by Doc Dosco
This week we feature a fine Italian jazz guitarist named Gianfranco Continenza. He has some interesting duo recordings with John Stowell. Check him out.
Online Bio
Gianfranco Continenza guitarist and composer is born in Turin (Italy) on the February 1, 1968, he started to play guitar when he was 8 years old thanks to his father Nino Continenza, jazz guitar player. He studied classical music for 5 years, then developing the study of the modern guitar (jazz, fusion, blues, rock…) and playing with local bands.
He is graduated with 100% score at G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Hollywood, California in September 1992 specialized in many music styles (jazz, fusion, blues, R&B, Latin, funky, rock?) studing with Joe Diorio, Don Mock, Scott Henderson, Ron Eschéte, Howard Roberts, Peter Sprague, Gary Willis, Jennifer Batten, Steve Trovato, Jeff Berlin, Jamie Findlay, Jeff Richman, Tommy Tedesco, Mike Miller, etc.
On 1994 he founded the P.M.I. (Professional Musicians Institute) and later on 1998 the C.M.A. (Contemporary Music Academy) in Pescara, with students coming from all the parts of Italy where he's teaching jazz guitar. He played with many world famous artists like Bill Evans, Joe Diorio, Mark Egan, Jeff Richman, Scott Kinsey, Jamie Findlay, Barrett Tagliarino, Richard Smith, John Stowell, Cathy Segal-Garcia?
On April 2000 he recorded a bootleg CD “Live at Kabala Jazz Club” with Pippo Matino on bass and Ernesttico on percussions. On December 2007 will be out a CD with his compositions of jazz/fusion: “The past inside the present” feat. Bill Evans on sax and Scott Kinsey on keyboards for ESC Records one of the leader label of jazz/fusion in the world. Also for ESC Records he recorded a track for the double Cd “MAHAVISHNU RE-defined” (tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra) with Mark Egan on bass, Alessandro Centofanti on keyboards and Walter Martino on drums.
Since June 2007 is endorser Jacoland with the Guitar Heaven Jazz “Gianfranco Continenza Signature”.
He's got a column of jazz guitar on the national site: Jzzitalia.
Gianfranco's website and soundsclips:
http://www.gianfrancocontinenza.com
Doc Dosco is a jazz guitarist, composer and audio consultant living in Los Angeles, CA. His website is located at http://www.docdosco.com, where you can find more information on the 'What's Hot with Jazz Guitar' columns, audio clips of Doc's playing, and many additional features. Doc now endorses Peerless Guitars and has the website Jazz Guitar Zone to help promote Peerless jazz guitars in the US. He also endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube Amps — great for jazz (and anything else!)