Francesco Turrisi

Francesco Turrisi is a pianist, accordionist and percussionist. He left his native Italy in 1997 to study jazz piano and early music in The Hague royal conservatory, where he obtained a bachelor and a master's degree. Between 2004 and 2007 he played harpsichord and percussion with acclaimed early music ensemble l'Arpeggiata. With l'Arpeggiata he performed at the major early music festivals in Europe and around the world (Turkey, Russia, China). In 2006 he moved to Dublin where he is currently resident and very active as a performer and teacher.

Francesco is the founder of Irish ensemble Tarab, a group that experiments with Mediterranean music, jazz improvisation and Irish traditional music. Tarab is currently ensemble in residence at the Mermaid Arts centre (Bray). The group is participating in a series of concerts called quatrain, that includes guests such as Theodosii Spassov (kaval), Savina Yannatou (vocals), Pedram Khavar Zamini (Tombak) and Haytham Safia (oud) In 2007 he received an Arts council award to record his first CD “Si Dolce e' il Tormento”, a collection of original compositions inspired by Italian music of the 17th century and performed by his jazz piano trio. The trio was signed by IMC in 2009 and is currently one of the most important ensembles on the Irish Jazz scene.

Francesco is also a member of other important Irish ensembles such as Yurodny (Balkan Jazz), eX early music ensemble, Morisca (medieval music).

He has collaborated and performed with many artists from the jazz, early music and world music scenes: Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Furio Di Castri, Gianluigi Trovesi, Gabriele Mirabassi, Maria Pia de Vito, Theodosii Spassov, John Ruocco, The King's Singers, Veronique Gens, Dominique Visse, Philippe Jaroussky, Vittorio Ghielmi, Lee Santana, Pepe el Habichuela, Lucilla Galeazzi, Bijan Chemirani, Zohar Fresco, Pedram Khavar Zamini, Abdullah Chhadeh.

In Ireland he has played with Ronan Guilfoyle, Michael Buckley, Sean Carpio, Emer Mayock, Cora Venus Lunny, Kate Ellis, Judith Mok, Roisin El Safty, Robbie Harris, Brendan Doyle, Mike Nielsen, Dorothy Murphy, Siobhan Armstrong, Catriona O'Leary, Rebecca Collins, Julie Feeney.