Paul Ricci and Mafalda Minnozzi
An exceptionally tasteful, rhythmically adept guitarist, composer, and producer, Paul Ricci has spent decades weaving a sophisticated, multicultural sonic world. A graduate of the New England Conservatory under the influence of legends like Jaki Byard and Pat Martino, Ricci has performed globally alongside a “who’s who” of jazz icons, including saxophonist David Liebman, trumpeter Randy Brecker, and vocal royalty Astrud and Bebel Gilberto.
Ricci’s brilliant global perspective takes center stage on his monumental recent album on Origin Records, The Path. A masterclass in patient craftsmanship, the record serves as a rich, cinematic synthesis of his lifetime of travel, effortlessly bridging New York jazz-fusion, West African syncopation, and deep Brazilian grooves. Recorded alongside a legendary rhythm section—including drummer Steve Jordan and the late, elite contrabass guitarist Anthony Jackson—the album has earned rave 5-star international reviews, with JazzTimes praising his “supremely tasteful, rhythmically and harmonically adept” fretwork. Joined on stage by his longtime musical partner, the boundlessly expressive Italian vocalist Mafalda Minnozzi—whose chart-topping new release Riofonic has been a staple on national jazz radio—the duo brings an incredible architectural, spontaneous interplay to the stage that seamlessly unites classic world songbooks with a borderless jazz style.
