the harlem home sessions

All the concert have been streamed live from my apartment in New York during the Covid 19 pandemic. It has been a great chance to meet my friends who happens to be some of the best musicians in the New York Jazz Scene. Enjoy all the concerts and feel free to support us. Any donation is really appreciated

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Sunday June 27th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Manuel Valera (piano)

(LAS SECOND BASS SOLO CONCERT)
Unfortunately Manuel couldn't do the live session at the last minute and I ended up playing 1 hour of bass solo. It came out a great solo concert. I hope you enjot it.

Based in New York City, Grammy nominated artist, pianist and composer Manuel Valera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Since arriving in NYC, he has performed with Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, Jeff “Tain” Watts, John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Joel Frahm, Yosvany Terry among many others.
Valera is also the leader of his working band Manuel Valera and the New Cuban Express, a project deeply influenced by the experiments of Cuban artists from the 70s and 80s. 

Sunday June 20th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Gabriel Guerrero (piano) 

Critically acclaimed pianist/composer Gabriel Guerrero comes from a new generation of contemporary musicians emerging in the Jazz scene. Addressing music for its drive, direction and roots rather than styles, Gabriel has gone from South American rhythms, Contemporary Improvisation, Avant Garde to the traditions of Be-Bop and Jazz. Gabriel exalts his music with a high understanding of its roots bringing his experience and diversity to the table. Born in Colombia and based in New York City for almost twenty years, Gabriel began his classical training at age five, giving concerts and TV appearances at age nine, Gabriel have performed in Jazz Festivals in Europe, South America, USA, Asia and is a high demand musician in the scene today. He has performed with Paquito D’ Rivera, Dave Holland, Steve Coleman, Roy Hargrove, George Garzone, Mike Mainieri, Esperanza Spalding, Adam Nusbaum, Gene Jackson, Dafnis Prieto, John Riley, Mike Clark, Bob Moses, Michael Spiro, Anthony Branker, Gregg Bissonette, Michael Wimberley, Jamey Haddad, and recently performing regular gigs with the Jerry Bergonzi and the Bruce Gertz Quartets

Sunday June 13th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Jon Davis (piano)
E.J. Strickland (drums)

Jon Davis is one of the most hired pianists in the New York Jazz scene. Although perhaps still most widely known for his association with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius, Jon has shown a rare versatility ranging from solo, to Big Band, and everything in between. Jon relocated to San Francisco in the early 80's. It was there that he would really come into his own, working regularly with the John Handy Quartet, Eddie Henderson, Johnny Coles, Buddy Montgomery, as well as jazz legends such as Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz. A more extensive list of the musicians that Jon has recorded and performed with includes: Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Tootie Heath, Eddie Harris, Mike Stern, Phil Woods, Frank Wess, George Garzone, Victor Lewis, Bob Mintzer, Joel Frahm, Anat Cohen, Marc Gross, Bob Berg, Milt Jackson, Bob Weir, Nora Jones, Victor Bailey, John Handy, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Rosanna Vitro, Will Lee, Dave Binney, Don Byron, Toots Thielemans, Brian Blade, Larry Grenadier, Sonny Fortune, Ron McClure, Dennis Irwin, Claudio Roditi, Antonio Hart, Kenny Garrett, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Schnitter, Kenny Wolleson, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, Javon Jackson, Scott Colley, Oz Noy, Greg Hutchinson, Gianluca Renzi, Jaimoe, Gene Jackson, Don Braden, and many more.

Enoch Jamal "E.J." Strickland is the world-class, world-traveled drummer, composer, educator, and artist you've heard on over 60 albums in the last 10-plus years. Strickland has built a successful career as a composer, bandleader, educator, and sideman. He's toured, performed, and recorded with some of the greatest names in contemporary music: Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, Lizz Wright, Wynton Marsalis, George Colligan, David Gilmore, Vincent Herring, and Nnenna Freelon, to name a few.

