Mirco Melone

Bass guitar, Double bass
(510) 388-0075
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Mirco Melone is a multi-faceted, multi-instrumental musician who loves to further his knowledge of the languages and forms of all music. He has collaborated as a musician and arranger in the studio with various Italian bands and songwriters, and divides his time between playing live and in the studio as well as teaching bass guitar and double bass and composing original music.

Mirco is a bass and double bass player and musical arranger from Bologna, Italy who currently lives in Alameda, California. Mirco began studying bass guitar at the age of fourteen in Imola, Italy with renowned teacher Pierluigi Mingotti. He initially played rock/classic rock, pop, and funk, but has since broadened his interests to include electronic and ethnic music as well as jazz and classical music. He has played in many tribute, cover, and local rock bands. He holds advanced degrees from Italy's Classical Music Conservatory "Bruno Maderna".

He participated in the final stages of the "Volti Nuovi per lo Spettacolo" (New Faces for Show) competition in Castrocaro Terme, Italy in 1997 (competition for new groups at the Sanremo Festival).

In 2000 he joined the Bolognese band "Folder" and released an album under the Silly Production Company. The band signed a contract with Barley Arts in Milan, which gave them the opportunity to perform live throughout Italy and participate in television shows on Italian music channels.

He lived in Oakland, CA in 2002-2003, where he continued his jazz studies with Michael Wilcox of the Berkeley Jazz School. After returning to Italy he studied harmony and musical theory at the Vassura Baroncini School in Imola, Bologna with professor Marco Biscarini. He continued his studies in jazz music, studying with the well-known jazz musician Ares Tavolazzi.

In 2005 he joined Jakarta Cafe, a Latin jazz band, and contributed to their record produced by the New Music label in Milan under the artistic direction of Maestro MaurizioTirelli. Jakarta Cafe performed live throughout Italy, taking part in prestigious competitions (second place at A. Mingardi's Bologna Arts Festival, the Buskers Festival in Ferrara, etc.).

In 2006 he joined the ethno-folk band Dimondi, studying and rearranging traditional folk songs. Between 2006 and 2008 they performed throughout Italy as well as on tours in France, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, and Spain, taking part in many international festivals including the Saint Chartier Festival in France.

Between 2007 and 2013 he studied double bass at the Classical Music Conservatory "Bruno Maderna" in Cesena with Maestro Giovanni Valgimigli. He earned diplomas in theory and solfeggio, the double bass, and harmony. In 2012 he attended the "Marco Allegri" classical music summer courses in Castrocaro Terme (FC), where he had the opportunity to study with internationally renowned teachers and perform in chamber concerts with the well-known conductor Robin O'Neill. In 2013 he continued studies in technique and jazz with Maestro Stefano Senni and has since participated in several jazz and classical music master classes with important international artists.

Mirco taught bass guitar and double bass at Music Action in Imola from 2006 to 2017 and at the Music Academy of Faenza from 2008 to 2017. He also planned and taught music classes in elementary and middle schools as well as at summer programs.

Before moving to Alameda, CA in June 2017, he most recently performed throughout Italy in the following bands: Gli Taliani (re-arrangement of Italian singer/songwriter music), Hot Club of Bologna (repertoire including 1930s/40s music, D. Reinhardt, D. Ellington), Purple Trio (blues/jazz repertoire) and the Wedding Crashers, playing various genres of music at weddings.

Currently in the Bay Area, he continues teaching bass/upright bass to a variety of students. He joined the band Tempest in 2018, a Celtic/progressive rock band with over 30 years of history and 17 records (www.tempestmusic.com). The band frequently tours around the United States and Europe, playing in clubs, theaters and prestigious festivals. He also continues to compose and arrange music, as well as play with various artists in the Bay Area.