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Franck Amsallem
About Me
Franck Amsallem was born in 1961 in Oran, Algeria, and then grew up in Nice, France. His
parents, having repatriated the family piano, started him at seven on classical piano, which he
gave up a few years later. His large family and the cramped apartment were not propitious
surroundings for the old teacher�s stale lessons. However, the family owned a large
collection of 45 records wherein Ray Charles mixed with Glenn Miller and the Four Tops. As a
result, he was seduced in adolescence by the sound of the blues and swing, and started
taking music lessons at the Nice Conservatory. Considered too old for the piano (!), he signed
up for classical saxophone and soon earned a first prize.
But the piano remained his first love. Word of his ability spread on the Cote d�Azur, and he
worked often in Monte Carlo, learning hundreds � maybe thousands � of jazz standards. I
have always, above all, loved all American music. At 17 years of age, John Lewis chose him
for his documentary, The Music Lesson. Having jammed offstage at the Nice jazz festival
with Jerry Bergonzi, Mike Brecker and Richie Cole, he was encouraged to move to the USA to
hone his skills and learn. He made the move without blinking an eye and entered Berklee
College as an undergrad in 1981. At 19, I did not see myself backing up pop singers in Paris
and playing jazz on the side, which was what everyone was doing then. Like the song says, it
was all or nothing at all.
In Boston, Franck quickly faced the limits of any school system, but, seduced by Herb
Pomeroy�s big band and by his composition and arranging classes, he stayed at Berklee for
three years, earning numerous awards. Still, the longing for more excitement was always
there, and at the beginning of 1986 he moved to New York City.
There are many good pianists out there, but good pianists who are equally good composers
� that is what makes the difference. He then took lessons in composition for jazz orchestra
with Bob Brookmeyer at the Manhattan School of Music and lessons in classical piano with
Phil Kawin. Their influence stayed with him for a long time. The experience added up � the
true New York Jazz Experience � first as an accompanist, and then as a leader: learning the
art form of jazz like the greatest have done before you, matching your skills against those of
the best musicians of their time. Second prize at Jacksonville�s Great American Jazz
competition. Third prize goes to Brad Mehldau.
�All that was great, but a career as a leader was just too tempting.� In 1990 at 28 years of
age, with the help of the Fondation de la Vocation and a fellowship from the National
Endowment for the Arts, Franck recorded �Out A Day,� a trio with Gary Peacock and Bill
Stewart. Critics are laudatory; �There is every reason to expect excellence from this young
pianist, still in his twenties, who prepared with such discipline for his first recording
opportunity. The promise of good things to come is based on the considerable appeal of this
recommended CD (Cadence)�. �We are in danger of gushing and embarrassing ourselves.
Sample this wonderful recording at all costs (Penguin guide to jazz on CDS)�.
Next came a long collaboration with saxophonist Tim Ries. �Regards� earned four stars in
Downbeat, and Jazz Times found the CD �compelling.� �Is That So,� a duo with the
equal participation of Leon Parker, is noted in the French press by the Inrockuptibles; �Years
Gone By,� with Daniel Humair, earned rare praise in the French press (four stars from
Jazzman, three keys from T�l�rama). �On Second Thought,� distributed by Na�ve, is
unanimously heralded as a CD of rare intensity, a live recording where everything comes
together successfully without a hitch.
Franck has performed in many of the big festivals, from Juan les Pins to Pori, from Nice to
Molde. He has also backed Gerry Mulligan, Charles Lloyd and Harry Belafonte; recorded with
Bobby Watson, Roy Hargrove and Joshua Redman; and performed in the bands of Maria
Schneider and Joe Chambers. He has composed numerous pieces for big band and for string
orchestra. I love the variety of situations, learning as you go along, challenging every
solution, nothing ever preset.
In the fall of 2003, now living in Paris with his wife and daughter, Franck returned to the trio
format with Summer Times, featuring Johannes Weidenmuller on bass and Joe Chambers
on drums. Franck then recorded A Week in Paris, followed by two vocal cds. His latest opus
is a quartet outing featuring tenor saxophonist Irving Acao, with an all original material.
Recent engagements:
2002: Tour w/Joe Chambers Millenium sextet, quartet appearances in Belgium, Switzerland,
France and the USA. Trio gigs in Holland and Portugal.
2003 & 2004: Festivals in Mexico, Croatia, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Canada, USA.
My House Concert Story
I have been performing at house concerts for years, most notably in Antibes, France where my esteemed friend Bernard Olivieri, a cardiologist by trade, hosts jazz concerts once a month. I often help him out with the line-up of the band and make sure the technical requirements are fulfilled. House concerts are a fantastic way to connect with a new crowd who wouldn't necessarily go to a jazz concert.