El arte iridiscente de Franco es un poliedro que tiende a la esfera.
La inmensidad oceánica de su constante búsqueda de un lenguaje personal dentro de la tradición del jazz encuentra sólo una representación adamantina en esta casi hora de música para piano. Un extraordinario recorrido por su pensamiento musical, libre de manierismos de cualquier tipo y en constante búsqueda de una expresividad auténtica y profunda. Música de una terquedad suave, puntiaguda, magmática, vivaz y refinada. Abrumador y coherente al mismo tiempo. Maravillosamente situada entre Apolo y Dioniso. Intensamente personal, completamente jazz. En una época en la que en la mayoría de los casos las formas, la estética y el arte se manejan con los guantes del patólogo para protegerse del formol, Franco y su música son una de las luces más fuertes en una noche oscura. . Un faro a seguir para superar un mar en calma, oscuro y viscoso. Franco es mi gurú. Gracias franco! - Alfonso Santimone
Born in Merano in 1941, D’Andrea began playing the piano at the age of 17 years old, having previously played the trumpet, the soprano sax and the clarinet. His professional career started in 1963 with Nunzio Rotondo at RAI in Rome. In 1964 he made his first recording with Gato Barbieri, within a two-year collaboration. In 1968 he formed the Modern Art Trio, with Franco Tonani and Bruno Tommaso. From 1972 to 1977 he played with the jazz rock band Perigeo. In 1978 he formed a quartet with Tino Tracanna, Attilio Zanchi and Gianni Cazzola. In 1986 the percussionist Luis Agudo, in 1989 the percussionist Naco and the trombonist Glenn Ferris, and in 1991 the vibraphonist Saverio Tasca joined the group. At the beginning of 1993 he created a new trio, Current Changes, with the trumpeter David Boato and with Naco.
His current band is a trio, Franco D’Andrea New Things which includes Enrico Terragnoli (guitar) and Mirko Cisilino (trumpet). D’Andrea is also leading a sextet ( with Andrea Ayassot, Daniele D’Agaro, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi), an octet (sextet plus Terragnoli e DJ Rocca, a quartet (with Andrea Ayassot, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi) a larger ensemble of 11 components, Franco D’Andrea Eleven. And also a special project Trio Music, three Trios: Franco D’Andrea Traditions Today with Daniele D’Agaro and Mauro Ottolini, Franco D’Andrea Electric Tree with Andrea Ayassot and DJ Rocca, Franco D’Andrea Piano Trio with Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi.
His current band is a trio, Franco D’Andrea New Things which includes Enrico Terragnoli (guitar) and Mirko Cisilino (trumpet). D’Andrea is also leading a sextet ( with Andrea Ayassot, Daniele D’Agaro, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi), an octet (sextet plus Terragnoli e DJ Rocca, a quartet (with Andrea Ayassot, Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi) a larger ensemble of 11 components, Franco D’Andrea Eleven. And also a special project Trio Music, three Trios: Franco D’Andrea Traditions Today with Daniele D’Agaro and Mauro Ottolini, Franco D’Andrea Electric Tree with Andrea Ayassot and DJ Rocca, Franco D’Andrea Piano Trio with Aldo Mella and Zeno De Rossi.
During his career he played with musicians like Pepper Adams, Barry Altschul, Gato Barbieri, Don Byas, Conte Candoli, Jon Christensen, Palle Danielsson, Joe Farrell, Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin, Slide Hampton, Mark Helias, Daniel Humair, Jimmy Knepper, Lee Konitz, Steve Lacy, Dave Liebman, Albert Mangelsdorff, Hank Mobley, Jean Luc Ponty, Enrico Rava, Frank Rosolino, Max Roach, Aldo Romano, Martial Solal, John Surman, Toots Thielemans, Charles Tolliver, Miroslav Vitous, Kenny Wheeler , Fodé Youla (Africa Djolé), Ernst Reijseger, Dave Douglas, Han Bennink and many others.
He toured through France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Russia, Canada, USA, Tunisia, Cameroon, Israel, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Mexico.
He has a number of awards to his credit, including:
– Italian Record Critics Prize won in 1979 and in 1981
– RadioUno Jazz Prize in 1982
– Top Jazz Award, organized by Musica Jazz magazine, as Best Italian Musician in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
– Top Jazz Award for Best Italian Group in 1986 and 2014
– Top Jazz Award for Best Italian Record in 1984, 1986, 2002, 2012 and 2018 with No Idea of Time, Quartet Live, the series Philology Solo and Traditions and Clusters, Franco D’Andrea Intervals I
Top Jazz Award for Best Italian Piano Player in 2011.
– “Prix du Musicien Européen 2010” de l’Academie du Jazz de France.
He has been teaching since 1978. The main collaborations in this regard are with :
– Jazz Music Seminars in Siena from 1978 up to now (as a jazz piano teacher and an ensemble music teacher).
– Free Music School in Vicenza, in the early 80s (jazz piano).
– Professional Music Center in Milan, from 1986 to 1995 (jazz piano and workshop).
– Music Learning Center in Milan, from 1983 to 1986 (jazz piano).
– Bonporti Conservatoire in Trento, from 1993 to 2006 (jazz Professor).
-Civic School of Music in Milan, within the Civic Jazz Courses, from 2007 up to now.
He also had the opportunity to collaborate on numerous seminars in Italy and abroad (Master Class at Thelma Yellin High School of Arts in Tel Aviv; Seminar on improvisation at AMR School in Geneva). He was an external member of the Examining Board of Migros School in St. Gallen.
He was a member of the Jury at Concours International de Piano Jazz “Martial Solal” in Paris in 1989 and again in 2006 and 2010.
He has recorded about 160 records in Italy and abroad.
He has composed about 200 songs, over a hundred of which are played in his records. - francodandrea.com
Tracks
01. Mixed N.1
02. Abstraction N.1
03. Savoy Blues / Undecided
04. Today
05. Giant Steps
06. Rituals N.2
07. Abstraction N.3
08. Traditions N.1
09. Rituals N.1
10. Traditions And Rituals
11. Muskrat Ramble / Scrapple From The Apple
12. Clusters N.4
FRANCO D'ANDREA piano
Recorded on October 13th, 2012 at Sound Sisterni Studio, Santhià (VC)
El Gallo Rojo – 314-57 (Italy)
https://elgallorojorecords.bandcamp.com/