Naomi Berill is a cellist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and singer, originally from Co. Galway, currently based in Florence, Italy. After completing her musical studies in Scotland, Italy and Switzerland, she began composing new material: arranging works from different musical genres and experimenting with cello technique, giving it focus as an accompanying instrument to the voice.

Inish, her latest album, was released on 6 October 2023 by Casa Musicale Sonzogno, Milan, and following a successful launch in Italy, Naomi and her trio will tour Ireland in Spring 2024, including a concert here at Triskel in February 2024.

In this album, Naomi’s experimental approach to cello technique continues to break boundaries between musical genres. ‘Sea Warrior’, the main single, is dedicated to the Irish pirate queen Grace O’Malley, an iconic figure of feminine strength, courage and self-belief. The award-winning video for this track was filmed in Italy by Galwegian film-maker Bulabosca, and features many women who are part of Naomi's daily life, and who represent female 'Warriors' of today's world.

Inish reflects life on two Islands off the west coast of Ireland: Inishark and Inishbofin. The songs in the album recount the beauty of these islands and the strength and courage of the inhabitants, but also the harsh existence of the fishing communities there. The music expresses these extremes of island life: courage, adventure, love and light, interwoven with loneliness, danger, loss and pain.

This album, Naomi’s fourth, marks the beginning of her collaboration with producer, guitarist and vocalist Lorenzo Pellegrini, and drummer and cellist Andrea Beninati. Working as a trio is a new performing experience for Naomi, and it generates something contemporary and exciting; a fresh combination of folk, classical and jazz where her graceful and ethereal vocals, together with the accompanying colours of multi-instrumentalists Lorenzo and Andrea, create music both evocative and powerful.

Inish was in the RTÉ Radio 1 recommended listening section on its week of release.

Music by Naomi Berrill

Naomi Berrill (cello, vocals guitar)
Lorenzo Pellegrini (guitar, synth, vocals)
Andrea Beninati (cello, drums, synth)

Naomi Berrill
Naomi has performed her original music and arrangements with prominent cellists Giovanni Sollima and Mario Brunello, and her solo and ensemble performances feature in both the classical and jazz world. In Music for Galway’s Cellissimo Festival 2020, she premiered Bill Whelan’s ‘Fragments’, a solo work for cello and voice. She has collaborated with dance companies such as New York City Ballet and the directing choreographer of Venice Biennale di Danza Virgilio Sieni. In October 2023, Naomi was the recipient of the Villa Vogel Cultural prize, an award given for her creative contribution to the Arts, presented by the Florence City Council. She is Artistic Director of High Notes, a festival she founded in 2009, which takes place annually in the spectacular Apuan Alps.

Lorenzo Pellegrini
Born in 1995 into a very musical environment, Lorenzo took his first steps into the world of music experimenting with the instruments in his home environment, exploring drums and piano and later, guitar and vocals.

He studied rock and pop music at Accademia Musicale di Firenze, and subsequently jazz at Centro Attività Musicale (CAM) studying harmony, musical theory and arrangement with some of the best musicians on the florentine scene. He also studied classical guitar via ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music). Other studies include jazz workshops and seminars with Berklee Summer School (Umbria Jazz), Tuscia in Jazz, La Spezia Jazz and Guildhall School of Music of London with first level tutors including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Kenny Werner, Peter Bernstein, and Ari Hoenig.

In 2013 Lorenzo began the bachelor program in jazz guitar at the prestigious Siena Jazz University, delving into improvisational and compositional techniques with exceptional national and International jazz musicians. In 2015 he achieved a yearly diploma a the Consevatorium Van Amsterdam with director Edoardo Righini. In 2019 Lorenzo completed his graduate studies with a thesis entitled“The intergenerational discourse between jazz and pop: contamination in music against every ideological purism”.

Lorenzo has studied both studied pop and jazz vocals and always cultivated a deep love for songwriting and the song form. From a young age he founded many musical projects in different genres (rock, pop, progressive, fusion) writing and performing his own music.

With his current main experimental pop project ' ⁄handlogic', Lorenzo discovered the world of music production, creating a hybrid process between analog and digital instruments, live music and electronic manipulation of sound, while exploring the infinite possibilities of what a song can be.

⁄handlogic has received national attention since its formation in 2016, winning contests and embarking in the following years on tours both Italian and European(Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland, USA). Lorenzo has produced an EP and two LPs for ⁄handlogic. In 2019 he began working as a music producer and session musician for fellow artists from different backgrounds, bringing his vision to other projects. His collaborations include Irish cellist Naomi Berrill, jazz singer John De Leo, experimental duo Don’t Kill Anybody and many more.

Andrea Beninati
Drummer and Cellist Andrea Beninati graduated with full marks under the guidance of Luca Provenzani at the “Pietro Mascagni” Conservatory in Livorno. He studied drums with Gianni Cerone, Francesco Petreni, Walter Paoli and Marco Valeri. He has played with Danilo Rea, Ares Tavolazzi, Stefano "Cocco" Cantini, Mirko Guerrini, Nico Gori, Piero Frassi, Gabriele Evangelista, Giovanni Falzone, Maurizio Giammarco, Bjorn Solli, Dee Alexander, Ben Van Gelder, Ramberto Ciammarughi, Jesse Davis, Flavio Boltro and many others.

Andrea has recorded many albums both as a drummer and as a cellist. Among the artists he has recorded with are: Daniele Silvestri, Noemi, Renzo Rubino, Emma Nolde, Naomi Berrill, Marco Parente, and many others.

He has played in several editions of the "Porto Rubino" Festival as drummer of the resident band and there he has had the opportunity to accompany several guests including: Benjamin Clementine, Mahmood, Daniele Silvestri, Samuele Bersani, Brunori Sas, Filippo Graziani, Vasco Brondi, Tosca, Diodato and many others. He regularly collaborates with Italian singer Karima and songwriters Renzo Rubino, Emma Nolde and Naomi Berrill.

Some of the major theatres and clubs in which he has played include Auditorium Parco della Musica (Rome), Blue Note Milano, Teatro Puccini (Florence), Teatro Bellini (Naples), Arena Sferisterio (Macerata), Teatro Duse (Bologna), Teatro delle Api (Porto Sant'Elpidio), Roman Theater of Fiesole, Teatro della Pergola (Florence), Duke Jazz Club (Bari), Jazz in Bess (Lugano), Fazioli Showroom (Tokyo), Arai Piazza Studio (Tokyo), Italian Cultural Institute (Cologne), JJ's Smyths (Dublin), Bennigans Jazz Club (Londonderry), Guiniguada Theater (Las Palmas), Leal Theater (Tenerife).

Andrea has participated in numerous festivals including: May 1st Rome 2013, May 1st Taranto 2016, Musicultura, Gray Cat Festival, Italian Jazz for L'Aquila 2019 and 2020, Young Jazz (Foligno), SpèJazz (La Spezia), Meraviglioso Modugno (Polignano a Mare), Turin International Book Fair, Barga Jazz Festival, Serravalle Jazz, Valdarno Jazz Festival, Novara Jazz Festival, Pisa Jazz, Sesto Jazz Festival, Girone Jazz, Estate Fiesolana, Jazz Winter Meeting (Lugano), Warrenpoint Blues on the Bay (Newry, Northern Ireland), and La Laguna Jazz Festival (Tenerife).