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Antonio Ciacca

A graduate of the Bologna conservatory with a degree in contemporary music, German born Italian pianist Antonio Ciacca has played with jazz legends Steve Grossman, James Carter, Marcus Belgrave, Larry Smith, Roy Brooks, Lee Konitz Art Farmer, Mark Murphy, Johnny Griffen, James Moody and Dave Liebman. Antonio was the pianist for Steve Lacy for his seven years before and has toured extensively throughout the world with jazz legend Benny Golson. With performances in venues such as Pizza express and Ronnie Scott's in London, the Blue Note in Milan, Alexander Platz in Rome, London Jazz Festival, Pori Jazz festival, Stockholm Jazz Festival and the Village Vanguard (with Wess Anderson and Wynton Marsalis), Antonio has proven himself on the world stage. Ciacca's bebop influenced style coupled with his deep rooted love for gospel music has helped to shape his sound and has given birth to a refreshing new voice in jazz. “Lush Life” is his fourth outing as a leader features Antonio’s New York City based quintet: Antonio Ciacca (p); Kengo Nakumura (bass); Rodney Green (drums); Stacy Dillard (sax); Joe Magnerlli (trumpet). The record is produced by Grammy® award winning producer Todd Barkan at New York's legendary jazz recording spot, THE STUDIO. In addition to working as a pianist and composer, Mr. Ciacca is also renowned as an expert on the history and business of jazz and he currently collaborates works as the Director of Programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center, Artistic Director, Wynton Marsalis.


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263
Album Review

Antonio Ciacca: Lagos Blues (with Steve Grossman)

Read "Lagos Blues (with Steve Grossman)" reviewed by George Kanzler


There's a good reason most “real" jazz radio stations tend to favor the modern mainstream jazz of the post-bop era codified by such record labels from the mid-20th Century as Blue Note, Columbia's jazz division, Prestige, Riverside and Impulse. It's creative jazz with a comfortingly substantial physicality, clean lines and rhythmic heft still anchored to a swing feel. The excellent Italian jazz pianist Antonio Ciacca is firmly in that modern mainstream, the music here from a quintet, quartet and trio ...

277
Album Review

Antonio Ciacca: Lagos Blues

Read "Lagos Blues" reviewed by J Hunter


Four decades ago, Miles Davis called then-burgeoning saxophonist Steve Grossman “an important voice in this music." One of the people who heard that voice was pianist Antonio Ciacca. Lagos Blues, Ciacca's second disc for Motema, not only shows Grossman's influence as Ciacca's former teacher; it also includes the now-legendary tenor player's direct influence, as he joins Ciacca's regular quartet for the date.

Ciacca says Grossman once compared his former student's writing style to Horace Silver and Benny Golson. That assertion ...

270
Album Review

Antonio Ciacca: Rush Life

Read "Rush Life" reviewed by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio


Antonio Ciacca Quintet's Rush Life is a welcome and valuable addition to the contemporary jazz catalogue, where it will rest easy, knowing its place. There are bits and pieces throughout the nine tracks that serve as hopeful reminders that the album could have been more provocative than it is. What it lacks is not skill, but a cool distance from the cerebral blueprint that's still very visible. The album isn't heralded as groundbreaking, and it isn't. It is a smart ...

703
Interview

Antonio Ciacca: Bringing People Together Through Swing

Read "Antonio Ciacca: Bringing People Together Through Swing" reviewed by John Barron


Antonio Ciacca knows a thing or two about multi-tasking. The New York-based pianist is a tireless statesman of jazz, composing music for his own small groups, arranging for various big bands and working as Director of Programming for Jazz at Lincoln Center. Adding to all of this, Ciacca and his wife are busy raising five children in the hustle-and-bustle of 21st Century Manhattan.Born in Wuppertal, Germany and raised in Italy, the 40-year-old musician received a formal music education ...

231
Album Review

Antonio Ciacca: Rush Life

Read "Rush Life" reviewed by John Barron


Italian pianist Antonio Ciacca is the kind of musician who displays his influences without reservation.  Steeped in the tradition of bebop and gospel piano, the New York resident is focused on swinging as hard as he can.  Evidence of this can be heard on Rush Life, a hard-blowing quintet recording with tenor saxophonist Stacy Dillard, trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, bassist Kengo Nakamura and drummer Rodney Green.

