Claudio Zanghieri

Claudio Zanghieri is an electric and acoustic bass player from Rome, Italy. His musical journey began during his high school years, playing in various bands and performing rock and pop songs he learned by listening closely to records and cassette tapes. From the beginning, it was the fascination with bass lines that drew him deeper into music — the way they connect rhythm, harmony and movement, and how they make everything work together.

This curiosity led him to the United States, where he spent three years studying music and expanding the possibilities of his instrument. During this time, Claudio discovered that music is much more than one instrument alone. He immersed himself in different styles, musical contexts, composition, arrangement and all the elements that help transform an idea into something that can be shared with an audience.

After returning to Italy, Claudio began working with numerous bands and ensembles, travelling many kilometres from stage to stage — through clubs, theatres, orchestras and live productions. It was a period of intense musical work and valuable experience. While his studies had opened up many possibilities for the bass, this time brought him closer to the traditional role of the instrument: supporting the music, holding the foundation and serving the song. This became an essential part of his development as a musician.

In 2000, Claudio moved to Frankfurt, Germany, where he found an open and dynamic music scene. This new environment allowed him to explore further creative directions, including composition, arranging, sound effects and sound design. Over the years, he worked with many artists and continued to broaden his musical language. In 2008, he produced and released his own CD.

Through all these experiences, Claudio came to understand how important human connections are in music. Friendships, colleagues and chance encounters opened doors, inspired new directions and led him into musical situations he could never have planned. A visit to a music fair in Los Angeles eventually helped him become a bass teacher at an academy in Giessen. Another connection led him to pianist and composer Christoph Spendel, with whom he has been playing for more than twenty years.

In the same way, a connection through a mutual colleague brought him into contact with Armin and the project Kyleum. Today, Claudio is part of Kyleum, where he has the opportunity to focus fully on the acoustic bass. For him, the project is a fascinating musical experience: four musicians bringing their personal influences together, following Armin’s compositions and shaping a shared musical world that will soon be presented to the audience.