GIUSEPPE CONTINENZA

  gcontinenza@gmail.com

BIOGRAPHY

—

GIUSEPPE CONTINENZA

﷯Giuseppe Continenza is considered, in the opinion of many jazz greats, one of the best European jazz guitarists of the new generation; guitar legend Al Di Meola wrote about him in July 2020: "Giuseppe Continenza is one of the modern eras vibrant jazz guitar stars in my opinion! I love his playing with the sophistication of so many varieties of new hip elements that sets the new standard for this instrument I love! Italy should be proud and the Guitar world will notice! “. In 2000 he met Biréli Lagrène (guitarist of the legendary Jaco Pastorius) with whom he began a collaboration that has lasted until today with numerous concerts and tour in duo and quartet. The duo had several covers stories on international specialized magazines including Jazz Guitar Today and Just Jazz Guitar both from United States. He collaborated in the last tour with Rossana Casale "Cinema" in August 2020 in which they per-formed in quartet playing score music from important films. Amongst other projects is with the great flamenco guitarist Daniele Bonaviri (guitarist who has collaborated with Gino Vannelli, Pino Daniele, Andrea Bocelli) with whom he has had a Flamenco / Jazz duo for several years. His background full of collaborations in numerous tours and concerts shows him alongside famous names of international music scene such as Joe Diorio, Vic Juris, Jimmy Bruno, Martin Taylor, Jack Wilkins, Paul Bollenback, Gene Bertoncini, Jeff Richman , Royce Campbell, Geoff Warren, John Stowell, David Friesen, Gary Willis, Dominique Di Piazza and many others. His interests in jazz music began at the age of seven. Son of a jazz guitarist, after studying classical music for six years, he moved to California in order to study at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. At the Musicians Institute he had the privilege to study with internationally well-known musicians such as Joe Diorio, Scott Henderson, Ron Escheté, Don Mock, Ted Greene, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino, Norman Brown, Robben Ford, Steve Trovato, Gary Willis, Jeff Berlin and others. In 1994 he founded the European Musicians Institute (E.M.I) in Pescara, one of the most advanced European music academies. EMI was among the first European academies to offer master classes with international artists in the 90s such as: Joe Diorio, Biréli Lagréne, Tuck Andress, Scott Henderson, Vic Juris, Paul Bollenback, Robben Ford, Gary Willis, George Lynch, Jennifer Batten, Wolfgang Muthspiel, John Stowell, Jimmy Bruno, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkins, Dominique Di Piazza and others. Very respected teacher in Italy and abroad, having taught, among other things, in the prestigious University of Oslo (UiO) in Nor-way and giving many master classes around Europe. Currently is the Head of Studies of Jazz Guitar at the Conservatory “L. D’Annunzio” in Pescara, Italy. In 2003 he became an endorser of Benedetto Guitars; Robert Benedetto is the greatest living guitar luthier, called the Stradivari of guitars. He is also an endorser of Benedetto Pickup / Seymour Dun-can, DV Mark amplifiers, LaBella Strings strings, Eventide effects and Buscarini classic guitars. Within instructional media activity: He has collaborated for 12 years with the Italian magazines Guitar Club and Tuttochitarra taking care of three columns. Highlighting interviews December 1999: alongside Joe Diorio by Guitar Club magazine and July 2001: alongside Biréli Lagrène by Tuttochitarra magazine. He is also one of the few European guitarists mentioned in the pres-tigious American Jazz Guitarist encyclopedia. The cd "Journey" in duo with the guitarist Vic Juris which was produced by the Ger-man Label Jardis Records, the disc has received highly positive consents on the best specialized Italian and foreign magazines. His recording project entitled "Seven Steps to Heaven" in which performers are: Dominique Di Piazza (John McLaughlin's bassist), Vic Juris (Dave Liebman's guitarist, Dizzy Gillespie) and Pietro Iodice on drums, arrived to the top ten bestselling jazz albums on iTunes, ranking 4th among the best-selling records. Later her recorded the album "Tribute to Jobim" with the legendary Gene Bertoncini (guitarist who recorded with Luiz Bonfà, Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter), Dominique Di Piazza and Pietro Iodice.
Giuseppe Continenza

gcontinenza@gmail.com