1. Franck Amsallem is a French-American jazz pianist, arranger, composer, singer and educator.
15 Facts About Franck Amsallem
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Franck Amsallem was born in 1961 in Oran, French Algeria, but grew up in Nice, France.
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Franck Amsallem started learning the piano at age 7 and took up the classical saxophone at the local conservatory.
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Franck Amsallem started gigging in 1976 at the age of fourteen, and by high school was playing in dance bands throughout the Cote d'Azur and featured in the INA documentary La Lecon de Musique as a student of John Lewis.
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Franck Amsallem went on to study with Bob Brookmeyer from 1986 to 1990, all the while continuing his classical piano studies with Phillip Kawin.
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In 1987, Franck Amsallem played a weeklong duo session with bassist Jay Leonhart at the Knickerbocker Saloon, New York.
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In 1989, Franck Amsallem's composition "Obstinated" was performed by the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, now known as the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
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Franck Amsallem's 1990 recording debut, "Out a Day", featuring Gary Peacock on bass and Bill Stewart on drums, was recorded at the famed Clinton Recording Studios in Manhattan.
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Franck Amsallem has taught or given workshops at Roosevelt University, New York's 92Y, Paris' CNSM, CRR, the Royal conservatory in Den Haag, and in many other countries.
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Franck Amsallem has received several awards, including a 1989 Composition Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the 1989 Fondation de la Vocation Award from France, the 1991 ASCAP award for Young composers, the second prize at the 1992 Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, and the 2010 FAJE Award.
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Franck Amsallem returned to France in 2001, settling in Paris, where he has collaborated or recorded with local greats Stephane Belmondo, Elisabeth Kontomanou, and Sara Lazarus.
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In 2009 he released his first solo piano album, "Franck Amsallem Sings" featuring himself on vocals.
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Franck Amsallem was invited to conduct and compose for the WDR Big Band in 2011.
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Franck Amsallem has performed all around the world.
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Franck Amsallem toured throughout 2011 in South America, Europe and Asia, and performed at the Java Jazz Festival, on its way to solo concerts in Vietnam and in the Emirates.