Gianni Virone

Gianni Virone is a saxophonist, arranger and composer from Chieri, near Turin, Italy. Professionally active since 2002, he has worked with small ensembles, big bands and orchestras, and in recording sessions as an arranger, section player and soloist. He also performs his own compositions with his trio. His teaching encompasses saxophone, improvisation, jazz harmony, composition, arranging and big-band performance.

He graduated with the highest marks and honours from the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Turin, studying with Furio Di Castri. He attended masterclasses in Italy and abroad with musicians including Dave Liebman, Airto Moreira, Jerry Bergonzi, Enrico Rava, Gianluigi Trovesi, Steve Coleman and Ayn Inserto. He received scholarships at Siena Jazz in 2002 and Nuoro Jazz in 2003, where he was also recognised as the best student. Following the Nuoro workshop, he was selected to perform at the 2004 Berchidda Jazz Festival.

In 2003 he won the Talens competition for jazz soloists organised by the Istituto Musicale di Rivoli, and attended the New School University’s summer workshop in Bassano del Grappa, where he was selected for a scholarship. He won the first national Nuovi Talenti del Jazz Italiano competition in 2004 and was a finalist that year in the Premio Nazionale Massimo Urbani. His writing for large jazz ensembles reached the finals of Barga Jazz in 2007 and Scrivere in Jazz in 2010 and 2014.

As both arranger and section player, he has worked with several big bands, playing saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet and flute. His collaborators have included Paolo Fresu, Furio Di Castri, Roberto Gatto, Gianni Basso, John Riley, Fabrizio Bosso, Flavio Boltro, Javier Girotto, Rita Marcotulli, Scott Hamilton, Dusko Gojkovic, Jimmy Cobb, Philip Harper, Terell Stafford, Eric Vloeimans, Maria Pia De Vito, Danilo Rea, Emanuele Cisi, John De Leo, Nguyên Lê and Pietro Tonolo. He has been an endorser of the Italian saxophone maker Rampone & Cazzani since 2004.