Franck Amsallem, a French jazz pianist and arranger, is also a composer, singer, and composer. Born in Oran in 1961, he grew up in Nice. At age 7, he began learning piano and then took up classical saxophone lessons at the local conservatory. During his early studies, he was able hear Thad Jones and Charles Mingus live at the Grande Parade du Jazz, Nice, France. He was already playing in the Cote d’Azur dance bands by high school and was featured in an INA documentary titled “La Lecon de Musique” as a John Lewis student. As a young adult, he was awarded a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, with Herb Pomeroy and Michael Gibbs. In 1986, he moved to NYC to the Manhattan School of Music, to study with Bob Brookmeyer. While playing jazz around New York, he continued his classical piano studies alongside Phillip Kawin. Since then, he has accompanied or collaborated alongside Gerry Mulligan, Joe Chambers, Bill Stewart, Joshua Redman, Maria Schneider, Jerry Bergonzi, Charles Lloyd, Bobby Watson, Herb Pomeroy, Bob Brookmeyer, Bob Belden, Sonny Fortune, Sara Lazarus, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Tim Ries, Stephane Belmondo, Rick Margitza, Blood, Sweat
