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Pierluigi Balducci

Playing his electric bass and acoustic bass guitar, Pierluigi Balducci has performed at numerous festivals and jazz clubs throughout Italy, Europe, South America and Asia, collaborating with jazz musicians as Paul McCandless, John Taylor, Ernst Reijseger, Gabriele Mirabassi, Luciano Biondini, Javier Girotto, Roberto Ottaviano, Michele Rabbia, Antonio Tosques, Andy Sheppard, Alessandro Galati, Gaetano Partipilo, Nando Di Modugno and many others. With Gianni Iorio and Pasquale Stafano he is also member of the Nuevo Tango Ensamble, jazz-tango trio which performed many concerts all around the world. Together with Gabriele Mirabassi and Nando Di Modugno he created the trio Amori Sospesi, which now boasts a ten-year concert activity throughout Europe and an intense recording activity.

He has recorded about thirty albums as a sideman and as a leader. As a composer and a band leader, he released various albums under his name (since 2006 for the Italian label Dodicilune), always striving for a balance not only between writing and improvisation, but also between African-American jazz language and European classical and folk tradition.

The main Italian jazz magazines have written about his recordings, as well as All about jazz (USA), Jazzlife (JAPAN), Jazzwise (UK) and others. Musica Jazz and JazzIt and Italian national broadcaster Radiotre have dedicated considerable interviews to him. For several years, the prestigious Jazzit Award includes Pierluigi Balducci of the most important Italian electric bassists in the jazz scene.

He performed live for the Italian broadcaster Radiotre, for Bayerisches Rundfunk, for Austrian ORFF and for South Korean MBC. He teaches electric bass at Jazz Department of Matera Music University, and is endorser of prestigious Italian marks like Meridian Guitars and GR Bass Amplifiers.

Awards

Top Jazz 2009: Best composer (3rd place) Jazzit Award 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015: included in the top ten of best Italian electric bass jazz players

Gear

Meridian Guitars Basses - Dieter Hopf contrabass guitar - GR Bass amplifiers - Sansone strings

Antonio Tosques and Multi-Form Band: Touch Me

Read "Touch Me" reviewed by Nicholas F. Mondello

by Nicholas F. Mondello
June 3, 2021

With the possible exception of the upright bass (where it's more of a pas a deux), a guitar allows its player to bring the instrument intimately close to their heart and inner voice. The fingered manipulation of strings can trigger caresses, teases, intensities and poetry. Played well, as it is here on this excellent recording from guitarist/composer/educator Antonio Tosques and the Multi-Form Band, the music can speak from the player's soul to the listener's. With Touch Me, ...

Album Review

McCandless, Taylor, Balducci, Rabbia: Evansiana

Read "Evansiana" reviewed by Neri Pollastri

by Neri Pollastri
January 30, 2018

Questo disco nasce nel 2014, pensato per dare seguito al precedente lavoro del quartetto messo assieme da Pierluigi Balducci, Blue for Heaven, ma la scelta del contenuto (e quindi del titolo) è dovuta da un lato -come scrive Balducci nelle note -al fatto che i «quattro musicisti forse non vedevano l'ora di poter suonare Bill Evans», dall'altro alla presenza tra loro di John Taylor, in certo senso uno dei più grandi eredi del pianista del New Jersey. Il ...

Album Review

Pierluigi Balducci: Blue from Heaven

Read "Blue from Heaven" reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
May 16, 2013

Traveling the world from South Africa to Svalbard, a harsh truth is revealed: despite challenges facing recorded music--and, paradoxically, the sheer volume being released--an increasing number of musicians deserving broader recognition are unable to transcend their native countries. Hiring internationally renowned players might seem a good tactic, but the result too often reflects exactly what it is: unknown musicians playing with ringers. The music may be well-played--as it better be from such musicians of caliber--but does it actually feel like ...

Primary Instrument

Bass, electric

Location

Bari

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Electric bass (jazz) - Jazz harmony - improvisation techniques at Conservatorio 'Duni' - Matera - Italy

Books:

CONTEMPORARY ELECTRIC BASS - Volume 1: A guide to improving harmonic knowledge of the fingerboard and boosting technical mastery. For 4-, 5-, 6-string bass players (beginner and intermediate level).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1730790984

CONTEMPORARY ELECTRIC BASS - Volume 2: A guide to improving harmonic knowledge of the fingerboard and boosting technical mastery. For 4-, 5-, 6-string bass players (intermediate and advanced level).