Sunday June 6th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Frank Lacy (trombone)
Alex Norris (trumpet)

Frank Lacy is a jazz trombonist who has spent many years as a member of the Mingus Big Band. Lacy’s father was a teacher who played guitar with Arnett Cobb, Illinois Jacquet, and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. His mother was a gospel singer. When Lacy was eight, he started learning the piano. In his teens, Lacy played trumpet, tuba, and euphonium before switching to trombone. He got a degree in physics from Texas Southern University. In 1979, Lacy went to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, studying trombone and composition. Lacy moved to New York City in 1981. In 1986, he played with Illinois Jacquet’s big band, and a couple of years later he was musical director for Art Blakey. Lacy released his first album as a bandleader in 1991 with his father on guitar. He has also worked with Lester Bowie, Marty Ehrlich, Michael Formanek, Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, Rufus Reid, Henry Threadgill, Steve Turre, McCoy Tyner, and Bobby Watson. Frank Lacy has spent over twenty years as a member of the Mingus Big Band.

Trumpeter/composer Alex Norris, who grew up in Columbia, MD, received a scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1990. Two short years later found Norris taking NYC by storm, working with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi's Jazz Orchestra, and Maria Schneider's Band. From 1994-1998 Norris was a member of Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead, becoming musical director in 1998, sadly the final year of Carter's life. Norris has also performed and recorded extensively in the bands led by Lonnie Plaxico, Jason Lindner, and Ralph Irizarry. Norris has also worked with many noted jazz artists, such as Slide Hampton, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter, Carl Allen, John Patitucci, Mulgrew Miller, Brian Blade, and legends of the Afro-Cuban jazz scene as well, having worked with Andy and Jerry González, Manny Oquendo, Paquito D’Rivera and Chico O’Farrill. In addition to performing all over the world with his own group, Norris is currently a first-call sideman for many artists, including Ron Carter's Great Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, Alan Ferber's Big Band, Kyle Eastwood, Helen Sung, Miguel Zenon, Amina Figarova, and many other jazz and Latin jazz artists.

Sunday May 30th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Joel Frahm (tenor sax)
Marcello Pellitteri (drums)

For nearly 30 years, Joel Frahm has lived in New York City, working in jazz clubs, collaborating with other musicians, and honing his craft. He has worked alongside some of the masters of Jazz such as Betty Carter, Kenny Barron, Freddy Cole, Dianne Schuur, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, Bill Charlap, Brad Mehldau, Matt Wilson, Cyrille Aimee, and many other top artists. He has played as a leader or sideman on more than 100 recordings and has appeared at jazz festivals in the United States, Europe, Israel, Canada and South America. In addition to his work as a performer, he has taught jazz classes in clinics at the University of North Carolina, the University of Connecticut, New York University, Wichita State University, the University of North Texas, Baylor University, Colorado State University, Furman University, the University of Toronto, the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, the University of Manitoba and others.

Award winning drummer Marcello Pellitteri is also an educator, composer, arranger and producer. for nearly 35 years, Pellitteri has taught at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he is currently a professor. He has criss-crossed musical genres playing with jazz legends, pop stars and young lions. He has performed and recorded with grammy award winners New York Voices, Dave Samuels, Slide Hampton, Paquito D’Rivera, Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Jon Hendricks, Tom Harrell, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Mick Goodrick, Bucky Pizzarelli, Buddy De Franco, Kenny Barron, Miroslav Vitous, Eddie Gomez, Mulgrew Miller, Jacky Terrasson, The Boston Pops, The Taipei Philharmonic and the Gipsy Kings.

Sunday May 23rd (will be re-performed June 13th)
3pm (New York -EST)

Youtube Channel

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Peter Bernstein (guitar)
Jon Davis (piano)

Jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein has been a part of the jazz scene in New York and abroad since 1989. During that time he has participated in numerous recordings and performances with musicians from all generations. As a leader, Peter has released nine albums and a DVD. As a sideman Peter has appeared in groups led by Sonny Rollins, Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman, Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Fathead Newman, Joshua Redman, Brad Mehldau, Diana Krall, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Cobb and many more. Current projects include his album, Monk, with Doug Weiss and Bill Stewart, a recently released solo record, Solo Guitar – Live at Smalls, and the highly acclaimed organ trio with organist Larry Goldings and drummer Bill Stewart.  

