Giuseppe Paradiso

 

He was born in Santeramo in Colle (Bari, Italy) in 1983 and started his musical studies on drums at the age of six 

years old.  

 

In 2007 he graduated with full marks and honours from the Italian Conservatory "N. Piccinni" of Bari, in percussion 

instruments, studying with professor Beniamino Forestiere, who later dedicated a composition for solo marimba to 

Giuseppe Paradiso.  

At the conservatory he also had the opportunity to study mallets (marimba and vibraphone) and often performed as a 

mallet player (marimba-vibraphone); in 2003 he participated as a soloist at the "International Marimba Competition" 

at the Superior National Conservatory of Paris, one of the most prestigious mallet’s competition in the world, 

performing in front of a jury of top exponents.  

 

At the same conservatory, he received the 5 years Composition Certificate “Compimento Inferiore”, part of the 

Contemporary and Experimental Composition program, as well as classical piano for 8 years. 

 

As well as his classical training at the conservatory, he attended several jazz and contemporary music workshops and 

master classes such as “Siena Jazz” Summer Workshop (Italy), “Les journées de la percussion” (Paris, France), 

"Berklee Summer School at Umbria Jazz" clinics, where he received a Berklee Scholarship for a full-time program of 

four years at BERKLEE COLLEGE OF MUSIC in Boston. He also attended clinics lead by international re-known 

musicians such as Evelyn Glennie, Elvin Jones, Ron Carter, Danilo Perez, Peter Erskine, Antonio Sanchez, Benny 

Golson, Jimmy Cobb, Victor Mendoza, Massimo Manzi, Ettore Fioravanti amongst others. 

 

In 2008 he moved to Boston (United States) to study at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated in 2011 with 

Magna Cum Laude in Drums/Performance as a recipient of several scholarships. 

At Berklee College of Music, he had the opportunity to study with some of the finest musicians and educators in the 

world such as Ian Froman, Ralph Peterson, Terri Lyne Carlington, John Hazilla, Mark Walker, Ed Saindon, Dave 

Samuels, Victor Mendoza, Dave Santoro, Jamey Haddad, Ken Cervenka, amongst others.  

At Berklee, he had the chance to work as a rhythm section player for the Strings department, Guitar department, 

Voice Department, Piano Department, Ensemble department, Special programs of 2010 and 2011, 

Arranger/Composer Workshop, for several visiting artists and Berklee concert series. 

 

He has performed internationally and had the pleasure to work with several artists, groups and orchestras from all 

over the world. To name a few: Larry Watson, Bart Samolis, Lori Andrews, Mario and Gianni Rosini, Vince 

Abbracciante, Felice Pomeranz, Matt Marvuglio, Tiger Okoshi, Darren Barrett, Barry Smith, Guido Di Leone, Vito Di 

Modugno, Paola Arnesano, Charo Martin Garcia, William Topley, Daniele Sepe, Nori Shiota, Paa Seck Diery, Frederic 

Macarez, El Barrio Libertad and Flamenco Vive, Orchestra Sinfonica della Provincia di Bari, Orchestra de Falla, 

Orchestra giovanile del Conservatorio di Bari, Cettina Donato group and Big Band, Utar Artun, Mark Zaleski among 

many others. 

In 2009 he worked as a jazz drummer for the MSC Cruise Line, travelling around the Mediterranean. 

 

Some of his Festival performances include: “Festival Duni” (Matera, Italy), “Festival Paleariza” (Reggio Calabria, Italy), 

“Euterpe Festival” (Taranto, Italy), “Premio Roma Jam Session” -1st edition (Roma, Italy), “Pagella Rock” (Torino, 

Italy), “Le Giornate Della Percussione” at the Conservatory “G.B.Pergolesi” (Fermo-Ascoli Piceno, Italy), 

“International Folk Festival 2010” (Berklee Performance Center, Boston, MA – United States), “Extravaganza 2009, 

2010 and 2011” (Boston, United States), “Les Journee de la Percussion” at Conservatoire Superior de Paris (Paris, 

France), JAZZ REVELATION 2011 at Berklee Performance Center (Boston, USA); several jazz clubs and major 

venues such as Hard Rock Café of Boston, Ueffilo jazz club (Gioia del Colle, Italy), Gregory’s jazz club (Roma, Italy), 

Ryles jazz club, Lily Pad, Regatta Bar, Beehive, Wally’s Jazz Club (Boston, USA), Northeastern University (Boston, 

MA) among many other venues, events and Universities. 

TV appearances include: FOX 25 (United States), Spanish TVE LA2 “Entre Dos Aguas”- documentary produced by 7 

times Latin Grammy Award winner Javier Limón, as well as several appearances on Italian TV. 

 

As a band leader, he recorded in 2012 the “Otherness Collection” album with his international “Meridian 71” band in 

Boston, which includes only his original music where he is the composer, arranger, drummer and producer.  

His original work with “Meridian 71” is the result of a research into different musical styles, traditions, and cultures, 

melded together by using the jazz key.  

This project aims also at exploring the ethical implications of the encounter between the practice of world jazz music 

and the philosophical concept of otherness, involving the collaboration of philosopher Francesco Paradiso. 

 

He has also recorded as a sideman on several albums covering many different styles of music, ranging from Jazz to 

Pop. In 2011 he recorded for Jazz Revelation Records 2011 in Boston, USA with Cettina Donato group and her 

orchestra. 

 

As an educator, he has been teaching music and drums for different projects promoted by the Italian association 

“Linea Azzurra” and as a private instructor in Italy and New England area (United States). 

 

 

AWARDS: 

 

• at Umbria Jazz 2007 (Perugia, Italy) Berklee Scholarship for a full time program in Boston 

• “Movin’up 2008” GAI – Giovani Artisti Italiani with the support of the Italian Government 

• Berklee International Grant (Berklee College of Music) 

• “James David Harber Award” (Performance Division and Percussion Department of Berklee College of Music) 

• Berklee outstanding scholarship 

• Dean’s list of Berklee College of Music