The disc’s nine tracks are a satisfying blend of Ciacca originals and well-worn ...

204
Album Review

Antonio Ciacca: Hollis Avenue

Read "Hollis Avenue" reviewed by Jim Santella


Italian pianist Antonio Ciacca’s modern mainstream quartet session breathes dramatic fire and still contains the necessary dollop of lyrical charm. Thirty years old, favoring Thelonious Monk’s compositional spontaneity, and aware of the need for balance in one’s work, Ciacca leads two different quartets through several standards and a few originals. Young lions all, the artists dish out tributes to Monk, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn while applying fresh ideas throughout.

The album’s title pays homage to Jaki Byard. The pianist, ...

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1

Performance / Tour

Italian Jazz Days - Oct 12-22 - New York City To Washington D.C.

Italian Jazz Days - Oct 12-22 - New York City To Washington D.C.

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

ITALIAN JAZZ DAYS OCT 12-22, 2013 New York City To Washington DC TwinsMusic Enterprises is proud to announce the annual cultural celebration - Italian Jazz Days 2013 - October 12-22, 2013. Thanks to the involvement of Italian Cultural Institute of New York and the Italian nonprofit organization, C-Jam Music, this year the festival takes place in four New York City venues: Measure Lounge at Langham Place, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the Jazz Standard and Smalls Jazz Club; ...

73

Education

Antonio Ciacca Leads Jazz Workshop in Peekskill, NY on October 1

Antonio Ciacca Leads Jazz Workshop in Peekskill, NY on October 1

Source: Seton Hawkins

Pianist, composer, and bandleader Antonio Ciacca leads an intensive one-day jazz workshop at the Ford Piano Factory in Peekskill, NY on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Aimed at developing students' sight-reading, jazz theory, and improvisation skills in a fun and supportive environment, the workshop serves as the launch of a variety of jazz events in Peekskill. Lessons begin at 11:00 a.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. The workshop is open to students of all ages and is free for all participants. ...

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Performance / Tour

Jazz at the Bar on Fifth Continues Its Nightly Jazz Programming, June 2011

Jazz at the Bar on Fifth Continues Its Nightly Jazz Programming, June 2011

Source: Seton Hawkins

The Bar on Fifth continues its exciting collaboration with Artist in Residence, Antonio Ciacca, who will continue to perform and curate concerts seven nights a week this June. In addition to Antonio's performances, June's calendar includes: June 1-10: Soulful jazz guitarist Lucio Ferrara's musical resume includes collaborations with some of the greatest names in jazz today, including Benny Golson and Joey DeFrancesco. June 12-15 and June 18-19: Wielding a deeply rooted post-bop approach that results in potent performances of originals ...

43

Performance / Tour

Antonio Ciacca Appointed Artist in Residence at the Bar on Fifth

Antonio Ciacca Appointed Artist in Residence at the Bar on Fifth

Source: Seton Hawkins

Pianist and bandleader Antonio Ciacca has been appointed Artist-in-Residence at the Bar on Fifth at the Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. Beginning April 1, 2011, Ciacca will present his trio and quartet, as well as curate concerts featuring some of New York's finest jazz musicians, every night of the week as a part of Jazz at Bar on Fifth. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m., with free admission. In addition to Ciacca's performances, additional featured artists include the Spike ...

304

Performance / Tour

Antonio Ciacca Appointed Artist in Residence for Jazz at Setai

Antonio Ciacca Appointed Artist in Residence for Jazz at Setai

Source: Seton Hawkins

Pianist and bandleader Antonio Ciacca has been appointed Artist-in-Residence at the Setai Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. Beginning April 1, 2011, Ciacca will present his trio and quatet, as well as curate concerts featuring some of New York's finest jazz musicians, every night of the week as a part of Jazz at Setai. Performances begin at 8:00 p.m., and are free to the public.

In addition to Ciacca's performances, additional featured artists include the Spike Wilner Quartet, the Ehud ...

