One week after the extraordinary Italian Fusion Festival 2025 – Jazz Edition, we are delighted to share some of the most memorable highlights from this spectacular sold-out celebration!
We are honoured to present twelve captivating videos featuring the exceptional artists who graced our stage with their remarkable talent: Antóni O’Breskey, Simone Zanchini, Luisa Annibali Quintet, Julyo Trio and Matilde Lotti String Quartet.
We invite you to enjoy these twelve exclusive videos and immerse yourself once again in the magnificent musical journey of this year’s festival.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our incredibly talented artists, our generous sponsors, and—most importantly—to each and every one of you, our cherished audience, whose enthusiasm and support made this event truly unforgettable.
Here’s to the magic of music, celebration, and community! 🎶✨
Matilde Lotti
Julyo Trio
Luisa Annibali Quintet
Simone Zanchini
Antóni O’Breskey
Video recording: Silvana Benedetto, Maurizio Pittau
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At this year’s Italian Fusion Festival, we promised our audience a Special Guest Surprise—an artist whose music transcends borders, whose spirit bridges cultures, and whose presence would capture the very heart of what our festival celebrates.
Now that the curtain has closed on another memorable evening, we are delighted to reveal the identity of our mystery guest:
Antonio Breschi — The Nomadic Soul of the Piano
Internationally acclaimed composer, pianist, and multi-instrumentalist Antonio Breschi graced our stage as an unexpected gift to everyone present. His appearance illuminated the closing moments of the festival, leaving the venue filled with joy, warmth, and profound gratitude.
An Artist Without Borders
Breschi is a musical storyteller whose work defies categorisation. His compositions flow seamlessly across jazz, folk, classical, Celtic, blues, and world music, weaving diverse traditions together with rare poetic sensitivity. Born in Italy and spiritually rooted in Ireland, his life and music form a living bridge between the Mediterranean and Celtic worlds—a continuous dialogue of rhythms, histories, and emotions.
For decades, Antonio has travelled the globe with his acclaimed Nomadic Piano Project, drawing inspiration from cultural encounters and transforming them into a sound distinctly his own. From his deep explorations of Irish sean-nós singing to his collaborations with artists across continents and his innovative fusion of piano and percussion, Breschi has created an artistic voice that celebrates openness, cooperation, and the profound beauty of cultural exchange.
A Magical Collaboration on Stage
During his performance, Antonio was joined by Phil, an accomplished Irish bodhrán player, creating a spontaneous and mesmerizing fusion of piano and traditional Irish percussion. The interplay between Breschi’s nomadic piano style and the ancient rhythms of the bodhrán perfectly embodied the spirit of cultural dialogue that defines our festival—a true meeting of Mediterranean and Celtic souls.
A Perfect Embodiment of Our Festival’s Spirit
Antonio Breschi’s surprise return to our stage was far more than a performance—it was a powerful symbol of everything the Italian Fusion Festival represents. His presence illuminated our core values of cooperation, dialogue, interaction, and cultural exchange. Through his artistry, Antonio reminds us that music is a universal language, capable of connecting people across time, geography, and tradition—building bridges through shared creativity and celebrating our shared humanity.
A Cherished Return — With Anticipation for the Future
This is not Antonio Breschi’s first appearance at our festival, and we fervently hope it will not be his last. His music has become an integral part of our festival’s history, and this year’s surprise performance was a gift that both we and our audience will long remember.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Antonio for sharing his extraordinary artistry with us once again, to Phil for adding the heartbeat of Irish tradition to the evening, and to all of you who joined us in celebrating another unforgettable edition of the Italian Fusion Festival.
Stay tuned… because fusion is a journey, and the best surprises happen along the way.
https://www.italianfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Antoni-OBreskey-Potrait-2-Photo-By-Milena-Giacomazzi-1.jpg8201400IFFhttps://www.italianfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Italian-Fusion-Festival-logo-1-300x138.pngIFF2025-11-16 11:53:412025-11-16 11:53:41A Special Gift for Our Audience: Antonio Breschi Revealed as This Year’s Surprise Guest
https://www.italianfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Meet-the-artists.jpg8001200IFFhttps://www.italianfusionfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Italian-Fusion-Festival-logo-1-300x138.pngIFF2025-11-12 17:23:262025-11-12 17:23:26Meet the Artists of Italian Fusion Festival 2025
We are happy to introduce the innovative jazz part of our lineup. This year, the Italian Fusion Festival presents Simone Zanchini. A masterful journey through sound, improvisation and musical freedom.
Simone Zanchini is one of the most innovative and captivating accordionists on the international music scene. For many years, Zanchini has pursued a unique artistic path that transcends conventional boundaries. His approach transforms the accordion into something unexpected and deeply personal, revealing the instrument’s extraordinary timbral and expressive possibilities far beyond any single genre or style. Whether navigating classical repertoire, contemporary compositions, jazz standards, or venturing into more unconventional sonic territories, Zanchini moves with equal mastery and profound musicality.
A Solo Experience Like No Other
Zanchini’s solo performance embodies the essence of what the Italian Fusion Festival celebrates: the meeting point between tradition and innovation, structure and spontaneity. Each performance is a profoundly creative artistic experience—different every time, unpredictable, and utterly compelling. Over approximately sixty minutes of uninterrupted music, audiences will experience moments of spontaneous improvisation seamlessly woven together with Zanchini’s original compositions and reimagined works by legendary composers including George Gershwin, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and Astor Piazzolla.
