JAZZPORT QUARTET
The best option for any type of event and venues. The all time's hits from Hollywood and Broadway and classic jazz standards by Gershwin, Ellington, Cole Porter, Sinatra and much more.
If you love jazz or just want to relax, look no further, JAZZPORT.
Enjoy your drink and listen!
JAZZPORT BIO
MARINA RAMA, Singer
Marina was born on September 14th, 1974 in Lomas de Zamora, a southern suburb of the Great Buenos Aires area. Her passion for music and singing was developed at very early age, thanks to the musical activities of the school where she attended. Singing and playing guitar were almost everyday experiences. Before finishing high school, Marina had sung and played at very diverse stages with freedom and joy. That’s why, at the age of 18 she had no doubt, decided to dedicate her life to music and began her formal studies at the SAdeM School of Music. It is at this point where Marina started the development of her artistic personality in the diverse field of popular music, where jazz and bossa nova meets Argentinean folklore and tango. During those days, she got selected for the SAdeM Big Band project as female lead vocalist, directed by Oscar Tissera, After getting her diploma specialized in musical studies in SAdeM, Marina involves herself in “Rabine Functional Education Method”, and started teaching privately lesson as well. Her presence in Buenos Aires Jazz scene begins in 1999 with her show “Jazz Ladies Tribute”, at the famous Buenos Aires Jazz Club of Paseo La Plaza, and since that, she never stopped singing in every club devoted to Jazz music. She was invited by the legendary Sergio Mihanovich. Marina was also lead singer of Satch Big Band, one of the most important Argentinean Big Bands. Marina shares her passion for singing with her committed teaching activity. In 2000, Marina was selected to open the formation of jazz singers in the prestigious EMPA, the most important school of music of Latin America. master classes with Jane Blackstone (USA), Christine Correa (USA), Bobby McFerrin (USA), Judy Niemack (USA). Specifically in the field of vocal technique, she got seminars with prestigious German educators Roland Seiler, Armin Fuchs
and Gottfried Hoffmann. Since 2001 she gets deeply involved in Rabine’s Functional Method, attending the seminars in Buenos Aires. In 2013 she got the chance to be one of the direct Rabine’s students, and she traveled to Germany to have an intense specialization in Rabine’s Functional Method. Since 2012, she formed HIP SISTA, a Vocal Female Trio, whom which she recorded two CD’s: “ELLINGTONES” (2014) dedicated to recreate classics Ellington’s orchestra songs in a vocal approach, taking inspiration from the unique Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and following their legacy, and “HIP SISTA Meets Horace Silver” (2019), dedicated to the music of the unique Horace Silver. Marina’s versatility also gets reflected in her first CD “The Blessing” (2009). Her group was integrated with the most influential musicians of jazz scene nowadays: Pablo Raposo on piano, Patricia Grinfeld in guitar, Guillermo Delgado double bass, Ricardo Cavalli in Saxophone, Franco Luciani harmonics and Fernando Martinez on drums. This work had been received by the local jazz critics with delight. She toured with her band during 2009 and 2010, playing in the most important clubs and festivals of Argentina.
Marina’s sound is deep, clear, smooth, and she has a unique way of express feelings by her voice. She moves fluent between jazz, bossa nova and Latin American music, as well as tango. Her versatility and passion makes her the right one for JazzPort.
DANTE PICCINELLI, Piano
Pianist and arranger from Berisso, a very beautiful and small coast city in Buenos Aires. His academic studies began in La Plata, Buenos Aires, where he got his Bachelor Degree in the prestigious “La Plata University Fine Arts School”, at the age of 18 as Pianist. While classical music lessons, he started to develop a strong passion for Jazz and composition, and that's why he didn't hesitate to leave his hometown, settle down in Buenos Aires City and devote his career to that music. And four years later, he got his Diploma as Jazz Musician in the prestigious “Manuel de Falla Conservatory” of Buenos Aires.
While studying in the Conservatory he attended, he took piano lessons with the most prestigious piano teachers of Argentina: José Enrique Angelillo, Manuel Massone, Ernesto Jodos, Paula Shocron. He was selected for the "Manuel de Falla Big Band" as pianist, directed by Ernesto Jodos. He has been selected to participate as pianist in the Music Residency by Ben Golberg, Tim Berne (2016) and Michael Formanek (2017), that took place in the well known Centro Cultural Kirchner.
