JAZZPROFILES lives in the music 1,450 Jazz Artists fully Profiled! Marcello Magliocchi
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Marcello Magliocchi was born in Bari, in the southern Italian region of Puglia, on May 12, 1957, and got his first drum kit in the late 1960s. By his own account he has been an active player in jazz and improvised music since 1974, and Discogs documents a recording career of at least 90 credits running from 1986 to a 2026 release, most of it on small European free-improvisation labels.
His earliest Discogs-documented leader session is Secret Life (1986, CMC), billed to "Marcello Magliocchi Feat. Roberto Ottaviano, Carlo Actis Dato, Irene Robbins," a quartet date with two saxophonists who would go on to define the Italian free-jazz scene: soprano player Roberto Ottaviano and baritone/bass clarinetist Carlo Actis Dato. A separate 2003 release, Experience (1979/2002), gathers archival material Magliocchi recorded as far back as 1979, pointing to an even earlier start than his commercial discography shows.
The bulk of his catalog runs through the Italian free-improvisation label Setola Di Maiale, founded in Bari's own Puglia scene, alongside Splasc(h) Records, the UK label FMR Records, and the netlabels Plus Timbre and Improvising Beings. His most sustained musical partnership was with the pianist Gianni Lenoci, a fellow Puglian: the two share Discogs credits on 25 releases between 2001's Afrika Metropolitaine and Lenoci's death in 2019, including Entomology (2002, with Actis Dato), Holysmoke (2007), Serendipity (2009, a trio with the violinist Carlos Zíngaro), Free Fall and Kid Steps (both 2010), and the 2010-2011 quartet records Serving An Evolving Humanity and Secret Garden, both featuring the American bassist William Parker. Magliocchi also played on the 2021 tribute record A Secret Garden (In Gianni Lenoci's Music), alongside the singer Gianna Montecalvo and Roberto Ottaviano.
Two more free-improvisation figures already profiled on this site turn up in his Discogs-verified credits: the French bassist Joëlle Léandre, who plays alongside Magliocchi and Lenoci on Psychomagic Combination (2007) and the quintet session Panji (2010), and the trumpeter Pino Minafra, on whose Terronia (2005, Enja Records) Magliocchi plays drums, percussion and cymbal. He also recorded with the Danish-American reedist John Tchicai in the Open Orchestra on The Spiritual Man (2008), and with Ottaviano, Vittorino Curci and Carlos Zíngaro across several further Setola Di Maiale sessions; none of these three has a profile on jazzprofiles.com yet. His own biographical materials (All About Jazz, Plus Timbre) also cite associations dating to 1974 with figures including Mal Waldron, Peter Kowald and Evan Parker, but no specific Discogs-documented session pairs him with any of the three, so those claims are noted here without being treated as verified collaborations.
Since the late 2010s his discography has leaned increasingly toward London's improvised-music circuit, with repeated duo and trio recordings alongside the English saxophonist Adrian Northover and other musicians associated with the London Improvisers Orchestra, released on FMR Records, Empty Birdcage Records and Plus Timbre through 2026. Per his own biography, he has also organized international meetings dedicated to instant composition since the late 1990s, under names including Fotomanie, Fonosextant, Experiment, Clock Stop International Meeting and Osimu.
Magliocchi works within free jazz and free improvisation, built almost entirely around small collective units, duos, trios and quartets, rather than a conventional bandleader catalog. His playing is centered on drums, percussion and cymbals rather than a fixed kit sound, and Discogs release credits repeatedly single out specific cymbals and gongs (Ufip cymbals and gongs on Psychomagic Combination, for instance) alongside the standard drum kit. All About Jazz's own biographical note on him describes him as "one of the most interesting and personal drummers in business," a characterization tied to the same body of small-group improvised recordings that defines his Discogs catalog. His musical geography runs on two axes: the Puglia free-improvisation scene built around Setola Di Maiale and pianist Gianni Lenoci's circle, and, in the more recent half of his career, the London improvisers' scene centered on saxophonist Adrian Northover and the London Improvisers Orchestra.
