THE SHORT STORY
Franck Amsallem has been a professional pianist and composer for over 30 years. As a leader he has released seven cds, all of which have received rare critical acclaim. His sideman credits have included some of the great names in jazz: Gerry Mulligan, Charles Lloyd, Gary Bartz, Sonny Fortune, Bobby Watson, Jerry Bergonzi, Rick Margitza, Tim Ries, Joe Chambers, Maria Schneider, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Harry Belafonte. He has played many venues throughout the U.S. and Europe including the Village Gate, the Knitting Factory, Birdland, Blues Alley, Sweet Basil, Pizza Express (London), Porgy and Bess (Vienna), the Pori, Molde, Red Sea, Parc Floral de Paris, Nice and Antibes Jazz Festival (where he shared the bill with Earth Wind and Fire). The recipient of major awards (NEA composition fellowship, ASCAP award for young composers, Fondation de la Vocation) in both the USA and France, Franck recently toured throughout Germany, Mexico, Central America, South America and South Africa, as well as major concerts in Holland, Portugal, Israel, Croatia, Spain, the Czech republic, Armenia and Lebanon.
2008/9 tours include China (solo), Algeria, Holland/Belgium, Israel and a 5-city tour of Peru, including two concerts at the Lima jazz festival. In the summer of 2009, Franck played at the Jazzavienne festival in a 6-piano program with Martial Solal, then returned to Algiers with his trio. Next concerts will take place in Lithuania, and Romania. Franck's new project is a solo piano and vocals CD "Amsallem" Sings".
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