In MARIO BIONDI's concert, past, present and a possible future coexist.
The singer and author from Catania is in fact celebrating twenty years since the release of his debut single “This Is What You Are” and the album “Handful of Soul” which contained it; two stages that consecrated him as the best-known Italian soul-jazz voice in the world. At the same time, however, he presents “Prova d'autore”, his first album sung in Italian (of which he is also the author), which paves the way for a probable new path. In between, two decades of other music and some covers.
This new journey unfolds in an eleven-date tour in nine theatres, before moving to summer locations and abroad. The circle will close with the return to theaters in autumn 2026 and, as announced from the stage, with a final appointment on 12 December at the Teatro del Conservatorio in Milan.
The double Milanese date, scheduled at the beginning of the tour in the large Teatro Arcimboldi, sees on stage a consolidated band and a prestigious guest: Maestro Antonio Faraò, one of the most important Italian jazz pianists recognized internationally. With him Massimo Greco (multi-instrumentalist and musical director), the twin brothers Matteo (trumpet) and Giovanni Cutello (saxophone), Ameen Saleem (bass), Devid Florio (percussion, guitar and flute) and David Haynes (drums). The absence of a “stable” guitar is noticeable in the lineup: Florio plays it occasionally, both acoustic and electric, in a handful of songs.
The beginning of the concert sees Biondi on a stool, in his role as a crooner with a warm and low voice, but the parenthesis does not last long: already in the same song everything shifts towards the swing marked by Faraò's baby grand piano. We thus enter jazz territories and structures, with ample space for the phrasing of each individual instrument: an alternation of solos that builds the backbone of the entire concert, evident right from the long “Jannine”.
Unfortunately, what penalizes the evening is the acoustics which, from the writer's position, are not the best: there is a clear cut in frequencies and dynamics which compromises the sound performance.
The first approach to the Italian language came with the cover of “Prendila Cosi” (Battisti-Mogol), a song that Biondi, himself says, uses abroad as a “representative” of Italian music. The proposed version is jazzy, with vocals and a sax solo, and acts as a bridge to “Lo so”, taken from his new project in Italian “Prova d'autore”, defined by the artist as a tribute inspired by Battisti. Music and audio
During the evening there will be moments dedicated to the songs of the musicians who accompany him. Devid Florio, abandoning the percussions, takes up the acoustics and leads the audience towards Brazilian atmospheres with his “Flor de Luz”. Brazil also returns with Mario Biondi and his “Rio De Janeiro Blue”, single from the album “Handful of Soul”.
Biondi leaves the stage to make room for his trusted Max Greco, who presents the instrumental – without words, only vocalizations – “Ada”. Faraò also finds space with his own composition, accompanied by Biondi's voice: “Theme For Bond”, which has nothing to do with the secret agent, but is dedicated to Bond, the missing Bernese dog of the Maestro pianist who obviously carves out a leading role for himself.
Introduced by the chirping of birds comes “Fool For Your Love”, the most intimate and melodic moment of the evening; the following “Never” brings back swing jazz, developing on a fluid rhythmic base with interesting trumpet and sax parts. With “Estasy” the sounds become more full-bodied, emphatic and almost symphonic, with a carpet of synthetic violins and a sax once again as protagonist, accompanied by Biondi's more serious vocals.
“Serenity” is the triumph of the band, which demonstrates great fluency in phrasing: when Faraò takes the floor with his piano, it is pure magic.
Biondi doesn't linger on the new album, offering only three tracks, including “Simili”, with a tribal flow with electric guitar. The return to English introduces a different sound territory for the evening for two songs: decisive entry of guitar and bass, dominant groove and soul, making everything more rhythmic, colorful and vital.
Towards the conclusion, introduced by a double bass solo, comes the inevitable “This Is What You Are”, welcomed with great enthusiasm by the audience. Before sending everyone home there is room for a cover of Sade's “Smooth Operator”.
What we saw at the Arcimboldi was a concert of great class, constructed with almost impeccable precision and supported by extraordinary musicians. Everything works and is executed with taste and refinement. However, this very perfection sometimes takes away spontaneity and emotion: the show continually caresses the spectator, but rarely manages to overwhelm or scratch him. Even the audience, although warm in applause, seems to remain slightly restrained. A sensation probably amplified by a sound performance that is not always up to the artistic quality on stage.
Review by Luca Trambusti for musicadalpalco.com (Click to read the entire article)
THE LADDER
1 – No Show
2 – My Favorite Things
3 – Jeannine
4 – A Handful Of Soul
5 – Shine On
6 – Take it like this
7 – I know
8 – No More Trouble
9 – Flor De Liz (Devid Florio)
10 – Rio De Janeiro
11 – Ada (Max Greco)
12 – Love Is A Temple
13 – Theme For Bond
14 – A Child Runs Free
15 – Fool For Your Love
16 – Never Die
17 – Ecstasy
18 – Serenity
19 – Similar
20 – Open Up Your Eyes
21 – What Have You Done To Me
22 – Starry Sky
23 – This Is What You Are
Encore
Smooth Operator
THE TOUR
May 11th at the Colosseum Theater in Turin
May 13th at the Teatro Verdi in Florence
May 16th at the Team Theater in Bari
17 and 18 May at the Teatro della Conciliazione in Rome
May 19th at the Augusteo Theater in Naples
May 21st at the Metropolitan Theater in Catania
June 20th at Musicastelle in Saint Pierre (AO)
July 3 at the Mon Reve Music Arena in Taranto
8 July at the Tourist Port of Giulianova (TE)
12 July at the San Giusto Castle in Trieste
25 July in the Archaeological Area of Morgantina in Aidone (EN)
1 August at the Arena Plautina in Sarsina (FC)
4 August at the Roman Amphitheater of Lucera (FG)
8 August at the Beniamino Gigli Arena in Porto Recanati (MC)
11 August at the Dromos Festival in S'Angelu, Neoneli (OR)
18 August at the Scolacium Park in Borgia (CZ)
20 August at the Versiliana in Forte dei Marmi (LU)
November 1st at the Santa Chiara Auditorium in Trento
November 5th at the Varese Theatre
November 7 at the Teatro Regio in Parma
9 November at the Gran Teatro Geox in Padua
11 November at the Verdi Theater in Montecatini Terme (Pistoia)
November 12th at the Lyrick Theater in Assisi
November 13th at the Teatro dell'Aquila in Fermo
November 15th at the Malibran Theater in Venice
November 16th at the Verona Philharmonic Theatre
November 18th at the Teatro Massimo in Pescara
November 21st at the Apollo Theater in Lecce
November 23 at the Cilea Theater in Reggio Calabria
November 24 at the Golden Theater in Palermo
November 28 at the Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa
November 30th at the Teatro Massimo in Cagliari
December 1st at the Municipal Theater of Sassari
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