46

Performance / Tour

Antonio Ciacca Trio Performs at Nazareth College (Rochester) on April 9th

Antonio Ciacca Trio Performs at Nazareth College (Rochester) on April 9th

Source: Seton Hawkins

Jazz pianist, composer, and bandleaderAntonio Ciacca leads his trio—featuring bassist Dan Vitale and drummer Mike Melito—in a concert and discussion at Nazareth College's Wilmot Recital Hall on Saturday, April 9, 2011. An exciting pianist and articulate advocate of jazz, Mr. Ciacca, whose performance is sponsored by the college's Casa Italiana, will also offer an illuminating discussion of the history of jazz in Italy, as well as an exploration of the international role of jazz. A consummate artist with a multi-faceted ...

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Performance / Tour

Antonio Ciacca and TwinsMusic Enterprises Present Italian Jazz Days

Antonio Ciacca and TwinsMusic Enterprises Present Italian Jazz Days

Source: Seton Hawkins

Now entering its second year, Italian Jazz Days represents an exciting artistic collaboration between Antonio Ciacca, Director of Programming at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Todd Barkan, Artistic Director of Dizzy's Club Coca Cola. Originating from the Italian Cultural Institute and produced by TwinsMusic Enterprises, Italian Jazz Days showcases the tremendous artistic talent and heritage emerging from Italy's jazz tradition, and presents the artists in collaboration with American jazz musicians at venues throughout the New York City metropolitan area. For ...

134

Performance / Tour

Pianist Antonio Ciacca to Perform at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on March 15 in Support of "Lagos Blues"

Pianist Antonio Ciacca to Perform at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on March 15 in Support of "Lagos Blues"

Source: DL Media

ANTONIO CIACCA QUINTET: A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT DIZZY'S CLUB COCA-COLA ON MARCH 15 PERFORMANCE IN SUPPORT OF MOTEMA MUSIC RELEASE LAGOS BLUES Motma Music announces a performance date for pianist Antonio Ciacca at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola on Monday, March 15. Ciacca will perform music from his new CD, Lagos Blues (release date: January 12), with sets at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. Additionally, the performance will serve as a birthday celebration for Ciacca, who will be joined by an all-star line-up featuring ...

173

Recording

Motema Music Recording Artist Antonio Ciacca Releases "Lagos Blues" January 12

Motema Music Recording Artist Antonio Ciacca Releases "Lagos Blues" January 12

Source: DL Media

Internationally Acclaimed Pianist Antonio Ciacca Collaborates with Renowned Saxophonist Steve Grossman Motema Music Set to Release Lagos Blues on January 12

“At the heart of any true jazzman is the ability to tell his own musical stories in his own way, and hopefully touch a few hearts along the way. Down in his heart, there's a song he can feel, something that no one can steal. It's his own tune, all and in part. Pianist Antonio Ciacca dances to the ...

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Performance / Tour

Antonio Ciacca's Harlem Jazz Collective Performs at Minton's Playhouse

Antonio Ciacca's Harlem Jazz Collective Performs at Minton's Playhouse

Source: Michael Ricci

Jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader Antonio Ciacca will lead a new musical consortium, The Harlem Jazz Collective, in performances every Saturday night in December at Minton's Playhouse.

The concerts, showcasing new compositions as well as time-honored classics, feature an ever-rotating ensemble with Mr. Ciacca serving as the core artist.

The music begins at 10:00 p.m. with an after-hours jam session commencing at midnight. All artists are invited to perform after midnight as well as to bring their originals to workshop ...

What the critics are saying about Antonio Ciacca... "The band swings with a sense of fun" Fred Bouchard-Down Beat "Always engaging" Robert Shore-Jazzwise (UK) "This superb recording demonstrates Ciacca's immersion in the language of jazz" Nancy Ann Lee-Jazz & Blues Report

Primary Instrument

Piano

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Piano and composer Jazz

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Lagos Blues

Motéma Music
2010

buy

Lagos Blues (with...

Motéma Music
2010

buy

Rush Life

Motéma Music
2009

buy

Rush Life

Motéma Music
2008

buy

Ugly Beauty

Soul Note
2006

buy

Hollis Avenue

YVP Music
1999

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