Stefano Di Battista

Born in Rome, Stefano di Battista began playing both soprano and alto saxophone at age thirteen alongside neighborhood friends. Hearing alto saxophonist Art Pepper on record confirmed his direction toward jazz, after which he studied under the noted altoist Massimo Urbani. An encounter with Jean-Pierre Como at the Calvi Jazz Festival led to early performances in Paris during his early twenties.

He soon became a regular at the Sunset, a leading jazz club in the City of Lights, sharing stages with Michel Benita, drummer Stéphane Huchard, and drummer Aldo Romano. Solo work followed, producing collaborations with cornetist Nat Adderley, drummers Daniel Humair and Jimmy Cobb, and pianist Michel Petrucciani.

Petrucciani recruited di Battista for a new sextet and likewise invited trumpeter Flavio Boltro, who often worked with the saxophonist. Di Battista’s first album as leader, Volare, appeared on Label Bleu in 1997, drew strong notice, and earned a nomination for a French award. A Prima Vista came out the following year.

By then he had issued three leader albums, two of which never reached the United States. The third, a 2000 Blue Note release titled simply Stefano di Battista, centered on his own pieces and also contained Rosario Bonaccorso’s “Song for Flavia” plus Jacky Terrasson’s “Chicago 1987” and “Little Red Ribbon.” Bassist Bonaccorso, pianist Terrasson, former Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones, and trumpeter Flavio Boltro all participated. The finished sessions so impressed Jones that he immediately added di Battista to the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine tour. In 2005 di Battista returned to Blue Note with Parker's Mood, his tribute to Charlie Parker.