Claudio Chiara

Claudio Chiara was born in Moncalieri (To) on 11/10/1960. He graduated in double-bass in 1982 with Master Enzo Ferraris at the “G. Verdi” Conservatory of Music in Turin, and whilst engaged in his classical studies he approached the world of jazz music by teaching himself the alto sax. In 1986 he played lead alto sax in Gianni Basso’s Big Band, accompanying famous American musicians such as Lee Konitz and Enrie Wilkins. He has also played lead sax in Tullio De Piscopo’s band and the “Paese degli Specchi” Big Band in Bologna, sponsored by EEC, where he accompanied artists such George Russel and Kenny Wheeler. As leader of a quintet he recorded a CD of his own compositions which received favourable reviews from specialised magazines such as “Musical Jazz” and “Blue Jazz”. He took part in the Piedmont Symphonic Youth Orchestra concert held in June ‘98 at the “Teatro Regio di Torino” to celebrate the centenary of Gershwin’s birth. He worked with the Turin-based music publishers, Scomegna, on the “New Generation” project, composing and orchestrating band music, taking inspiration from the jazz sonority of the Big bands, and recording the CDs including these original compositions. He has also played with great jazz musicians such as Bob Mover, Benny Baley, Riccardo Zegna, Luciano Milanese, Andrea Pozza, Roberto Rossi, Luigi Bonafede, Stephan Belmondo, Furio Di Castri. He has been on tour with the Paolo Conte band since 1995, playing in Europe’s most impor-tant theatres.