- Secret Life (1986, CMC) - his earliest Discogs-documented leader date, with Roberto Ottaviano, Carlo Actis Dato and Irene Robbins. Not on Spotify; Discogs release. Buy
- Entomology (2002, Setola Di Maiale) - quartet with Carlo Actis Dato, Gianni Lenoci and Vito Maria Laforgia. Not found on streaming; Discogs release. Buy
- Serendipity (2009, Amirani Records) - trio with Gianni Lenoci and violinist Carlos Zíngaro. Spotify - Serendipity Listen · Buy
- Serving An Evolving Humanity (2010, Silta Records) - quartet with William Parker, Gianni Lenoci and Vittorino Curci. Bandcamp - Serving An Evolving Humanity Listen · Buy
- Panji (2010, Setola Di Maiale) - quintet with Joëlle Léandre, Gianni Lenoci, Carlos Zíngaro and Beñat Achiary. Bandcamp - Panji Listen · Buy
- Over The Edge (2025, FMR Records) - trio with Adrian Northover and Domenico Saccente, from the London-facing side of his recent catalog. Bandcamp - Over The Edge Listen · Buy
Marcello Magliocchi: Full Discography
Drums, percussion. Born Bari, Italy, May 12, 1957.
Compiled from the Discogs API (artist 1713443, "Marcello Magliocchi," 90 credits) with release-level credit checks on the sessions connecting him to other artists already profiled on jazzprofiles.com. Discogs disambiguates this artist entity cleanly: no namesake or merged-identity risk was found (search for "Marcello Magliocchi" on Discogs returns only this single artist entity, alongside three unrelated people with different names). Namevariations on Discogs: M. Magliocchi, M.Magliocchi, Magliocchi, Marcelo Magliocchi.
Leader and co-leader records
Records on which Magliocchi is one of the billed artists, in date order. Nearly all of his catalog is collectively credited to the players on the session rather than to a single bandleader, consistent with the free-improvisation scene he works in.
| Album | Year | Label | Personnel | Notes | Listen | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secret Life | 1986 | CMC | Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion); Roberto Ottaviano (soprano saxophone); Carlo Actis Dato (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet); Irene Robbins (voice) | His earliest Discogs-documented leader date. | not found | Discogs release |
| Afrika Metropolitaine | 2001 | AFK Records | Gianni Lenoci (piano, alto saxophone, synthesizer, flute, tape); Vito Maria Laforgia (double bass, electronics); Marcello Magliocchi (percussion); Vittorino Curci (alto saxophone, voice) | Quartet; his first Discogs-documented session with Lenoci. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Entomology | 2002 | Setola Di Maiale | Carlo Actis Dato (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Gianni Lenoci (piano, synthesizer, clarinet, tape); Vito Maria Laforgia (contrabass); Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion) | Billed to Actis Dato with Lenoci, Laforgia and Magliocchi. | not found | Amazon |
| Experience (1979/2002) | 2003 | Setola Di Maiale | Marcello Magliocchi | Archival material recorded 1979 and 2002; personnel not itemized on Discogs beyond Magliocchi. | not found | Amazon |
| Psychomagic Combination | 2007 | Setola Di Maiale | Joëlle Léandre (double bass, voice); Gianni Lenoci (piano); Vittorino Curci (alto saxophone); Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion, cymbal, gong; also edited the record) | Quartet. | not found | Amazon |
| Holysmoke | 2007 | Splasc(h) Records | Eugenio Colombo; Gianni Lenoci (piano); Marcello Magliocchi (drums) | Personnel beyond the three billed artists not itemized on Discogs. | not found | Amazon |
| Serendipity | 2009 | Amirani Records | Gianni Lenoci (piano, prepared piano); Carlos Zíngaro (violin); Marcello Magliocchi (percussion, music by) | Trio. | Spotify | Amazon |
