He is considered Europe's leading modern jazz pianist: Enrico Pieranunzi. The Roman has been awarded the “Jazz D'Or” several times as Europe's best jazz musician and has been voted Italy's musician of the year countless times. Throughout his career, Enrico Pieranunzi has worked with many of the biggest names in jazz. There was the legendary trio with Marc Johnson and Joey Baron, as well as projects with Lee Konitz, Chris Potter, Chet Baker, Paul Motian, and numerous others. He is the only Italian jazz musician (and one of very few European musicians) to have recorded a live CD at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York – twice, in fact – once with Marc Johnson and Paul Motian, and then in 2015 in a quartet with tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Clarence Penn. His discography is impressive, and his range as a composer and musician is both poetic and impressionistic, drawing on the great European musical tradition. Pieranunzi's playing, with its rhythmic and harmonic sophistication, is unmistakably rooted in the playing of Bill Evans, who was and remains a great role model and inspiration for him. It is impossible not to be captivated by this great musician. (Press release)

Enrico has been a frequent guest here, in a trio or quartet, but also in a duo with Jim Hall. At some point, I made a faux pas in my announcement when I introduced the master pianist by the surname of his trumpeting first cousin and compatriot, which he acknowledged with a mild smile. Benvenuto Enrico, e lo stesso non mi succederà più. CH