# Paolo Fresu style is based on the classic Miles Davis sound of the 50s: Video

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2018/02/10/paolo-fresu-style-is-based-on-the-classic-miles-davis-sound-of-the-50s-video/
- Published: 2018-02-10T00:02:07+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**10.02. – Happy Birthday !!! At the beginning of the ’80s, trumpeter Paolo Fresu
attended the Siena Summer Jazz Seminars and amazed Enrico Rava with his creativity,
talent, and technique. Over the next ten years, he became a major player on the 
Italian scene, first with his own quintet (which is still going), then branching
out in a variety of projects. **

After finishing his Conservatory studies, he became a teacher at the same Jazz Seminars
in Siena; he lives half the year in Paris, from where he coordinates the major Time
in Jazz Festival he created in his hometown. His discography numbers an astonishing
130 titles since he’s been invited to play all over Europe in a variety of projects,
from contemporary music to straight jazz, from dance to jazz/folk fusions.

Live in Montpellier His style is based on the classic Miles Davis sound of the ’
50s, and the very lineup of his quintet is reminiscent of Davis’ group, with excellent
tenor Tino Tracanna. They mostly play originals and the music flows fresh and engaging,
never a mere imitation. Live in Montpellier (1990) and Ossi di Seppia featuring 
Gianluigi Trovesi, both on Splasc(h), are good representations of the different 
facets of the group; Shades of Chet is an affectionate tribute with Rava on Label
Bleu (2001) featuring new piano talent Stefano Bollani. Sonos ‘E Memoria (ACT 2001)
and Metamorfosi (BMG 1999) are respectively inspired by Sardinian musical heritage
and European classical Richard Strauss, their success being proof of his commitment
to an open musical aesthetic. In addition to Fresu’s quintet, he played in an unusual
duo with bassist Furio di Castri, this became the PAF trio with the addition of 
Antonello Salis on piano and accordion, and another trio with English pianist John
Taylor (Contos, Egea 1995), while his European quartet includes French-Vietnamese
guitar player Nguyên Lê (Tales From Viêtnam, ACT, 1995).

Paolo Fresu started studying his instrument at the age of 11 in the “Bernardo de
Muro” music band of Berchidda, where he was born.

After experiences light music he discovered jazz in 1980 and started his professional
activity in 1982 following first the and then recording for the RAI, the Italian
public broadcasting corporation, (Radio 3 ‘Un certo discorso) under the direction
of Bruno Tommaso.

In 1984 he graduated in Trumpet at the Cagliari Conservatory under Enzo Morandini
and attended the music department of DAMS, the faculty of arts of the University
of Bologna. Still in 1984 he won several prizes as best talent in Italian Jazz.

In 1990 he won the prize as best Italian musician, best group (the Paolo Fresu Quintet)
and best record (Live in Montpellier). In 1996, in Paris he won the prestigious 
prizes “Bobby Jaspar” awarded by the “Académie du jazz and the “Django d’Or” (the
European music Oscar) as best European jazz musician and in the year 2000 he had
another nomination for the “Django d’Or” as best international musician.

He has been a music teacher in State Middle schools and, for the past twenty years
he has led and intense teaching activity in many contexts.

The list of collaborations is prestigious: ranging from the leading Italian musicians
like F. D’Andrea, GL. Trovesi, G. Gaslini, E. Rava, B. Tommaso, G. Tommaso, E. Pieranunzi,
T. Ghiglioni and others, to Europeans and Americans like K. Wheeler, J. Taylor, 
D. Liebman, D. Holland, Ph. Woods, A. Romano, G. Mulligan, B. Brookmayer, J. Zorn,
R. Del Frà, J. Abercrombie, H. Merril, M. Portal, R. Galliano, T. Gurtu, G. Shuller,
M. Waldrom, del Fra, J. Hall, L. Soloff, J. Hassell, Uri Caine, Gil Evans Orchestra
etc.

He has recorded over 220 LPs and CDs, of which over thirty under his own name and
others in international collaborations. He has performed various artistic intrusions(
in painting, sculpture, installations, video, etc).

He divides his time between Paris, the Apennines which bridge Tuscany and Emilia,
Bologna and Sardinia and is President of the “TIME IN JAZZ” Cultural Association
of Berchidda, which organizes the Jazz Festival by the same name, as well as other
cultural events.

![Image result for Paolo Fresu](https://i0.wp.com/1.citynews-genovatoday.stgy.ovh/
~media/original-hi/20394981643992/paolo-fresu-dado-moroni-2.jpg?w=640)

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