Born in Empoli (FI) in 1983, he graduated in Saxophone at the Conservatory “L. Cherubini” of Florence magna cum laude, under the guidance of prof. Roberto Frati. With the Florentia Saxophone Quartet chamber music quartet he won several international awards. In parallel with his classical studies, he deepens his preparation through seminars and jazz studies with important musicians such as Stefano "Cocco" Cantini, Nico Gori. Later he attended the Higher Jazz Diploma at the SienaJazz Foundation, under the guidance of prof. Klaus Lessman, collaborating with Matteo Addabbo, Ferruccio Spinetti, Francesco Petreni, Silvia Bolognesi, Glenn Ferris (Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran, Frank Zappa, James Taylor), Enrico Rava.

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From 2004 until 2009 he is saxophonist and composer of the street band Badabimbumband, with whom he performs on an Italian tour, widely exceeding 300 concerts and participates in various television programs ("La prova del cuoco" - RAI 1).

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From 2010 to 2016 he is part of the Fantomatik Orchestra, with which he performs in Spain, Germany, France, Croatia, records the "One Cent Experiment" spot for Vodafone Italia and records the record "Back in Brass", with rock-jazz-funk influences; the record sold more than 4000 copies. He participates in some of the most important Italian jazz festivals (Moncalieri Jazz, Casa del Jazz in Rome, Umbria Jazz Winter, Pistoia Blues). The group records an episode of Fiorello's "Edicola Fiore" and then becomes the official band of the 6 Nations of Rugby, under the Birra Peroni brand and collaborates with SKY for commercials and advertising events.

 

Since 2011 he collaborates as an actor and musician with the theater company MagnoProg Music and Arts, with which he brings to the stage various musicals ("The Rocky Horror Show", "Hair", "The Commitments" and "Corpse Bride") in several Italian theaters.

 

In 2012 he began working with Paolo Ruffini (Italian presenter, actor and director) and Il Nido del Cuculo, bringing on stage the show "Dé Rocky Horror Show" in some of the most important Italian theaters.

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At the same time he devoted himself to comedy-music theater. Together with some Tuscan musicians he founded La DisturBanda. With this group he passes the auditions for Zelig Lab (laboratory for young comedians of the famous television program) and participates in 2013 in "Italia's Got Talent" on CANALE 5. In 2014 he performs at the Zelig in Milan and records the episodes of "Non Solo Aria Fresca ”, broadcast on Teleregione, collaborating with Gaetano Gennai, Niki Giustini and Graziano Salvadori. In 2015 he won the "Premio Palladino" of Zelig, winning a place in the 2016 season of "Zelig Event", on CANALE 5, conducted by Michelle Hunziker and Christian De Sica. Currently La DisturBanda is bringing its show "Lo sConcerto" to Italian theaters.

 

From 2016 he collaborates with the Florentine actor and presenter Lorenzo Baglioni, as a saxophonist and comedian. The project has collected more than a hundred shows in Italian theaters and squares and important media successes (millions of views on YouTube and social networks). Together with Iacopo Melio and the association "Vorrei Prendere il Treno", they take part in "Quelli che il Calcio" (RAI 2), "Telethon" (RAI 1), performing with Paolo Belli's big band, and are guests of numerous broadcast televisions and radio stations.

 

From 2017 he collaborates with Drusilla Foer, a character created by Gianluca Gori (actor, dancer and singer), bringing on stage the show "Eleganzissima" in Italian theaters and festivals (including "La Versiliana"), alternating with Maestro Nico Gori on saxophone.

 

In January 2018 he founded the personal project SUPER BAD - A Funk Experience, bringing together prominent musicians from the Tuscan jazz, soul and pop scene. The SUPER BADs, only in the first year of activity, have had numerous concerts and participations in festivals and jazz shows, including the "Gray Cat Jazz Festival" and "Andora Jazz". The band mixes funk, jazz and rock sounds, in a mix that is condensed in the first unpublished, released in February 2019.

 

From September 2018 he collaborates regularly with the FunkOff project, the first (and most important) Italian marching band, with which he performs in important jazz festivals (Umbria Jazz, Locomotive Jazz).

 

From the end of 2018 he enters as lead saxophonist in the most famous funky band in Italy, Dirotta su Cuba, with whom he is currently touring Italy in important squares, clubs and jazz / pop festivals. Only in 2019 they sold out 4 times at the Blue Note in Milan. He recently recorded the band's new single, "Nothing is Impossible", which was released in September 2019 and a new record is in the works. With Dirotta su Cuba he collaborated with numerous artists, including Antonio Faraò, Fabrizio Bosso, Nick The Nightfly.

 

For several years he has performed in house discos and is engaged in record and audiovisual productions both as a saxophonist and as an author. His personal propensity for funk music led him to weave relationships with many DJs, up to important collaborations with Joe T Vannelli, Silvano Del Gado, Davide Ruberto, Frankie P, Marco Bresciani, Takeshi Kurosawa. In 2010 he opens Bob Sinclair's DJ set in Versilia. He has produced numerous lounge, house and chill-out tracks for various record labels, including BPM King Street Sound in New York. In 2015 he performed on the stage of the Bacardi Summer Wave (Marina Di Campo, Isola d’Elba), along with various artists, including Bob Sinclair.

He has performed in Spain, Germany, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and the Principality of Monaco.

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He is the official saxophonist of Nikki Beach (Versilia) and Club64 (Isola d'Elba).

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He carries out his teaching activities privately and at the Modern Music Institute (MMI) in Empoli and holds a Master's Degree in Chemical Sciences at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of Florence.

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Marco is an endorser of the SYOS mouthpieces.

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Prizes and awards:

• Absolute First Prize in the chamber music competition "Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane", 2005.

• Third Prize at the international chamber music competition “M. Fiorindo ”, 2006.

• Second prize at the international chamber music competition "G. Rospigliosi ”, 2007.

• First prize in the national competition "SOS Cabaret", Arezzo, 2014.

• Audience Award at the "Modena Cabaret 2014" national competition.

• "Gianni Palladino" comedy award, ZELIG Milan, 2015