Francesco "Franco" D'Andrea (born 8 March 1941 in Merano, Italy) 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. 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.
His career began in 1963 with Nunzio Rotondo, playing for the Italian broadcast RAI and in Gato Barbieri's band in 1964 until 1965. D'Andrea continued then with the Italian vanguard ensemble Modern Art Trio (1968–72) and Perigeo (1972-77). Since 1978, he has been playing with his own bands (Trio, Quartet, Eleven) and as a solo performer. 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)Prix du Musicien Européen 2010, web page Académie du Jazz, Paris. April 12, 2012. and 2011 the Honorary Award at the Italian Jazz Awards - Luca Flores.
Discography As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1970?Modern Art Triowith Bruno Tommaso and Franco Tonani1973Conversations RCAwith Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli1978?NuvolaoCarosello1980Dialogues with SuperegoRedSolo piano1980EsRedSolo piano1982Made in ItalyRedQuartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums)1983?My One and Only LoveRedTrio, with Mark Helias (bass), Barry Altschul (drums)1983No Idea of TimeRedQuartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Mark Helias (bass), Barry Altschul (drums)1982LiveRedQuartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums); in concert1982My ShuffleRedQuartet, with Tino Tracanna (soprano sax, tenor sax), Attilo Zanchi (bass), Gianni Cazzola (drums)1988Kick OffRedTrio, with Giovanni Tomasso (bass), Roberto Gatto (drums)1989Chromatic PhrygianYVPTrio, with Stephen Schertler (bass), Billy Elgart (drums)1989VolteOwlTrio, with Hein Van De Geyn (bass), Aldo Romano (drums)1991EarthcakeLabel BleuQuartet, with Enrico Rava (trumpet, bugle), Miroslav Vitous (bass), Daniel Humair (drums)1991AireginRedTrio, with Giovanni Tomasso (bass), Roberto Gatto (drums)1991EnrosadiraRedDuo, with Luis Agudo (percussion)19963 LinesPhilologySolo piano, overdubbed1996Inside Cole PorterNELDuo, with Lee Konitz (alto sax)1996Inside RodgersPhilologyDuo, with Lee Konitz (alto sax)1997JobimPhilologyQuartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Alex Rolle (drums)1997Ballads and RitualsPhilologyQuartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Alex Rolle (drums)2000?ElevenVia Veneto Jazzwith Steven Bernstein2001Solo 1: StandardsPhilologySolo piano2001Solo 2: AbstractionsPhilologySolo piano2001Solo 3: WoodsPhilologySolo piano2001Solo 4: GatoPhilologySolo piano2001Solo 5: DukePhilologySolo piano2001Solo 6: Valzer Opera NatalePhilologySolo piano2001Solo 7: NapoliPhilologySolo piano2001Solo 8: Classic JazzPhilologySolo piano2002Magicians at WorkPhilologyDuo, with Renato Sellani (piano)2002I Love You So Much It HurtsWinter & WinterDuo, with Ernst Reijseger (cello)2002Round Riff & MorePhilologyTrio, with Massimo Morriconi and Ares Tavolazzi (bass)2003?Plays Monk: Live at Metastasio JazzPhilology2005?Creole Rhapsody: D.EllingtonPhilology2006The Siena ConcertBlue NoteQuartet, with Andrea Ayace Ayassot (alto sax, soprano sax), Aldo Mella (bass), Zeno De Rossi (drums); in concert2011SorapisEl Gallo Rojo2012Traditions and ClustersEl Gallo Rojo2013?TodayEl Gallo Rojo2014Monk and The Time MachineEl Gallo Rojo2018Intervals IParco della Musica RecordsFranco D'Andrea Octet2022Franco D’Andrea meets Dj RoccaParco della Musica Records2023Sketches of the 20th CenturyParco della Musica Recordswith Parco della musica contemporanea Ensemble2024Something Bluesy and MoreParco della Musica Recordswith Roberto Gatto (drums), Gabriele Evangelista (bass)2025LiveParco della Musica Recordswith Roberto Gatto (drums), Gabriele Evangelista (bass)
As sideman With Gato Barbieri Last Tango in Paris (United Artists, 1972) With Lee Konitz Stereokonitz (RCA, 1968) 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
External links web page biography & discography www.ejn.it (Europe Jazz Network: Musicians) documentary, director: Andreas Pichler
mitteleuropean jazz academy Merano/Italy miramontefilm