User:Timkatent/sandbox

Camera Soul is an Italian jazz-funk music ensemble, produced by Marco Rossi of Azzurra Music (Verona) and released and marketed in the United States and Canada by Kathryn Ballard Shut of TIMKAT Entertainment (Denver, Colorado). Inspired by legendary horn line, Soul, R&B, and jazz-fusion artists such as Earth, Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Tower of Power, and Stevie Wonder, as well as neo-soul grooves by Erykah Badu and Jamiroquai, the group is based out of southern Italy (Bari), and led by veteran composer-arrangers, brothers Piero and Pippo Lombardo. Camera Soul’s distinctive sound was first defined by the smoky and soulful voice of lead vocalist, Serena Brancale, and as of September 2013, by former The Beautiful Sinners lead vocalist Maria Enrica Lotesoriere, also known locally throughout southern Italy by her stage name, "EVA".

The group features a world-class lineup of studio and live performance musicians, including Pippo Lombardo (piano), Beppe Sequestro (bass), Gianluca Cardellicchio (rhythm guitar), Francesco Palmitessa (lead guitar), Liviana Ferri (percussion), Mimmo Campanale (drums), Daniele Scannapieco and Bruno Tassone (saxes), Gianfranco Campagnoli (trumpet and flugelhorn), and Piero Dotti (background vocals).

The group has released two albums: Words Don’t Speak (2011) and Not For Ordinary People (2013). Whereas the debut album, Words Don’t Speak reached minor critical acclaim as a “chill” or “smooth” effort, sophomore release Not For Ordinary People, led by its heavier funk, achieved greater critical acclaim and Internet radio airplay, particularly in the United Kingdom, peaking at #2 on popular radio show, The UK Soul Chart. Furthermore, in terms of songwriting, the Brothers Lombardo branched out of their duo-based writing formula to lead a global composition team, welcoming original music and lyrics from Serena Brancale and Denver-based jazz pianist and ASCAP composer, Kathryn Ballard Shut.

The Brothers Lombardo

Lifelong lovers of Jazz, R&B and Soul, the Brothers Lombardo are the fuel behind Camera Soul’s tremendous sound. Prior to writing for Camera Soul, both Piero (guitarist) and Pippo (pianist/horn arranger) created masterpieces on several albums over the course of a decade for Latin Jazz group Marchio Bossa. With the formation of Camera Soul in 2011, the brothers refined their writing style to reflect original songs that recall the Golden Age of 1970s and 1980s soul and funk. In addition to writing for Camera Soul, pianist Pippo is extremely active on the worldwide live music circuit. Most recently, in 2013, Pippo toured Thailand and collaborated with House Music mixmaster Loris Conte to lend his excellent soloistic ideas to Conte’s hit, The Jazz Pianist (Ibiza 2013). Both composers are members of Italy’s performing rights organization, SIAE.