“Kenya is an inspiring country filled with good vibrations”

Guitarist Matteo Di Leonardo is a virtuoso on guitar with a uniquely soft and luxurious sound but a melodic imagination of exuberant audacity.

He has an astonishing fertility of ideas, his intuitiveness can be felt in the way he lures you to his enticing vivacity of playing; he took up jam sessions whilst in Nairobi and you could feel his soul and ambient grooving to his flair of playing the electronic guitar. He colored most of his music with surprises tinged with counter melodies, relaxing tunes that would go etched in your mind.

With a guitar strapped on his back, holding an amp on his right hand; he strolled in Karel T lounge, impeccably adorned in a black shirt and a satin scarf round his neck. He has a great taste in fashion apparel. The Karel T Lounge, a unique location with a relaxing ambiance smack in the middle of the new Village Market mall section, would be the last stage Matteo would grace for his last show in Kenya.

We exchange pleasantries and says, “As the Italian culture dictates, we always have an aperitif before diving into our meals?” I had no idea what an aperitif is. “An aperitif is an alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite; prepares the stomach for food”.

He puts his guitar and amp down, running his hands through his fuzzy hair, “okay, we can proceed” *you could hear his distinct Italian accent*, offers me a spritz with a smile, “Karibu”

Matteo’s passion for music propelled him to win a jazz competition that was aimed at created Jazz Networks between Italy and various countries. The competition which was promoted by MIDJ (Italian Jazz Musician Association) and SIAE (Italian Authors and Editors Society) in Italy selected 20 young musicians to be sent to 20 different destinations in order to spread Italian jazz gospel.

“The AIR (Artist In Residence) Project, is a big competition organized and promoted by MIDJ (Italian Jazz Musician Association) and SIAE (Italian Authors and Editors Society) in 2017 to give to young Italian musicians the opportunity to live the experience of an artistic residence abroad for one month.

I was selected from a pool of 20 musicians and sent to Nairobi, Kenya. The scheduling of my arrival was organized by MIDJ, in collaboration with the Italian embassy in Nairobi and the Italian Institute of culture of Nairobi. In Kenya, I was in touch with the finest Kenyan musicians, Saxophonist Juma Tutu and the trumpet player Mackinlay Mutsembi.

Thanks to them I was immediately oriented into the Nairobi jazz network, joining a lot of live sessions as “special guest”. My visit to Kenya coincided with the Safaricom Jazz Festival, and the experience helped me understand the Kenyan music culture I am proud to say such experience led to the production of an album, fusing my Italian folk music with the Kenyan sound.”

Matteo’s Early Childhood and Musical Influences

From the looks of things online, you may think the 26-year-old may have catapulted himself to success as a Jazz guitarist, overnight, but Matteo’s virtuosity has taken him 13 years of relentless practice and rehearsal to mold him into a virtuoso he is now. He points out, “I started playing at the age of 13, as a joke, and I have never imagined that playing guitar would amount as my source of income currently. I grew up in Teramo, a little town in Abruzzo, a beautiful green region in the center of Italy

Luckily I spent my childhood listening unconsciously to a lot of good music: my father normally puts a lot of Vinyl and cd’s (from Genesis to Pink Floyd, from Pat Metheny to Steely Dan, and many others). So Music was in the air at home even if I don’t come from a generation of musicians, but my dad could play some little stuff on guitar and I decided to try, grabbing a classical guitar that was dropped in a corner taking dust since years.

I started with rock music: David Gilmour, the guitarist of Pink Floyd, my first inspiration, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Genesis among others, but on the other hand I randomly started listening,: Pat Metheny, a man whose musical approached imbued me to love jazz, I was too fascinated.

I studied music with amazing musicians and created good jazz networks through music conservatoires and music clubs I join and participated in, first in Italy between Pescara and Rome and then in Brussels, the city where I currently live.

I play contemporary jazz, mostly straight-ahead swing, ballads, but nowadays it is really difficult to make a labeled difference between all the music genres, especially in jazz because the musical influences are quite diverse and it would be a pity to put some “idealistic” limits to your music.”

The birth of Matteo’s debut album; Sketches

Chasing dreams of a better future in the music sphere, Matteo relocated to Brussels. It is in Brussels he has been able to build his jazz music career. “Brussels is a beautiful city, you can feel and hear the jazz sounds in various corners of the town; inside jazz clubs, in the cafès, on the streets, you can breathe it almost eat it. I joined various jam sessions in town and tried to do collaborations with various musicians.”

Matteo treats his music like an autobiography of his life, he says, “It is in Brussels, my debut album, “Sketches” was born. My good friends, Filippo Bianchini (sax), Claudio Filippini (piano), Dario Piccioni (double bass), Armando Luongo (drums), came through to help me produce my first album. I was blessed beyond measure to have renowned guitar player Philip Catherine as the special guest.

Mamma mia! What is an album without an amazing producer such as Hans Kusters and the whole staff of September Jazz Label.

Additionally he promotes his music using various channels such as music contests in Europe. “I got involved with Conad Jazz contest (Umbria jazz 2017), Zilina international jazz contest 2017 (where I was awarded best composer of the competition). “

AIR Project in Kenya

Matteo had no rest whilst in Kenya, he was heavily involved in the musical scene. He collaborated with many Jazz luminaries who were willing to support him in his venture in Kenya, “I am quite honored to have worked with many Kenyan jazz stars. I worked closely with Juma Tutu and Swahili Jazz band, where he organized an event that I got to perform alongside his band and Emy Kitasako a phenomenal lady on trumpet. Additionally, I worked with Mackinlay Mutsembi and Rabai Mokua members of Nairobi Horns Project. Their professionalism in music propelled me to do an album which is titled Kabisa. (Means totality).

Matteo’s creative juices were ignited. His collaborations on stage with the various Kenyan artists whom he lauded for music professionalism, enabled him to curate an album that has been produced in Kenya. “The album is titled ‘Kabisa’ (means totality) will comprise of 8 tracks. ‘Kabisa’ will include Juma Tutu (tenor saxophone and voice), Mackinlay Mutsembi (trumpet), Rabai Mokua (sopranino saxophone), Nafsi Huru (rap), Tina Ngaya (voice), Max Ngala (piano), Uledi Hamisi (bass), Ajabu Norris (drums).”

“The whole album has been recorded, edited, mixed and mastered at Artville Studios by Blaine Joe.”

He adds, “Besides everything, I fell in love with Nairobi music scene because of the people who are very hospitable and welcoming. The energy of all those people, especially how music is so deeply rooted in the land is something that blew me away, and that I’ll remember forever.”

“This land and his people gave me a lot, I tried to give them the best as possible. Now it’s just a like a little seed that I have sowed, which will eventually flourish and become a big tree. I am grateful for the networks and relationships built from this small project that has been spawned here. “

He dashes to the stage it is his final performance; he is joined by Mackinlay Mutsembi, Mokua Rabai, Tim Riungu, Stanley Kyalo, Amani Baya who put up an exhilarating show to the crowd’s applause.

Matteo Di Leonardo online

Website: www.matteodileonardo.com

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/mattfender91

Soundcloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/matteo-di-leonardo

Dyscographic Label: http://hanskustersmusic.be/album/sketches/

“You need to find what it is that excites you the most about music and about the guitar and then jump into that. A lot of times it takes a lot of courage because what you really want might be different than what you think the public wants – or different than what friends or what the temporary idea of what it should be is.” – Steve Vai

Image Credits: Beatie Li 😉

Matteo’s Featured Image Credits: Roger Vantilt