Born: August 12, 1975 Primary Instrument: Clarinet
“Masterful Clarinet! Luca is a noted Italian clarinettist and composer who now makes his home in London, having developed an enviable reputation as an instrumental virtuoso around the UK and overseas via recordings and concert hall appearances” (Musician Magazine). Internationally recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to contemporary clarinet music, he starts his career at the young age of twelve performing at one of the most established halls of his home town Naples and appears on television nationwide live aged twenty-one. Praised by the International Clarinet Association for “the full range of his abilities”, Luca graduated from the Conservatoire of Salerno (Italy) and has been awarded the Fellow status at the Higher Education Academy (UK). Described by the BBC Radio as “one of Europe’s leading exponent of jazz clarinet”, Luca “has established himself as the friendly face of contemporary clarinet” according to the Clarinet & Saxophone Society of Great Britain and enjoys a busy career as a performer, a recording artist and a clinician.
Luciano held the only existing position of jazz-clarinet professor in the UK (Leeds College of Music) for many years and has presented master-classes and workshops in the UK, Europe and South America. Luca is mainly active as soloist/composer, touring extensively the UK and overseas performing at venues as diverse as: Edinburgh International Festival, London Jazz Festival recording live for BBC Radio 3 at the Royal Festival Hall, National Portrait Gallery, South Bank Centre, the King’s Hall in Newcastle, St Martin in the Fields in London, Cambridge University, Politeama Theatre and Augusteo Theatre in Naples, the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil and more.
Aside from his renowned solo clarinet work, Luca has appeared on TV (recording for RTE national TV broadcast of Ireland, live nationwide at RAI2 in Italy as guest soloist and arranger), has collaborated with orchestras (Italy, Republic of Ireland) and with chamber music ensembles (also recording live for BBC Radio 3 at the Royal Festival Hall).
As a recording artist, Luciano’s four solo albums have received much critical acclaim in three continents with interviews (for the press and on radio) and broadcasts nationwide including the BBC Radio and whole radio programs in the US on contemporary music dedicated to his work. In particular, his latest clarinet solo album “Partenope”, that includes music part of his research, has been praised by some of the major publications on clarinet such as The Clarinet Journal (USA/worldwide), Clarinet & Saxophone Magazine (UK), De Klarinet (The Netherlands).
-“Luciano is one of Europe’s leading exponents of jazz clarinet” (BBC Radio)
-“The New Voice of the Clarinet” (front page of De Klarinet)
-“They have made genuine impressions on the London improvisational scene and this album shows their technical assurance, creative ability and natural versatility.” (Jazz Journal International)
-“It absolutely deserves a spot on the shelf of any musician with an interest in contemporary clarinet music” (The Clarinet)
-“Classically trained Italian virtuoso Luca Luciano, now resident in London, takes the clarinet to spectacular higher ground” (JAZZ UK)
-“Luciano has total control of his instrument, with a large edgeless sound” (Clarinet & Saxophone Magazine)
-“Romantic, soulful and technically superb. They have produced a work of true musical art”. (CRN Network Australia)
-“In the album Neapolis, Luciano shows the typical features of a mature musician with a sound and a style, in his writings, absolutely unique.” (JazzIT, leading Italian Jazz Magazine)
Partenope
2011 (MCPS)
Tracks: Rondo' Contemporaneo; Sequenza #1; Fragment #4; Sequenza #2; Fragment #5; Jazz Impromptu
Personnel: Luca Luciano (clarinettist/composer)
Clarinet
2008-10 (MCPS)
Track: by Luca Luciano Divertimento #8 "Thamon"; Divertimento #7 "Canone, cadenza e finale" from a theme of Prokofiev's "Lt. Kije'"; Divertimento #4; Divertimento #9 "The damnation of the Dreamer"; Divertimento #10; by John Coltrane Naima (arranged for Clarinet Sextet); by Igor Stravinsky Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo.
Personnel: Luca Luciano (solist/composer/arranger).
Neapolis
Red Kite Records
2005
Tracks: SUITE FOR CLARINET AND PIANOFORTE: She likes Vivaldi (L Luciano) from "Winter" by A Vivaldi; Sonata #2 "Stellare" (L Luciano); Lunare (F Piccinno); Neapolis (L Luciano); Sketch #2 (F Piccinno); Fragment #1 (L Luciano) from "Etude n.1" Op. 51 by R Stark; Sonata #1 (L Luciano); Sketch #5 (F Piccinno); Pazzo Luciano (L Luciano); Sketch #7 (F Piccinno); Sonata #3 (L Luciano); Fragment #2 (L Luciano); The mock trumpet(L Luciano); SUITE FOR CLARINETS: Divertimento #1 (L Luciano); Divertimento #2 (L Luciano); Divertimento #3 "Londrina" (L Luciano).
Personnel: Luca Luciano: Clarinettist/Composer; Franco Piccinno: Piano.
Passione
M.A.P.
2000
Tracks: Preludio buffone et malinconico (L. Luciano)-Autumn Leaves (J. Kosma); Passione (Valente); Tiempo a viento (L. Luciano); Easy and fun (L. Luciano); Saudade do meu pai (L. Luciano); Thank you Hindemith (L. Luciano); Mi Manchi (L. Luciano); Encore! Allegro con fuoco dalla Sonata per Clarinetto e Pianoforte by F. Poulenc.
Personnel: Luca Luciano: Clarinet/flute/composer; Special Guests: Pietro Condorelli (guitar) and Mario Buonafede (piano).
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Primary Instrument:
Clarinet
Location:
London
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK and former clarinet professor at the Leeds College of Music (UK's largest conservatoire), Luca has a solid private tuition experience too. More on www.lucaluciano.com including scores, information on the educational events he holds and some educational videos.
Clinic/Workshop Information:
