Biography
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Born
5 December 1949 (age 74)
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Born In
Roma, Roma, Lazio, Italy
Enrico Pieranunzi was born in Rome in 1949. He began studying piano when he was five years old, partly from his father who was a jazz-loving guitarist. At the same time, his father started introducing him to the wonders of jazz improvisation as well.
Enrico developed his jazz style and became a professional when he was nineteen years old. Since then he worked with the trombonist Marcello Rosa’s quartet. After this collaboration he worked with many top players (both Europeans and Americans) including Chet Baker, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Charlie Haden, Jim Hall, Lee Konitz, Sal Nistico and Phil Woods.
Since 1975, Enrico Pieranunzi has led his own groups, mostly trios, with which he has played clubs and festivals all over Europe like Zurich, Ravenna, Berlin, Umbria Jazz, Madrid, Copenhagen, Montreal and Jerusalem. He also used to perform as unaccompanied pianist.
Enrico Pieranunzi formed an American Trio with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron in 1984.
After their first album together (New Lands, Timeless) McCoy Tyner described Pieranunzi as ‘a new addition to the top-jazz piano world.’ Another highly appreciated album (Deep Down, Soul Note) was recorded by them in 1986.
His main influences come from jazz, and classical composers like Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Gabriel Fauré. Claude Debussy, Darius Milhaud, Aaron Copland, Johannes Brahms and Paul Himdemith (and from his very deep Italian roots). He has written more than 150 compositions, including ‘Night Bird.’’ This song was recorded several times by Chet Baker and performed by many other.
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