Born in Milan in 1977, Michele “Miki” Salgarello is one of the most complete drummers in Italy’s contemporary jazz scene.

Actually he lives between Rome and Milan.
The critics had written:

“....[Salgarello] has catched Paul Motian and impressionistic drummers lesson very well....he uses, when he wants to, drumsticks and brushes as groynes to paint lines, to form staines and backgrounds with the rhythmic palette at his disposal....” (Gianni B. Montano, Jazzitalia, 2010)

"....If you are looking for the meaning of what the "interplay" word means today applied in a jazz setting, Salgarello appears to be the ideal speaker, capable of satisfying the group leader's desire of exploring the endless dynamic possibilities of his instrument..." (Alfredo Romeo, DRUMSET MAG, 2013)

He begin with the first sessions and exhibitions in his teens, while at the same time approaching jazz with summer seminars and scholarships between the famed “Siena Jazz Foundation” and “New England Conservatory”.
In that period his mentors are different and many, for example teachers like Sandro Lorenzetti, Walter Calloni, Ruggero Pazzaglia & Alex Battini Da Barreiro in his hometown.
Then he deepens his drumset studies also with Franco Lauria, Antonio Golino & Alfredo Golino in Brescia.
Afterwords he attends “Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory” in Milan, where he graduates with a degree in Jazz Performance under the guide of Tino Tracanna and Attilio Zanchi, refining with teachers Stefano Bagnoli and Tony Arco.

Essential for his debut on his hometown jazz scene is the encounter with Mario Rusca and Lucio Terzano, whose, intuiting his talent, often invite him at their gigs, especially at famous “Le Scimmie” jazz club, the famous venue owned and managed by Sergio Israel and a fundamental laboratory for many Italian musicians over the years.
But, above all, is during his 4 years tenure inside Antonio Faraò trio, pairing with Marco Vaggi on double bass, that Michele “cut his teeth” and make his first prestigious experiences inside the national jazz circuit, thanks of many concerts with the great Italian piano player who literally takes him under his wings.

In 2008 he wins an important scholarship for a one-of-a-kind initiative organized by the Siena Jazz Foundation: the two-year master named “IN.JA.M” (International Jazz Master Program).
With a faculty of more than 100 artists composed by some of the best jazz players in the world and a group of students that cointains the core of Italy’s next generation of jazz musicians (Alessandro Lanzoni, Francesco Diodati, Gabriele Evangelista, Luigi Di Nunzio and many others), Michele lives two groundbraking years of encounters, research and concerts, close to artists like Drew Gress, Ralph Alessi, Heyn Van De Geyn, Stefano Battaglia, Eddie Henderson, Furio Di Castri, Pietro Leveratto, Avishai Cohen & Riccardo Del Fra (just to mention a few), and increase even more his drum studies with all the greatest italian jazz drummers (from Roberto Gatto to Massimo Manzi, from Fabrizio Sferra to Ettore Fioravanti) and some of the most influental american drummers (Billy Hart, Adam Nussbaum, Eric Harland, Jeff Ballard, Elliot Zigmund, Billy Drummond, John Riley, Ferenc Nemeth & Kenwood Dennard).
In 2009, in New York, is selected to partecipate at “Center For Improvisational Music”‘s collective workshops hosted by Tim Berne & Ralph Alessi.

Michele partecipates for two seasons in a row, a pivotal experience that will put him in contact with a great number of important artists like Steve Coleman, Vijay Iyer, Jason Moran, Samir Chatterjee, Andy Milne, Matt Mitchell, Andrew D’Angelo, Tyshawn Sorey, Val-Inc, Cooper Moore, Sylvie Courvoisier, Mark Feldman, Jim Black, Tom Rainey & Gerald Cleaver.
At this point, after many years of studies, lots of different experiences and a deep introspective work, Michele understands that his abilities and his style should be the result of a synthesis between the great American tradition, the European avant-garde legacy and the ethnic blends. And never looked back.

In the meantime the shows in all Italy become more and more, like the tours in many parts of the world like USA, Japan, England, Germany, Austria, France, Holland, Spain, Portugal.
In 2011, in trio with Chihiro Yamanaka and Aldo Vigorito, performs as opening act before the sold-out concert of “Tribute To Miles” quintet feat. Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock and Marcus Miller, in front of more than 6000 people and on the stunning Arena Santa Giuliana stage in Perugia.
That year’s roster (one of the richest editions) includes many world class artists, and critics and press report the show as “....sure the Festival’s surprise and one of the best set so far, impressive for power and energy...”.

