Marcello Carelli

Marcello Carelli is a drummer, composer, and teacher recognized for his remarkable versatility and musical maturity at a young age. Originally from Bedford Hills, New York, Carelli has performed at major jazz festivals in Italy and the United States, such as Umbria and Pescara Jazz Festivals, and Crescent City Jazz Festival in New Orleans, as well as venues in Amsterdam, Surinam, California, and Colorado. He studied at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, earning a bachelor's degree in Studio Music and Jazz and a master's in Jazz Studies. Carelli has won prestigious competitions and awards, including first place at the Keep an Eye Jazz International Competition and multiple Downbeat Student Music Awards for his compositions “Resilience” and his arrangement of Cole Porter’s “It’s All Right with Me,” both featured on his 2022 album “The Era”. Influenced by jazz drumming legends and mentored by renowned artists such as Peter Erskine and Dafnis Prieto, Carelli is praised for his original compositions and inventive arrangements, and has been described as a rising star to watch.

His recent releases, including “First Impressions,” “Play it Cool,” “The Era,” and “Resilience,” highlight his ability to craft engaging original music and pay tribute to the jazz tradition while making his own mark as a dynamic drummer and composer. Carelli’s artistry is rooted in his deep respect for jazz history, his skill as a performer, and his commitment to musical innovation and collaboration.

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