Jon Davis is one of the most hired pianists in the New York Jazz scene. Although perhaps still most widely known for his association with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius, Jon has shown a rare versatility ranging from solo, to Big Band, and everything in between. Jon relocated to San Francisco in the early 80's. It was there that he would really come into his own, working regularly with the John Handy Quartet, Eddie Henderson, Johnny Coles, Buddy Montgomery, as well as jazz legends such as Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz. A more extensive list of the musicians that Jon has recorded and performed with includes: Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Tootie Heath, Eddie Harris, Mike Stern, Phil Woods, Frank Wess, George Garzone, Victor Lewis, Bob Mintzer, Joel Frahm, Anat Cohen, Marc Gross, Bob Berg, Milt Jackson, Bob Weir, Nora Jones, Victor Bailey, John Handy, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Rosanna Vitro, Will Lee, Dave Binney, Don Byron, Toots Thielemans, Brian Blade, Larry Grenadier, Sonny Fortune, Ron McClure, Dennis Irwin, Claudio Roditi, Antonio Hart, Kenny Garrett, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Schnitter, Kenny Wolleson, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, Javon Jackson, Scott Colley, Oz Noy, Greg Hutchinson, Gianluca Renzi, Jaimoe, Gene Jackson, Don Braden, and many more.


Sunday May 16th
3pm (New York -EST)

Youtube Channel

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Tom Guarna (guitar)
Vince Ector (drums)

Originally from Philadelphia, Vince Ector has worked with jazz luminaries that include: NEA Jazz Masters, Freddie Hubbard, Randy Weston, James Moody, Slide Hampton Ron Carter and Jimmy Heath as well as Houston Person, Gloria Lynne, Charles Earland, Bobby Watson, Lou Donaldson, Grover Washington Jr., Dr Lonnie Smith, Claudio Roditi, John Lee, Ralph Peterson Jr., Melvin Sparks, and Shirley Scott. An accomplished musician with no confinements, Mr. Ector is currently a Lecturer of Jazz Percussion at Princeton University. He has been featured as a Clinician at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Lincoln University, Texas Tech and The Belgrade Serbia Jazz Festival among others. Vincent is currently in demand as a recording musician and as a performer at jazz festivals throughout the world with numerous international artists such as, The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All Stars & Big Band, Stanley Cowell, Houston Person, Antonio Hart, Bruce Williams, Bobby Watson & Horizon, Steve Miller, Jose Feliciano, Nat Adderley Jr., Lou Donaldson and The Vince Ector "Organatomy" Band.


Grammy-nominated guitarist, composer and arranger Tom Guarna began his musical studies at age fifteen, rapidly demonstrating a natural ability to play and compose. After working with several jazz bands, he joined Blood Sweat and Tears in 1995 and toured extensively with them for the next three years. Since then, he has forged his own voice as a modern jazz guitarist, performing with a wide range of artists including Wallace Roney, Stanley Clarke, Mark Turner, Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Mulgrew Miller, Fred Wesley, Mike Clark, Uri Caine, The Allman Brothers, The Yellowjackets, and Gary Bartz. Guarna has toured five continents with his own quartets and as a top sideman in several exciting groups led by Lenny White, E.J. Strickland, and Les McCann. He was a featured artist on over thirty albums, and composed “If You Dare,” a funk-rock song on Lenny White's 2010 Anomaly CD. Guarna also toured the United States with pianist Manuel Valera, after playing on the Grammy Award-nominated 2012 album, New Cuban Express.

Sunday May 9th
3pm (New York -EST)

Youtube Channel

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Mike Lee (tenor sax)
Alvester Garnett (drums)


Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, saxophonist Mike Lee has established himself in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for many years. He performs regularly in New York City as a member of a wide array of jazz ensembles. His recent associations include The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Wallace Roney’s Universe Orchestra, The Oliver Lake Big Band, The Loston Harris Trio, The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, Josh Evans Big Band, Dave Stryker, Frank Lacy, TS Monk, and The Roy Hargrove Big Band. He performs regularly at venues such as The Bluenote, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls, The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, and Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel. Recent tours have taken him up and down the East Coast, to Italy, France, California and Beijing, China. Mike Lee is Professor of Jazz Saxophone at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.

