Riccardo Chiaberta is a London-based drummer, pianist, composer, and educator.
He is currently part of the jazz/electronic duo project Moonfish along with rising star artist Maria Chiara Argirò. He also plays in the contemporary jazz quartet Dugong (featuring some of the finest musicians: Nicolò Ricci, Michele Caiati and Andrea Di Biase) and is involved in the new project led by Maria Chiara Argirò for her albums Forest City and Closer, released by the LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD). He co-founded Kino Trio, along with Bruno Heinen (professor at Trinity Laban) on piano and Michele Tacchi on electric bass. The trio released their critically acclaimed debut album Il Cielo Sopra Berlino in 2019 (Babel Label).
Riccardo is also a member of the band of multi-award-winning Palestinian singer Reem Kelani, as well as the Future Changes Quartet, led by renowned Italian double bass player Paolino Dalla Porta (Pat Metheny, Oregon, Kenny Wheeler). This quartet also features the multi-award-winning tenor saxophonist Nicolò Ricci and producer Dario Trapani on electric guitar. The debut album Moonlanding was released in 2016 by Tuk Music.
Riccardo has released a single and two albums under his own name: Camden Town and A Bird Told Me (as pianist/composer), and Lux (as drummer/composer), all released by Honolulu Records, a label founded together with seven musicians currently based in Milan, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Camden Town (2020) continues the concept behind his first piano solo album A Bird Told Me (2018). Both recordings were tape-recorded on his grandfather's piano in Northern Italy. Lux (2015) is a contemporary jazz album composed for a six-piece band, featuring some of the most talented young jazz musicians from Italy.
Riccardo has collaborated with artists such as Ivo Neame, Bruno Heinen, Maria Chiara Argirò, Rosie Turton, Alex Hitchcock, Rich Muscat, Christos Stylianides, David Friedman, Pietro Tonolo, Antonio Zambrini, Paolino Dalla Porta, Andrea Dulbecco, Simona Severini, Achille Succi, Emanuele Cisi, Tino Tracanna, Gaetano Partipilo, Guido Bombardieri, Giovanni Falzone, Simone Daclon, and Alberto Mandarini, among others.
Performing highlights include Glastonbury Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, SXSW, London Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz, Ronnie Scott’s, Eurosonic Festival, The Jazz Cafe, Blue Note Milano, WOMAD Festival, Pizza Express Jazz Club, The Vortex Jazz Club, Monk Club, Tones On The Stones, Gemini Festival and MITO Milano.
He graduated with hight honours in Jazz (Bachelor Degree) from Conservatorio “G. Verdi” di Como, and achieved a Master's Degree in Jazz, also with highest honours, from Conservatorio “G. Verdi” di Milano. He studied piano and music harmony with Ramberto Ciammarughi (Miroslav Vitous, Randy Brecker, Vinnie Colaiuta) and drums with Fabrizio Sferra (Chet Baker, Lee Konitz, Enrico Pieranunzi). He attended many masterclasses and workshops, including Siena Jazz, as well as sessions with Gregory Hutchinson, John Riley, Roberto Gatto, Massimo Manzi, Mike Mainieri, Andrea Dulbecco, Matteo Moretti, Stefano Battaglia and the Summer Jazz School of Fara Music.
Riccardo has achieved top rankings in many Italian jazz contests. He won the first prize at Chicco Bettinardi Contest (2015), Jazz by the Pool Competition (2012), Contest Fara Music (2010), where he also won a scholarship for best musician, and the Concorso Percfest (2010). He won second prize at Conad Jazz Contest (2015, 2014, 2013) at Umbria Jazz, and the Jimmy Woode Contest at Tuscia in Jazz (2013).
Riccardo Chiaberta is an endorser of Bosphorus Cymbals.
