Carlo MOMBELLI
Photo by Jonothan Rees
Bassist - Composer - Educator
Disconcertingly beautiful. THE JAZZ TIMES (USA)
‘Once in a while an artist comes along who produces music unlike anything you've heard. Avant-garde bass-focused jazz composition has rarely sounded so gorgeous.
Bass Player Magazine (USA)
‘His music is unusually and unexpectedly fresh.’ - Paris Jazz Man Magazine, (FRANCE)
Carlo Mombelli’s music is that of a quintessential Prisoner of Strange. It’s visionary, emotional and experimental, in a society that doesn’t applaud artistry and integrity. His music sits on the cusp of sanity, where madness and brilliance share space, where true art resides. Mombelli has found in his music the expressive soul of the developing world mixed with the technical profundity of the classical world.
The Sunday Independent
Mombelli, now in his early 50’s, is still very much in rude creative health. He is still pushing the limits of sound and writing challenging, beautiful work. As an educator, he is molding and mentoring the next generation of South African musicians. Carlo Mombelli is nothing short of a national treasure – you cannot argue with the depth, passion and inventiveness of his music.
The Mail and Guardian.
Hauntingly beautiful
BBC radio - London
I Pressed my Spine to the Ground, Mombellis’ recording was chosen by the BBC 3 late junction as one of their top 12 picks for 2016 played on the BBC late junction evening radio, London
Bassist Carlo Mombelli is something of a sage figure. As he approaches his 60th birthday, a time when many a musician has found their comfort zone and settled into it, he remains one of the most restlessly creative forces in South African jazz.
By Dan Bilawsky (New York) All about JAZZ
February 20, 2019
My Video Series - Snippets & Titbits
I created a series of videos breaking down my compositional processes, intrumentation concepts, my inspirations for the seed of the composition, how I work my approach in a live situation, and more, all exposed no secrets.
Click on the picture below to take you to the series on my YouTube channel
BREAKING NEWS
new album of Carlo Mombelli feat. Wolfgang Muthspiel and Jorge Rossy is out
order now:
The three play jazz with an intimacy, intensity and thrift that we as addressees repeatedly hold our breath in this exceedingly organic improvised chamber music.
It is music of outrageous, almost scandalous beauty.
Die Weltwoche - Switzerland 2023
What the press say about - Lullaby for Planet Earth
Carlo Mombelli’s patience is profound. Long a believer in allowing music to unfold at its own pace, the veteran South African bassist/composer demonstrates incredible composure in every pursuit. Always unforced and forever bound to both the natural and spiritual realms, his art reflects a purity linking the concepts of self-command and surrender. In that respect, in using his own unique voice, he speaks to universal hope and possibilities.
All About Jazz USA
Dan Bilawsky
November 4, 2022
The rhythmic mesh, the melodic interplay, the finest, densest dialogues, and the thematic urgency in the trio’s common language unfold a primal power of touching tenderness: the lullaby for a world as threatening as it is threatened.
Jazz Guitar today
October 2022
Simply gorgeous
Nrwjazz.net – Germany 2022
BIOGRAPHY
In his 40-year career as a bass player, band leader and composer, the South African Carlo Mombelli currently living in Johannesburg has bridged gaps between genres, musicians and the audiences.
Concerts
A self-taught musician, he has recorded and performed at many respected music clubs and festivals, including:
the Roma Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival,
the Stockholm Jazz Festival,
the German Moers Festival,
The Leipziger Jazztage,
The BimHuis in Amsterdam,
The Berliner Philharmonie,
‘On the Edge of Wrong’ festival in Norway,
the Banlieues Bleues festival in Paris,
Cape Town International Jazz festival,
Festival Mundial in the Netherlands,
the JazzWerkstadt in Bern, Switzerland,
Yoko Ono Lennon Centre in Liverpool,
& ‘Rio Loco’ festival in Toulouse France, to name a few,
with amongst others, Mick Goodrick, Charlie Mariano, Konstantin Wecker, Jeroen van Vliet, Malcolm Braff, Jorge Rossy, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dejan Terzic, Tony Lakatos, Falk Willis, Wolfgang Haffner, Billy Elgart, Andreas Tschopp, Marc Stucki, Francois Jeanneau, Carine Bonnefoy, Barbara Dennerlein, Lukas Ligeti, Samual Blaser, Frodo Nymo, Håkon Mjåset Johansen, Hildegard Kleeb, Roland Dahinden, Colin Vallon, Adrian Mears, Tutty Moreno as well as performances in the Salsa Latin group "Conexion Latina".
He has also recorded for Enja Records with Egberto Gismonti, and the Brazilian group 'Raiz de Pedra', led by Marcio Tubino, - as well as with Lee Konitz also on Enja Records, and has contributed music and played on the 1989 tribute for Jaco Pastorius, ‘Basstorius’, that also features the bassists Mathew Garrison and Carles Benavent.
