Carlo Mombelli

Carlo Mombelli is a composer, bassist and educator from South Africa.

Carlo’s music has been described in the press as:

‘Once in a while an artist comes along who produces music unlike anything you've heard. Avant-garde bass-focused jazz composition has rarely sounded so gorgeous.
Bass Player Magazine (USA)

‘His music is unusually and unexpectedly fresh.’ - Paris Jazz Man Magazine, (FRANCE)

Hauntingly beautiful
BBC radio - London

Disconcertingly beautiful.
THE JAZZ TIMES (USA)

His music sits on the cusp of sanity, where madness and brilliance share space, where true art resides.
The Sunday Independent

Carlo Mombelli is nothing short of a national treasure – you cannot argue with the depth, passion and inventiveness of his music.
The Mail and Guardian.

Bassist Carlo Mombelli is something of a sage figure. He remains one of the most restlessly creative forces in South African jazz.
By Dan Bilawsky (New York) All about JAZZ
February 20, 2019

Shortened Biography
In his 40-year career as a bass player, band leader and composer, the South African Carlo Mombelli currently living in Johannesburg has bridged gaps between genres, musicians and the audiences.

Concerts
In 2021 the MET, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York presented Carlo performing his music together with the Grammy award-winning New York String Quartet ‘Ethel’.

A self-taught musician, he has recorded and performed at many respected music festivals and clubs, including:
the Roma Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival,
the Stockholm Jazz Festival,
the German Moers Festival,
The Leipziger Jazztage,
The BimHuis in Amsterdam,
The Berliner Philharmonie,
‘On the Edge of Wrong’ festival in Norway,
the Banlieues Bleues festival in Paris,
Cape Town International Jazz festival,
Festival Mundial in the Netherlands,
the JazzWerkstadt in Bern, Switzerland,
& ‘Rio Loco’ festival in Toulouse France, to name a few,

with amongst others, Mick Goodrick, Charlie Mariano, Konstantin Wecker, Jeroen van Vliet, Malcolm Braff, Jorge Rossy, Wolfgang Muthspiel, Dejan Terzic, Wolfgang Haffner, Francois Jeanneau, Carine Bonnefoy, Barbara Dennerlein, Samual Blaser, Frodo Nymo, Håkon Mjåset Johansen, Kyle Shepherd & Adrian Mears.

He has also recorded for Enja Records with Egberto Gismonti as well as with Lee Konitz, and has contributed music and played on the 1989 tribute for Jaco Pastorius, ‘Basstorius’, that also features the bassists Mathew Garrison and Carles Benavent.

Back home in South Africa he has performed and worked with Duke Makazi, Ray Phiri, Barney Rachabane, Lionel Pillay, Hotep Galeta, Afrika Mhkize, Sydney Mnisi, Mbuso Khoza, Ayanda Sikade, Themba Mkhize, Khaya Mlahlangu, Vuma Levin, Jono Sweetman, JB Arthur, Nduduzo Makhathini and Thandi Ntuli, to name a few.

He can also be heard as a bassist on many South African recordings with amongst others, Marcus Wyatt, Zim Ngqawana, Tlale Makhene, Johnny Fourie, Simphiwe Dana, Kyle Shepherd, Sibongile Khumalo, & Miriam Makeba.

In 2018 the Swiss/Italian 15 piece ‘Euregio’ Large Ensemble spent the year performing Carlo’s music at festivals around Europe.

Ballets, films and Commissions
Besides...