SOLO

Angelo Solo his versatile style with a surprising selection of percussion instruments. The traditional drum set expands to include djembes, bongos, shekere, and more. The bass drum is replaced by a cajón. For Angelo, rhythm is just as important as tone color. Drumsticks, mallets, brushes, and hands all serve to bring out the distinct timbres of each instrument.
A guitar and traditional instruments such as the West African dondo or dundun (talking drum or « singing drum »), an African shekere, and the thumb piano are also part of his setup. He performs a few pieces with backing tracks (pre-recorded segments).
Angelo not only plays instruments but also interacts with his audience. Charm and humor are integral to his stage presence. From subtle jokes to involving the audience as a source of musicality, he performs like a seasoned one-man show. Virtuosity alternates with playful interludes.
He captivates the audience with humorous imitations—such as mimicking a clock or performing the famous “Au clair de la lune”—and impresses with his improvisations and his rendition of “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck. He plays this classic on surprising instruments: the talking drum and the African shekere, using a looper.
Angelo is fascinated by rhythms—quite literally, as he also embraces body percussion. With humor and infectious improvisations, he performs each piece with absolute conviction, and his enthusiasm is truly contagious.

Photo credit: Eric’s Groove Page