About

Dario Chiazzolino (b. 1985) is a multi-award-winning Italian guitarist and composer. Considered one of the world’s most in-demand jazz musicians, he regularly performs and records along with many top European and American jazz musicians.

The winner of numerous awards, Dario has been playing guitar professionally since age 14.

He was the best guitar player in various music competitions, including Umbria Jazz Festival (IT), Top Jazz (UK), and several magazines such as Italian Jazz, Suono, Jazz Guitar Magazine, GuitarList, and D-Mag.

Dario has performed in jazz festivals across Europe and the USA. He regularly appears in many of the most prestigious music venues in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Poland, Finland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK.

His “Principles Sound” project consists of Yellow Jackets members Bob Mintzer, Russel Ferrante, and Jimmie Haslip. They released the CD Lost in the Jungle, and following the recording, Dario took part in the Yellow Jackets 2012 Tour.

In 2010 an original Latin Jazz project was formed, featuring Dario Chiazzolino, guitar, Dany Noel Martinez, bass, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, drums, Ivan Bridonand Ivan Melon Lewis, piano, Carlos Sanduy, trumpet, and singer Concha Buika. They released the album “Proposition” (and other main latin icons as Ramón Porrina, Jerry Gonzáles, Inoidel González, Javier Masso “Caramelo“, Fernando Favier, Diego Guerrero, Ivette Falcón Urgate, Daniel Martínez Miranda.

Dario has also performed and or recorded with Bob Mintzer, Dave Liebman, Taylor Eigsti, Andy Sheppard, Aaron Goldberg, Billy Cobham, Russel Ferrante, William Kennedy, Rick Stone, Felix Pastorius, Julio Barreto, Dominique Di Piazza, Antonio Faraò, Willie Jones III, Harvie S and Sylvain Luc. 

He has recorded eight albums as a leader and 12 as a sideman and an in-demand educator. Dario has taught in Italy for 15 years and has held teaching residencies in Europe and the USA.

His new album as a leader Red Cloud was released in February 2016.

Since June 2016, Dario has collaborated with the Spirit Fingers (formerly known as Polyrhythmic). The band includes pianist and composer Greg Spero, bassist Hadrien Feraud, and drummer Mike Mitchell. Dario’s playing is featured on the Spirit Fingers’ self-titled debut album, released on March 16, 2018, on Shanachie Entertainment. Dario Chiazzolino has been performing extensively with them to sold-out audiences throughout the United States and Europe.

An in-demand educator, Dario has taught music and guitar for 20 years. He has held teaching residencies at the Long Island Conservatory of Music in Albertson, NY, Long Island City Music Academy in New York City, NY, and the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains, NY.
In addition, he has conducted masterclasses across Europe and the USA in several prestigious Music Colleges, Universities, and Music Conservatories.
Dario is currently part of the Music Faculty at CUNY / Borough of Manhattan Community College in Tribeca, NYC.

Born and raised in Turin, Italy, Dario graduated from “The Turin State Verdi Conservatory of Music” and “The University Of Music” in Rome.

AWARDS

• 2006 – Best Guitarist – Umbria Jazz Award
• 2011 – Best Guitarist – Italian Jazz Magazine Award, Critics Poll
• 2011 – Best Guitarist – Archivio Chitarristi Jazz Italiani, Critics Poll
• 2013 – Artist of the Year Award – D-Magazine, Critics Poll
• 2015 – Best Guitarist – Guitarlist Magazine,
  Critics Poll
• 2015 – Best Song 2015 – Suono Magazine, Top 15, Critics Poll
• 2018 – Best Jazz Album ( Spirit Fingers )
  Soul and Jazz Magazine, Critics Poll
• 2019 – Best Jazz Guitarist of the Century Award – Jazz Guitar Magazine, Critics Poll
• 2020 – Louis Armstrong Foundation Grant Award

ARTIST ENDORSEMENTS

• 2011 – 2017 – GIBSON GUITAR ITALY
• 2011 – 2015 – DR STRINGS
• 2011 – 2016 – RANDALL AMPLIFIERS
• 2015 – present – KINMAN PICK UP
• 2015 – present – ESSETIPICKS
• 2016 – present – DV MARK
• 2017 – present – D’ANGELICO GUITARS
• 2017 – present – SLINGER STRAPS
• 2018 – present – KEELEY ELECTRONICS
• 2018 – present – HOSA TECHNOLOGY
• 2018 – present – DOGAL STRINGS
• 2018 – present – LAMINA NSTRUMENTS
• 2018 – present – RELISH
• 2020 – present – ARIA SOUNDS
• 2020 – present – CROSSROCK
• 2020 – present – MILLENNIA