Giovanni Ceccarelli is an Italian pianist, composer, arranger and educator currently living in Paris, France.
His numerous artistic projects present a repertoire based on original compositions, own arrangements of music composed by great contemporary artists - such as Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ennio Morricone and Ivan Lins - and live soundtracks to silent movies.
Giovanni's first CD as a leader, “Daydreamin'” (2010) presents a repertoire of original compositions. The second one, “Météores” (2011) is produced by French label Bonsaï Music. It is a trio recording featuring David Linx and Fausto Mesolella as guest artists. The CD meets the critics' and public's recognition ("Sélection FIP" by national radio FIP, "Sélection écouteurs" by Birdland radio in France, and "Sélection HMCH" from Harmonia Mundi in Switzerland).
Giovanni Ceccarelli is co-leader of the duo CD "The Street Dancer" (Philology, 1998), which is recorded together with USA pianist and Giovanni's mentor Eddie Wied. In 2009 Giovanni releases "Feedin' Inner Urges", an album recorded with vocalist Fabrizia Barresi, and "The Nights of the Beuscher", a double album containing live recordings with great saxophonist Massimo Urbani. "Waxin' in Camerino" (Philology, 2011) is published after a fifteen year-long collaboration with jazz master Lee Konitz.
Giovanni Ceccarelli and longtime friend and musical partner, bassist Ferruccio Spinetti are the founders of group InventaRio, starring also Brazilian singer/multi-instrumentalist Dadi and drummer/percussionist Francesco Petreni. The group's first album "InventaRio" (My Favorite Records, 2010) features Marisa Monte, Ivan Lins, Petra Magoni, and Pacifico as guest artists. In 2012 the group releases "InventaRio incontra Ivan Lins", an album entirely recorded with the great Brazilian artist. The album is published internationally by Blue Note and in Brazil by Biscoito Fino, featuring renowned artists Chico Buarque, Vanessa da Mata, Fabrizio Bosso, Maria Pia De Vito, Vinicius Cántuaria and Maria Gadú. In 2014 the album receives a nomination at the "Latin Grammy Awards" as "Best MPB Album".
Ceccarelli's duo with saxophonist Marcello Alulli has performed all over the world, giving concerts and presenting their live soundtracks to silent movies. In 2019 the duo publishes the album "Canto".
The duo with Italian bandoneón player Daniele di Bonaventura presents a repertoire of original compositions - which they released in the album "Mare Calmo" (EvArt, 2015) - and a homage to the music of great Brazilian composer Tom Jobim - their second album "Eu Te Amo - The Music Of Tom Jobim" (Bonsaï Music, 2019) features great Brazilian artists Ivan Lins and Jaques Morelenbaum and new jazz star Camille Bertault as guest artists.
For three years Giovanni Ceccarelli has given several Concerts for Syria, solo performances with guest artists for the benefit of association Life4Syria, providing humanitarian relief to civilians inside of Syria.
Giovanni's latest release is a duo album with Ferruccio Spinetti, a homage to great composer Ennio Morricone entitled "More Morricone" (Bonsaï Music, 2020). The album has received very positive reviews from the press and media ("Sélection FNAC", "Must TSF Jazz", "Top Mezzo", "ffff" from magazine Télérama).
Giovanni's collaborations in concert, studio recordings, radio, and TV programs include many internationally renowned artists, such as Benny Golson, Amii Stewart, Mark Murphy, Nancy King, Charles Davis, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava, Kenny Wheeler, Tony Scott, Musica Nuda, and Manu Katché. His discography amounts to 50 albums recorded as a leader, co-leader, featured artist, and sideman. Four of his albums as co-leader have been released in Japan with a special edition. Ceccarelli has toured the entire world both with his own musical projects and as a sideman.
He is as well an active music educator, giving courses, masterclasses, clinics, workshops, and lectures all over the world and on the internet on jazz piano, improvisation, and ensemble music.