MARIA PIA DE VITO
Genres: Vocal Jazz, Pop, Art Song, Folk, Third Stream, World Fusion, Latin Jazz • Italy

Maria Pia de Vito is an Italian vocalist, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist, who is as well known for her improvisational work as she is for interpreting jazz standards and international folk songs. She was born in Naples in 1960, and began formal vocal studies as a child, studying opera and classical music as well as the Neapolitan folk tradition. She began her performing career in 1976, playing with various workshop ensembles, singing, playing guitar, and later piano. Her earliest work was in ethnic and non-ethnic polyphony and folk music related to Mediterranean, Balkan, and South American countries. In 1980, De Vito began working in jazz circles with world-renowned musicians including Paolo Fresu, Bruno Tommaso, and Gianluigi Trovesi. She also performed clubs and international festivals with Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Miroslav Vitous, Uri Caine, Dave Liebman, Billy Hart, Steve Turre, Maria Joao, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and Nguyen-Le. De Vito sang read more...