Joy and spirited musical communication are what characterize the artistry of Alvester Garnett’s drumming. Singers such as Abbey Lincoln and the late great Betty Carter, to instrumentalists Wynton Marsalis, James Carter, Regina Carter, and Cyrus Chestnut have all called on Mr. Garnett for the energy and fire that he brings to the bandstand. Alvester Garnett has performed at many notable Jazz Festivals. Some of them are the JVC Jazz Festivals of NY and Paris, The Newport Jazz Festival, The North Sea Jazz Festival, The Vienne Jazz Festival, The Montreux Jazz Festival, The DuMaurier Jazz Festival, The Nice Jazz Festival, The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, and The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
He has also worked in the bands of many other great artists. The list includes, Roy Hargrove’s Quintet, Benny Golson, Al Grey, Stefon Harris,Lou Donaldson’s Quartet along with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jackie Terrason’s Trio, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rodney Jones, Kevin Mahogany, Clark Terry, Eric Reed, Wycliffe Gordon, Pharaoh Sanders, and many others…

Sunday May 2nd
3pm (New York -EST)

Gianluca Renzi Youtube

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Hector Martignon (piano)
Luca Santaniello (drums)

New York based, Colombian born Hector Martignon has composed, orchestrated, produced, performed and recorded music in a wide spectrum of genres, from Classical and Crossover, to Jazz and World Music, to Rock and Pop. His five albums as a leader, two as co-leader (MOZART’s BLUE FANTASIES and BACH’s SECRET FILES) as well as his work on over a hundred albums, scores for five feature films, three Broadway Musicals and multiple other projects, showcase his wide-ranging area of expertise.
After several nominations as a sideman, two of his five solo CDs were nominated for a GRAMMY Award (REFUGEE, 2008, and SECOND CHANCE, 2010) . He arranged and performed parts of the score of Ang Lee’s OSCAR-nominated movie EAT, DRINK, MAN, WOMAN. As a requested sideman he has toured the world with such greats as Paquito D’Rivera, Ray Barretto, Gato Barbieri, Steve Turre, Don Byron, Tito Puente and was featured pianist with Max Roach’s PROJECT AMERICA at the 92 St Y.

Luca Santaniello is a drummer, composer and educator living in New York City. His proficiency in many different musical situations and settings, and his strong versatility skills on the drums have earned him wholehearted praise in the United States, Europe and South America. He entered the international scene by performing with some of the great masters of jazz such as Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Benny Golson, Ron Carter and Roy Hargrove and recording on major music label Verve/Universal in the album of japanese jazz pianist Chihiro Yamanaka “ Running Wild”, and on some of the most acclaimed European jazz artists albums like incredible pianist Roberto Tarenzi with whom he recorded two albums “13 Floors” and “ Dig Deep” for the label Music Center, great tenor saxophonist Emanuele Cisi “Where or When” for Max Jazz -horn series, and saxophone virtuoso Dmitry Baevsky “Some Other Spring” for the French label Rideau Rouge.

Sunday April 25th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Christos Rafalides (vibes)
Peter Kronreif (drums)

Born in Kozani, Greece, Christos Rafalides can't remember a time when he wasn't surrounded by music. Upon receiving a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, he moved to Boston, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. Finishing his Masters Degree, Christos began to immerse himself in the vital NYC jazz scene. In a short while he was playing with such notable musicians as Ravi Coltrane, Antonio Sanchez, Donny McCaslin, Hector Martignon, Ron Affif, Joe Locke, Randy Brecker, Christian McBride, Gunther Schuller, Lew Soloff, Lew Tabackin, Ronnie Cuber, Victor Lewis and the Lincoln Center Orchestra. Moreover his collaboration with Greece’s legendary composer Mimis Plessas led to the release of two projects both based on Plessas’ music. For several years Christos has been a guest faculty member at the ‘Zeltsman Marimba Festival’ which takes place every summer in different parts of the world. He also has an Artist Residency at the ‘Music Village’ in Greece. This is an international music community that became an institution which reinforces both creativity and human relations. He is also a member of ‘Queens College’ private lesson faculty.

Born and raised in Salzburg, Austria, Peter Kronreif went to Graz (A) to study Jazz at the University of Arts with Alex Deutsch, he then transferred to the Anton Bruckner University in Linz (A) where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in 2007 with first-class honors, studying with Doug Hammond and later, in the master's program, with Jeff Boudreaux. From 2004 to 2010 Peter Kronreif lived in Vienna (A) and became a most-wanted sideman in Austria’s Jazz-scene. Working with, amongst others, Harry Sokal, Martin Reiter, Matthieu Michel, Alegre Correa, Bastian Stein, Ana Paola DaSilva, Peter O'Mara, Fabian Rucker, Pepe Auer and Phil Nykrin brought him on tour in over 20 nations – and in 2010 he was awarded the Hans-Koller-Prize as “Sideman of the Year 2009“. He too was granted the "Annual Scholarship for Music 2010" by the city of Salzburg as well as a studying grant from the Ministry of Arts & Culture.In 2010 Peter moved to the Big Apple, where he currently lives. Peter has been working with numerous artists in the NYC music scene over a variety of genres while still being on the road a lot with artists like Florian Hoefner Quartet, Le Boeuf Brothers, Thana Alexa, Immigration Booth, Allan Harris and many others.

