Franco D'Andrea

Franco D'Andrea
Franco D'Andrea in 2006
Franco D'Andrea in 2006
Background information
Born (1941-03-08) 8 March 1941 (age 83)
Merano, Italy
GenresJazz, bebop, cool jazz, fusion, abstraction
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1960s–present
LabelsPhilology, Red, El Gallo Rojo, others
WebsiteFrancoDandrea.com

Francesco "Franco" D'Andrea (born 8 March 1941 in Merano, Italy)[1] is an Italian jazz pianist and composer.

Life

D'Andrea is considered one of the most famous jazz musicians from Italy and has recorded some 200 albums. He developed his style in the 1960s and won several awards in his home country.[1] He has worked with Gato Barbieri, Steve Lacy, Dave Liebman, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler, Phil Woods, Ernst Reijseger, Slide Hampton, Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli, Max Roach, Lee Konitz, Johnny Griffin, Tony Scott, Han Bennink, Dave Douglas and also with numerous Italian musicians.[2]

His career began in 1963 with Nunzio Rotondo, playing for the Italian broadcast RAI and in Gato Barbieri's band in 1964 until 1965.[1] D'Andrea continued then with the Italian vanguard ensemble Modern Art Trio (1968–72) and Perigeo (1972-77).[1] Since 1978, he has been playing with his own bands (Trio, Quartet, Eleven) and as a solo performer.[1] He has been a teacher at the Conservatorio "F.A. Bonporti" in Trento 1994-2006 and currently at Mitteleuorpean Jazz Academy in Merano and at Siena Jazz.

In 2010, he received for his life's work the Award "Musicien Européen de l'année" (Académie du Jazz de France)[3] and 2011 the Honorary Award at the Italian Jazz Awards - Luca Flores.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recorded Title Label Notes
1970? Modern Art Trio with Bruno Tommaso and Franco Tonani
1973 Conversations RCA with Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli
1978? Nuvolao Carosello
1980 Dialogues with Superego Red Solo piano
1980 Es Red Solo piano
1982 Made in Italy Red Quartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums)
1983? My One and Only Love Red Trio, with Mark Helias (bass), Barry Altschul (drums)
1983 No Idea of Time Red Quartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Mark Helias (bass), Barry Altschul (drums)
1982 Live Red Quartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums); in concert
1982 My Shuffle Red Quartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums)
1988 Kick Off Red Trio, with Giovanni Tomasso (bass), Roberto Gatto (drums)
1989 Chromatic Phrygian YVP Trio, with Stephen Schertler (bass), Billy Elgart (drums)
1989 Volte Owl Trio, with Hein Van De Geyn (bass), Aldo Romano (drums)
1991 Earthcake Label Bleu Quartet, with Enrico Rava (trumpet, bugle), Miroslav Vitous (bass), Daniel Humair (drums)
1991 Airegin Red Trio, with Giovanni Tomasso (bass), Roberto Gatto (drums)
1991 Enrosadira Red Duo, with Luis Agudo (percussion)
1996 3 Lines Philology Solo piano, overdubbed
1996 Inside Cole Porter NEL Duo, with Lee Konitz (alto sax)
1996 Inside Rodgers Philology Duo, with Lee Konitz (alto sax)
1997 Jobim Philology Quartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Alex Rolle (drums)
1997 Ballads and Rituals Philology Quartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Alex Rolle (drums)
2000? Eleven Via Veneto Jazz with Steven Bernstein
2001 Solo 1: Standards Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 2: Abstractions Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 3: Woods Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 4: Gato Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 5: Duke Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 6: Valzer Opera Natale Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 7: Napoli Philology Solo piano
2001 Solo 8: Classic Jazz Philology Solo piano
2002 Magicians at Work Philology Duo, with Renato Sellani (piano)
2002 I Love You So Much It Hurts Winter & Winter Duo, with Ernst Reijseger (cello)
2002 Round Riff & More Philology Trio, with Massimo Morriconi and Ares Tavolazzi (bass)
2003? Plays Monk: Live at Metastasio Jazz Philology
2005? Creole Rhapsody: D.Ellington Philology
2006 The Siena Concert Blue Note Quartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax, soprano sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Zeno De Rossi (drums); in concert
2011? Sorapis El Gallo Rojo
2012? Traditions and Clusters El Gallo Rojo
2013? Today El Gallo Rojo
2014? Monk and The Time Machine El Gallo Rojo

As sideman

With Gato Barbieri

With Lee Konitz

With Phil Woods

  • Ornithology (Philology, 1994)

With Perigeo

  • 1972 Azimut
  • 1973 Abbiamo tutti un blues da piangere
  • 1974 Genealogia
  • 1975 La valle dei templi
  • 1975 Live at Montreaux (Live)
  • 1976 Non è poi così lontano
  • 1976 Live in Italy 1976 (Live)
  • 1977 Attraverso il Perigeo (Raccolta)
  • 1977 Fata Morgana (LP, Album) (RCA Victor)

With Perigeo Special

  • 1980 Alice

Bibliography

  • 26 compositions, Crepuscule, Milano 1982
  • Enciclopedia comparata delle scale e degli accordi (with Attilio Zanchi), Centro Professione Musica, Carisch, Milano, 1992
  • Dall'Africa allo swing - la poliritmia nel linguaggio Jazz, educational film, Carisch, Milano, 1996
  • Aree intervallari (with Luigi Ranghino), Volontè & Co, 2011

Filmography

  • 2006 - Franco D'Andrea Jazz Pianist (Miramonte Film)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 622. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
  2. ^ Carr, Ian; Digby Fairweather; Brian Priestley (1995). Jazz: The Rough Guide. The Rough Guides. p. 150. ISBN 1-85828-137-7.
  3. ^ Prix du Musicien Européen 2010, web page Académie du Jazz, Paris. April 12, 2012.