Directing choirs is connected with some of my masterclasses using a method called “Rhythm’n’Voice”, developed along with GiòBosco in 2009, in which vocals in connected with rhythm using small percussions, integrating rhythmical patterns with choir work of the voices. In 2015 I began teaching in two classes at Forli, Monterotondo and Montereale. With them we have a four hours monthly workshop.
In 2015 my activity of recordings and live gigs has been intensified, with a strong comeback to the blues..
Besides the duo with Zampaglione, I have recorded two songs in the new record of my friend Stefano Tavernese and participated as singer and pianist to a very particular project called Mandolin blues, focused on the revaluation of this instrument with leadership of Lino Muoio, Neapolitan blues musician, member of the historical blues band of Blue Stuff.
Moreover my new trio is very active in all Italy, with Angelo Cascarano on guitar, bass and voice and Roberto Ferrante, on drums and voice, besides me at piano, organ and voice.This band is characterized by the variety of sounds (when I play piano Angeli plays bass and when I play organ he plays guitar) and the harmonizations of the voices.
The most complex project born in 2015 is the “Mario Donatone plays Ray Charles”, in which I play piano and voice revisiting the repertoire of this giant of ‘900 with an orchestra with horn section (Claudio Corvini, Carlo Capobianchi on trumpets, Andrea Polinelli,Alessandro Tomei, Henry Cook on saxophones), two female voices, GiòBosco and Isabella Del Principe, Angelo Cascarano voice and guitar, DaniloBigioni on bass, Roberto Ferrante on drums and voice. I had already begun a similar project ten years before, but this is set up to a level never reached before from my bands on these songs, for example listening to the horns arrangements in our version Living for the City (Andrea Polinelli) and Georgia on my mind (Mario Corvini) on our youtube channel video.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]