Sunday April 18th
3pm (New York - EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Manuel Valera (piano)
E.J. Strickland (drums)

Based in New York City, Grammy nominated artist, pianist and composer Manuel Valera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Since arriving in NYC, he has performed with Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, Jeff “Tain” Watts, John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Joel Frahm, Yosvany Terry among many others.
Valera is also the leader of his working band Manuel Valera and the New Cuban Express, a project deeply influenced by the experiments of Cuban artists from the 70s and 80s.

Enoch Jamal "E.J." Strickland is the world-class, world-traveled drummer, composer, educator, and artist you've heard on over 60 albums in the last 10-plus years. Strickland has built a successful career as a composer, bandleader, educator, and sideman. He's toured, performed, and recorded with some of the greatest names in contemporary music: Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, Lizz Wright, Wynton Marsalis, George Colligan, David Gilmore, Vincent Herring, and Nnenna Freelon, to name a few.

Sunday April 11th
3pm (New York - EST)

Gianluca Renzi Youtube Channel

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Alex Collins (piano)
Ronnie Burrage (drums)

Alex Collins is an incredible New York City pianist, composer and arranger. Making his debut at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival with the Brandon Wright Quartet in 2010, Collins has worked alongside dozens of Jazz greats. Since arriving on the New York scene, Alex has performed at prolific venues across the city, such as the Blue Note, The Plaza Hotel, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Fat Cat and Smalls Jazz Club just to name a few!

Drummer, percussionist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, band leader and music educator Ronnie Burrage had the opportunity to perform with Duke Ellington, one of the greatest musical figures to ever live, at the incredibly young age of only nine years. Ronnie’s career thrust into notoriety by working with Sonny Fortune, which led to his three-year stint with McCoy Tyner. Burrage has graced stages with the who’s who of jazz such as Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Frank Morgan, Wallace Roney, Jackie & Rene McLean, James Moody, Gary Bartz, Archie Shepp, Reggie Workman, Joe Zawinul, Cedar Walton, Wood Shaw, McCoy Tyner, and Pepper Adams. Throughout his illustrious career he has been featured on over 100 recordings.Burrage is considered to be a virtuoso, exceptionally skilled and regarded as one of the best in the business at his craft. He has toured all four continents from Siberia to South Africa to Japan. Ronnie is also a well-respected educator who’s biography is vibrant and dynamically diverse. (https://ronnieburrage.biz)

Sunday April 4th
3pm (New York - EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Jon Davis (piano)

Jon Davis is one of the most hired pianists in the New York Jazz scene. He has been performing and touring with many of the finest jazz musicians around the world for more than 25 years. He has appeared on over 50 recordings, and has contributed compositions on many of them. Although perhaps still most widely known for his association with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius, Jon has shown a rare versatility ranging from solo, to Big Band, and everything in between. Jon relocated to San Francisco in the early 80's. It was there that he would really come into his own, working regularly with the John Handy Quartet, Eddie Henderson, Johnny Coles, Buddy Montgomery, as well as jazz legends such as Joe Henderson, Milt Jackson, and Stan Getz. He was also playing in bands with future jazz greats Larry Grenadier, and Jeff Ballard, and had become a major force on the freelance scene in the Bay Area. It was there that he teamed up with drummer Brian Melvin and formed an association with Jaco that would last several years, tour Europe in the mid 80's, and produce five records. A more extensive list of the musicians that Jon has recorded and performed with includes: Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Tootie Heath, Eddie Harris, Mike Stern, Phil Woods, Frank Wess, George Garzone, Victor Lewis, Bob Mintzer, Joel Frahm, Anat Cohen, Marc Gross, Bob Berg, Milt Jackson, Bob Weir, Nora Jones, Victor Bailey, John Handy, Eddie Henderson, Stanley Turrentine, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Rosanna Vitro, Will Lee, Dave Binney, Don Byron, Toots Thielemans, Brian Blade, Larry Grenadier, Sonny Fortune, Ron McClure, Dennis Irwin, Claudio Roditi, Antonio Hart, Kenny Garrett, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Schnitter, Kenny Wolleson, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, Javon Jackson, Scott Colley, Oz Noy, Greg Hutchinson, Gianluca Renzi, Jaimoe, Gene Jackson, Don Braden, and many more.

