About me

Born in 1989, Valerio Vantaggio is a drummer from Rome, Italy. He is mostly known in the jazz roman and Italian musical scene, where he has been performing since 2005. He graduated at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia (RM) with a master degree in Jazz Drums and Percussion. Valerio Vantaggio is considered to be a versatile drummer thanks to his various experiences throughout his career that range from pop to fusion, from trio formations to orchestras and larger jazz ensembles. 

He studied drums in Italy with Ettore Fioravanti, Fabrizio Sferra, Roberto Gatto, Jeff Ballard, Ferenc Nemeth, Ronald Savage, Roberto Pistolesi, Gegè Munari, Rosario De Martino, Stefano Marazzi, Alfio La Rosa and many more.

He had the chance to study in the USA with Dave Weckl, Horacio “el negro” Hernandez, Chris Coleman, Steve Smith, Virgil Donati, Rodney Green, Dave DiCenso, Tony Royster Jr., Janesh Kumar, Dave Brewer.

During his carrier he played with Dave Liebman, Massimo Nunzi, Michael Rosen, Roberto Tarenzi, Maurizio Giammarco, Rocco Zifarelli, Germano Mazzocchetti, Claudio Corvini, Max Ionata, Pino Iodice, Tommy Smith, Daniele TIttarelli, Pietro Ciancaglini, Enrico Zanisi, Luca Pirozzi and many more.

Since he started playing in 2005 his talent have been enjoyed by audiences from various prestigious stages like, the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Casa del Jazz, Villa Celimontana, and the most important jazz clubs in Rome and throughout Italy, to Tanjazz Festival in Tangeri (Maroc) or Izmir Jazz Festival (Turkey), touring many times in Finland, and all the way to The Dispensary Lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA).

He was awarded a scholarship at Umbria Jazz Festival 2010 for a semester in the famous Berklee College of Music in Boston.

He was awarded as Best Drummer during the Jimmy Wood Award of Tuscia Jazz festival 2011. 

He was awarded a scholarship from Siena Jazz Festival 2013 for representing Italy during the 24th IASJ (International Assosiation of School of Jazz) in Cape Town, South Africa.