Enzo Avitabile

The Profile

Italian saxophonist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Marianella (Naples), active since the 1980s. He fuses soul/funk roots with Neapolitan folk and global sounds, often featuring the Bottari’s barrel percussion and high-profile collaborations.

Documented collaborations include Francesco De Gregori, Giorgia, Caparezza, Mannarino, Renato Zero, Bob Geldof, David Crosby, and the Bottari di Portico. Napoletana received a Tenco Prize in 2009. Jonathan Demme directed the 2012 documentary “Enzo Avitabile Music Life.” “Lotto infinito” (2016) addresses peripheries, migration, and hope, with contributions from major Italian and international artists.

Neapolitan saxophonist and songwriter Enzo Avitabile bridges soul/funk, world music, and classic Neapolitan song. Reviews celebrate the 80s albums (S.O.S Brothers, Alta tensione), the cultural homage of Napoletana (Tenco 2009), and the powerful, collaborative Lotto infinito (2016). Themes span peripheries, migration, and resilience, with the Bottari’s drums and Avitabile’s sax as guiding voices. Jonathan Demme’s 2012 documentary seals his international regard.