Franck Avitabile

Franck Avitabile (born 24 November 1971) is a jazz pianist who also has a master's degree in mathematics from the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon.

Avitabile was born in Lyon, France. At nine, he began to study music at the Lyon Conservatoire, including Bach, Mozart and Debussy. At seventeen, he became interested in jazz, particularly Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Later, he became the only musician for whom Michel Petrucciani ever produced a record. He is also the composer of 60 published compositions.

Awards

 * First Prize - Vanves Piano Jazz Competition (Martial Solal, Jury President) (1996)
 * First Prize - Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris (1998)
 * Second Grand Prize - Concours International de la Ville de Paris - Martial Solal Piano Jazz International Competition 1998
 * FIP Selection (CD of the month) for the album In Tradition 1998
 * Django d'Or - Best First Record Album, France 1999
 * Talent MIDEM & Européen Django d'Or Nomination 2000
 * INDISPENSABLE Jazz Hot Magazine for the album Bemsha Swing 2002
 * Talent Jazz & Electro ADAMI 2003
 * Victoire de la Musique - Revelation of the year 2004
 * CHOC Jazzman Magazine for the album Just Play 2006
 * Coup de coeur Télé Loisirs for the album Short Stories 2006
 * Best Album Jazz Magazine for the album Short Stories 2006
 * MUST TSF Jazz Radio for the album Short Stories 2006
 * CHOC Jazzman Magazine for the album Short Stories 2006
 * FIP Radio CD of the month for the album Paris Sketches 2009

As a leader

 * Tribute to Bud Powell (1996) with Patrick Maradan, Cedric Perrot
 * Lumières (1997) with Louis Petrucciani, Thomas Grimmonprez
 * In Tradition (1998) with Riccardo Del Fra, Luigi Bonafede
 * Right Time (2000) with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Roberto Gatto
 * Bemsha Swing (2002) with Remi Vignolo, Dre Pallemaerts
 * Just Play (2005) Solo
 * Short Stories (2006) Solo
 * Paris Sketches (2009) with Pino Palladino, Manu Katché
 * On Air (2009) DVD

As sideman

 * The Paris Jazz Quintet The Paris Jazz Quintet (2001)
 * ''Be Hip Be Bop"' (2001)
 * DJ CAM present Fillet of Soul (2002)
 * JP Gallis The Song Seeker (2005)
 * Fillet of Soul opus 2 (2005)
 * Diamond Suite (2006)
 * Food for Thought (2007)

Compilations

 * Collector Dreyfus Jazz (1999)
 * Midem presents : Talents 2000 (2000)
 * Une Femme de Ménage (2002) Original Film Soundtrack
 * A Child is Born (2004)
 * Duc des Lombards (2004)
 * 15 Years of Dreyfus Jazz (2007)
 * Essential Jazz (2008)
 * Classique & Jazz - Pickwick Clubstar (2008)
 * Monte Carlo Jazz Festival - Dreyfus Night (2009)
 * ''Les Legendes du Jazz (2009)
 * ''Coffret TSF Jazz 10 ans (2010)
 * Jazz Spirit (2010)
 * Coffret Dreyfus Jazz 20 CD (2011)
 * Ritz Paris - Jazz Around The Ritz (2012)