"...trombonist who, in addition to gaining an outstanding control of his instrument, continues to work on going beyond technique..."
Enrico Rava
"Matteo Paggi, with his trombone and visions, is more than a musician; he is a storyteller who reminds us how every note can tell a story. "
Luca Bianchini for ViralNews
Polyhedral artist, versatile musician, he has been exploring different types of music, instruments and musical approaches since the beginning of his musical path.
Colors, voice, timbre, dynamics, the minutest details of sound and articulation: all of it is the subject of his continuous study and research of his artistic expression. An ongoing exploration of the inner side expressing itself on the outside in (and with) music. Matteo's sensibilities reach into modern and contemporary jazz, traditional 1920s jazz, free and experimental improvisation, and ambient electronic music.
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Matteo is currently active in the quintet of international jazz icon Enrico Rava (with the “Fearless Five”). He is active as an electronic music improviser (and trombonist) with the projects Morgenbarn (together with Berlin percussionist Tilo Weber and Estonian saxophonist Maria Faust) and DIASILLA (together with fellow townsman sound designer Matteo Stella).
He is the inventor of the W O R D S method of improvisation and instant composing from which his lead project is named, and he is leading GIRAFFE with whom he plays his original music.
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He is classically trained, he graduated with top marks as an orchestral trombonist (in Italy) and then went on to complete a Master Degree in Trombone Jazz (in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam).​
He was named one of the 10 best students at the conservatory during his bachelor's degree in classical music (2016), won the Inner Wheel International Prize (2011), and perfected his skills in composition, chamber music and conducting at Stanford University and Marquette University in the USA in 2017.
In the same year he won the audition as principal trombonist in ONCI, the Italian National Orchestra of the Conservatories and with his quartet “Bb Jazz Quartet”, he became official artist of the “Skyline Radio&Soul” radio.
At the "Massimo Urbani International Prize 2022" he won the 3rd Jury Prize, Critics' Prize and Audience Prize.
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He moved to Amsterdam in 2019 where he started important collaborations with musicians from all over the world who had a decisive influence, and completed his studies in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. As his final research, he presented his new and innovative method of improvisation and instant composing. A method based on words that touches the three spheres of being a human: mental sphere, body sphere and spiritual sphere. From there, one of his leading projects was born: 'W O R D S'. The first album of the 'words' project is been released for the Berlin-based AUT Records label, in collaboration with the Marche-based NUGO - Collective.
Also in Amsterdam, Matteo started the project GIRAFFE. An original music quintet with rock, songwriting and jazz influences. The album 'Once I got a Lama' will be released in early 2025 on the Jam/Unjam label (a branch from "Universal").​​​
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Since 2024 he is been working with the theater company Oorkaan (Amsterdam) in the ‘In de Wijk’ project, performing the show ‘De dag dat papa viel’ directed by: Wieger Meulenbroek.
Together with Israeli saxophonist Aviv Noam, they perform a theatrical show of about 40 minutes in which they use their bodies and the surrounding space just like actors or mimes, but their instrument instead of their voice (playing original compositions, arrangements and free improvisations).​
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He is very active all around Europe with the early jazz group "The Fried Seven" (winner of the Kerel van Eerd Music Award 2021) with which thy released the album "Late to the Party" with the American label "Rivermont".
‘FLECA', the first album of his trio “The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance” was released on 27th Nov 2024, expressing the rock soul of this very particular project.
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Among the artists he shared the stage with are: Enrico Rava, Tony Coleman, Yamandu Costa, Adam Rapa, Dianne Reeves, Peter Washington, Ethan Iverson, Dan Weiss, the Imperial Triumphant, Joe Lovano, Lewis Nash, Fabrizio Bosso, Giovanni Sollima, Don Farinacci, Veronica Swift.
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Some of the most important stages he has graced include: North Sea Jazz, Umbria Jazz, Jazzaldia, Chamber of the Italian Senate, Dresdner Philarmonie, GrachtenFestival, Auditorium Ennio Morricone, Controtempo Jazz&Wine, Jazz in Duketown, Breda Jazz Festival, Bimhuis, De Doelen, Unerhoert Festival, Poppodium 013, Paaspop Festival, Ziggo Dome, Blue Note Milano, Casa del Jazz, Pisa Jazz, Flux.
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