Mike Ragonese Trio

Michael Ragonese is a Los Angeles based pianist, composer, arranger, and educator. He received his Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies at California State University Northridge, where he led jazz combos to 1st place at the Reno and Monterey Jazz Festivals, also receiving the “Best College Performer” award at the Reno Jazz Festival. In 2017, Michael took 2nd place out of 8 piano finalists across the world in Lee Ritenour's Six String Jazz competition.

Michael has performed, recorded and worked with such jazz greats as Bennie Maupin, Charnett Moffett, Alphonso Johnson, Sue Raney, John Daversa, Louise Cole, Darek Oles, Gary Pratt, Walter Smith III, David Binney, Bob Reynolds, Bob Sheppard, Gene Coye, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, and Engelbert Humperdinck. Michael has toured with Rick Braun, the Jacob Szkeley Trio, Engelbert Humberdinck, and Aubrey Logan. In June 2019, Michael released his debut album "Day To Day" which featured Walter Smith III (saxophone), Luca Alemanno (bass), Anthony Fung (drums), and Shai Golan (saxophone) and was produced by famed pianist, Josh Nelson.

Luca Alemanno on bass: Originally from Lecce, Italy, Luca is considered by critics and musicians “among the finest young and modern jazz musicians that currently Italy has to offer”. He was awarded 1st Prize at the 2009 European Bass day. At the age of 19, he received 2 scholarships to attend Berklee School of Music (Boston). He achieved a diploma in Classical Double Bass at “T.Schipa Conservatory of Music” (Lecce) and a second one in Jazz Electric Bass at “G.Martucci Conservatory of Music” (Salerno). In 2016 Luca won the audition at the world renewed “Thelonoius Monk Institute of Jazz Performance” class of 2018 in Los Angeles. The panel was composed by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Jimmy Heat, Kenny Burrell among the others. Luca is the first Italian musician who achieved this goal.A musician with diverse interests and a wide range of abilities, Luca has performed worldwide with international jazz artists such as: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Joe Lovano, and Stanley Jordan.

Jonathan Pinson on Drums: During his senior year in high school, Jonathan won three major coveted awards, 1st place in the Music Center's Spotlight Award (2007), Performer of the Year at Alexander Hamilton High School and the Jimmy Lyon's Scholarship Award for a full tuition scholarship at the Berklee College of Music. Additionally, he received the Dolo Coker Scholarship (2009, 2010). After Jonathan received his Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music at the Berklee College of Music, he was one of seven musicians selected for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance at the University of California Los Angeles, which resulted in a Masters of Music.Shortly after being chosen, he was asked to tour with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter's band, at the age of 23. This experience identified him as a highly sought after drummer in the music industry and has allowed him to tour and perform with notable artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire, John Clayton, Dave Liebman, Ed Simon, Eric Reed, Kamasi Washington, Marquis Hill and Gilad Hekselman to name a few.

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