Eric van Aro

**Eric van Aro: A Multifaceted Jazz Voice Forged in Artistic Heritage**

Singer, songwriter, and producer Eric van Aro stands as a uniquely accomplished figure in European jazz. Born into an eight-generation dynasty of performers as the son of legendary Italian singer Caterina Valente and German juggler-producer Erik van Aro, Sr., his artistic path seems preordained. Yet, van Aro has carved his own distinct niche, blending a deep respect for jazz tradition with an irrepressible spirit of genre fusion and contemporary exploration.

His multicultural upbringing imbued him with a broad perspective that fuels his artistry. Beyond music, his passions for theater and dance have even informed parallel work as an image consultant, while his charismatic presence made him a familiar voice on popular radio programs and a frequent musical guest on television across Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

In 1998, van Aro founded the independent label Eraki Entertainment, establishing a creative headquarters for projects defined by high musical quality and cross-pollination. An early Eraki triumph was the acclaimed album **"GIRLTALK" (2001)**, uniting his mother Caterina Valente, harpist Catherine Michel, and arranger Gianni Ferrio.

Van Aro's own discography is a testament to eclectic taste. His solo debut **"From the Heart" (2001)** traversed a century of song, from valse musette to hard rock. He solidified his jazz credentials with **"Friends" (2005)**, a collaborative triumph with icons like trumpeter Franco Ambrosetti that won international praise. Later projects like **"Desert Motel" (2008)** reimagined songbook gems, while a vibrant foray into electronic music with Beats4life yielded the #1 chill-out hit **"JAZZ" (2010)**.

Never one to rest, van Aro continued to innovate. The piano-voice intimacy of **"Obsession" (2013)** with Fabio Gianni showcased his captivating vocals, while the **EGH Project's "Life Song" (2014)** returned him to the electronica charts. The anthology **"From the beginning and more" (2017)** celebrated 20 years of recording, yet he was already looking forward.

Demonstrating that artistic evolution has no expiration date, van Aro co-founded the band **Chronicles Of A Fourth**, releasing the poignant and sharply crafted **'Open Relationship Blues' (2020)**, a concept album exploring modern relationships within a classic folk-blues framework.

Ultimately, Eric van Aro defies simple categorization. He is a jazz vocalist at heart, a producer by instinct, and an eternal experimenter by nature. As he himself puts it, his goal is to leave audiences feeling one thing: **"HAPPY."** Through decades of sophisticated music-making, he has consistently delivered on that promise, leaving listeners both exhilarated and eagerly awaiting his next creative turn.

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