Jazz Bass Academy is an educational platform created by NYC based jazz bassist and arranger Gianluca Renzi to support all bassists in their musical journey to become great artists and performers. LEARN MORE ABOUT GIANLUCA RENZI (videos)
It's finally time to became the great bassist you always dreamed to be with the help and expertise of an internationally renown bassist and arranger who has performed all over the world in the most known jazz festivals, concert venues and jazz clubs.
Either you play double bass or bass guitar, joining the JBA will give you access to all the knowledge you need to boost your playing skills and to unlock your potential. Stop playing scales or studying patterns without any musical direction and start learning how to really improvise your bass lines and use them effectively in multiple musical styles.
Jazz Bass Academy is accessible to everyone, amateur, professionals, and anything in between, regardless of the level of proficiency, time and budget available to study music.
Welcome to JBA.
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Gianluca Renzi is a New York City based bass player, composer, arranger, and educator and he has performed all around the world in the most known Jazz Festivals and Concert Venues. He is an internationally acclaimed jazz musician and he currently performs on a regular basis with some of the world's best known jazz artists. He earned a master degree in classical performing and a master degree in jazz composing and arranging from the Italian Conservatory of Music.
Before moving to New York in 2008 he was one of the most active Italian bass players, performing with many European Jazz Stars. Gianluca Renzi has been a member of the Antonio Farao` trio (with Dejan Terzic); Rosario Giuliani quartet (with Pietro Lussu, Fabrizio Sferra); Rosario Giuliani quintet (with Dado Moroni, Flavio Boltro, Fabrizio Sferra); Maurizio Giammarco Megatones (with Pino Iodice, Dario Cecchini, John Arnold). He also worked with Roberto Gatto, Enrico Pieranunzi, Fabrizio Bosso, Franco Ambrosetti, Riccardo Fassi, Umberto Fiorentino Stefano Battaglia, Ettore Fioravanti, Giampoalo Ascolese, Amedeo Tommasi and many american artists on tour in Europe such as: Alex Sipiagin, Bobby Watson, David Binney, Alvin Batiste, Edward Simon, Carl Allen, Gary Smulyan, Steve Grossman, Orrin Evans, Gene Jackson, Steve Lacy, Adam Nussbaum.
Since he moved to New York City he has been part of several outstanding recordings: Chamber Jazz (by Jacam Manricks, with Kevin Hays, Ari Hoenig); No Kiddin’ (by Jon Davis); Swingfully Yours (by Loston Harris, with Ian Hendrickson-Smith, Carmen Intorre), Captain Black Big Band (by Orrin Evans), Mother’s Touch (by Orrin Evans), Status Cymbal (by Bruce Cox with Aruan Ortiz, Abraham Burton).
Beside his activity in the United States, Gianluca Renzi maintains a prominent presence in Europe, especially in France because of the long collaboration with the Paris based pianist Giovanni Mirabassi. The Giovanni Mirabassi trio released many recordings (Terra Furiosa, Out Of Track, Live at the Blue Note Tokyo, Tribute to Bill, Viva VE.R.D.I., No Way Out, Summer's Gone, Mitaka Calling) for the labels Cam Jazz, Discograph and Columbia Japan. Most of these recordings have been awarded by the CHOC (Special recognition) by the music magazines JazzMan (France) and Classica (France).
Gianluca Renzi has performed at some of the world’s most important jazz festivals: Umbria Jazz (Italy), Marciac Jazz Festival (France), San Fracisco SFJazz (USA), Richmond Jazz Festival (USA), Istambul Jazz Festival (Turkey), Shanghai Jazz Festival (China), Blue Note Beijing (China), Jazz al Parque (Colombia), Jarasum Jazz Festival (South Korea), Kanazawa Jazz Festival (Japan), San Javier Jazz Festival (Spain), Guimaraes Jazz Festival (Portugal) and many more… He has also performed at the greatest international jazz venues: Birdland (New York), Lincoln Center (New York), Jazz Alley (Seattle), Velvet Note (Atlanta), Blue Note Tokyo (Japan), Blue Note Nagoya (Japan), Billboard Osaka (Japan), Cotton Club Tokyo (japan), Blue Note Milano (Italy), Sunside Jazz Club (Paris), Duc des Lombard (Paris), Bird's Basement Melbourne (Australia), Smalls and Mezzrow Jazz Club (New York) and many others. He also performed in many Performing Art Centers and Theaters all over the world.
His work as arranger has served many artists in the Jazz scene. In 2012 and 2014 he composed and arranged some music for the CDs “Mother’s Touch” and “Captain Black Big Band” by pianist Orrin Evans. In 2011 he arranged and composed music for jazz trio and string orchestra for the CD “Viva V.E.R.D.I.” by Giovanni Mirabassi. In 2007 he arranged the music for a jazz sextet for the CD “Live at Casa del Jazz” by Rosario Giuliani. The CD was an homage to “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis featuring an all-star band (Enrico Pieranunzi, Flavio Boltro, Emanuele Cisi, Rosario Giuliani, Fabrizio Sferra, Gianluca Renzi). In 2007 he also arranged for a tentent his own CD “Charles and Joe”, a tribute to the music of Charles Mingus and Joe Henderson. In 2011, Gianluca Renzi has also arranged and orchestrated all of the music (composed by Giovanni Mirabassi) of a musical realized by Roman Daudet Jahan for La Femis (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Métiers de l’Image et du Son) the french state film school under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
As educator, Gianluca Renzi was bass professor at the Saint Louis College of Music of Rome for several years. He also taught masterclasses in France, Italy, Japan and South Korea.
Gianluca Renzi's big band arrangement of Involution by pianist Sorin Zlat
Gianluca Renzi's string orchestra arrangement of the full recording Viva V.E.R.D.I. by pianist Giovanni Mirabassi