Cesare Pastanella knows this well. A percussionist, composer, and music producer from Puglia, he has been involved for many years in world music, jazz, and ethnic music, particularly Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Arabic traditions. His style blends the ancient musical traditions of these cultures with the sounds and rhythms of contemporary European and Afro-American music.

This is why the Onyx Jazz Club has invited him to Matera—European Capital of Culture in 2019 and this year Mediterranean Capital of Culture and Dialogue—to lead a percussion circle where participants can have fun sharing their own rhythm and interacting with others. Open to everyone aged 16 and up, the Drum Circle facilitated by the Apulian percussionist is a unique rhythmic event open to anyone who wants to enjoy rhythm, experience well-being, and communicate through the emotions of music.

There is no need to be a percussionist or musician—just the desire to play percussion freely and spontaneously in a circle, encouraged and supported by the facilitator, who helps the group discover the pleasure of being part of a pulsating organism in which everyone communicates with one another and creates musical harmony.

People of all ages can take part in the Drum Circle: teenagers, adults, seniors, beginners, musicians, percussionists, singers. This is where the great communicative and unifying power of the experience lies: everyone contributes with their own sense of rhythm, expressing and discovering their innate musicality.

All it takes is choosing an instrument, relaxing, and letting yourself be guided by the collective rhythm and the enveloping energy of the circle.

Matera – 6 sessions starting in April, leading to the final performance at Gezziamoci Summer 2026

Minimum participants: 15
Maximum participants: 30
Duration: approx. 1h10’ – 1h30’
Location: Matera, Rehearsal Room of Palazzo Lanfranchi
In collaboration with: National Museum of Palazzo Lanfranchi, Matera

Schedule

Matera | Educational Room of the National Museum of Palazzo Lanfranchi

Tuesday, April 14 – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 12 – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, June 16 – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, July 14 – 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, August 25 – General rehearsal
Saturday, August 29 – Final performance at Gezziamoci Estate

CESARE PASTANELLA
Percussionist, composer, and music producer from Puglia.

For many years he has been active in world music, jazz, and ethnic music, particularly Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Arabic traditions.
His style blends the ancient musical traditions of these cultures with the sounds and rhythms of contemporary European and Afro-American music.

With the project Cesare Pastanella Afrodiaspora, he released the album “The Round Trip” (AlfaMusic) in 2019, which received enthusiastic reviews in Italy and abroad for its cultural depth and its exploration of music born from the African slave trade in the Americas. In 2021 and 2022 he produced and released the albums “Music for Tales Vol. 1 & 2” (Angapp Music), featuring his original compositions written for theatre. In 2025 he published the book “Elementa” with Luisa Varesano (Secop Edizioni), author of the five‑movement poem for which he composed the accompanying music, accessible via QR codes printed alongside each poem.

He was a member and co-author of the world music groups Faraualla and Tavernanova, with whom he carried out extensive recording and concert activity over the years. Among his many collaborations are Toquinho, Bobby McFerrin, Antonella Ruggiero, Paolo Fresu Sextet, Radiodervish, Farafina, Toups Bebey, Gabin Dabiré, Javier Girotto, Fabrizio Bosso, and Mirko Signorile, to name just a few. Under the brand Batimba, he facilitates Drum Circles in social, educational, cultural, and corporate settings, after completing the VMC 6‑Day Graduate training with Arthur Hull, creator of the Village Music Circles method.

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