| Panji | 2010 | Setola Di Maiale | Gianni Lenoci (piano, electronics); Beñat Achiary (voice); Carlos Zíngaro (violin); Joëlle Léandre (bass); Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion) | Quintet; limited-edition CDr. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Trullo Improvisations | 2010 | Setola Di Maiale | Marcello Magliocchi; Bruno Angeloni; Juan Castañon | Trio; personnel roles not itemized on Discogs. | not found | Amazon |
| The Spell And The City | 2010 | Setola Di Maiale | Gianni Lenoci (piano, synthesizer); Bruno Angeloni (soprano saxophone); Juan Castañon (electric guitar); Marcello Magliocchi (percussion) | Quartet. | not found | Amazon |
| Free Fall | 2010 | Setola Di Maiale | Gianni Lenoci (piano); Kent Carter (contrabass); Marcello Magliocchi (drums) | Trio. | not found | Amazon |
| Kid Steps | 2010 | Setola Di Maiale | Steve Potts (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone); Gianni Lenoci (piano, percussion); Marcello Magliocchi (drums) | Trio billed to Potts first. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Serving An Evolving Humanity | 2010 | Silta Records | William Parker (double bass, shakuhachi); Gianni Lenoci (piano, prepared piano, voice); Vittorino Curci (soprano and alto saxophone, effects, voice); Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion) | Quartet. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Sound Gates | 2011 | Ultramarine | Ninni Morgia; Marcello Magliocchi | Duo LP. | not found | Amazon |
| Music For Sounding Sculptures In Twenty-Three Movements | 2011 | Ultramarine | Marcello Magliocchi | Solo cassette release. | not found | Amazon |
| We Insist! Ceglie Open Jazz Festival 2010 | 2011 | Audition Records | Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion); Gianni Lenoci (piano, electronics) | Live duo download release. | not found | Amazon |
| The Farm Session | 2011 | Setola Di Maiale | Gianni Mimmo (soprano saxophone); Harri Sjöström (soprano saxophone); Edoardo Marraffa (tenor saxophone); Tristan Honsinger (cello); Nicola Guazzaloca (accordion); Chris Iemulo (guitar); Marcello Magliocchi (drums, percussion) | Septet recorded live at Farm, Bologna. | not found | Amazon |
| Almost Tomorrow | 2011 | Setola Di Maiale | Gianni Lenoci (piano, synthesizer); Matthias Boss (violin); Marcello Magliocchi (percussion) | Trio. | not found | Amazon |
| M.A.B. Trio | 2011 | Setola Di Maiale | Marcello Magliocchi, Bruno Angeloni, Matthias Boss, with Nicola Guazzaloca and Luca Bernard | Limited/numbered edition. | not found | Amazon |
| Season Two | 2012 | Solar Ipse Audio House | Ninni Morgia; Marcello Magliocchi | Duo. | not found | Amazon |
| One Hour With The Three Uncles | 2012 | Setola Di Maiale | Roberto Del Piano; Matthias Boss; Marcello Magliocchi | Limited-edition CDr. | not found | Amazon |
| Two Drums I Two Reeds | 2012 | Setola Di Maiale | Marcello Magliocchi; Ivano Nardi; Vittorino Curci; Giuseppe Valzano | Two drummers, two reed players. | not found | Amazon |
| Live At Leggere Strutture | 2013 | White Noise Generator | Nicola Guazzaloca; João Pedro Viegas; Marcello Magliocchi | Trio, live recording. | not found | Amazon |
| Otto Sette Sei | 2015 | Improvising Beings | Marcello Magliocchi; Matthias Boss; Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg; with Roberto Del Piano and Paolo Falascone | Title is Italian for "876," matching its Bandcamp reissue title "876 Trio." | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| The Sounding Door | 2015 | Plus Timbre | Guy-Frank Pellerin; Matthias Boss; Marcello Magliocchi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| All In One & Duo Recital | 2015 | (self-released) | Marcello Magliocchi | Discogs master entry; personnel not itemized. | not found | Discogs master |
| Waterfall | 2016 | White Noise Generator | Marcello Magliocchi; Guy-Frank Pellerin | Duo. | not found | Amazon |
| Music From Dreaming Skaters | 2017 | Plus Timbre | Magliocchi; Adrian Northover; Daniel Thompson; Maresuke Okamoto | Netlabel digital release; his first Discogs-documented session with Adrian Northover. | not found | Amazon |
