User:Dimamondello

Biography
Dima Mondello is the son of Italian immigrants. He started learning the Saxophone at school in his home town Bedford. In 1982 he join the British Army as a musician. He served 8 years in the Royal Anglian Regiment. Whilst serving in Colchester he sort saxophone tuition from Prof. Angela Fussel. He later studied saxophone under the instructions of Prof. Paul Harvey at Kneller Hall in London were he also learnt to play clarinet, flute and piano as well as composition. During his stay at Kneller Hall he joined up with trumpeter Eddie Severn to formed the Jazz Fusion quintet Sula Bassana were unknown to their superiors won a talent contest, which was later withdrawn because of their professional status. This was to affect his decision to stay in the army as he felt it inhibited his musical development as a soloist. Although, he was to be recommended as Band Master he decided to leave the army in 1990 to become a freelance musician and moved to Germany.

Influenced by Gato Barbieri and Sonny Rollins he developed a temperamental style of playing, which he used in his classical recitals. In 1993 he was guest soloist on the album R&B collections Route 66 were he soloed on Sweet Home Chicago. He moved to blues in 1995 with his band Drei Wetter Tought were the elements of classical phrasing was still to be heard. In 2005 the band split up and he went back to freelance session work. In 2008 Dima Mondello joined forces with former bass player of the Ike and Tina Turner band Reggie Worthy to form the R&B band Worthy & Mondello. After the band split up in 2010 his style of playing matured to a softer tone and became influenced by smooth jazz. In 2012 he formed the jazz quintet Mondello Jazz Syndicate. In the same year he was offered the job as music director for the New Jazz Initiative Celle.

Band Leader

 * Drie Wetter Tought
 * Mondello Jazz Syndicate
 * Worthy & Mondello

As Sideman With

 * Herb Geller
 * Rafael Cortès - flamenco guitar
 * Worthy Band
 * Arthur Regis Band
 * Béatrice Kahl Jazz Band
 * Kansas City Band
 * Matthias Grabi Swing Trio