A B O U T C O C O
Founder and president of a music promotion and production company, Coco Productions Inc., from 1996 to 2019.
Moved to Chicago from Italy in 1995 with over twenty years of experience in the music industry. Since coming to the US, focused primarily on jazz artists. Spent a good portion of first five years in Chicago working with Bill Russo and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble in local concert production as well as organizing collaborations with international jazz festivals.
Worked with other organizations and artists in the following capacities: organizer of performances and clinics, talent scout for independent recording labels, consultant for college music departments, creative consultant for special events at international jazz festivals, webmaster and social media promoter for artist and event websites.
Worked with many prestigious organizations, including: Columbia College Chicago, Italian Cultural Institute, Conservatorio Niccolo Piccinni Bari, CLDA Conservatorio di Pescara, Chicago Jazz Ensemble, Bussinjazz, Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Showcase, Jazz Institute of Chicago, A.M.R. Geneve, Berklee College, CIDIM Comitato Nazionale Italiano Musica, Ai Confini tra Sardegna e Jazz, Umbria Jazz, Vicenza New Conversations, Pescara Jazz Festival, Hong Kong Orchestra, International Association of Jazz Educators, Jazz Education Network, International Jazz Festival Organization, Israeli Opera House, BRASS Group Palermo, Aperitivo in Concerto Teatro Manzoni, Jazz by the Sea, Birdland NY, Arcevia Jazz Feast...
Lucky and honored to have met, collaborated and worked with Legends and young talents including: Bill Russo, Buddy De Franco, Chet Baker, Jon Faddis, Muhal Richard Abram, Barrett Deems, Buddy Childers, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava, Orbert Davis, Tullio De Piscopo, Pino Daniele, Danilo Rea, Art Hoyle, Vinicio Capossela, Bob Mintzer, Arturo Sandoval, Fabrizio Bosso, Roberto Gatto, Giovanni Tommaso, Maria Pia DeVito, Ada Montellanico, Phil Woods, Massimo Urbani, Clark Terry, Dee Alexander, Kurt Elling, Miroslav Vitous, Roy Hargrove, Ray Brown, Enzo Pietropaoli, Tony Esposito, Max Ionata, Lee Konitz, Mark Colby, Sergio Salvatore, Paolo Di Sabatino, Bobbi Wilsyn, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Tuck & Patty, Claudio Filippini, Marcus Belgrave, Paul Wertico, Manhattan Transfer, Irio DePaola, Antonello Salis...
Currently founder and director of the program More Than Jazz!, an exchange program involving students and schools from around the world and Artistic Director of Jamm! Festival.
G A L L E R Y
Thanks to everyone who photographed these moments