| Four Points In The Black Sun | 2018 | Plus Timbre | Magliocchi; Matthias Boss; Rolfini; Alen Grassi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Sezu | 2018 | FMR Records | Phil Gibbs; Marcello Magliocchi; Adrian Northover; Maresuke Okamoto | London-scene quartet. | not found | Amazon |
| The Sea Of Frogs | 2019 | Plus Timbre | Gussoni; Magliocchi; Northover | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| The Visitors | 2019 | FMR Records | Phil Gibbs; Neil Metcalfe; Adrian Northover; Marcello Magliocchi | London Improvisers Orchestra-adjacent quartet. | not found | Amazon |
| Parigi | 2019 | Not On Label (Mia Dyberg self-released) | Marcello Magliocchi; Mia Dyberg | Duo, digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Trama | 2020 | Plus Timbre | Marcello Magliocchi; Alen Grassi | Duo, netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Ritual For Expansion | 2020 | LFDS Records | Magliocchi; Neil Metcalfe; Wacrenier | Trio. | not found | Amazon |
| Föhn | 2020 | Not On Label | Adam Bohman; Marcello Magliocchi; Adrian Northover | Trio, digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Live At 100 Years Gallery / London | 2020 | Not On Label | Adrian Northover; Marcello Magliocchi | Duo, live in London. | not found | Amazon |
| Lying Beneath The Shades Of Abyss | 2020 | Nachtstück Records | Marcello Magliocchi; Matthias Boss | Duo, digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| ...camminava solo sotto le stelle... | 2021 | Plus Timbre | Mauro Sambo; Marcello Magliocchi | Duo, netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| A Secret Garden (In Gianni Lenoci's Music) | 2021 | Nel Gioco Del Jazz | Gianna Montecalvo (voice); Roberto Ottaviano (soprano saxophone); Marino Cordasco; Giorgio Vendola; Marcello Magliocchi (drums) | Tribute record built from Lenoci's compositions after his death. | not found | Amazon |
| SE | 2022 | Plus Timbre | Ladisa; Giannandrea; Magliocchi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| A Castle Of Ghosts | 2022 | Plus Timbre | Bruno Gussoni; Adrian Northover; Marcello Magliocchi | Trio, netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Bridge In The Dark | 2022 | FMR Records | Carlo Mascolo; Miguel Mira; Marcello Magliocchi | Trio. | not found | Amazon |
| Schnellissimo | 2023 | Plus Timbre | Matthias Boss; Marcello Magliocchi | Duo, netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Cosmic Listenings | 2023 | Plus Timbre | Gouvea; Ladisa; Mattos; Magliocchi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Urban Edges | 2023 | Setola Di Maiale | Francesco Fornarelli; Andrea Massaria; Marcello Magliocchi | Trio. | not found | Amazon |
| The House On The Hill | 2023 | Shrike Records | Adrian Northover; Marcello Magliocchi; Bruno Gussoni | Limited/numbered edition. | not found | Amazon |
| Encounters | 2023 | Plus Timbre | Matthias Boss; Ladisa; Magliocchi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Mirage | 2024 | Plus Timbre | Ladisa; Ninni Morgia; Magliocchi | Netlabel digital release. | not found | Amazon |
| Time Textures | 2024 | Empty Birdcage Records | Marcello Magliocchi; Adrian Northover | Duo, limited/numbered edition. | not found | Amazon |
| Leocantor Trio | 2024 | FMR Records | Martin Walter; Matthias Boss; Marcello Magliocchi | Trio. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Scant | 2024 | Not On Label (Adrian Northover self-released) | Adrian Northover; Bruno Gussoni; Marcello Magliocchi | Digital release. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Over The Edge | 2025 | FMR Records | Marcello Magliocchi; Adrian Northover; Domenico Saccente | Trio. | Bandcamp | Amazon |
| Duo And Trio Improvisations | 2026 | Empty Birdcage Records | Tom Jackson; Marcello Magliocchi; Daniel Thompson | Limited/numbered edition, his most recent Discogs-documented release. | not found | Amazon |
Sideman and other appearances
Chronological. Personnel is limited to what Discogs itemizes for Magliocchi's own credit and the billed artist(s); it is not a full session listing.
