The Italian accordionist Antonello Messina is a dynamic presence in the new international jazz scene and has been so for several years. He has toured and recorded both alone and as a sideman, and his numerous performances across Europe as well as his collaborations are greatly praised by both the public and the critics.
Antonello is a composer, pianist, accordionist and bandoneonist.
He was born in Palermo on july 24, 1969.
He began to study classical piano at the age of ten. He later studied solfeggio and music theory with Guido Maduli, subsequently, harmony and composition would become an important part of his musical education. During that time, he attended several stages and seminars featuring internationational artists, among which Paul McCandless, Glen Moore and Trilok Gurtu (Conservatorio V. Bellini, Palermo).
In 1997, self taught, he began to study accordion. He has constantly carried out intense teaching activity in music schools and other institutions, among which "L'Ottava Nota", a school founded and directed by the guitarist and producer Vincenzo Mancuso.
Significant dates and events:
1986 He performs at SIM Hi Fi Ives international exhibition in Milan, broadcast by RAI (Italy's national television)
1990 He plays in the band "Pangea Group", with Edmondo Negri, Giuseppe Urso and Giovanni Messina
1992 He performs in "Falconara" video clip, broadcast live by RAI DUE
He performs at Monte Pellegrino Jazz Festival
1994 He participates in the recording of the album "Sicilian Jazz Collection" (Splash(H) Records), with his compositions "Holdsworthian" and "Selinunte"
1996 He records the album "Perseo o Della Luce" (Iktius Jazz) together with Kalsa group
1998 He creates his first "Trio Tango Jazz" project, with Riccardo Lo Bue (double bass) and Sebastiano Alioto (drums) with which he will perform with great success at several jazz festivals
He performs with "Orchestra Siciliana" on the occasion of the Telethon event broadcast by RAI television; he plays at Womad Festival with the Nucleart Group in the Teatro di Verdura in Palermo, where he also takes part in the "Palermo di Scena" event with the "Orchestra Siciliana"
1999 He creates the "Duo Buenos Aires" with the Italian guitarist Francesco Buzzurro
2000 He performs live for the RAI international broadcasting of the "Culture and Television" award, presented by Michele Mirabella. During this event he plays with the "Orchestra di musica contemporanea" of Palermo
Along with his path as a professional musician, Antonello Messina has pursued his career as a talented and highly esteemed painter. These two means of expression have blended to create a lifelong journey of exploration. His paintings' exhibition in March 2000 on the occasion of the World Exhibit at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York is a very significant stage of his artistic journey.
2001 He performs at Castelbuono Jazz Festival
He performs with the Italian accordionist Antonello Salis (Bagheria - Isnello)
2002 Italian Tour with the Italian and Swiss singer/songwriter Pippo Pollina
2003 He begins to study bandoneon
European Tour with the Italian and Swiss singer/songwriter Pippo Pollina
2004 He performs at "Cominciamo bene", a tv show presented by Corrado Tedeschi on RAI broadcasting service
He begins a "recital tour" with Pippo Pollina and the guitarist Enzo Sutera. Together they play at Mantua's Festival with a live broadcasting on national tv
His "Trio Tango Jazz" with Chris Von Hoffmann and Beat Ramseier performs at Fiera di Primiero Jazz Festival
He takes part in the recording of Pippo Pollina's live album "Bar Casablanca (at the Teatro Masini in Faenza) with special guests Walter Keiser (drums) and Javier Girotto (winds)
2005 Releasing of Pippo Pollina's dvd "Live in Italia" directed by Christian Geisler "videographie"
He creates his new "Trio Tango Jazz" project, with André Pousaz (double bass) and Fabian Kuratli (drums)
2006 He takes part in the recording of "Live at Bazillus" with Lauschangriff Quartet
He plays as special guest in a live performance of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra in Bern
He takes part in the recording of guitarist Francesco Buzzurro's new album "Naxos" (produced by Mare Nostrum)
He records his album, "AZIYZ", produced and distributed worldwide by Dodicilune. This album features some among the finest Italian jazz musicians: Ettore Fioravanti, Fabrizio Bosso, Luca Lo Bianco, Fabio Rizzo and the Italian singer Peppe Voltarelli
2007 He participates in the recording of the soundtrack of director Nello La Marca’s movie “La Terra Madre” (featured at the Berlin film festival)
He plays as special guest in a live performance of the Swiss Jazz Orchestra in Bern
European tour (duo) with Italian singer/songwriter Peppe Voltarelli (Italy, France, Montecarlo, Germany)
Recording of Swiss singer/songwriter Ester Val’s album “midinette”(sideman)
Series of three Italian concerts with guitarist Umberto Fiorentino (duo)
2008 Swiss tour with “Modus Quartet”
Takes part in the recording of Peppe Voltarelli's album "Bootleg Live"
2009: performs with Peppe Voltarelli in Varese (Milan), live broadcasting on national tv channel Rai 2
Takes part in the recording of the soundtrack of Nino Christen's cartoon "Little Eden"
Release of the album "Looking Back" with Daccordeon
Release of the album "Live in Bern" with Modus Quartet
Japan Tour with Modus Quartet
2010 - Accordion Festival Wien (Special Guest with Kapelush Trio)
Release of the album "Mosaic" with Modus Quartet
Theatrical productions:
Antonello Messina has taken part in several musical and theatrical productions, in collaboration with Teatro Branciforti (Bagheria) and with Italian actor Roberto Sardina, under the direction of Rosamari Spena:
"Walking" (written by M. Padovano, based on various authors)
"A sud di" (based on various authors)
"Il fumo e le spine" (based on various authors)
"Eva, dolce Eva" (based on the work of M. Jurgens)
