Bio

Harpist, composer, improviser, and teacher. The contemporary jazz of Marcella Carboni is made of pure sound and electronics, composition and improvisation. Beyond her formal education, including a degree in classical harp, an academic diploma in jazz, and studies in composition, it is artistic collaboration that truly defines her path.

Renowned figures in the European jazz scene, such as Bruno Tommaso, Rosario Giuliani, and Enrico Intra, have collaborated with her, often composing specifically for the harp or entrusting her with their own music, as was the case with jazz giant Enrico Pieranunzi.

While she has been influenced by mainstream jazz, her involvement with artists such as Butch Morris, Anthony Braxton’s Sonic Genome, and Franco Ferguson’s collective improvisation lab has shaped an important part of her identity as a radical improviser. Her electroacoustic harp often features in events across television, radio, and the web.

Both live and in the studio, she has performed in a wide range of ensembles, from solo, duos to full orchestras. Although her most long-standing projects include duos with female voices (one with Francesca Corrias and the other with Elisabetta Antonini), collaborations with harmonica player Max De Aloe, and saxophonist Simone Alessandrini. She also performs in a duo with her former mentor, the legendary jazz harpist Park Stickney, a project that celebrates the expressive possibilities of the electroacoustic harp through a vivid interplay of personalities and styles.

Her latest CD release under her own name is MIRADAS, featuring Paolino Dalla Porta on double bass and Stefano Bagnoli on drums, who have been part of her stable trio for the past five years. The entire album pays homage to the music of Enrico Pieranunzi, and also includes the virtuoso and poetic clarinetist Gabriele Mirabassi as a guest.

Marcella Carboni, at the forefront of establishing the harp as a fully integrated instrument in the jazz world, has for over a decade been actively engaged in teaching and promoting jazz harp, introducing it into conservatories across Southern and Central Europe, as well as within Italian harp schools. Her work in education culminated in 2018 with the publication of a method book, JAZZ HARP – A Practical Method, with the U.S.-based Vanderbilt Music Company, specialized in music for harp.

She has performed with many musicians, including Park Stickney, Gabriele Mirabassi, Rosario Giuliani, Bruno Tommaso, Giancarlo Schiaffini, Paolo Fresu, Anthony Braxton, Edmar Castaneda, Paolino Dalla Porta, Stefano Bagnoli, Javier Girotto, Daniela Spielmann, Enrico Fink, Ricardo Zegna, Paolo Damiani, Fabrizio Sferra, Yuri Goloubev, Gianni Coscia, Simone Alessandrini, Peter Waters, Joanna Rimmer, Elisabetta Antonini, Max De Aloe, Guido Mazzon, Riccardo Fassi, Gabriele Coen, Francesco D’Auria, Francesca Corrias, Susanna Stivali, Aldo Bassi, Giacomo Uncini, Mario Corvini, Roberto Olzer.

She has performed in prestigious music seasons, festivals, and clubs around the world, including the Madrid Jazz Festival, Jazz at Kitano (New York), Barbès (New York), Treibhaus (Innsbruck), Settimana Cultura Italiana (Rio de Janeiro, Brasile), Sheung Wan Civic Centre (Hong Kong), Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre (Hong Kong), Torino Jazz Festival, Dialogo (Roma, Auditorium Parco della Musica), Roma Jazz’s cool (Casa del Jazz), Time in Jazz-Berchidda (OT), Nuoro Jazz, Musica sulle Bocche-Santa Teresa di Gallura (OT), European Jazz Expo (Cagliari), Tuscia Jazz, Artusi Jazz Fstival (FC), Woma Jazz (Modena), Iseo Jazz, Vivere Jazz a Fiesole, Viggiano Jazz (PZ), No borders Jazz (Gubbio), Latina Jazz Winter, NonSoleJazz Festival, Legnano Jazz, Ivrea Jazz, Terre di Siena, Elba Jazz, Ambria Jazz, Jazz all’Aquila.

She has performed at various harp festivals, including the 13th World Harp Congress (Hong Kong), Rio Harp Festival (Rio de Janeiro, Brasile), Salvi harps Harpissima (Italy), Salvi harps Elettroclass (Cuneo Italy), Camac Harp Festival (Perpignan, France), Swiss Harp Festival (Ligerz, Switzerland), Pop Harp Festival (Monza, Italy), Festival dell’arpa Isolabona (IM, Italy), Festival Internazionale dell’arpa (Salsomaggiore, Italy), Bologna Harp Festival (Italy), Festival Internazionale dell’arpa Viggiano (PZ, Italy), Festival delle Arpe in Villa Chiari e Padernello (BS, Italy).

Discography

Discography as Sidewoman

Soundtracks (composition and recording)