Claudio Suriano, born in Andria, southern Italy, is a guitarist and composer. He pursued a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design at the Polytechnic University of Bari (2014) while also studying Jazz Guitar at the Saint Louis College of Music in Rome, where he was mentored by guitarist Nico Stufano, earning his Diploma in 2016.
His time in Rome strengthened his passion for music and helped him define his artistic path. After completing his Design degree and Jazz Guitar Diploma, he continued his studies with a Master’s in Jazz Guitar at the Conservatory E. Duni of Matera. During this period, he had the privilege of performing with the Saint Louis College of Music Big Band, led by distinguished figures such as Maurizio Giammarco, Rosario Giuliani, Kurt Elling, Vince Mendoza, and Rich DeRosa. On March 12, 2019, he graduated with a Master’s in Jazz Guitar.
Jazz became a turning point for Claudio in 2011 during his participation in Roma Jazz Cool, a one-week immersive program featuring artists like Joe LaBarbera, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Umberto Fiorentino, Sheila Jordan, and students from across the globe. Since then, he has attended numerous workshops and masterclasses with acclaimed musicians, including Scott Colley, Antonio Sanchez, David Binney, Justin Faulkner, Maria Neckam, Aaron Parks, Eric Revis, Rosario Giuliani, Enrico Pieranunzi, Dave Liebman, Gilad Hekselman, Nir Felder, Lage Lund, and Ralph Alessi.
Driven by his passion for guitar and music, Claudio has managed, composed, and performed with various bands, constantly exploring new musical directions and fostering his artistic growth. Early collaborations include local projects such as Drem’s Project, Still Drop, and work with songwriter Elisabetta Pasquale, performing in numerous clubs and festivals.
His main focus is his Trio, a vibrant ensemble that has performed at festivals including Jonio Jazz Festival 2017, Festival Castel dei Mondi 2017, and Bari in Jazz 2018. The trio, featuring Gianluca Aceto on bass and Luca Abbattista on drums, is rooted in jazz but continually incorporates original compositions and innovative sounds, blending diverse styles into its performances.
with Siena Jazz Summer Excellence at San Leo Music Fest (August 21017)
Claudio’s musical curiosity goes beyond his own compositions. His notable collaborations include performing with the Majatica Ensemble at the Majatica Jazz Festival in 2018, participating in the Siena Jazz 2018 Excellences for the San Leo Music Festival, and recording sessions with Los Angeles–based guitarist Allen Hinds in May and November 2018.
with Allen Hinds, Mimmo Campanale, Gianluca Aceto (November 2018)
Claudio’s passion for orchestral music led him to join the Maxima Orchestra in 2016 as an acoustic, classical, and electric guitarist, performing alongside artists such as Mario Rosini, Sarah Jane Morris, Tony Remy, Roberto Ottaviano, and Vince Tempera in numerous theaters across southern Italy.
In July 2020, his talent was recognized with an invitation to the International Jazz Platform, an educational project organized by the Wytwornia Foundation (Poland) and supported by GAI – Giovani Artisti Italiani.
Since March 2019, Claudio has been based in Copenhagen, where he collaborates with a wide range of international artists, including Jordan Jackson (UK), Sebastian Zawadzki (PL), Romulo Duarte De Oliveira (BR), Tomoko Inoue (JP), Victor Jones (US), Daniel Marques (BR), Niels Lan Doky (DK), Steve Rodby (US), and Paul Wertico (US).
with Jordan Jackson and Sebastian Zawadzki
In January 2024, Claudio released his debut album as a bandleader, Earth Calling, featuring Swedish alto saxophonist Fredrik Kronkvist and Danish drummer Johannes Bohn. The album was showcased at Musikcaféen in Copenhagen (Denmark), Tenho Jazz in Helsinki (Finland), and Hampstead Jazz Club in London (UK).
From the release concert of Earth Calling in Copenhagen (April 2024)