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Rossano Sportiello

Award-winning jazz pianist Rossano Sportiello was born in Vigevano, Italy on 1 June 1974. He began studying piano at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Italian classical pianist Carlo Villa and continued until his graduation in classical piano from the Conservatory in 1996. At 16, he was performing professionally at jazz venues in the Milan area, and in 1992, he joined one of Europe’s historic jazz bands, the “Milano Jazz Gang” touring with the group throughout Italy and West Europe until the end of 2000. That same year, Rossano met legendary jazz pianist and educator, Barry Harris, who became a mentor and good friend. Mr. Harris has touted Rossano as “the best stride piano player” he has ever heard.

Stylistically, although international critics consider Rossano a follower of Ralph Sutton, Dave McKenna and Barry Harris, the influence of other great masters can be heard in his playing, such as Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Ellis Larkins and Bill Evans, to name a few. Rossano was introduced as a soloist by trombonist/arranger Dan Barrett and drew international acclaim at the 2002 Ascona Jazz Festival (Switzerland) while performing with the eight-piece, all-star American band led by Barrett, which was enthusiastically received. Rossano has performed several times at Ascona since and standing ovations after his performances are not uncommon. At the 25th anniversary of the festival, he received the 2009 Ascona Jazz Award in recognition of his expertise and mastery of jazz piano, in particular stride piano. Rossano made his first trip to the United States and was introduced to the American audience at the invitation of the late Mat Domber (Arbors Records) to perform at the 2003 “March of Jazz” party in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Following his marriage to American writer, Lala Moore, in 2007, Rossano established himself in New York City.

Rossano has performed with many of the world’s finest jazz luminaries, such as Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Barry Harris, Dan Barrett, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bob Wilber, Warren Vache, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Joe Wilder, Eddie Locke, Joe La Barbera, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, Houston Person, Bill Charlap, Dick Hyman. He has been in great demand in the U.S. appearing at New York venues, such as Lincoln Center, the Blue Note, Birdland, Feinstein's, the 92nd Street Y, Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, the Café Carlyle and Town Hall, Smalls, Mezzrow as well as at main jazz parties and festivals, including the San Diego Jazz Party, Chautauqua Jazz Festival, North Carolina Jazz Party, Rochester Jazz Festival, Odessa Jazz Party, Newport Beach Jazz Party, Arbors Records Invitational Jazz Piano Party, Rocky Mountains Jazz Party and the Roswell Jazz Festival. Internationally, Rossano has performed in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Romania, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and in acclaimed festivals and venues such as the Norwich Jazz Party, Nairn International Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Spoleto Piano Festival, Lucerne Piano Festival, the Philarmonie (Luxembourg), Teatro Alla Scala (Milan), Teatro dell’Opera (Rome), Marians Jazz Room (Switzerland), Lionel Hampton Jazz Club (Paris), Blue Note (Milan ), Printzregentertheatre (Munchen-Germany) and Schloss Elmau (Germany), to name a few. Since 2008, Rossano has performed regularly with the Harry Allen Quartet. Also since 2008 Rossano has been part of the “Three Wise Men”, the glorious European trio led by the Dutch clarinettist and saxophonist Frank Roberscheuten with Viennese percussionist Martin Breinschmid performing more than 500 concerts in Europe in the last 12 years.

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31
Album Review

Molly Ryan: Sweepin' the Blues Away

Read "Sweepin' the Blues Away" reviewed by Jack Bowers


New York City-based vocalist Molly Ryan makes an auspicious impression from the outset on her latest album, leading her splendid back-up quartet through the charming song, “Get Yourself a New Broom (and Sweep the Blues Away)" a light-hearted but little- known treasure written in 1938 by Ted Koehler & Harold Arlen. Ryan seems to specialize in unearthing such overlooked gems, presenting several other prototypes in an anthology that spans the years 1909 to 1941. Even to someone ...

3
Live Review

Rossano Sportiello Trio at The Jazz Corner

Read "Rossano Sportiello Trio at The Jazz Corner" reviewed by Martin McFie


Rossano Sportiello Trio The Jazz Corner Hilton Head Island, SC December 22, 2017 Rossano Sportiello from Milan showed the elegance and deft touch of a concert pianist Friday, December 22nd at the Jazz Corner on Hilton Head Island. He plays softly, modulating the volume only when the piece demanded to define a statement. Sportiello is known for the powerful bouncing left hand stride piano style and played a rousing version of the ...

222
Album Review

Rossano Sportiello: Piano on My Mind

Read "Piano on My Mind" reviewed by Robert R. Calder


Eastwood Lane was an American pastoral woodland that composer Bix Beiderbecke admired; his “Down Stream" opens this solo second CD by the young Italian pianist Rossano Sportiello as a peaceful atmospheric etude. “Blowin' Up" is the pianist's own, featuring a boppish theme with a running left hand. It slips into a string of ballads, “You Took Advantage of Me" to “The Best Thing for You," causing a sparkle without ruffling the mood. After the ballads comes a piece in medium ...

346
Live Review

Rossano Sportiello: Milano Stride Piano

Read "Rossano Sportiello: Milano Stride Piano" reviewed by Robert R. Calder


Starbucks Edinburgh Jazz Festival The Hub Edinburgh August 6, 2005The cliches supplied in the programme blurb about this concert were wrong. The pianist isn't an Earl Hines-Jelly Roll Morton specialist. He's been a pupil of Barry Harris, and his music includes beside a Dave McKenna walking left hand some bebop, and Harlem stride from Clarence Profit back to Luckey Roberts — both under-recorded masters of the fine gradation of touch Rossano Sportiello has.

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Performance / Tour

Popular trio does it again – with charm and excellence

Popular trio does it again – with charm and excellence

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

The all-star International Trio returned to the Charlotte County Jazz Society concert stage on Monday, February 7 for their fifth appearance in 10 seasons, mixing concert staples with a few surprise treats. Drummer Eddie Metz Jr., bassist & singer Nicki Parrott and piano marvel Rossano Sportiello were happy to be back in front of a live audience. In this case, it was a packed house of more than 220 fans at Gulf Theater at The Military Heritage Museum in Punta ...

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Festival

The Ascona Jazz Award 2009 to Rossano Sportiello

The Ascona Jazz Award 2009 to Rossano Sportiello

Source: All About Jazz

Following singer Lillian Boutt in 2006, Red Holloway in 2007, and saxophone player and Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Donald Harrison in 2008, the 2009 Ascona Jazz Award will be given to the talented young Italian pianist Rossano Sportiello . . . In his short musical career, the Neapolitan Sportiello conquered audiences and critics thanks to his artistic sensitivity and his exceptional musical talent. An accomplished stride pianist, Sportiello grew-up conscious of his artistic talents and ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sweepin' the Blues...

Turtle Bay Records
2022

buy

That's It

Arbors Records
2020

buy

Piano on My Mind

Jazz Connaisseur
2006

buy

Heart and Soul

Arbors Records
2006

buy

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