John's Space, Continued
Francesco Buzzurro
Francesco Buzzurro's lifelong privileged connection with guitar started at the tender age of six when his father gave him his first guitar, which will then lead him to study classical guitar. After earning his Diploma at "Conservatorio Bellini" in Palermo, he continues education with courses held by Aldo Minella
and Oscar Ghiglia. He perfected himself at the "Arts Academy" in Rome under the guidance of Stefano Palamidessi and some big concert performers like David Russell, Alberto Ponce, Hopkinson Smith and John Duarte. ". On top of his studies of classical music and of his passion for folk music, he soon develops an interest in jazz music, which brings him to graduate in Jazz Music with Honorable Mention.
Thanks to a deep search about this specific genre of music, he finds his individual and unique style of improvisation, which show influences from bossanova, ethnic music and latin jazz. Thanks to his distinctive technique of improvisation on classical guitar and to his recognition as a mould breaker guitarist, he is regularly invited each year from the "University of Southern California" in Los Angeles as a teacher for seminars available for both classical and jazz guitar departments. Actually he is the teacher of Jazz Guitar at the Conservatory “Bellini” in Palermo
Richard Smith and Francesco Buzzurro performing together in Spain
while his talent and abilities lead him to become a member of three prestigious Sicilian orchestras: the "Sicilia Jazz Big Band", the "Orchestra Jazz Siciliana", as a first guitarist, and later the "Orchestra di Musica Contemporanea Città di Palermo". Within this well known ensembles, he performs with some of the international and national jazz greats such as Toots Thelemans, Diane Schurr, Arturo Sandaval, Peter Erskine, Phil Woods, Bob Mintzer, Bill Russo, Vince Mendoza, Frank Foster, Bireli Lagréne, Mickey Howard, Roberto Gatto and Marco Tamburini. Noteworthy among these experiences are his performances – both as a soloist and as leader of a quartet – at the main national festivals and shows like the "Festival Taormina Arte".
He plays in historical jazz clubs with sold out concerts, like in the "Blue Note" in Milan or the "Dakota Jazz Club" In Minneapolis, and he is on stage at the "Notte delle Chitarre" in Parma in 2009 with Maurizio Solieri, Ricky Portera, Cesareo, Max Cottafavi and Alberto Radius.
The French ex President Valéry Giscard D'Estaing requested his presence to the Worldwide Convention on Renewable Energy, together with his countryman and long time friend Francesco Cafiso, who often share the stage with him.
Today he is one of the most appreciated and multifaceted Italian guitarist, voted by the famous Jazz Music trade magazine as one of the most talented of the national scene.
SPECIAL AWARDS
> > 2008: "Premio Efebo D'Oro", as best soundtrack for the movie "Io ricordo", by Muccino Brothers.
> > 2009: winner of the "Groove Master Award", as "within the groove and contemporary jazz scene he was able to offer a new musical vision, fulfilled by a unique technique".
> > 2010: Award from the President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano for the soundtrack of the documentary film "Ioricordo", for "the feelings generated".