Liberdjango was born in the heart of Romagna, an Italian region, where three musicians with a jazz background embark on a musical journey in search of beautiful melodies. True to their name, this trio expertly navigates through the timeless compositions of legends such as Astor Piazzolla and Django Reinhardt, while also paying homage to Italian composers like Ennio Morricone. These compositions have all been meticulously rearranged to suit the trio's unique style, and a significant portion of the repertoire is written by the trio members themselves. In every performance, they leave room for improvisation, infusing momentum and expressiveness into the concert. The outcome is a poetic and dynamic odyssey, with a distinctive European flavor. Despite their recent formation, Liberdjango has already received invitations to perform in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hungary, France, Montenegro and Slovenia.
Enrico Pelliconi: accordion
Tolga During: guitar
Pippi Dimonte: double bass
"Tolga is a musician who combines a unique and arresting style with a masterful technique. His music is striking yet remains pure and uncluttered." Turkish Daily News
From the conjunction of melancholy, romanticism, soulful communication, and expressiveness imbued with Mediterranean essence, a painting of notes emerges that emanates blinding light. Recently formed, Liberdjango is a trio that shines through cantability, melodic and aesthetic sense, lyricism, and intense communicativeness, with a particular predilection for the 3/4, a rocking ternary rhythm that immediately warms the inner chords from the very first measures. Enrico Pelliconi, through the bellows, expresses himself with luminous lyricism, architecting dynamics dense with taste and feeling, raising the level of pathos. Tolga During's eloquence, rich with pauses, has a Spanish-like flavor, imbued with a vibrant melodic vein that generates human warmth. 'A Ramingo' is an excellent debut album for the Liberdjango trio, an album in which there is absolutely no space for self-celebratory virtuosity or an over-the-top display of technique. The trio puts itself at the service of music with humility, profound respect, veneration, trying to savor every note with authenticity, communicative lightness, and visceral love for a melody of clear European origin. Stefano Dentice for Musicaestrumenti Magazine, 2024
Concert review of the Liberdjango in Falmouth UK:
From the first notes of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Vuelvo al sur’, the audience knew they were in for something distinct and special. The Italian ensemble Liberdjango delivered an evening that combined technical brilliance with warmth, charm, and infectious enthusiasm.
The trio – featuring guitarist Tolga During, accordionist Enrico Pelliconi and double bassist Pippi Dimonte – create a sound that feels both intimate and expansive. Their music draws on the traditions of gypsy jazz and tango, weaving together influences from legendary musicians and composers as varied as Django Reinhardt and Ennio Morricone, together with their own compositions and music rooted in Italian, Armenian and French traditions.
During’s guitar playing is the centrepiece of the ensemble. His tone is clear and expressive, and his improvisations unfold with apparently effortless fluency. He moves between rapid Reinhardt style runs and lyrical passages with a natural musicality that draws in the audience. Pelliconi’s accordion adds colour and emotional depth, evoking both Parisian cafés and Italian piazzas. Dimonte’s double bass anchors the group with rhythmic drive and subtle swing.
Highlights of the evening included their interpretations of Piazzolla’s tango repertoire and a haunting arrangement inspired by Morricone’s music from the much loved 1988 film Cinema Paradiso. These pieces revealed the trio’s remarkable ability to reshape familiar melodies into something personal and fresh. Just as compelling were their original works, which blend jazz improvisation with folk influences to create a distinctive and contemporary sound. Each piece feels alive, constantly evolving through improvisation and interplay between the musicians. At times the music surges with fiery virtuosity; at others it settles into quiet, almost meditative lyricism.
The hall was full to bursting as Liberdjango demonstrated that sometimes unfamiliar musical genres, when played with such flair, imagination and passion, can pull in a large and very appreciative audience.
Concerts and festival..
Montreux Jazzfestival (Switzerland), Shanghai World Music Festival (Cina), Bologna Jazz Festival (Italy), Royal Albert Hall (UK), International Jazzfestival Terrassa (Spain), Shetland Folk festival (Scotland), Nardis Jazzclub (Turkey), PIT (Norway), Django Festival (Poland), Killarney Summerfest (Ireland), Bansko International Jazz Festival (Bulgaria), Mavrovo Winter Festival (Macedonia), Pori International jazz Festival (Fnland), Pennabilli Django Festival (Italy), Calagonone Jazz Festival (Italy), Stranger Than Paranoia Festival (Holland), Baska Guitar Festival (Croatia), Ravenna Jazz Festival (IT), Sarzana Acoustic Guitar Meeting (IT), Meer Jazz Festival (Holland), Skopje Jazz and Wine (MK), Akbank Istanbul concert series (Turkey), Paradiso (NL), Bari Jazz Festival (IT), Teatro Comunale Imola (IT), Veszprem Utcazene (Hungaria), La Stanza della Musica Rai Tre (IT), Artusi Jazzfestival (IT), Fano Jazzfestival (IT), Arno Babajanyan Concert Hall (Armenia), Ethno Jazz Festival (Moldavia)
