Franck Amsallem
| Franck Amsallem | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Born |
25 October 1961 Oran, French Algeria |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, bandleader, musician |
| Instruments | Piano, Vocals |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Labels | Sunnyside, Naïve, Nocturne |
| Associated acts | Gary Peacock, Bill Stewart |
| Website | www |
Franck Amsallem is a French-American jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and singer. He was born in 1961 in Oran, French Algeria, but grew up in Nice, France.
Amsallem started learning the piano at age 7 and also took up the classical saxophone at the local conservatory. Early in his studies he was able to hear such artists as Thad Jones, Count Basie, Charles Mingus, Bill Evans, Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz live at the Nice Jazz Festival. He made his professional debut in 1976 at the age of fourteen in Nice, and by high school was playing in dance bands throughout the Cote d'Azur and featured in the documentary La Leçon de Musique as a student of John Lewis. He was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music in the early 1980s, to study composition and arranging with Herb Pomeroy and Michael Gibbs.
Amsallem moved to New York City in 1986 to earn a Masters in Jazz composition at the Manhattan School of Music . He went on to study with Bob Brookmeyer from 1986 to 1990, all the while continuing his classical piano studies with Phillip Kawin. He then played or collaborated with Gerry Mulligan, Joe Chambers, Gary Peacock, Bill Stewart, Joshua Redman, Maria Schneider, Jerry Bergonzi, Charles Lloyd, Bobby Watson, Kevin Mahogany, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Belden, Sonny Fortune, Tim Ries, Gary Bartz, Rick Margitza, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and Harry Belafonte.
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