Franco D'Andrea
b. 8 March 1941, Merano, Italy. D'Andrea developed his piano playing style during the '60s in the bands of Ninzio Rotondo, Gato Barbieri and Franco Ambrosetti. From 1968 he led the Modern Art Trio. In 1972 he formed the jazz rock band Perigeo and started to use synthesizers as well as the piano. His playing is technically adept and reflects an interest in pianists as diverse as James P. Johnson and Martial Solal. From the '60s onwards he accompanied and recorded with visiting Americans like Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone), Slide Hampton (trombone), Max Roach (drums), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Johnny Griffin (tenor saxophone) and Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone). D'Andrea played with the Rava Quartet in 1979 before forming his own quartet in 1981. His work has won many prizes in Italy and he was twice voted Italian Jazz Musician of the Year (1982 and 1984) in the magazine MUSICA JAZZ.