Back home in South Africa he has performed and worked with Duke Makasi, Kyle Shepherd, Vusi Khumalo, Barney Rachabane, Lionel Pillay, Hotep Galeta, Afrika Mhkize, Sydney Mnisi, Mbuso Khoza, Keenan Ahrends, Buddy Wells, Ayanda Sikade, Themba Mkhize, Khaya Mahlangu, Vuma Levin, Jono Sweetman, JB Arthur, Nduduzo Makhathini, Lulu Gontsana, and Thandi Ntuli, to name a few.
He can also be heard as a bassist on many South African recordings with amongst others, Marcus Wyatt, Zim Ngqawana, Tony Cox, Tlale Makhene, Johnny Fourie, Jonathan Crossley, Simphiwe Dana, Kyle Shepherd, Keenan Ahrends, Siya Makuzeni, Nontuthuzelo Puoane, Kesivan Naidoo, Sibongile Khumalo, & Miriam Makeba.
In 2018 the Swiss/Italian 15 piece ‘Euregio’ Large Ensemble spent the year performing Carlo’s music at festivals around Europe.
In 2021 the MET, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York presented Carlo performing his music together with the Grammy award-winning New York String Quartet ‘Ethel’.
Ballets, films and Commissions
Besides the many ballets that have been choreographed to his music with performances around the world, he has also composed music for more than 14 films, documentaries and animations, and have been shown at all the major art film festivals from New York’s Museum of Modern Art MOMA, to Berlin, London, Toronto as well as the Sundance Film festival.
In addition to his over 100 recorded works and performances with his own projects, his composition commissions include music for a mobile game for the London gaming company ‘The Secret Police’, commissions for Zim Ngqawana’s 50 piece Zimphony Ourchestra, (which Mombelli also conducted with Zim), commissions for the ‘Stockholm Saxophone Quartet’, music composition for Simphiwe Dana that won a SAMA (South African Music Award) and his piano music for the art film Exquisite Corps by Jonah Sack presented at the New York Jewish Museum.
Lutherie Urbaine
From 2007 to 2009 Jean-Louis Mechali, a composer, musician and director
of the Paris-based company ‘Lutherie Urbaine’, asked Carlo to conduct
weekly workshops in Soweto and Mamelodi teaching children and youths
to play his music on instruments built on site from recycled material. The filmmaker Sylvie Coulon documented the project in a film called ‘Sharp Sharp’.
Carlo also worked on the project with the company in Paris.
Books
Pulses in the Centre of Silence – Composition Scores and Artistry Concepts’ is published by Real African Publishing.
Mombelli’s Intergallactic Bass Book is published by Real African Publishers and Internationally by Hal Leonard.
Click on the book to take you to Real African Publishing
Teaching
Carlo, a self-taught musician, has been involved in music education for many years. Starting in 1998 he held a teaching post at the Richard-Strauss Conservatoire in Munich, Germany. Since then he has taught and run ensembles at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and bi-annually at the Jazz Musik Akademie in Basel, Switzerland. In 2015, he led the DKSJ-all-star-project with 13 Masters students studying jazz in Switzerland.
Mombelli is a NRF Rated Associate Professor and head of music at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
RECORDINGS
CARLO MOMBELLI 2023
Wolfgang Muthspiel - guitar
Jorge Rossy - vibraphone & drums
Carlo Mombelli, bass & voice
It hurts when I laugh, it tickles when I cry
Compassion - the Hug
JONATHAN CROSSLEY 2022
Jonathan Crossley - guitar, ableton audio
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Jonno Sweetman - drums
Bounce
XENO 2020 Video
Jonathan Crossley - guitar, ableton, audio & video
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Jonno Sweetman - drums
CARLO MOMBELLI
Live at the Bird's Eye 2019
Adrian Mears, trombone
Andreas Tschopp, trombone
Jorge Rossy, vibraphone
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Jonno Sweetman, drums
The Road Past Nieu-Bethesda (Live)
CARLO MOMBELLI
Angels and Demons 2018
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Maria Mombelli, voice
Kyle Shepherd, piano
Keenan Chas Ahrends, guitar
Jonno Sweetman, drums
Peter Cartwright, piano (classical)
Pulses in the Centre of Silence
The Children of Aleppo
CARLO MOMBELLI
I Press my Spine to the Ground 2016
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Mbuso Khoza, voice
Kyle Shepherd, piano
Kesivan Naidoo, drums
Brenda Sisane, spoken word
I Press my Spine to the Ground
Picasso' Dove
CARLO MOMBELLI
Stories 2014
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Mbuso Khoza, voice
Adrian Mears, trombone
Daniel Pezzotti, cello
Dejan Terzic, drums
Motian the Explorer - Reprise
In Between I'll eat Dark Chocolate
CARLO MOMBELLI & the Prisoners of Strange
Theory 2010
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Siya Makuzeni, voice
Marcus Wyatt, trumpet
Justin Badenhorst, drums
Theory
Angela's Angels
SAADET TURKOZ & ZIM NGQAWANA
Remember Me 2009
Zim Ngqawana, tenor sax
Kyle Shepherd, piano
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Justin Badenhorst, drums
Wake Up!
