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Marcello Cardillo

Since his first few years of life Marcello has shown a great passion for music and particularly drums. Watching his father, around the age of 5 he started playing the drums. By the age of 14 he was already playing with some of the most renowned names of the music scene of Naples, Italy, where he is from, and very soon all-around Italy, collecting at a very young age international recognition such as: the “All Stars 2010” prize by the Berklee School of Boston, during the Workshops of the Berklee Summer School at Umbria Jazz; and a scholarship for the Drummers Collective in New York in 2011.

After having studied at the Conservatory of Naples, at 18 he moved to the Netherlands to study at the Conservatory of Amsterdam where he got his Bachelor and his first Master degree.

During those years he really got the chance of perfecting himself as a musician, playing with many different projects and bands, from the trio to the big band + symphony orchestra, performing around Europe, and abroad in clubs, bigger venues and festivals with names such as: John Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon, Joris Roelofs, Jesse van Ruller, Riccardo del Fra, Alex Sipiagin, Bob Mintzer, Justin DiCioccio, Ben van Gelder, Chris Byars, Vince Mendoza and many others.

He moved to New York for 5 months in 2019, studying at The New School, as an exchange program with Amsterdam. Here he was mentored by some of the prominent names of jazz history such as Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, Charles Tolliver, Andrew Cyrille, Kendrick Scott and Rodney Green. In 2020 he got a scholarship to pursue his second Master degree at Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Here he studied with Kendrick Scott, Miguel Zenon, Buster Williams, Dayna Stephens, John Riley, Phil Markowitz, and privately with Kenny Washington, Joseph Farnsworth and Gregory Hutchinson. Soon Marcello got into New York City’s vibrant jazz scene starting playing around in historic clubs such as the historic Café Bohemia, Smalls Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, The Django, Nublu, the historic Blues Alley Jazz Club in Washington DC etc. Notable collaborations during this period are with Stacy Dillard, Logan Richardson, Fabrizio Bosso and Christian McBride during the Jas Academy in Aspen Big Band workshop.

Marcello is currently recording, teaching and performing around New York City and abroad.

Awards

Downbeat magazine Student Award
Bucharest International Jazz Competition
Keep an Eye International Jazz Competition
Barga Jazz
"All Star 2010" by Berklee College of Music

Tommaso Perazzo Marcello Cardillo: Portrait of a Moment

Read "Portrait of a Moment" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 20, 2025

In Portrait Of A Moment, pianist Tommaso Perazzo, drummer Marcello Cardillo, and legendary bassist Buster Williams craft a session filled with immediacy and heartfelt interaction. The album relies on the shared energy of its musicians, with each showcasing original compositions that highlight their unique artistic voices. The result is contemporary, refined jazz that resonates emotionally, avoiding overly intellectual ideas in favour of deeply felt expression. The session kicks off with a Perazzo original, “Back At The ...

Album Review

Jackson Potter: small things

Read "small things" reviewed by Kyle Simpler

by Kyle Simpler
March 12, 2025

When musicians who are both skilled at their craft and passionate about what they play come together, it translates clearly into their music. Such is the case with Jackson Potter's sophomore release, Small Things. This is an engaging and well-crafted collection that highlights his compositional skills along with his fluency in contemporary jazz guitar. With a sound that captures the lyrical fluidity of Jim Hall and the swinging clarity of Herb Ellis, Potter strikes a compelling balance between tradition and ...

Album Review

Jackson Potter: small things

Read "small things" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky

by Dan Bilawsky
March 7, 2025

Grandiose gestures are well and good, but it's actually the small things, both independent and aggregated, that often prove most impactful. Those micro events or occurrences can lead to serious matters or link together to create an incredibly meaningful web of wonders at the macro level. That's a fact that Jackson Potter most certainly recognizes. For this, his sophomore date, the Minnesota-reared, New York-based guitarist demonstrates remarkable maturity and attention to detail while weaving together a smartly balanced program with ...

“Marcello, the Neapolitan jazz musician who bewitched New York." - NapoliToday

“Marcello Cardillo is only 25 years old and already has three lives to tell. Musician, jazz player to be precise, drum virtuoso, he set out to conquer New York” - NapoliToday

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Currently teaching privately and at two schools: at the Bronx House Inc., at the Williamsburg Music Studio and at the Atmosphere Academy in the Bronx, NY.

When I was fairly young already my pears were asking me for advice and insights on how to play and how to practice more efficiently. The skill of communicating and sharing the knowledge has always been with me since the early days. I was developing as a teacher as I was developing as a drummer. I had a lot of teachers in my life and I learned a lot from everyone of them not only about playing, but also about delivering information, allowing me to shape a strong and personal teaching method.

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Currently teaching privately and at two schools: at the Bronx House Inc., at the Williamsburg Music Studio and at the Atmosphere Academy in the Bronx, NY.

My teaching experience is vast and varied. When I was studying at the Amsterdam Conservatory other fellow students asked me to teach them, and from then on, I started to have a studio of a vast variety of students, from the pears, kids, and adults. There I discovered my passion and predisposition to teaching. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge, my skills and my vision to my students. I love teaching and I have been fortunate to be able to keep doing it successfully to this day because people appreciate my way of delivering the information: Simple and Clear.

I have taught children and seniors coming from many different backgrounds, and I do not have preferences of age or preparation, every student is a different world and every world is unique and precious. I’ve taught in every environment possible, from institutions such as The Smith School on the upper-west side or Atmosphere Academy in the Bronx where I taught in a group class of kids between 5 to 14, to private studio where I encountered a huge variety of persons, age range and background, developing a well thought method and communication skills to be able to deliver the knowledge to every different kind of student, achieving the student’s improvement and blossoming of their musicianship quickly and effectively. I do have experience in team-working and relating to children’s parents, families, and colleagues. I’m an advocate for kindness and respect in and outside the work space.

I believe one of the most important things in teaching is understanding. It’s a two ways process. Deeply understand the student and be flexible to constantly find different and more effective ways to deliver, depending on each individual. Ultimately I believe lighting up the student’s inner fire of curiosity and passion, is one of the greatest lesson that can be taught.

I hope I will be able to keep sharing my knowledge and help my students recognize and actualize their potential, and I am sure I will do it with the same passion and dedication I’ve had so far.

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