A very exciting musical experience with the Trilateral Project, “a cross-pollination of music, cultures, and generations. Three different musicians, from different countries, different ages, and different musical backgrounds, found themselves in the music center of the world, New York City, where they became an unusual but beautiful combination.

The group started taking shape in 2018, when the multi Grammy-nominated trumpet player Claudio Roditi helped drummer Samuel Martinelli put a group together for the drummer’s first album as a leader. Since that date, the trio was the accompanying band for most of Mr Roditi’s performances.In 2019, the group decided to start exploring their own repertoire, mixing Jazz, Brazilian music, and other styles, playing standards, as well compositions and arrangements of their own, finally becoming the Trilateral Project in 2020.

The group was formed by Tomoko Ohno, an established pianist in the jazz scene in NYC. She has been performing with Slide Hampton, Rufus Reid, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni Big Band, and is the main pianist for Diva Jazz Orchestra. Ms. Ohno has also released albums as a leader in Japan, U.S., and Argentina.

Marcus McLaurine is well recognized for being the bass player for jazz legend Clark Terry for more than 30 years. He also shared the bandstand with Dizzy Gillespie, Abbey Lincoln, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones. An impressive career traveling the whole world with the most important names in jazz.

Samuel Martinelli on drums, is “... one of the most talented musicians coming out of Brazil in recent times...” (Claudio Roditi). He was part of Mr Roditi’s group for about 3 years. He also shared the stage with Hendrik Meurkens, Jay Leonhart, Paul Meyers, John Lee, and performed in venues like Carnegie Hall, Jazz Forum Arts, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, among others.