Alfonso Ponticelli
Instrument: Guitar
Who is Alfonso Ponticelli?
Alfonso Ponticelli is a multi-instrumentalist born in Chicago, USA, and is best known as a jazz guitarist. He is also the founder and bandleader of The Music of Alfonso Ponticelli & Swing Gitan, a band that is a unique blend of American Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Flamenco, and world folk music.
Ponticelli began his musical career at an early age and was influenced by a wide range of music, including jazz, blues, rock, and classical. He received his formal education in music from DePaul University, where he earned a B.M. in Jazz Studies.
Ponticelli has received numerous awards and nominations for his musical contributions, including the Leonardo da Vinci award for outstanding achievement in performing arts from Order Sons of Italy in America in 2009. In 2013 he was nominated for Best Jazz Entertainer by the Chicago Music Awards.
Ponticelli is also known for his skills as a guitar instructor and has taught at various institutions, including the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. He has also conducted master classes and workshops in the United States and abroad.
Ponticelli has performed at many prestigious festivals around the world, including the Django Reinhardt festival in Samois, France, DjangoFest Northwest, Gypsy Jazz fests in New York City and Denver, CO, and extensively throughout the Midwest.
Alfonso have been running the Chicago Gypsy jazz festival since 2003, bringing musicians and bands together to celebrate the unique music and culture of the Roma and other Gypsy tribes.
Throughout his career, Ponticelli has collaborated with many musicians and artists from different genres and backgrounds. His passion for music, coupled with his ability to blend different styles, has made him a unique and influential figure in the world of jazz and beyond.