CARLO MOMBELLI & the Prisoners of Strange
I Stared into my Head 2007
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Siya Makuzeni, voice
Jessica Bailey, cello
Marcus Wyatt, trumpet
Sydney Mnisi, saxophones
Lloyd Martin, drums
Soi
Trance by Chance
MIRIAM MAKEBA - Forever
Forever 2000 (Gallo Records)
Miriam Makeba, voice
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Papa Kouyate, percussion
Ntokozo Mathonsi, guitar
Ntokozo Zungu, fender rhodes
Camelia Onea, 1st violin
Srdjan Cuca, 2nd violin
Jeanne Moolman, viola
Laura Howe, cello
La Guinee, Guine
Marcus Wyatt language 12 - 2005
Siya Makuzeni, voice
Marcus Wyatt, trumpet & mouth bow
Afrika Mkhize, piano & fender rhodes
Jean Pierre Oosthuizen, guitar
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Papa Kouyate, djembe
Clement Benny, drums
Two short stories from seven steps
CARLO MOMBELLI & the Prisoners of Strange
Live at Fort West 2004 (MELT2000)
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Siya Makuzeni, voice
Jessica Bailey, cello
Marcus Wyatt, trumpet
Sydney Mnisi, saxophones
Lloyd Martin, drums
Ethical Sam's Cookery Class (Live)
SIMPHIWE DANA
Zandisile 2004 (Gallo records)
On the track - Troubled Soldier
Simphiwe Dana, voice & composition
Carlo Mombelli, bass, programming & composition
CARLO MOMBELLI & the Prisoners of Strange
When Serious Babies Dance 2002
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Siya Makuzeni, voice
Nonthuthuzelo Puone, voice
Johnny Fourie, guitar
Marcus Wyatt, trumpet
Sydney Mnisi, saxophones
John Davidson, trombone
Lloyd Martin, drums
Basil, Roses, Lemons, Love
Observations from the Hideout
Solo, duet, & trio 2002
Johnny Fourie, guitar
Carlo Mombelli, bass
When I Fall in Love
CARLO MOMBELLI
Abstractions Retrospective
ZOLLSOUND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Songs Closer To Silence 2002
Thomas Zoller, composer, baritonesax
Bettina Kosziol, soprano
Merit Ostermann, mezzosoprano
Roger Janotta, sopranosax and flute
Jason Seizer, tenorsax and flute
Hugo Siegmeth, tenorsax, clarinet
Jan Fassbender, analog synthesizer
Geoff Goodman, guitar
Carlo Mombelli, fretless bass
Bill Elgart, drums
On the Wings of Hope
Sibongile Khumalo
Immortal secrets - 2000 (Columbia/Sony music)
Sibongile Khumalo, voice
Afrika Mkhize, piano
Themba Mkhiza, keyboards
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Vusi Khumalo, drums
Basi Mahlasela, percussion
Innocent Modiba, background vocals
Thabo Mdluli, background vocals
Bongani Masuku, background vocals
S'khumbule Nkosi
ZOLLSOUND 4
Open Hearts 1998 (Enja records)
Lee Konitz, altosax
Thomas Zoller, baritonesax
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Bill Elgart, drums
Taster: Open Hearts
CARLO MOMBELLI
Bats in the Belfry 1996 (Recorded Live at The Bayerisher Ründfunk - Germany)
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Adrian Mears, trombone
Roberto di Gioia, piano
Wolfgang Hafner, drums
Requiem (Live)
RAIZ DE PEDRA
Diario de Borda 1996 (Enja records)
Egberto Gismonti, piano
Marcio Tubino, saxes & flute
Pedro Tagliani, guitar
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Fernando do Ó, percussion
Domingos Pereira, percussion
César Audi, drums
ó Quem Taí
BASSTORIUS
Bass Talk 3 1993
On the track - The Marathon Runner
Carlo Mombelli, bass and composition.
Music for 10 fretless basses
CARLO MOMBELLI
Dancing in a Museum 1992
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Charlie Mariano, alto saxophone
Mick Goodrick, guitar
Bill Elgart, drums
Dancing in a Museum
CARLO MOMBELLI and CHARLIE MARIANO
Happy Sad 1990
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Charlie Mariano, alto saxophone
Peter O'Mara, guitar
Bill Elgart, drums
Remember Lucia
My Friend and I
CARLO MOMBELLI
Abstractions 1989
Carlo Mombelli, bass
Jürgen Seelfelder, saxophones
Peter O'Mara, guitar
Bill Elgart, drums
It's For You
CARLO MOMBELLI & Abstractions
On the Other Side 1986 (Shifty records)
Carlo Mombelli, bass & composition
Johnny Fourie, guitar
Jo Runde, guitar
Neill Ethridge, drums
Wailing