Franck Amsallem

Franck Amsallem is an acclaimed international jazz pianist, playing, recording, and composing for over 40 years. A multi-talented musician, Franck is also much in demand as a composer/arranger, singer, and educator.

Franck has recorded ten CDs under his name and a major collaboration, "New York Stories," with Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, and Danny Gatton on Blue Note USA. While living in New York City, Franck played as a sideman with Gerry Mulligan, Charles Lloyd, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Chambers, Maria Schneider, Kevin Mahogany and Harry Belafonte as well as Gary Bartz, Bobby Watson, Rick Margitza, Tim Ries, and Blood Sweat and Tears.

Franck is the recipient of major awards (NEA composition fellowship, Great American Jazz Piano Competition, ASCAP award, Fondation de la Vocation, FACE cultural exchange) in both the U.S. and France.

In 1992 Franck released "Out a Day", an award-winning trio cd with Gary Peacock and Bill Stewart, praised by many jazz magazines all over the world. This recording established him as an in-demand jazz pianist in NYC, as well as a composer to watch. He has since played many of the most important festivals throughout Europe, including Pori, Molde, Red Sea, North Sea, Paris, Nice, Vienne, and Antibes/Juan-les-Pins.

As a composer, he has been commissioned by the WDR Jazz Orchestra, the National Jazz Orchestra of France (O.N.J.), and The Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. His composition "Nuits" for string orchestra and jazz quartet has been performed many times with various soloists. Other commissions include "Place Du Temps" for chamber orchestra, "The Farewell" for the PRISM saxophone quartet and "Brooding" for solo piano (2013).

In 2009, Franck released "Amsallem Sings", showcasing his talents as a pianist-singer, featuring 12 songs from the Great American Songbook. "Franck Amsallem Sings Vol. II" followed, a trio opus recorded in Paris. Franck was recently part of "At Barloyd", a 9 cds boxset showcasing nine of the best French jazz pianists.

Recently released in Sep. 2019 on the jazz&people label, "Gotham Goodbye", a quartet featuring Cuban saxophonist Irving Acao, has garnered superb reviews all over the world.