Quazamba is a contemporary jazz quartet born in London in 2004 amongst a meeting of Mauro Banfi, Fabio Zambelli and Matt Baker. The group’s research in the contemporary jazz and improvised music scene brought them to explore the latest trends in London and New York. Quazamba has reinterpreted these references, along with that of the classic Blue Note sound, to create a soundscape that is unequivocally within the realm of jazz.

At the outset of Quazamba, Mauro began to reflect on his Italian origin, beginning with a study of the compositional peculiarities of their local folk melodies. Particular attention was paid to the Alpine chants, and incorporating parts of that choral repertoire, from which he selected melodic cells and orchestrated them into popular, and sometimes experimental, contemporary jazz.

From these studies Quazamba found a source of inspiration to produce their own music, described by critics as an especially successful fusion of avant-gard jazz and traditional folk elements. Within this fusion Quazamba has developed other charateristic feature; its harmonic improvisation over fixed structures, which continually entice the listener into new territories.

Since 2004 Quazamba has been touring in the UK, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Venues and festivals included Cava Jazz Terassa in Barcelona, Ryan’s Jazz and the Chapel in London, The International Film Festival in Locarno and the Open Jazz Festival in Varese.

In 2008, after having played with various drummers, the band found in Marco Zanoli its fourth stable member. With the internationally renowned drummer from Varese, northern Italy, Quazamba has strengthened the link with contemporary jazz and with the land that inspired the band.