Rossano Sportiello
jazz pianist. educator. composer. arranger.
One of the world's leading jazz piano players on the scene today, specialized in the styles from Harlem Stride Piano to Bebop to Contemporary Jazz.
Elegant and Swinging Piano Jazz
Based in New York City, Rossano is a classically trained Italian pianist who transitioned to Jazz at very young age. He is a master of both styles and his classical skills frequently come to the fore along with Harlem Stride Piano. He plays with a relaxed swing, paying respect to the original melodies while also adding something of his own to each performance.
Stylistically, Rossano is a follower of Ralph Sutton, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Dave McKenna and Barry Harris, but is also influenced by the masters like Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Errol Garner, George Shearing, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Ellis Larkins and Bill Evans.
Live Streams
Since October 2020, Rossano has been live streaming from his apartment the show “Live at the Flat in Greenwich Village”.
Rossano’s Live Stream Repertoire
In the Live Streams, Rossano has played hundreds of tunes, in Piano Solo or with Guests.
Rossano is the most fabulous piano player I ever heard in my life; indeed, a master of his craft.
Hear him once and you’ll know what I mean.
—Barry Harris
Jazz Pianist, Composer and Teacher
My goal:
To play jazz and make it understandable to everybody.
Most of all, I want to see people smiling and having fun!
Discography Examples - Solo, Duo, Trio
Pastel
Piano Solo, Arbors Records, United States, 2017
A Coffee for Two
Duet with Luigi Grasso, Jazz Aux Remparts, France, 2018
Lucky to Be Me
Rossano Sportiello Trio, with Frank Tate and Dennis Mackrel, Arbors Records, 2010
Piano Solo
This album, That’s It!, is a collection of Rossano’s solo piano thoughts including many standard songs that are at the very heart of the Jazz Piano repertoire.
"This CD is something new," Rossano muses. "It blends so many elements, but I’m not just mixing them up at random, I am incorporating them all into a mixture that blends completely together into something new. There are elements of bebop, elements of stride piano, elements of classical, elements of swing, and also clear stylistic references to Hank Jones, Dave McKenna, Ralph Sutton, Art Tatum, Bill Evans. I don’t think this has ever happened before."