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Luigi Grasso

Luigi Grasso born in 1986, has emerged as one of Italy’s most exciting jazz stars. Since his 12 years old he was invited around the world as guest in different type of bands, from duo to Big Band.

Thanks to the exposure provided by his parents, he discovered jazz and classical music at a very early age. He began saxophone studies at age 5 as a cure for asthma, and was almost entirely self-taught until the age of 11 when he started to attend clinics held by the Berklee College of Music at the Umbria Jazz Festival (Perugia, Italy). He was subsequently offered a full tuition scholarship to travel to Boston for the Berklee Summer Program.

In 1997, he won the international young talent competition “Bravo Bravissimo”, which launched his professional jazz career, resulting in performances at the most prestigious festivals, clubs, theaters and TV shows throughout Europe.

In 1999, at the age of 13, his debut recording “A Love Supreme” (Java records), was released.

He continued his studies in Italy with the American guitarist Agostino Di Giorgio, in addition to his close apprenticeship with NEA Jazz Master Barry Harris as a participant and educational assistant in Dr. Harris’ European master classes from 2001-2009.

In 2004, Luigi began studies in classical composition, harmony and counterpoint at the “Giovanni Martini Conservatory” in Bologna, under the instruction of Chiara Benati and Francesco Carluccio.

In 2010, he moved to Paris where he currently teaches saxophone at the CMA9, CMA11, CRR, PSPBB.

In 2013, he formed the “Luigi Grasso Quartet”, featuring his brother Pasquale Grasso on guitar, bassist Mathias Allamane, and American drummer Keith Balla. The Quartet released “Ça Marche” and toured extensively throughout Europe, receiving wide spread critical acclaim. In the same year, he was a featured soloist on “Crazy Blues” (Universal), an important release by China Moses and Raphael Lemmonier. With Luigi as principle soloist, the ensemble has performed in twenty-two countries worldwide in the last two years.

In 2014, he recorded his Octet in New York City featuring Pasquale Grasso (guitar), Ari Roland (bass), John Mosca (trombone), Chris Byars (tenor sax), Stefano Doglioni (bass clarinet), Fabien Mary (trumpet) and Keith Balla (drums) giving birth to The Greenwich Session.

In the same year he also co-write the Radio spot of ENI with the Italian soul artist Luca Sapio.

From 2015 to 2018 he is the musical director for China Moses‘s new project “ Nightintales”.

In 2016 Luigi is also the director of the project POP-UP THE JAM! by Buffet-Crampon with the goal to create a new meeting point for all musicians; with ten appointments of concerts/jams, this project gives a big opportunity to students to share the scene with professional musicians in the wish to transmit jazz music as a performing art and generate with years, a strong musical scene.

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Album Review

NDR Big Band with Michael Moore: Sanctuary

Read "Sanctuary" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Sanctuary rilegge in formato orchestrale dieci composizioni di Moore, già incise in precedenza con sue formazioni; brani che acquisiscono nuove identità grazie agli arrangiamenti dello stesso leader e di tre colleghi: il prestigioso orchestratore olandese Henk Meutgeert e i pianisti/compositori Christian Elsasser e Frank Calberg. Quest'album realizzato con la famosa big band tedesca è un'occasione per riaffermare il valore di Michael Moore sia come solista che come compositore, come fanno altre recenti produzioni discografiche: Cretan ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sanctuary

Ramboy
2020

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Nightintales

Madeinchina Productions / MPS
2017

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