IVAN CICCARELLI

Born in Milan on 10 October 1973 of a Neapolitan family, he began his adventure in the music world in 1978 when, after a New Year’s Eve party, the drummer of the group playing in his parents’ restaurant left his percussion instruments assembled. That was the first time that Ivan touched and played the drums, and, at the age of 5 it was instant love.He takes drums lessons at Ponte Tresa (VA) until he is 1l and piano lessons from Ciro Ciccarelli. In 1982 he enrols in a drums course held by Mario Zimei at “Accademy of Musical Art” in Varese, run by Alberto Tenzi At 13, he continues his studies with Zimei and Antonio D’Ambrosio in Milan, and here in this city has the chance of getting to know and being known in the Milan Music circles. At the same time he begins to play with the Eisezeit rock group and other local groups. It is Zimei himself who encourages him to attend more advanced courses, and that is why he enrols in different seminars amongst which Siena Jazz (1988) with Roberto Gatto and Ettore Fioravanti and Umbria Jazz (1989) with Arwin Schott and Marcello Pillitteri. Once 16 he moves to Milan and goes to the Civica Jazz, playing with the guitarist Simone Manunza. At 17 he meets Alessandro Peloso with whom he forms a group called “Tornado”, performing in well known places, such as Scimmie, Capolinea, Tangram, etc. At 18 he meets Alfredo Golino, from whom he will take lessons in Brescia for the next 6 years. During one of his several live performances in Milan, in 1992 he has the chance to get himself heard and known by, amongst others, Paolo Costa, Faso, Christian Meyer, Flavio Scopaz. The latter immediately realises Ivan’s potentiality and, despite his young age, proposes a promotional tour in South America with Eros Ramazzotti. Back from this tour, during an evening performance in the Baritono of the CPM in Milan, the official bass player of the Tornado is unable to play and is substituted by Saturnino, accompanied by Jovanotti. A collaboration is thus born, also with the latter between ’92 and ’93. After a few weeks, during an evening do at the Sonora in Milan, he is heard by Paolo Costa, Faso and Christian Meyer, at that time working with Eugenio Finardi. A proposal follows to substitute Meyer for some television promotions with, precisely, Finardi. Here he meets the guitarist Fabrizio Consoli with whom he will then record the album “Maschio Latino” (Psyco 1994) as percussionist together with the drummer Elio Rivagli. Still in 1992 the Jungle Sound opens a Music school and he is asked to teach and be responsible for the choice of the various teachers. In 1993 he plays in many of the most well known places in and around Milan, amongst which weekly at Jannacci’s Bolgia Umana with Giorgio Vanni, with whom he records his first whole album “Grande Cuore” (Target 1994), produced by Eugenio Finardi. In the same year he starts working with the Radical Stuff (Enrico Cremonesi, Luca Saporiti, DJ Skizzo), opening all the US3 concerts on their Italian tour. With this group, the album “Hardaswallow” (Flying Records 1994) is recorded. In 1993 he also teaches at the Voghera Accademia d’Arte until 1995. During 1994 he starts collaborating with Paola and Chiara Iezzi, and their group will be called “Elefunky” (Michele Monestiroli, Jacopo Corso, Sandro Verde, Daniele Moretto, Leandro Misuriello), the future 883. Immediately afterwards he leaves on tour with E. Finardi ( 50 engagements ). With the bassist Franco Cristaldi in the same period he is called to record Faustò’s album “L’erba” (Target 1994). Still in 1994 he plays in the record “Quando… Tributo a Luigi Tenco” (WEA 1994 ) with Eugenio Finardi. In the autumn ’94 he takes part in some live television promotions with Gianluca Grignani for the album “Destinazione Paradiso”. From the end of 1994 starts his collaboration with the 883, making countless live television promotions, concerts in stadiums, halls etc. In 1995 he records the album by the 883 “La donna, il sogno e il grande incubo” (RTI-1995 – 950,000 copies sold). For the whole of 1995 he plays both with the 883 on their tour “La donna, il sogno e il grande incubo” and on Finardi’s tour. In this year he also plays in Fiorello’s album “Finalmente tu” as a guest of 883 (RTI 1995 – 150,000 copies sold). At the end of ’95 he records Vicenzo Monti’s album “Oceanima”. (Poligram 1998). In 1996 he records E. Finardi’s disc “Occhi” (WEA 1996 – 110,000 copies sold) together with Elio Rivagli, where they experiment the recording with 2 sets of drums playing at the same time. Immediately after his “Occhi” tour starts. After the summer ’96, he moves to London where he has been called to teach for 3 months at the “Musicians Institute”, substituting Gabriel Nuzzoli. In 1997 he returns from London and records the album “La dura legge del gol” by the 883 (RTI 1997 – more than 1,000,000 copies sold) and after leaves on the 883’s “La dura legge del gol” tour in stadiums and halls (128,000 spectators on 23 engagements) with G.Nuzzoli on the percussion . At the end of 1997 he is contacted by Roberto Colombo (Antonella Ruggiero’s producer) with whom he will carry out studio sessions with the guitarist Marco Pancaldi for the record “Sospesa”. In December ’97 rehearsals begin with Gianluca Grignani, which continue until March 1998. In the same period he records some pieces of Gianna Nannini’s record “Cuore “ (Poligram 1998). From April to October ’98 he accompanies the pop tour of Antonella Ruggiero’s “Registrazioni Moderne” in various Italian theatres and squares. In this year he also records Eugenio Finardi’s