Mauro Durante

Mauro Durante (tamburello, violin, and voice), a violinist, percussionist, and composer, is a visionary inheritor of the folk roots of his native Salento, in Italy’s Puglia region. He leads the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (founded in 1975 by Durante’s family), playing in all major world music festivals.

Durante is considered a key figure in reinventing pizzica music for today,’s audiences making taranta (or more broadly tarantella) music the most vibrant and relevant form of Italian roots music.

Besides leading CGS, Durante’s duo project with British guitarist and producer Justin Adams has earned international praise and many awards, demonstrating the musicians’ ability to turn a fusion project into a fully realized and unique unit.

Durante toured the world for many years with Ludovico Einaudi, and has collaborated with Piers Faccini, Ibrahim Maalouf, Ballake Sissoko, Jovanotti, Stewart Copeland, Sam Lee, Enzo Avitabile, Nickodemus, and Red Baraat, bringing a contemporary edge along with his deep feel for tradition.