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Emiliano Vernizzi
Saxophonist, composer, touring musician, modern music educator, best characterized as a versatile and reliable sideman.
About Me
He is a founding member of the multi-award-winning group Pericopes, formed in 2007 and won first prize of both
the Umbria Jazz Contest and Padova Carrarese (presided by Paolo Fresu), and was listed by Italian TopJazz. The
project has produced several tours across Europe, the UK, US and China, and left a strong impression to audiences
and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic (DownBeat, Jazzthetik, Jazz ‘n’ More, MusicaJazz...). Emi was recently
mentioned in the Italian jazz history book, “La Storia del Jazz”, which called Pericopes one of the most
important/unique new-generation productions of the last few years.
During his career, Emiliano is credited on more than 50 recordings and toured the USA, Cina and Europe dozens of
times, He balances touring with presenting masterclasses (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow-UK, RNCM
of Manchester, University of Aberdeen-UK); and teaching roles as Professor of Jazz Saxophone at both music
conservatories in Parma and Cesena (Italy).
Emiliano has collaborated with the Civica Jazz Band, which presented legendary guest artists Eddie Daniels, David
Raksin, Dave Liebman, Max Roach, Bobby Watson, David Murray, Evan Parker, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava) and
Bobby Durham, Anthony Wellington, Tommy Campbell, Fabrizio Bosso, Gianni Cazzola, Roberto Gatto.
While living temporarily in New York City in 2010, Emiliano began to collaborate with an American band led by
guitarist Izzy Zaidman. They’ve recorded four studio albums, have toured extensively in nearly every US state, and
extensively throughout Europe.
He still stays busy as a freelance sideman, from jazz, to theater performances (American poet Jack Hirschman), to
pop and entertainment productions such as his collaboration with the international Italian rockstar, Ligabue, who
set a 150,000 person audience attendance record (at Campovolo) on one of Emi’s tours with the band.
Emi’s composing and production commissions/credits include soundtracks for short movies (Civica Cinema, Milan),
commercial television (Pagani Zonda for Motor&Life magazine and Japanese Rosso), and radio programs (RaiTrade,
Rai Radio Uno).
In his youth, he was awarded in the Verbania’s National Youth Contest (IT), obtained his M.S. in Jazz Music (cum
laude) from Parma, attended seminars by John Taylor, Gideon Levensohn, Steve Coleman, Graham Collier, Barry
Harris, Giorgio Gaslini, Berklee Clinics of Boston and continued private studies in New York with luminaries Walt
Weiskopf, Dave Liebman, Joel Frahm and Melissa Aldana.
My Jazz Story
I love jazz because...it changes The first jazz record I bought was...saxophone colossus My advice to new listeners...be yourself Or whatever else you have in mind...don't tag jazz music