His effortless mastery and astonishing creativity makes him the best for JazzPort Quartet.
JOAQUIN CICELLO, Double Bass
He started playing the electric bass at age of 13. When he turn 15, he began to study double bass at the Leopoldo Marechal Popular Music School, where he completed the basic formation of 3 years. From 17 to 22, he worked as double bassist and bassist in small groups (duos, trios) to chamber orchestras, (big band and classical music). Since 2013 to the present, led by his devotion to Afro Latin and Jazz music, he works as a sessionist in groups of different styles, such as funk, salsa, timba, cuarteto cordobes, cumbia, jazz, pop and rock.
In the last years he has worked as a conductor, arranger, and producer, as well as an instrumentalist, in Music Box BA, Jazz Gala, Timbalaye Orchestra, and in Kaiser Big Band as director.Currently is working as a private teacher in Buenos Aires and via Skype for students from other provinces. Directs Kaiser Big Band and Timbalaye Orquesta, and
perform for hotels and private events. He has composed, arranged and recorded the bass in the album of Tremendo Funk. He studied “Jazz double bass” with Pablo Motta, Mariano Sivori, “Orchestral double bass” with Javier Dragun (soloist of the Philharmonic of the Teatro Colón) and Alejandro Cavalli, etc. He studied "Electric Bass" with Matias Mendez, Andres Pellican, among others. As well as "Harmony and Arrangements" with Anibal Coli, Daniel Camelo and Ariel Goldenberg. He also studied "Symphonic Direction" with Dario Dominguez Xodo. He works with music writing programs (Finale and Sibelius), and video and sound editing (Pro tools, Ableton, Logic, Premiere). Nowadays, he has an intense career as well as bassist, arranger and Big Band conductor. Playing jazz, latin jazz and salsa with a playful style, and a strong personality. That’s why he is the chosen one for JazzPort Quartet.
LUCIANO SCALERA, Drums
Luciano was born on September 14th of 1976 in Merlo, one of Buenos Aires's suburban districts. He started learning drums at age 14 at the T.M.A institute and some years later, after playing in rock and pop bands for a while, he started attending the I.T.M.C (Institute of Contemporary Music) which manifested his decision to take music as a profession from then on. It is here where Luciano gets his first notions about polyrhythmics, sight-reading technique and audio perceptive, as well as his earliest approaches to other musical styles and traditions. One year later he takes drum studies a step further by enrolling in the E.M.P.A, where he develops a strong relationship with afro-Latin and Argentinian folklore percussion.
Shortly after this he gets a call to join Horacio Banegas's group as a drummer and percussionist, one of the most renowned artists in Argentina's folklore scene, with whom Luciano recorded one album and performed in numerous festivals around the country.
After finishing his career in E.M.P.A he takes private lessons for an extended period of time with some of the best jazz and Latin fusion drummers in the city, such as Daniel Piazzola (Astor Piazzola's nephew), Oscar Giunta, Elias "Chiche" Hegger and Diego Lutteral. He is also immersed in the music industry as an active sideman and sessions, covering a vast array of styles and artistic productions in his collaborations. Between 2006 and 2007 Luciano takes part of an unprecedented folkloric investigation tour with "La Conversa" around South America, which included Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia's territories.These days he is working actively both as a freelance educator and as asession player, currently forming part of Miguel
Botafogo's group, who is probably the most prestigious blues guitarist in the country and appears daily on national television leading the house band of "Un Mundo Perfecto", a popular TV show that invites musical celebrities touring Argentina to perform with a Botafogo's group, such as Billy Cobham, Jimmy Rip (Mick Jager's guitar player and musical director) and Ken Stringfellow (Posies and former REM member) among others did.He also worked on cruises with “South Central Jazz Quartet” (Celebrity Eclipse 2013), “Jazzport” (Celebrity Equinox 2015) and “Grisel D ́Angelo Jazz Quartet” (Aegean Odyssey 2016)
Luciano style is eclectic and favored motioned. His knowledge in Latin rhythms is complemented by a well structured jazz and blues fluency. He is versatile and effective at the same time. That's why he is the heartbeat of JazzPort Quartet.
