening (Nov. 27th, 2009) with Tony Pancella (p.), Nicola Stilo (fl.), Giorgio Rosciglione (db.), Massimo Manzi (dr.). She sang in many festivals directed by Stefano Zenni (SIdMA), Francesco Martinelli, Antonio Ciacca (now directing Jazz At Lincoln Center), Stefano Bollani, Paolo Piangiarelli and many others, and she made a radio interview & unplugged set at “Brasil” on the national RadioRai1 (November 2004). She was invited to sing at Duc des Lombards in Paris (2005). She sang, among the others, with: Riccardo Fassi, Riccardo Arrighini, Alessandro Minetto, Paolo Benedettini, Kelvin Sholar, Giovanni Ceccarelli, Andy Gravish, Robert Bonisolo, Steve Cantarano, Ettore Fioravanti, Carlo Battisti, Stefano Nunzi, Massimo Faraò, Bobby Durham, Petra Magoni, Matteo Becucci, Marco Tamburini, Pietro Tonolo, Walter Paoli, Tony Pancella, Nicola Stilo, Giorgio Rosciglione, Massimo Manzi...