“Stefano Di Battista is one of the most brilliant and interesting musicians of today’s Italian jazz, and of international jazz, because Di Battista and his saxophone are now in great demand by the most noble “names” of African-American music.” – La Repubblica
“Stefano di Battista is a saxophone of great quality, among the international jazz stars” – La Stampa
“Among the brilliant subjects of the alto saxophone, Stefano Di Battista illuminates the current scene with his fluid and fast style..” – Telerama.fr
“The instinct, the expressiveness and the innate sense of groove of this great musician, with the reeds of fire, here give colors to the memory” Le Figaro.fr
“Stefano di Battista hechiza el Portón del Jazz con sus sonidos dedicados a la mujer” alhaurindelatorre.es > ARTICLE <
“El saxo de Stefano di Battista se rinde a las figuras femeninas del siglo XX” – El Mundo > ARTICLE<
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BIO
Di Battista, a native of Rome (14.2.1969) who plays both soprano and alto saxophone, took up the instrument when he was 13 to play with some friends from his neighborhood. When he heard recordings by alto saxophonist Art Pepper, he knew the sound of jazz was for him. Later he received guidance from Massimo Urbani, another influential alto saxophonist. By his early twenties, di Battista had begun performing in Paris, thanks to an invitation from Jean-Pierre Como. The two had met during the Calvi Jazz Festival.
Within two years the Italian saxophonist had established himself at the Sunset, a prominent jazz hot spot in the City of Lights. He appeared frequently on the bill with Michel Benita, drummer Stéphane Huchard, and drummer Aldo Romano. From there he proceeded to work as a soloist, which led to associations with such artists as cornetist Nat Adderley, drummers Daniel Humair and Jimmy Cobb, and the late French pianist Michel Petrucciani, among others.
Petrucciani invited di Battista into a sextet he was then forming and extended the invitation to include trumpeter Boltro, who frequently accompanied di Battista. Di Battista put out his debut recording as a leader for Label Bleu in 1997. Volare kicked up a lot of attention for the saxophonist and received an award nomination in France. The following year he put out A Prima Vista. The recording of his third album in 2000 so impressed veteran jazz drummer Jones that when the album was finally wrapped up and in the vault, he scooped up di Battista for his Elvin Jones Jazz Machine tour. Di Battista released his second album on Blue Note, the Charlie Parker tribute album Parker’s Mood, in 2005. ~ Linda Seida
Erri De Luca (writer) e Nicky Nicolay (singer, wife of Stefano)
VIDEOS
Con Massimo Ranieri in “Malìa” – Malatia [VIDEO UFFICIALE]
Stefano Di Battista – sax
Eric Legnini – piano
Rosario Bonaccorso – bass
Roberto Gatto – drums
Schleswig-Holstein Chamber Orchestra:
Vince Mendoza – leader
GALLERY
foto di Giovanni Canitano 
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