- 1985 - Aspects Solo & Sextet, Roberto Ottaviano (Tactus). Appearance credit.
- 1988 - Gland, Fonolite Group (Splasc(h) Records). Appearance credit.
- 1991 - Mama Quartetto (Splasc(h) Records, recorded 1990), track "Hauan." Appearance credit, in a quartet with Carlo Actis Dato, trumpeter Jim Dvorak and bassist Lelio Giannetto.
- 1996 - Apaturia (YVP Music). Appearance credit.
- 1996 - Hybrid And Hot, Roberto Ottaviano Koiné (Splasc(H) Records). Appearance credit.
- 2003 - Moon Light In Maglie, Mato Quartet (Setola Di Maiale). Appearance credit.
- 2003 - The Chromatic Spy (Setola Di Maiale), track "Fuoco." Appearance credit.
- 2004 - Ritratti D'ombre (Original Movie's Soundtrack Without Movie), MLC Trio (Setola Di Maiale). Appearance credit.
- 2005 - Terronia, Pino Minafra (Enja Records). Drums, percussion, cymbal (Ufip); Discogs-confirmed at the extraartists level.
- 2005 - Steve's Mirror, Gianna Montecalvo (Soul Note). Appearance credit.
- 2006 - Sextant, Gianni Lenoci (Ambiances Magnétiques). Drums; sextet with electronics.
- 2008 - The Spiritual Man, Open Orchestra featuring John Tchicai (Terre Sommerse). Drums, percussion, voice; Discogs-confirmed at the extraartists level.
- 2009 - Painting On Wood (Pittura Su Legno), Stefano Luigi Mangia featuring Gianni Lenoci (Leo Records), track "Prayer To Time." Appearance credit.
- 2009 - Kind Of Magic, Cinzia Eramo Quintet (Terre Sommerse). Appearance credit.
- 2009 - 1ignes [2], various artists (le son du grisli), track "Serendipity Part 2." Track appearance.
- 2011 - Fonosextant, Fonosextant (Setola Di Maiale). Bandcamp
- 2011 - Secret Garden, Gianni Lenoci 4tet featuring William Parker (Silta Records). Drums; Discogs-confirmed at the extraartists level.
- 2012 - Lisboa Sessions, Improvisers Consort (Setola Di Maiale). Appearance credit.
- 2012 - Instant Chamber Music, Instant Chamber Music (Setola Di Maiale). Bandcamp
- 2012 - Experiment # O, White Noise Generator (White Noise Generator). Drums, percussion.
- 2013 - Brand II, Gary Smith / Silvia Kastel / Ninni Morgia (L'Esprit De L'Escalier). Appearance credit.
- 2013 - Live in Ler Devagar, Lisboa, Improvisers Consort (White Noise Generator). Editing credit, no playing credit.
- 2014 - Burn, Control Unit (Fort Evil Fruit). Appearance credit.
- 2014 - Random Access Tape, Deepwhitesound (Deepwhitesound). Appearance credit.
- 2017 - Five, The Runcible Quintet (FMR Records). Appearance credit.
- 2018 - Four, The Runcible Quintet (FMR Records). Appearance credit.
- 2020 - We Stay Apart Because We Love Each Other. Love Is Stronger Than Greed., Caroline Kraabel / London Improvisers Orchestra (self-released). Appearance and track-appearance credit.
- 2020 - Three, The Runcible Quintet (FMR Records). Appearance credit.
- 2020 - Sustaining The Music, London Improvisers Orchestra (self-released). Appearance credit.
- 2020 - Chain Reactions, London Improvisers Orchestra (self-released). Appearance credit.
- 2020 - SPIME 2019 - Cosmic and Spontaneous Gestures, SPIME (LFDS Records). Appearance credit.