Sunday March 28th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Benny Bennack III (tp/vocal)
Alex Collins (piano)

Third in a generational line of Pittsburgh jazz notables, Benny follows in the footsteps of his trumpeter and bandleader grandfather, Benny Benack, Sr. (1921-86), and his father Benny Benack, Jr., a saxophonist/clarinetist who gave the young Benny his first professional experience. 
By age 28, trumpeter and singer Benny Benack III has proven to be a rare talent: not only a fiery trumpet player with a stirring command of the postbop trumpet vernacular in the vein of Kenny Dorham and Blue Mitchell, but also a singer with a sly, mature, naturally expressive delivery in the post-Sinatra mold, performing standards and his own astute songs with a thrilling sense of showmanship. His superb intonation and bracing virtuosity enable him to handle astounding feats of originally composed vocalese (complex solos with written lyrics). And he’s a highly capable pianist as well.

Alex Collins is an incredible New York City pianist, composer and arranger. Making his debut at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival with the Brandon Wright Quartet in 2010, Collins has worked alongside dozens of Jazz greats. Since arriving on the New York scene, Alex has performed at prolific venues across the city, such as the Blue Note, The Plaza Hotel, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Fat Cat and Smalls Jazz Club just to name a few! 
 

Sunday March 21st
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
David Kikoski (piano)

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David Kikoski is a world class pianist who has played on over 100 records including 14 under his own name.
He is a distinguished band leader as well as an invaluable “go-to” sideman who was offered places alongside an enviable cast of jazz luminaries such as John Scofield, Roy Haynes, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Ravi Coltrane, Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Mike Stern, Chick Corea, Bill Stewart, Toots Thielemans, Tom Harrell, Gary Thomas, Marcus Miller, Michael Brecker, Pat Martino, Jack Dejohnette, Toninho Horta and many others.

Sunday March 14th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Mark Whitfield (guitar)
Rudy Royston (drums)


Jazz Guitarist Mark Whitfield collaborated with legendary artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Herbie Hancock, Carmen McRae, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry, Shirley Horn, Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Joe Williams, Stanley Turrentine and his greatest teacher and mentor George Benson.

Rudy Royston was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, and raised in Denver, Colorado. Rudy directed award winning music programs in the pubic school systems in Colorado before moving to the New York area in 2006 to attend graduate school at Rutgers University and study with Victor Lewis. Since moving to New York Rudy has performed and toured with many great musicians, including JD Allen, Bill Frisell, Ben Allison, Javon Jackson, Les McCann, Sean Jones, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Edward Simone, Jennifer Holiday, Ralph Bowen, Bruce Barth, George Colligan, Don Byron, Stanley Cowell, Jenny Scheinmen, David Gilmore, JD Allen, Bill Frisell, and more.

Sunday March 7th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Loston Harris (piano - vocal) Mike Lee (tenor sax)

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For more than a decade Loston Harris has headlined at a “home” that shares his passion for timeless music. The Legendary Bemelmans Bar located in The Carlyle in Manhattan’s storied Upper East Side, has a legacy of hosting great cabaret and jazz greats from the likes of Bobby Short, Eartha Kitt, Elaine Stritch, John Pizzarelli and the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). To date, Loston’s career in music has been significant and he’ll tell you he is living his dream. He has performed and toured with multiple Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis; appeared worldwide on the PBS special “Portraits in Blue” with fellow pianist and Grammy Nominee, Marcus Roberts.

