Pippo Matino was born in Portici, Naples. His bass playing has spanned many styles including jazz, funk, blues, rock and Italian pop music, and he's considered by many to be a highly-respected virtuoso of the instrument.
After gaining several years of experience with top Neapolitan musicians such as Zurzolo, E. Vitolo, J. Senese e Napoli Centrale and Larry Nocella, he moved to Rome to start new collaborations and launch a career as bandleader. His 1993 debut, "Bassa Tensione," was the inaugural release of Biagio Pagano's famous Roman label, Via Veneto. "Doctor Mike" and "Bass Song For Napoli" were especially influential for many young bass players.
Pippo has co-led an Italian-Cuban trio with guitarist Rocco Zifarelli and Cuban drummer Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, and is also the leader of Essential Team, a jazz-rock-funk band coloured by the melodic sensibilities of Mediterranean music. The band currently includes Claudio Romano on drums, Giulio Martino on saxes and Roberto Schiano on trombone. The band's second album, which features special guest Stefano Di Battista on sax, was released recently.
Pippo has performed with many top musicians including Billy Cobham, Mike Stern, Flavio Boltro, Agostino Marangolo, Javier Girotto, Giovanni Imparato, Derek Wilson, Paco Sery, Rosario Giuliani, Lele Melotti, Giorgio Cocilovo, Luca Trolli, Bireli Lagrene, Peter Erskine, Roberto Gatto, Walter Calloni, Tony Scott, Eric Legnini, Jean Marie Ecay, Solis String Quartet, Danny Gottlieb, Manatthan Transfer, Gloria Gaynor, Steve Hunt, Brett Garsed, etc. He has also worked with many italian pop artists, including: Giorgia, Renato Zero, Amedeo Minghi, Mietta, Enzo Gragnaniello and Alex Britti.
