Stefano di Battista

Italian saxophonist born in Rome in 1969, Stefano Di Battista emerged on the European jazz scene with a style focused on the alto saxophone, balancing bop heritage and Mediterranean melodies. After beginnings in Roman clubs, he settled in Paris in the early 1990s, became a fixture on the French jazz circuit and collaborated with musicians such as Michel Petrucciani, Enrico Rava and Flavio Boltro. His first leader album, "A Prima Vista" (1998), marked the start of a steady relationship with the French label Label Bleu, followed by a series of records for Blue Note, including "Stefano Di Battista" (2000), "Round About Roma" (2002) and "Parker’s Mood" (2004), where he pits his language against that of Charlie Parker. "Trouble Shootin'" (2007) and "Woman’s Land" (2011) continue this approach, combining melodic writing, post-bop energy and Latin or Italian rhythms. Also active in Italy, he has taken part in various television and stage projects alongside singer Nicky Nicolai. With "Morricone Stories" (2021) he revisits Ennio Morricone’s repertoire in an acoustic quartet setting, confirming a career situated between reinterpretations of Italian heritage and creation within contemporary jazz.