Italy's top orchestral percussionist, Andrea Centazzo has composed and performed lyric operas, orchestral symphonies, and percussion solos. Since 1983, Centazzo's attention has been focused on multimedia productions incorporating traditional and electronic instruments and video tape. Centazzo has been praised for his ability to "synthesize Oriental percussive vibration with timbal understanding of contemporary music and the soul of jazz and rock." Centazzo first attracted attention as a sideman for such avant-garde artists as John Zorn, Steve Lacy, and Don Cherry. The possessor of a doctorate in musicology, he has taught seminars and workshops in Europe and the United States. A prolific writer, Centazzo has composed more than 350 pieces and has authored eight books on musicology. ~ Craig Harris