Biography

I was born in Torino, Italy in 1977.

I studied classical piano as a child. I studied Jazz Saxophone in Turin and from 1999 I studied Jazz piano at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands.

In 2003 I obtained a Bachelor degree in Jazz piano. My teachers were Frans Elsen, Rob van Bavel and Rob van Kreeveld for Jazz and Albert Brussee for classical piano. At that time I really got interested in early music and historical performance practice, especially aspects of improvisation. Together with harpsichord teacher Patrick Ayrton I devised a Master study plan which included my main jazz piano study and a research on improvisation practices in late renaissance Italian keyboard music as a secondary study.

I completed my Master studies in 2005. My teachers were Rob van Bavel and Rob van Kreeveld for Jazz, Patrick Ayrton for Harpsichord and Peter van Heyghen for all the theoretical early music studies.

In 2005 I started studying percussion, mainly frame drums, Persian tombak and traditional Italian tamburello. I’ve had classes with Glen Velez, Pedro Estevan, Fabio Tricomi, Paolo Cimmino, Alfio Antico, Andrea Piccioni, etc…

I am very interested in all kinds of keyboard instruments…in fact right now I am very busy with piano accordion, Indian harmonium and medieval portative organ.

In March 2006 I moved to Dublin Ireland where I am currently busy as a performer and teacher.

I teach to Jazz BA students at Newpark School of music in Dublin.

Check the news section for the most updated info.

DOWNLOADS

Francesco Turrisi Biography (Word Document)
Portrait Photograph 01 (High Res Jpeg File)
Portrait Photograph 02 (High Res Jpeg File)

Francesco Turrisi and a tamborine

I have the luck to have collaborated with many great jazz musicians such as:

Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Gianluigi Trovesi, Gabriele Mirabassi, Fay Claeesen, Maria Pia de Vito, John Ruocco, Eric Ineke, Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael Buckley, Mike Nielsen, Dorothy Murphy, Maria Tecce etc…

I have performed in many early music festivals around the world with the ensemble “L’Arpeggiata” and collaborated with the King’s Singers, Veronique Gens, Dominique Visse, Philippe Jaroussky, Claron McFadden, Vittorio Ghielmi, Marco Beasley, Marco Ambrosini, Nuria Rial etc…

I have also performed with great world music artists such as flamenco legend Pepe el Habichuela, Italian singer Lucilla Galeazzi, Bijan Chemirani, Abdullah Chhadeh, Roman Bunka, Emer Mayock, Roisin El Safty, Robbie Harris, Marcello Vitale, Mihaly Borbely, Ens. Myriada, Patricio Hidalgo, Flaco de Nerja, Andrea Piccioni etc…

For more info on my different groups check the projects section

Photograph above by of Marco Borggreve
http://www.marcoborggreve.com