Biography All Music GuideWikipedia
All Music Guide:
A superior post-bop pianist influenced by Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner but long possessing his own sound, Enrico Pieranunzi is one of the top jazz pianists living in Italy. He began studying piano when he was five, partly from his father, who was a jazz-loving guitarist. Pieranunzi became a professional when he was 19, playing with trombonist Marcello Rosa's quartet. Since then, in addition to leading his own groups, Pieranunzi has worked with many top players (both Europeans and Americans) including Franco Ambrosetti, Chet Baker, Benny Bailey, Art Farmer, Curtis Fuller, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Haden, Jim Hall, Lee Konitz, Sal Nistico, Enrico Rava, Tony Scott, Kai Winding, and Phil Woods. Pieranunzi, who also teaches at a conservatory, has done studio work and sometimes works as a chamber music soloist. Up through the 1990s he recorded a number of impressive jazz sets as a leader for Enja, Timeless, and especially Soul Note. After the turn of the millennium his CDs have often appeared on the CamJazz label, including recordings -- Play Morricone (2002), Current Conditions and Play Morricone, Vol. 2 (both 2003), Ballads (2006), Live in Japan (2007), and Dream Dance (2009) -- with a trio featuring drummer Joey Baron and bassist Marc Johnson.
Wikipedia:
Enrico Pieranunzi (born 5 December, 1949) is an Italian jazz pianist. He fuses classical technique with jazz.
Biography [edit]
Pieranunzi was encouraged to study music from a very young age. His father Alvaro Pieranunzi was a jazz guitarist. He studied classical music until 1973 when he became a Professor of Music, and maintained that post for two years. In 1975 he left his teaching practice and played in trios and small ensembles, however the majority of his contributions are the 60 CDs upon which he is featured. He has also been prolific in his work as a session musician.
Session work [edit]
He has performed with, among others, Frank Rosolino, Sal Nistico, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, Chet Baker, Joey Baron, Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Marc Johnson, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Bill Smith, Charlie Haden, Mads Vinding, and Billy Higgins. He issued his first LP in 1975. He has performed widely with his own group at European and American jazz festivals. He has also composed several film scores.
Recognition [edit]
First in 1992 and then again in 1997, Pieranunzi was the recipient of the Djangodor Award (France) for best European jazz musician and the 2003 Django d'Or (Italy). Of the Italian newspaper Musica Jazz, he was elected in 1989 as the best Italian jazz musician of the year.
In 2006 he started the Trans Alpine Jazz Project.
