Our friend and very appreciated Italian pianist Angelo Canelli passed away in a tragic car accident, which occured the night of Friday, July 7th, in Italy. Aneglo was driving back home to his hometown Vasto from a concert, when a truck in front of him lost its gears and axle, and hit Angelo's car,leaving him no escape. Angelo Canelli was 38 years old.
Angelo graduated as a doctor in medicine, but his passion for jazz music led him to a wonderful and very promising career as an exceptional jazz pianist. Angelo worked with a lot of international musicians, including Bruce Forman, Bob Mintzer, Mike Stern, Kitty Margolis, Danny Gottlieb, Bob Bonisolo, Derek Douget, Jason Marsalis, Giovanni Tommaso, Diana Torto, Giulio Capiozzo, Fabrizio Bosso, Bill Russo, Maurizio Rolli, Cameron Brown, Hiram Bullock, Massimo Manzi, and more.
In 1997 he recorded his first CD, Waltz for Myself with his trio (Ivano Sabatini on bass and Luigi la Verghetta on drums). In 1999, he recorded his second CD Do Ut Dem with Giovanni Tommaso on bass and Paolo Corsi. Beginning in 2000, he played in New Orleans with his new quartet with Jason Stewart (bass), Jason Marsalis (drums) and Derek Douget (sax). He played at the Snug Harbor (in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006), at the House of Blues (Piano Night, 2006) and for the UNO (Jazz at the Sandbar 2005).
For his last CD, Angelo Canelli Plays the Music of Sting, recorded in 2005, Canelli involved New Orleans musicians (Stewart and Marsalis) plus some of Italy's best musicians, including Massimo Manzi, Maurizio Rolli, Diana Torto, Gianluca Esposito, and Samuele Garofoli. Israel Varela from Mexico was a very special guest on this recording, on congas.
Angelo Canelli was also very involved as “Piano practice" teacher at the Bologna Conservatory of Music and the “Ear Training" teacher at the Pescara Musical Accademy.
Besides his incredible talent and love for jazz music we remember Angelo as an incredibly nice an joyful person. We will miss you Angelo and your joyful memory will always be with us.
You can leave messages for his family at [email protected].
For more information contact All About Jazz.