- 2021 - Right Here, Right Now, Charlotte Keeffe (Discus). Appearance credit.
- 2023 - Strutture Dall'Introspezione All'Interazione, Stefania Ladisa (FMR Records). Appearance credit.
- 2024 - Gust, The Mill Hill Quartet (self-released). Bandcamp
- 2025 - Project 6'27" Vol. 2 (2014), Mauro Sambo (Plus Timbre), track credited to "Marcello Magliocchi &..." Track appearance.
Not yet catalogued on Discogs
His own Bandcamp page lists several further releases with no matching Discogs entry: Blessed Beauty as Called (duo with Siringo), Claro Que Sim!, TWO (Runcible 5tet), Shadowplay (with Marcio Mattos, Bruno Gussoni, Adrian Northover and Marilza Gouvea), Magma Duo (with Baron) and Reunion (with Mattos and Roberto Ottaviano). Upload dates on Bandcamp are not necessarily recording dates, so these are not placed in the chronological table above.
- Gianni Lenoci (piano, prepared piano, electronics) - his most frequent recording partner, credited alongside him on 25 Discogs releases between 2001 and Lenoci's 2019 death, including Entomology (2002), Serendipity (2009), Free Fall and Kid Steps (2010), Serving An Evolving Humanity (2010) and Secret Garden (2011); profiled separately on this site.
- Carlo Actis Dato (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet) - a fellow player on Magliocchi's own 1986 debut, Secret Life, and co-billed with him and Lenoci on Entomology (2002); profiled separately on this site.
- Pino Minafra (trumpet, flugelhorn) - Magliocchi plays drums, percussion and cymbal on Minafra's Terronia (2005, Enja Records), Discogs-confirmed; profiled separately on this site.
- William Parker (double bass) - fellow member of Gianni Lenoci's quartet on Serving An Evolving Humanity (2010) and Secret Garden (2011), both Discogs-confirmed; profiled separately on this site.
- Joëlle Léandre (double bass, voice) - featured alongside Magliocchi and Lenoci on Psychomagic Combination (2007) and Panji (2010), both Discogs-confirmed; profiled separately on this site.
- Roberto Ottaviano (soprano saxophone), Vittorino Curci (saxophones, voice) and Carlos Zíngaro (violin) - recurring Discogs-verified collaborators across several Setola Di Maiale and Silta Records sessions, including Secret Life (1986), Serendipity (2009), Panji (2010) and Serving An Evolving Humanity (2010); none has a jazzprofiles.com profile at this time.
- John Tchicai (reeds, voice) - fellow player in the Open Orchestra on The Spiritual Man (2008), Discogs-confirmed; not profiled on jazzprofiles.com.
- Adrian Northover (saxophones), the English improviser Magliocchi has recorded with most often since the late 2010s, on releases including Sezu (2018), The Sea Of Frogs (2019), A Castle Of Ghosts (2022), The House On The Hill (2023), Time Textures (2024) and Over The Edge (2025); not profiled on jazzprofiles.com.
- Mal Waldron and Peter Kowald - named in Magliocchi's own biographical materials as associations dating to 1974, but no specific Discogs-documented session confirms a pairing with either; noted here with that caveat rather than as a verified connection.
More Free Jazz Artists
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See all 391 Italian artists →- Marcello Magliocchi on Discogs
- Marcello Magliocchi on Spotify
- Marcello Magliocchi on Bandcamp
- All About Jazz musician page
- Marcello Magliocchi on jazzprofiles.com
- r/ItalianJazz
- Discogs API, artist 1713443 ("Marcello Magliocchi"), full release list (90 credits) plus release-level credit checks on key collaborative sessions, retrieved September 2026.
- All About Jazz: Marcello Magliocchi musician page
- Plus Timbre: Marcello Magliocchi artist page
- The Free Jazz Collective: "Marcello Magliocchi: Mirage and Encounters"
- Marcello Magliocchi on Bandcamp
- Spotify oEmbed lookup confirming artist name match for the Spotify artist page cited above.