Franco Ambrosetti

Born December 10, 1941 in Lugano, Switzerland. Basic musical studies in Lugano (classic piano for over 8 years). Started his musical career in 1961 when at the age of 20 he made his first public appearance. Ambrosetti has established a fine reputation for himself mainly as a free-lance trumpeter / flugelhorn player and band-leader over the past 30 years.

Making his american debut 1967 as a member of his father's group (father Flavio Ambrosetti, leading alto-sax player in the 50's and 60's) performing at Monterey Jazz Festival, Franco Ambrosetti has participated in most of the major jazz festivals throughout Western and Eastern Europ such as Berlin, Montreux, Warsaw, Prague, Paris etc.. In Europ he has appeared in countless radio and TV productions and has toured several times in nearly all the European countries. He also toured in the U. S. with the "George Gruntz Concert jazz band" or as guest soloist; he plays regularly in clubs in N. Y. C. such as the Blue Note, Visiones, Sweet Basil, Bradley's.

In 1966 Ambrosetti won the first prize at the international jaz competition held in Vienna under the direction of Mr. Fiedrich Gulda.

From 1963 to 1970 he played with his father's quintet (including George Gruntz and Daniel Humair). The group continues its activity today mainly as a quartet with Franco as band-leader. In this longtime cooperation with George Gruntz, he has learned to compose in a creative way as shown by successful compositions such as "PISTROPHALLORUS", "EPITAPH FOR A FRIEND", "CLOSE ENCOUNTER", "GIN AND PENTATONIC", "BLUES FOR URSULK" (now "TRANSFIGURATION") ect.

He composed several music scores for movies and TV movies like for example for the movie "DIE REISE" directed by Markus Inhof (Germany, CH 1986) whose movie "Das Boot ist voll" got an Academy Award nomination.

In 1972 he formed together with his father Flavio, pianist and composer George Gruntz and drummer Daniel Humair a successful all-star big band "THE BAND", now called the "GEORGE GRUNTZ CONCERT JAZZ BAND" with whom he performs regularly.

Franco Ambrosetti today is active as a free-lance soloist wherexer needed (mainly in Europe and in the U. S. ) as well as a leader of his own group continuing regularly his longtime collacoration with close friends such as George Gruntz, Daniel Humair and J. F. Jenny Clarke.

He also leads a quartet with Italian top musicians like Alfredo Golino, Antonio Farao and Dado Moroni. As a band-leader he recorded many albums with various musicians like Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Don Sebesky, Ron Carter, Phil Woods, Eddie Daniels, Dave Holland, Kenny Barron ect.

During his career, Franco Ambrosetti appeared as a soloist in festivals, concerts, shows or recording dates with various groups like Kenny Clarke quintet, Phil Woods and the European Rhythm Machine, Dexter Gordon quartet, Cannonball Adderley Sextet, Joe Henderson group, The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band, Michael Brecker and Mike Stern group, Alfredo Golino quintet, Rene Urtregueir quintet, Arnie Lawrence's Tresour Island group, Hal Galper quintet, George Gruntz Duo, trio and quartet, Daniel Humair quintet, Romano Mussolini quintet (career beginning), Gato Barbieri quintet and others.