In his own words, Zanchini explains his artistic philosophy: “I have always believed that certain sonic resonances dwelling in our minds are uniquely our own – magnificently singular, communicable only through the emotions of improvisation, and perceptible only if one is armed with a true openness of spirit. We live in an era that seems to demand recognised and recognisable languages, along with what I call reproducers of styles. This act of freeing oneself from the code is the courageous, and at times risky, attempt of this Solo.”
A Distinguished Career
Graduating with honours in classical accordion from the prestigious “G. Rossini” Conservatoire in Pesaro—among the first in Italy to achieve such recognition—Zanchini has built an impressive international career. He has graced the stages of major festivals and concert series throughout Italy, performing at the world’s most prestigious international jazz festivals.
His collaborative spirit has led to partnerships with an extraordinary array of internationally renowned musicians from diverse traditions, including Thomas Clausen, Gianluigi Trovesi, Paolo Fresu, Han Bennink, Art Van Damme, Frank Marocco, Bill Evans, Adam Nussbaum, Jim Black, and John Patitucci, among many others. Since 1999, he has collaborated regularly with the Soloists of the Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, touring worldwide.
An Impressive Discography
Since 1996, Zanchini has released more than twenty albums that showcase his versatility and innovation. Notable recordings include Bebop Buffet (2006) in duo with Frank Marocco, My Accordion’s Concept (2012), Don’t Try This Anywhere (2016) featuring John Patitucci and Adam Nussbaum, NINO (2019) with the prestigious HR Frankfurt Radio Big Band, and Il gatto e la volpe (2020) in duo with Gabriele Mirabassi.
Join Us for an Unforgettable Performance
Simone Zanchini’s performance at the Italian Fusion Festival promises to be an extraordinary journey—one that challenges preconceptions about the accordion while celebrating the universal language of musical creativity. His courageous exploration of sound, his technical brilliance, and his profound artistic vision make him the perfect embodiment of our festival’s spirit.
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness a true master of improvisation and innovation in action.
We are happy to introduce the vocal jazz part of our lineup. This year, the Italian Fusion Festival presents Luisa Annibali Quintet!
Meet Luisa Annibali — one of Dublin’s most exciting jazz voices and a rising star who’s been lighting up stages across Ireland, Italy, and Brazil since making Dublin her home in 2016. Originally from Rome, Luisa has become a defining presence on the Irish jazz scene, captivating audiences with her expressive vocals, boundless energy, and fearless genre-blending artistry.
Luisa’s music is a beautiful collision of worlds: the melodic richness of her Italian heritage, the infectious warmth of Brazilian rhythms, and the adventurous spirit of modern jazz. Her sound has drawn comparisons to luminaries like Esperanza Spalding and Gretchen Parlato, yet remains distinctly her own — deeply personal, boldly contemporary, and irresistibly uplifting.
Her recent releases, “My Own Paradise” and “I Could Melt,” showcase her gift for weaving feminist themes and empowering lyricism into lush, soulful arrangements. Through her music, Luisa invites listeners on a joyful journey of self-discovery, consciousness, and emotional awakening — all grounded in the timeless elegance of the jazz tradition.
A Special Italian Repertoire
On Saturday, November 15th, Luisa and her stellar quintet will present a heartfelt celebration of Italian music — blending cherished classics with her own original compositions. Expect to be swept away by traditional melodies from Naples and Rome, alongside iconic songs by legends like Pino Daniele, Gino Paoli, Bruno Martino, and Domenico Modugno. It’s a tribute to la bella musica italiana — delivered with fresh jazz sophistication and soul.
Meet the Musicians
Luisa Annibali – Vocals
The heart and voice of the quintet, Luisa brings passion, poetry, and an unmistakable artistic vision to every note she sings.
Johnathan Batista – Guitar
Originally from Brazil, Johnathan is a versatile guitarist and composer whose sound bridges jazz, soul, and Brazilian traditions with effortless grace. His warm tone and fluid improvisations bring both sophistication and groove to every performance. Now a vital presence in Dublin’s vibrant jazz and world music scenes, Johnathan performs regularly with top local and international artists, adding layers of melodic richness and rhythmic intrigue to the quintet’s sound.
Leopoldo Osio – Piano
A cornerstone of Dublin’s jazz community for over a decade, Venezuelan-born pianist and arranger Leopoldo Osio brings a masterful blend of classical training and modern jazz sensibility to the stage. His playing is marked by lyrical expressiveness and rhythmic precision, creating moments of both intimacy and brilliance. With performances at major jazz venues and festivals across Europe and Latin America, Leopoldo has collaborated with some of contemporary jazz’s most respected names, making him an essential voice in this ensemble.
Alexandre Guerra – Bass
Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Alexandre is a dynamic and expressive bassist known for his deep sense of groove and melodic sensibility. His musical journey spans traditional Brazilian music, modern jazz, and fusion, giving him a versatile palette to draw from. A sought-after performer on the Dublin jazz circuit, Alexandre is celebrated for his warm tone, impeccable timing, and intuitive creative interplay that anchors and elevates every performance.
Riccardo Marenghi – Drums
Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, Riccardo began his percussive journey at a young age before honing his craft at Milan’s prestigious C.E.M.M. Institute (Center for Education in Modern Music). His rhythmic vocabulary deepened through years of study with West African master drummer Dramane Konatè, and he developed a distinctive Afro-Cuban style through collaborations with Luis Ernesto Gomez and Emir Ersoy. With an international career spanning performances across Europe and Turkey, Riccardo brings global rhythmic depth and explosive energy to the quintet’s sound.
