Most recently she has been found performing as pianist with “Dry Martini Orchestra”, “Exhibit A: jazz trio”, “The Quintet Offensive featuring Gina Eckstine”, and as keyboardist with “Herb Shaw” and his soul band, and “The Vibe Project”. Current studio collaborations include composing and recording music with bassist/composer and husband Tony Green for upcoming independent film release “Surviving In L.A.”, original works of poetry and music recordings with distinguished poet Toni Gilyard, and electronic ambient groove landscapes and songs with film composer/vocalist/songwriter Mariana Bernoski. Ms. Costantini is also embarking on her own recent penchant for songwriting. She is co-founder of Ear Gallery Music in Los Angeles with Tony Green, where they compose and record multifaceted original works, as well as collaborate with a vast array of other artists’ recording projects.

 

As a jazz player and improviser, highlights of Ms. Costantini’s past work include performing as electric keyboardist with renowned trumpeter, composer, improviser and innovator Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith in his electric band "Nok", as pianist for New York jazz artists and Buckyball Music co-founders vocalist Sarah Pillow and midi-vibraphonist Marc Wagnon. Other jazz artists she has performed with include Joe LaBarbera, Eric Barber, David Cherry, Andre Caporaso and Rocket Science, Kurt McGettrick, and The Vibe Project.

 

Ms. Costantini has a propensity toward collaborative experimental multi-disciplinary projects, mixing and matching genres, cultures, mediums, and artisic expressions to create multi-dimensional works. Some of these musical adventures have drawn from African and Balinese music and dance traditions as well as improvisational music performance, electronic music performance, and poetry. More specifically, this trek of her career has included several years (playing gamelan metallaphones) with balinese gamelan ensemble Burat Wangi both traditional balinese works, and east-west collaborations including with acclaimed American composer Lou Harrison and symphony orchestra, Ghanian drum and dance ensemble, Linda Sohl-Donnell with Rhapsody in Taps, performing with and composing for “Creative Improviser’s Orchestra” under the direction of Wadada Leo Smith and Vinnie Golia, and live electronic trio with "JY's Knot" for avante-garde puppet play "The Illuminist" written and directed by experimental theater artist and filmmaker Susan Simpson.

 

Other credits include session re-recording for television (“The Riches”, “Girlfriends”, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), live and studio work with numerous artists including Chris Falson, Sam Sparro, Herb Shaw, Shontina Vernon, Damumalik, Michael Berg, Justin Catalino, Violet Burning, Linda McCrary, and touring internationally with acclaimed pioneer christian singer, song-writer, recording artist Kevin Prosch.

    

Ms. Costantini earned her BFA degree from California Institute of the Arts in Jazz and African American Music Performance where she studied with such names as Charlie Haden, Vinnie Golia, Darek Oles, Balinese Gamelan Master I Nyomen Wenten and Master African Drummer Kobla Ladzekpo of Ghana. Elsewhere, she has also studied jazz with Bobby McFerrin and Billy Taylor. She, herself, has been teaching for the past 13 years, passing on her passion for music and creativity.

 

Growing up, she tried many instruments (marimba, drums, double bass, acoustic guitar, oboe) and but always found her way back to her first love, the piano. Her formative performing experiences as a child and teenager included solo, small combos, as well as full orchestras, playing piano, marimba, double bass, and percussion playing traditional western and classical music.

 

Her father, an avid big band jazz enthusiast, introduced her to her first jazz sounds when she was a teenager, with his home record collection as well as going to concerts together. By the time she was 18, she had found herself in a social circle of local professional jazz musicians who opened a new door for her to her love for jazz. Her 1st jazz record was Chic Corea “Light as a Feather” and 1st rock records were Carol King “Tapestry” and the Beatles “Yesterday and Today”.