Michele’s discography at this point is very heterogeneous, with albums published among some of the best national and international labels like Sony, Universal, ABeat, Edel, Dodicilune, Venus, Zone Di Musica, Music Center, Ultrasound, Four and others.
Among many good reviews, a prestigious achievement: “Some Portraits”, in trio with Carlo Morena and Yuri Goloubev, has been voted inside “The Jazz Yearbook” critics pools as one of the best 300 albums  worldwide in 2011.
Since 2005 his extra-jazz studio/sessions credits increase as well, collecting collaborations with producers and arrangers like Chris Kimsey (Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Peter Frampton, E.L.P.), Sphere Studios’s Francesco Cameli (Duran Duran, Ronan Keating, Adele), Allan Goldberg (Pino Daniele, Fabrizio De Andrè, PFM) and Stefano Barzan (Antonella Ruggiero, Morgan, Teatro Alla Scala Academy).

It’s the result of a very happy professional phase lived attending many recording studios over the years between Milano and London, a city Michele adores and that became almost a second home in a period spanning 2004 and 2007.
At the moment Michele concentrates his energies in jazz music almost exclusively, with more than 30 recordings on the market and more or less the same number to be released between new albums or next sessions.

In 2012 he figures as artist with his own projects inside “Antonello Vitale Jazz MGT” roster, one of the top Italy’s managements and since the early 80’s the agency that organizes and manages in Italy figures like Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Ornette Coleman, Wynton Marsalis and many of the best jazz artist in the world.
At the moment, beside projects with some of the best italian jazz players (from Emanuele Cisi to Stefano Battaglia, from Roberto Cecchetto to Carlo Morena), since 2010 keeps a fruitful collaboration with Mario Berna’s “Free Form Jazz MGT”, Japanese pianist Chihiro Yamanaka, Spanish singer Eva Cortes and Cuban pianist Pepe Rivero’s manager.

Aside from Umbria Jazz and lots of the best jazz clubs in the world, Michele had played in many national and international festival, including:
Iseo Jazz, Sant’Anna Arresi Jazz, Metastasio Jazz, Mito Fringe Festival, Fara Jazz Festival, Bergamo Jazz, Atina Jazz, Fano Jazz By The Sea Festival, Donna In Jazz Festival, Albinea Jazz Festival, Napoli Jazz Winter, Bologna Jazz Festival, Casa Del Jazz Summer Festival, Multiculturita Jazz, “Odio L’estate” Jazz Festival, Lovere In Jazz, Gouveia Art Festival, Lanciano Domani Festival, Rio Festival Carmaux, Jazz Ladies 2012/13, Toscana Jazz Festival, Moncalieri Jazz Festival, Spring Jazz Festival, Musica Al Parco 2013, Bagnara Jazz Festival, “Le Strade Del Jazz”, Oltretorrente Jazz Meeting, Mondomare Jazz Festival, Arezzo Wave, “Atlante” Cinema Dell’Immaginario Festival & many others.

Recordings, tours & performances with some of the most important international jazz artists, including:
Ralph Alessi, Xavier Davis, Drew Gress, Avishai Cohen, Chihiro Yamanaka, Joe Fonda, Eddie Henderson, Jesper Bodilsen, Heyn Van De Geyn, Paula Morelenbaum, Don Friedman, Cleveland Watkiss, Arnold Dooyewerd, Tore Johansen, Mike Tracy, Jorg Brinkmann, Gary Queen, Walter Blanton, Eva Cortes, Pepe Rivero, Yuri Goloubev, Ernesto Cortazar, Dave Howard, Denis Gaebel, Albert Vila, Sylwia Bialas, Marco Netzband, Wolgang Kriener & altri.

Among the Italian players, in addition to the already mentioned Antonio Faraò, Mario Rusca, Lucio Terzano & Marco Vaggi:
Stefano Battaglia, Emanuele Cisi, Rosario Giuliani, Franco Cerri, Roberto Cecchetto, Max Ionata, Francesco Bearzatti, Franco Ambrosetti, Furio Di Castri, Francesco Cafiso, Andrea Pozza, Danilo Gallo, Marco Tamburini, Carlo Morena, Antonio Zambrini, Riccardo Del Fra, Tino Tracanna, Giovanni Falzone, Maurizio Gianmarco, Francesco Puglisi, Pietro Ciancaglini, Roberto Ottaviano, Claudio Fasoli, Riccardo Luppi, Attilio Zanchi, Carlo Atti, Paolo Tomelleri, Alessandro Lanzoni, Andrea Di Biase, Gianna Montecalvo,  Walter Beltrami, Piero Delle Monache, Andrea Lombardini, Francesco Diodati, Riccardo Gola, Luca Calabrese, Mario Zara, Sandro Gibellini, Sante Palumbo, Luciano Zadro, Massimo Minardi, Tito Mangialajo Rantzer, Nico Morelli, Marco Panascia, Mirco Mariottini, Luca Begonia, Matteo Bortone, Luca Dell'Anna, Marco Bianchi, Daniele Comoglio, Daniele Mencarelli, Michele Franzini, Silvia Manco, Michele Francesconi, Gianluca Esposito, Antonio Figura, Milko Ambrogini, Francesco Pinetti, Francesca Ajmar, Deborah Falanga, Silvia Fusè & many others.

Since 2007 is International Artist/Endorser/Clinician for “Turkish” Cymbal Company and Percussion Village Milano exclusively.


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