Enrico Pieranunzi

Enrico Pieranunzi is an Italian jazz pianist who has recorded more than 70 albums and composed more than 300 pieces. He was born in Rome into a musical family; his father Alvaro was a guitarist and his brother Gabriele a classical violinist. After graduating with a music degree Alvaro began teaching, but left his job in 1975 to concentrate on playing with the Enrico Pieranunzi Trio. He made his album debut with 'Jazz a Confronto' in 1975, followed by 'New and Old Jazz Sounds' (1976), 'The Day After the Silence' (1976) and 'A Long Way' (1978).

During the 1980s he worked with American musicians including saxophonists Phil Woods and Lee Konitz, flugelhorn player Art Farmer and bassist Charlie Haden. Pieranunzi played on Chet Baker's acclaimed albums 'Soft Journey' (1980) and 'Silence' (1987). Enrico's solo work continued with the albums 'New Land' in 1984 and 'What's What' in 1985. He also appeared on the soundtrack of Ennio Morricone's classic film 'Cinema Paradiso' in 1989.

During the 1990s he continued to work with Woods, Baker and Haden. His own albums included 'Flux and Change' (1995), 'Seaward' (1997) and 'Ma L'Amore No' (1998). Trumpeter Bert Joris featured on the Enrico Pieranunzi Quintet's 1999 album 'Don't Forget the Poet'.

In the next millennium 'Fellini Jazz' was one of his standout albums in 2003. He worked with drummer Paul Motian and saxophonist Chris Potter on 'Doorways' in 2004 and teamed up with Charlie Haden on 'Special Encounter' in 2005.

Increasingly playing in America, he recorded the album 'Live at the Village Vanguard' in 2010, featuring Marc Johnson and Paul Motian. This was the first album recorded by an Italian in the legendary New York venue. His later albums included 'Stories' in 2014 and 'Proximity' in 2015. He collaborated with pianist Bruno Canino on the 2016 session 'Americas' and teamed up with saxophonist Rosario Giuliani on 'Duke's Dream' in 2017. He released the live album 'Wine & Waltzes: Live at Bastianich Winery' in 2018.