Santo Sgrò : Drums and percussions

 Santo started playing the drums aged 15 with a number of Ticino-based rock bands (Freego, Odordy Naphta) In 1983 he was on stage at the Nyon Festival alongside the Ticinese Poca Fera Band. His love of jazz led to him to attend a number of workshops where he met Roberto Gatto, André Chevalier and Christophe Marguet . During a trip to Cuba he had percussions lessons with Manuel Sanchez and toured with Adalberto y su Son. 

In 1991 he arrived in Geneva and attended various courses at AMR. During his ten year stint in Geneva he took part in a Big Band playing Charles Mingus’ music and conducted by Olivier Magnenat.

With his friend Luca Pagano he played in Bande à Milou, a band that performed French songs arranged in a Jazz format.

With the Apertura Facile Trio, made up of Richard Wermeille on bass and Martin Wisard on saxophone, Santo transformed his musicality, and opened his playing to a more colourful sound.

In 2001 he took part in a project inspired by Thelonious Monk’s music. This groupe had Luca Pagano on guitar,  Martin Wisard on saxophone and John Aram on trombone. The same year he returned to Ticino and set up with his friend Alberto Bertocci « Zappa for Dummies », a band playing Frank Zappa’s music.He developed with Hilaria Kramer a project inspired by Ornette Coleman, Ornettologie. Out of this quintet a trio emerged with Thomas Danzeisen and Brooks Giger. Santo went on to play with the Andata e Ritorno band where he brought together literature and improvised music. 

In 2004 he took part in the Nomos project, led by Nuccio Trotta. He toured as a drummer with Orchestramit conducted by Hans Kennel.

In 2016 he took part in a project called «Orchestra per Caso» led by Giancarlo Nicolai.

He currently plays in a number of jazz bands based in Ticino and takes part in the «Pierino e i Lupi» project by Peter Zemp.