biography

About Gianluca Renzi

Gianluca Renzi is a New York City based bass player, composer, arranger, and educator. He is an internationally acclaimed jazz musician and he currently performs on a regular basis with some of the world's best known jazz artists. He earned a master degree in classical performing and a master degree in jazz composing and arranging from  the Italian Conservatory of Music.


Before moving to New York in 2008 he was one of the most active Italian bass players, performing with many European Jazz Stars. Gianluca Renzi has been a member of the Antonio Farao` trio (with Dejan Terzic); Rosario Giuliani quartet (with Pietro Lussu, Fabrizio Sferra); Rosario Giuliani quintet (with Dado Moroni, Flavio Boltro, Fabrizio Sferra); Maurizio Giammarco Megatones (with Pino Iodice, Dario Cecchini, John Arnold). He also worked with Roberto Gatto, Enrico Pieranunzi, Fabrizio Bosso, Franco Ambrosetti, Riccardo Fassi, Umberto Fiorentino Stefano Battaglia, Ettore Fioravanti, Giampoalo Ascolese, Amedeo Tommasi and many american artists on tour in Europe such as: Alex Sipiagin, Bobby Watson, David Binney, Alvin Batiste, Edward Simon, Carl Allen, Gary Smulyan, Steve Grossman, Orrin Evans, Gene Jackson, Steve Lacy, Adam Nussbaum. 


Since he moved to New York City he has been part of several outstanding recordings: Chamber Jazz (by Jacam Manricks, with Kevin Hays, Ari Hoenig); No Kiddin’ (by Jon Davis); Swingfully Yours (by Loston Harris, with Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Carmen Intorre), Captain Black Big Band (by Orrin Evans), Mother’s Touch (by Orrin Evans), Status Cymbal (by Bruce Cox with Aruan Ortiz, Abraham Burton). 

Beside his activity in the United States, Gianluca Renzi maintains a prominent presence in Europe, especially in France because of the long collaboration with the Paris based pianist Giovanni Mirabassi. The Giovanni Mirabassi trio released many recordings (Terra Furiosa, Out Of Track, Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, Tribute to Bill, Viva VE.R.D.I., No Way Out, Summer's Gone, Mitaka Calling) for the labels Cam Jazz, Discograph and Columbia Japan. Most of these recordings have been awarded by the CHOC (Special recognition) by the music magazines JazzMan (France) and Classica (France). 

Gianluca Renzi has performed at some of the world’s most important jazz festivals: Umbria Jazz (Italy), Marciac Jazz Festival (France), San Fracisco SFJazz (USA), Richmond Jazz Festival (USA), Istambul Jazz Festival (Turkey), Shanghai Jazz Festival (China), Blue Note Beijing (China), Jazz al Parque (Colombia), Jarasum Jazz Festival (South Korea), Kanazawa Jazz Festival (Japan), San Javier Jazz Festival (Spain), Guimaraes Jazz Festival (Portugal) and many more… He has also performed at the greatest international jazz venues: Birdland (New York), Lincoln Center (New York), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Velvet Note (Atlanta), Blue Note Tokyo (Japan), Blue Note Nagoya (Japan), Billboard Osaka (Japan), Cotton Club Tokyo (japan), Blue Note Milano (Italy), Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), Duc des Lombard (Paris), Bird's Basement Melbourne (Australia), Smalls and Mezzrow Jazz Club (New York) and many others. He also performed in many Performing Art Centers and Theaters all over the world. 

His work as arranger has served many artists in the Jazz scene. In 2012 and 2014 he composed and arranged some music for the CDs “Mother’s Touch” and “Captain Black Big Band” by pianist Orrin Evans. In 2011 he arranged and composed music for jazz trio and string orchestra for the CD “Viva V.E.R.D.I.” by Giovanni Mirabassi. In 2007 he arranged the music for a jazz sextet for the CD “Live at Casa del Jazz” by Rosario Giuliani. The CD was an homage to “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis featuring an all-star band (Enrico Pieranunzi, Flavio Boltro, Emanuele Cisi, Rosario Giuliani, Fabrizio Sferra, Gianluca Renzi). In 2007 he also arranged for a tentent his own CD “Charles and Joe”, a tribute to the music of Charles Mingus and Joe Henderson. In 2011, Gianluca Renzi has also arranged and orchestrated all of the music (composed by Giovanni Mirabassi) of a musical realized by Roman Daudet Jahan for La Femis (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Métiers de l’Image et du Son) the french state film school under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

As a sound engineer, Gianluca Renzi has mixed and mastered some of the latest Giovanni Mirabassi's CD's. Among them, the recording "Live at the Blue Note Tokyo" has been recognized for its high sound quality. He mixed and mastered the CD "No Kiddin' " by the pianist Jon Davis. He mixed and mastered all his own recordings and he produced/arranged/mixed the recording named "Further to FLY' (homage to Simon & Garfunkel) by the talented italian singer Patty Lomuscio with Jon Davis on piano and Vince Ector on drums.


As educator, Gianluca Renzi was bass professor at the Saint Louis College of Music of Rome for several years. He also taught masterclasses in France, Italy, Japan and South Korea. Gianluca Renzi recently started a program of online bass coaching for bass players who want to work on their skills and learn from an experienced and performing musician. The online classes allow Gianluca Renzi to be able to follow his students from any part of the world.

2023 Gianluca Renzi Music