Giampaolo Casati

Born in Genoa in 1959, where he was awarded a diploma at the “N. Paganini” conservatory in 1985, he has been performing as concert artist, music teacher and Big Band/Combo Jazz arranger since several years.

His first remarkable collaborations start in 1980: among them Gianni Basso’s A.T. Big Band, Tullio De Piscopo’s Quartet and Giorgio Gaslini’s Octet. In 1991 he leads a drumless trio, with Rosario Bonaccorso as bass player and Alessio Menconi as a guitarist. In the same year he and Piero Leveratto form the “Bansigu Big Band” and he assumes its leadership. During these years he has played in festivals and concerts all over Europe, USA, China and Japan playing with several of the most important American jazzmen including Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Clifford Jordan, Ben Riley, Joe Lovano, Slide Hampton, Steve Lacy, Jimmy Cobb, John Hicks, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow.

In 2002 and 2006 was touring around Europe with the Carla Bley big band playing in the biggest festivals and recording the two last albums by the band.

He has recorded about 50 albums. Including two as a solo artist and two as conductor of the Bansigu Big Band.

Moreover he has taken part in several radio and TV programs and in the recording of soundtracks for movies and plays.