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, saxophonist Mike Lee has established himself in the New York City/Northern New Jersey area for many years. He performs regularly in New York City as a member of a wide array of jazz ensembles. His recent associations include The Jimmy Heath Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, Wallace Roney’s Universe Orchestra, The Oliver Lake Big Band, The Loston Harris Trio, The Nat Adderley Jr. Quartet, Josh Evans Big Band, Dave Stryker, Frank Lacy, TS Monk, and The Roy Hargrove Big Band. He performs regularly at venues such as The Bluenote, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, Smalls, The Jazz Gallery, Fat Cat, and Bemelman’s Bar at the Carlyle Hotel. Recent tours have taken him up and down the East Coast, to Italy, France, California and Beijing, China. Mike Lee is Professor of Jazz Saxophone at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University.

Sunday February 28th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Misha Piatigorsky (piano)
Rudy Royston (drums)

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https://www.youtube.com/c/gianlucarenzi
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Misha Piatigorsky is a vibrant jazz pianist, composer and producer, hailed by the Boston Globe as the artist who “beautifully merges the worlds of serious jazz and pop,” — Misha blends powerful melodies with an unusual harmonic sensitivity. It's a sound with a deeply personal yet cosmopolitan dimension, reflecting his experience as a Russian-Jewish émigré growing up in urban America. The great nephew of legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, with international upbringing followed by international acclaim, he works in New York City to advance the modern jazz sound beyond the standards. He leads a number of projects including The Sketchy Orkestra – his innovative ensemble band some 20 people strong.

Rudy Royston was born in Ft. Worth, Texas, and raised in Denver, Colorado. Rudy directed award winning music programs in the pubic school systems in Colorado before moving to the New York area in 2006 to attend graduate school at Rutgers University and study with Victor Lewis. Since moving to New York Rudy has performed and toured with many great musicians, including JD Allen, Bill Frisell, Ben Allison, Javon Jackson, Les McCann, Sean Jones, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Edward Simone, Jennifer Holiday, Ralph Bowen, Bruce Barth, George Colligan, Don Byron, Stanley Cowell, Jenny Scheinmen, David Gilmore, JD Allen, Bill Frisell, and more.

Sunday February 21th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Jerry Weldon (tenor sax)
Charles Goold (drums)

Internationally renowned veteran sax man Jerry Weldon, has been a player on the jazz scene for more than 35 years. With eight CD’s as a leader and more sideman sides than even he can count…or remember, this native New Yorker’s performance/recording résumé reflects his venerable tenor tenure and reads like a virtual "Who's Who of Jazz." In 1990, Jerry became a charter member and featured soloist with Harry Connick Jr.'s newly formed big band. Since then Jerry has toured the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia with Harry and was also part of Connick's Broadway musical production, "Thou Shalt Not" and appeared on stage as well as in the orchestra.

Rising star jazz drummer Charles Goold, is one of New York City's hardest working drummer of his generation. Born to an American jazz saxophonist father and a Haitian immigrant mother, Goold has used these influences to shape his voice and message in the Jazz community. Goold has performed with a wide variety of acts across varying styles from Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, John Hendricks and Johnny O’Neal to rap icons Cam’ron, Talib Kweli, and Ghostface Killah.



Sunday February 14th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Karel Ruzicka (sax)
Jon Davis (piano)
John Davis (drums)

Saxophonist and composer Karel Ruzicka has developed a singular creative voice that arose from the many pivotal experiences of his life as a jazz artist. Ruzicka has performed with many legendary musicians on the global scene such as George Benson, Dean Brown, Hiram Bullock, Mike Stern, Joe Locke, Bob Mintzer, Ravi Coltrane, James Genus, John Patitucci, Arturo Sandoval, Nate Smith, Miroslav Vitous, Ronnie Burrage, Jeff “Tain” Watts and many more.

Jon Davis has been performing and touring with many of the finest jazz musicians around the world for more than 25 years. He has appeared on over 50 recordings, and has contributed compositions on many of them. He has performed with Jaco Pastorius, Joe Henderson, Stan Getz, Tootie Heath, Eddie Harris, Mike Stern, Phil Woods, Frank Wess, George Garzone, Victor Lewis, Bob Mintzer, Joel Frahm, Anat Cohen, Marc Gross, Bob Berg, Milt Jackson, Nora Jones, Victor Bailey, Stanley Turrentine, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Dave Binney, Don Byron, Toots Thielemens, Brian Blade, Larry Grenadier, Sonny Fortune and many more…

John Davis is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he studied under Jazz education legend, John Riley. He quickly became one of New York's "high-demand" drummers and since, has been touring with numerous top-level artist including Grammy Award-Winning vocalist Cassandra Wilson for the last six years and Grammy Award-Winning bassist Ben Williams for the past eight years. Most recently, he's been touring and recording with the Tony Award-Winning, Grammy Award-Winning star of the Broadway hit show Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr. 




