Alessandro Collina

Alessandro Collina is an Italian pianist whose work combines classical training with jazz improvisation. He took his first piano lessons with his uncle, Ubaldo Giardini, and continued his studies with Gianmaria Bonino, graduating in classical piano from the Conservatory of La Spezia. After attending improvisation workshops, he studied jazz piano at the Conservatory of Nice.

He performed with the Conte Big Band directed by Giampaolo Casati and, from 2003, with the Italian–French quartet led by trombonist Luca Begonia. His collaborators have included Gianni Basso, Emanuele Cisi, Claudio Capurro and David Amar. From 2006 to 2008 he was a regular member of Paul Jeffrey’s European touring group, with which he recorded We See, a tribute to Thelonious Monk released by Imago Records in 2009.

In 2009 he began collaborating with Andy Gravish and Mike Campagna on the project 5AM; its CD was released in 2011 and distributed by Anticraft. In 2009, Louis and Philippe Petrucciani invited him to take part in a tour marking the tenth anniversary of Michel Petrucciani’s death, which took him to major Italian jazz festivals. From 2010 he also collaborated in concert with trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso in France and Italy.

His continuing work dedicated to Michel Petrucciani has involved bassist Marc Peillon and drummer Rodolfo Cervetto. With trumpeter Marco Vezzoso he recorded the live album The Osaka Concert during their 2015 Japanese tour and later Guarda che luna… Again, an instrumental exploration of Italian songs.