album “H20” (WEA 1998), in which he also acts. At the end of ’98 R. Colombo and A.Ruggiero ask him to collaborate in the production of their album “Sospesa” (Universal 1999) , an experience of prime importance having long had the wish to produce his own music. From 1998 he begins to take care of different productions for the Ien Project regarding several emerging artists among whom Simona Salis 7grani, Maitri, Vago, Diego Mancino. Summer 1999 the tour “Sospesa” begins with Paolo Costa on the bass, ( 35 engagements – July/August ). Shortly afterwards he records Marjorie Biondo’s album (Virgin 2000), always with Paolo Costa on the bass. At the end of ’99 he begins his collaboration with Enrico Orlandelli in his home studio in Milan. From January 2000 he returns to London and plays with the “Space Police”, with whom he records the whole album with Luca Gatti, Lele Gaudì and Davide Neri. At the same time he records the album of the “Rei” group for Virgin. During the summer 2000, he follows Antonella Ruggiero’s tour until the end of October. At the end of 2000 he records the Just Married’s album “Amsterdam” (CGD 2000) In 2001 he records Paola & Chiara’s album : “Fino alla fine” (Sony 2001), produced by Roberto Baldi, So Erba’s “La vittoria dei cattivi” (Mescal 2001) co-arranged by Morgan of the Bluvertigo; Brando’s album produced by Enrico La Falce and Mauro Tondini; Fortunato Zampaglione’s album (Universal 2001) produced by Andrea Zuppini, and finally Antonella Ruggiero’s album “Luna Crescente” (Sony 2001) (produced by R.Colombo) with whom he will play during the summer on pop tour and also with a new formation composed of the Arkè String Quartet (Carlo Cantini, Valentino Corvino, Sandro Di Paolo, Enrico Guerzoni). With the latter he will also play at the Festival di Caracalla (organized by the Conservatorio Romano of “Santa Cecilia”.)Towards the end of 2001, unfortunately he is struck with the Syndrome of Duputryan, an illness that causes him to have to modify the usual way of playing and in particular the way of holding the “sticks”. This very difficult period (despite the numerous other set backs that can be easily imagined) however give him the chance to enrich his usual set of drums with many percussion instruments, discovering new and innovative harmonic resonance and timbres. This has resulted in his developing an independence and a really uncommon refinement in sound. Fortunately, in 2003 his right hand is operated and now, after constant daily rehabilitation, can be considered completely cured.During the whole of 2002 he plays in Antonella Ruggiero’s tours, “Sacrarmonia” and “Quattro passi per Broadway”. In December 2002 he records Anna Oxa’s song “Ho un sogno” (Sony 2003) in his studio in Varese (Ien Project) In 2003 hecontinues to play live in Antonella Ruggiero’s tours, “Sacrarmonia,” “Quattro passi per Broadway”, “Omaggio to Amelia Rodriguez”. In the same year, records Antonella Ruggiero’s album with her same name as title, which takes him with her onto the stage at the Ariston Theatre in the 2003 edition of the Festival of San Remo. In April 2003 the Ien Project is born, a studio of musical production and recording in partnership with Luca De Alberti. On 13th July 2003 in the Piazza Santo Stefano in Bologna, a concert of “Sacrarmonia” is video-recorded and, after 100 concerts in main churches, cathedrals, squares and theatres of Italy, in 2004 comes out the first CD and DVD live “Il viaggio” (Libera 2004) by Antonella Ruggiero with the Arkè String Project. In the same year, Marjorie Biondo’s album “Home Demos” is registered in the Ien Project Studio. From a series of live concerts in duo with Mark Harris, is conceived Antonella Ruggiero’s show “Stralunato Recital”, with I. Ciccarelli and Mark Harris, which has its official debut in Costa Rica In 2004 continue the live performances of “Sacrarmonia,” “Quattro passi per Broadway”, “Omaggio to Amelia Rodriguez” and “Stralunato Recital”. At the end of 2004 at Urbino he records, Antonella Ruggiero’s album “Big Band!” ( Libera 2005). In 2005 he opens his Publishing Company, “Ivan Ciccarelli Ed. Musicali”. At the same time he continues his live collaboration with Antonella Ruggiero together with the new tour “Big Band!”. So far, he is playing live in 5 of her different shows around Italy and Europe.In this latest period he is busy with several of his productions, amongst which the entire album, “Chistionada de mei” by Simona Salis (finalist at the 2005 San Remo Rock & Trend Mantova Music Festival 2005,Premio Tenco 2006 , Mei 2006 ) and the next album of the 7grani (semi finalists at the 2005 San Remo Rock & Trend Competition ).Recently a new participation in the production of Rossana Casale "Il Circo Immaginario", Maurizio Colonna e Frank Gambale , Antonella Ruggiero " L'abitudine della Luce" / "Stralunato Recital" , Silvia Cecchetti ,Amongst the other musicians he has played with :Paolo Costa, Saturnino, Flavio Scopaz, Kaballà, Roberto Drovandi, Gialuca Grignani, Carmelo Isgrò, Santi Isgrò, Alberto Fortis, Marco Falagiani, Alberto Tafuri, Massimo Germini, Vittorio Cosma, Elio Rivagli, Shivaree, Niccolò Fabi, Ritmo Tribale, Agostino Marangolo, Alice, Alessandro Melis, Danilo Visco, Tomato, Mauro Settegrani, Paolo Milzani, Piero Gemelli, Andrea Zuppini, Marco Carnesecchi, Arnaldo Vacca, Gabriel Nuzzoli, Space Police, ReI, Fabio Concato, Leandro Misuriello, Diego Mancino, Phill Drummy, Bebo Ferra, Carlo Cantini, Mark Harris, Cesare Chiodo, Stefano Brandoni, Franco Cristaldi, Saverio Porciello, Lele Gaudi, Marco Guarnerio, Michele Monestiroli......