Enrico Pieranunzi

Enrico Pieranunzi (born 5 December 1949) is an Italian jazz pianist. He fuses classical technique with jazz. Pieranunzi was encouraged to study music from a very young age. His father Alvaro Pieranunzi was a jazz guitarist. He studied classical music until 1973 when he became a Professor of Music, and maintained that post for two years. In 1975 he left his teaching practice and played in trios and small ensembles, however the majority of his contributions are the 60 CDs upon which he is featured. He has also been prolific in his work as a session musician.

Session work He has performed with, among others, Frank Rosolino, Sal Nistico, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, Chet Baker, Joey Baron, Art Farmer, Jim Hall, Marc Johnson, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Bill Smith, Charlie Haden, Mads Vinding, and Billy Higgins. He issued his first LP in 1975. He has performed widely with his own group at European and American jazz festivals. He has also composed several film scores.

Recognition First in 1992 and then again in 1997, Pieranunzi was the recipient of the Djangodor Award (France) for best European jazz musician and the 2003 Django d'Or (Italy). Of the Italian newspaper Musica Jazz, he was elected in 1989 as the best Italian jazz musician of the year.

In 2006 he started the Trans Alpine Jazz Project.