Sunday February 7th
3pm (New York -EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Misha Tsiganov (piano)
Anwar Marshall (drums)

CONCERT #4


Misha Tsiganov is Grammy Nominated pianist, he was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and graduated from Mussorgsky College of Music. He won the Prize-winner-diploma of the All-Russia Jazz Competition (1990), he has worked as the featured pianist on the Bill Cosby TV show Little Bill (1999-2002). He has been the regular pianist for legendary drummer JOE CHAMBERS (2004-2008)and he is a voting member of the Recording Academy for the Grammy Awards (2016-present).
Misha has performed with Clark Terry, Michael Brecker, Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Joe Chambers, Gary Bartz, Claudio Roditi, Chico Freeman, Antonio Sanchez, Donny McCaslin, Alex Sipiagin and many others. 

Anwar M. Marshall is a rising star in the Jazz Scene. He attended the High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) and received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of the Arts where he studied with Erik Johnson and Joe Nero. At his young age he has collaborated already with musicians such as Pat Metheny, Christian McBride, Robert Glasper, Orrin Evans, The Captain Black Big Band, Ed Cherry, Tim Warfield, Dave Douglas, Adam Blackstone, Somi, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Peter Bernstein, and John Swana. He is also co-leader of a ten-piece ensemble, the Fresh Cut Orchestra, with trumpeter Josh Lawrence and Jason Fraticeli. 

Sunday January 31st
3pm (New York EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Manuel Varela (piano)
E.J. Strickland (drums)

CONCERT #3 

Based in New York City, Grammy nominated artist, pianist and composer Manuel Valera was born and raised in Havana, Cuba. Since arriving in NYC, he has performed with Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D’Rivera, Brian Lynch, Dafnis Prieto, Jeff “Tain” Watts, John Benitez, Samuel Torres, Joel Frahm, Yosvany Terry among many others.
Valera is also the leader of his working band Manuel Valera and the New Cuban Express, a project deeply influenced by the experiments of Cuban artists from the 70s and 80s. 

Enoch Jamal "E.J." Strickland is the world-class, world-traveled drummer, composer, educator, and artist you've heard on over 60 albums in the last 10-plus years. Strickland has built a successful career as a composer, bandleader, educator, and sideman. He's toured, performed, and recorded with some of the greatest names in contemporary music: Cassandra Wilson, Terence Blanchard, Lizz Wright, Wynton Marsalis, George Colligan, David Gilmore, Vincent Herring, and Nnenna Freelon, to name a few.

Sunday January 24th
3pm (New York EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Benito Gonzalez (piano) Francisco Mela (drums)

CONCERT #2

Pianist Benito Gonzalez “Two times Grammy nominee”is an internationally beloved artist who combines a long lineage of American jazz traditions with rhythms from around the world. He’s worked with dozens of the greats, and he always brings his best on stage!

Francisco Jose Mela is a Cuban drummer and percussionist who has performed with a wide array of prominent international Latin and jazz artists including Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Paquito D'Rivera, George Garzone, Lionel Loueke, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, John Scofield, Esperanza Spalding, Mark Turner, McCoy Tyner, Chucho Valdés, many others.

Sunday January 17th
3pm (New York EST)

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Gianluca Renzi invites
Jon Davis (piano)
Mark McLean (drums)

The debut concert of the Harlem Home Sessions series features two of my favorite NYC musicians. Don't miss it!
This is the first of a series of concerts from my apartment in NY. The concert is free although donations will be welcomed and appreciated. Use the links in the Youtube video caption.

Jon Davis has been performing and touring with many of the finest jazz musicians around the world for more than 25 years. He has appeared on over 50 recordings, and has contributed compositions on many of them. Although perhaps still most widely known for his association with the legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius, Jon has shown a rare versatility ranging from solo, to Big Band, and everything in between.

Mark McLean is a very dynamic and versatile studio and touring musician. And for that reason he has been the grooving spark behind many jazz, pop and soul legends whose music and influence span multiple generations. The late legendary producer Phil Ramone, called McLean “a tasty, sure handed drummer, a song man’s musician”. 

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