Raphael Gualazzi was born in Urbino on November 11, 1981. After studying piano at the Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro, where he focused his studies on classical composers, he began experimenting further afield with jazz, blues and fusion, working with accomplished musicians and making a name for himself thanks to his remarkable vocal and instrumental skills.
His music fuses early 20th century ragtime with the lyricism of traditional blues, soul and jazz, taking his inspiration not only from the sounds typical of pre-jazz and stride piano, as exemplified by Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Art Tatum and Mary Lou Williams, but also from the more typical blues styles of Ray Charles and Roosevelt Sykes.
Various soul influences from great versatile musicians such as Jamiroquai and Ben Harper add an extremely contemporary dimension to his music, creating a highly personal style that merges traditional sounds with the most innovative musical trends.
During winter 2008 he was invited to perform in Vermont and New Hampshire (USA) on the “The History & Mystery of Jazz” tour, which saw him in the company of musicians of the caliber of Michael Ray (Sun Ra Arkestra, Kool & The Gang), Steve Ferraris (Sun Ra Arkestra, Charlie Haden), Jamie McDonald, Nick Cassarino, Bob Gullotti, and John McKenna.
In January 2008 the compilation “Piano Jazz” was released in France, which includes the track “Georgia On My Mind” by Raphael Gualazzi taken from his aforementioned debut album, as well as tracks by great artists such as Nora Jones, Diana Krall, Art Tatum, Ray Charles, Jimmie Cullum, Michael Petrucciani, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, amongst others.
In September 2009 Raphael Gualazzi met Caterina Caselli and signed with the Sugar label, sharing publishing management with Peermusic.
He performed in Vermot and New Hampshire (USA) in the project called “The History & Mystery of Jazz”, playing by side with musicians such as Michael Ray (Sun Ra Arkestra, Kool & The Gang), Steve Ferraris (Sun Ra Arkestra, Charlie Haden), Jamie Mc Donald, Nick Cassarino, Bob Gullotti, John McKenna.
In 2010, March, Reality and Fantasy - Gilles Peterson RMX - walked in the playlist of Radio Nova in France, and several worldwide distributed compilations (e.g. Hotel Costes) chosen the song to be part of their tracklist. In April, Don’t stop, has been selected as official soundtrack of the International ENI ads campaign.
Raphael presents the new EP available on all the main digital stores at the Sunside Jazz Club in Paris, on December 1st, 2010, for selected European Media.
The official record will be released by Sugar / Universal Music in 2011 in Europe.
