• Home
  • Bio
  • Works
    • Discography
    • Scores
    • Lulela – the book
  • Projects
    • di Franco // Negro
    • The Value Of Choices
    • Deep
    • All Projects
  • Press
  • News
  • Events
  • Media
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • Contacts

Projects

The Value Of Choices

9th April 2024 by Gabriele di Franco
arrangement, award, Belgium, big band, composer, composition, jazz orchestra, orchestra, The Value Of Choices

The Value Of Choices

ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA

“The Value Of Choices” is the new orchestral constellation led by composer and conductor Gabriele di Franco.
Gabriele has passionately devoted his creative efforts to composing for large ensembles, resulting in an impressive collection of awards. In fact, he has won no less than 7 international composition awards in the past three years alone.
Among them, 3rd prize with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & JamMusicLab Univristy in 2023 (AT), 1st  prize at Scrivere in Jazz in 2022 (IT), commissioned composer at the European Composers project of Subway Jazz Orchestra in 2021 (DE), 3rd prize at UMO Jazz Orchestra (FI), and many more.
Today, Gabriele has decided to reinvest the awards won in the creation of his Orchestral constellation: “The Value Of Choices”.

The album, sharing its title with the project, draws inspiration from Gabriele’s mentor, Kris Defoort, dedicating its opening track in homage to him. Featuring a mix of previously awarded compositions and fresh material from the past three years, the music promises an engaging travel through the diverse tapestry of jazz.

Bridging the worlds of jazz and classical orchestration, Gabriele’s writing style is deeply rooted in jazz traditions, drawing inspiration from the great orchestrators of classical music while embracing modern and pop grooves.

The Value Of Choices will be released in March 2026 with Challenge Records thanks to the support of the Flemish Government

THE MUSICIANS

“The Value Of Choices” is made by 18 wonderful human beings.

 

Woodwinds:

Alto Sax/ Soprano/ Flute/ Alto Flute/ Piccolo Flute: Martin Gasser

Alto Sax/Soprano/Flute:  Pierre Lagache

Tenor Sax/Soprano/ Flute : Lennert Baerts

Tenor Sax/Bb Clarinet: Tobias Volckaert

Baritone Sax/Bass Clari: Duilio Ingrosso

 

Trumpets:

Trumpet/Flugelhorn 1: Antoine Colin

Trumpet/Flugelhorn 2: Jany Van Lul

Trumpet/Flugelhorn 3: Thomas Mayade

Trumpet/Flugelhorn 4: Pierre-Antoine Savoyat

 

Trombones:

Trombone1 : Frederik Heirman

Trombone 2: Quinten De Cracker

Trombone 3: Tim Daemen

Bass Trombone / Tuba: Els Verbruggen

 

Rhythm Section:

Double Bass: Fil Caporali

Drums: Daniel Jonkers

Piano & Effects: Yu-Ting Li

Guitar & Effects: Machiel Heremans

Conducting & Composition: Gabriele di Franco

 

Guests:
Lieselot De Wilde – voice

Vanesa Diaz Gil – voice

Francois Vaiana – voice

Federico Pecoraro – el. bass

GET A GLIMPSE OF MY COMPOSITIONAL WRITING FOR LARGE ENSEMBLE

  • Berlin, awarded at Helsinki Composing Competition 2021 (Finland – UMO Jazz Orchestra ) –
  • ‘Nguè, awarded at 2nd Ise-Shima International Popular Music Composition Competition 2023 (Japan) –

NEWSLETTER

Would you like to be updated about my latest news?

Gabriele di Franco // Francesco Negro

14th June 2023 by Gabriele di Franco
cantabile, duo, Francesco Negro, synolon

Gabriele di Franco // Francesco Negro

//DUO

ABOUT THE DUO

Gabriele di Franco and Francesco Negro are a duo of composers and musicians originally from Puglia (Italy). Their musical history is a fusion of two distinct paths: while Gabriele spent over a decade abroad and currently lives in Belgium, Francesco chose to root his artistic path in their homeland.

Their collaboration was born from the desire to explore the blending between the acoustic timbres of the piano with the sounds of a semi-acoustic guitar, which often drifts into totally electronic sounds.

In 2022 they released their first album Synolon (Workin’ Label 22 – IT), in which they channeled their musical research into writing strongly composed music, but which often opened up to moments of free improvisations.
“Synolon” sees them on an extensive tour between Italy, Belgium, and Germany, and “Acqua“, the album’s opening track, was awarded at the 1st Ise-Shima International Popular Music Composition Competition in Japan.

August 2023 sees them return to the studio, ready to create their second recording work entitled “Cantabile“.

ABOUT CANTABILE

Cantabile is the second album by the Italian-Belgian duo of Gabriele di Franco and Francesco Negro.
Cantabile is a quiet journey that continues the exploration begun on their first album (Synolon), but greatly accentuates Gabriele and Francesco’s passion for melody and lyricism. Indeed, it is no coincidence that the album’s only guest is the Spanish singer and composer Vanesa Gil Diaz, who joins the duo on two splendid compositions ‘At The Border’ and ‘Dopo Tutto’. But the singability element remains strong throughout the album.

Acoustic piano timbres mingle with the sounds of a semi-acoustic guitar that modulates to pure electronics. This musical research has led Gabriele and Francesco to explore new timbre combinations, generating a sound that, although strongly rooted in jazz, is not afraid to steal sounds and shapes from improvised music, electronics, and pop.

TRACK LIST
1. At The Border
2. Peace
3. LAMA
4. Dopo Tutto
5. Bloemen
6. Ombre
7. Oh My Love

Recorded on 12th and 13th August 2023 at Cicaleto Recording Studio (Arezzo- IT)
Mixed and Mastered by Francesco Ponticelli

At The Border, Peace composed by Francesco Negro
LAMA, Bloemen, Dopo Tutto composed by Gabriele di Franco
Ombre composed by Gabriele di Franco and Francesco Negro
Oh My Love composed by Riz Ortolani

TOUR DATES

  • August 10, 2024 – Brussels – Muziekcontainer (BE)
  • August 26, 2024 – Castro – Castro Jazz Festival (IT)
  • October 26, 2024 – Bruges 27Bflat (BE)
  • October 27, 2024 – Brussels LE BAIXU (BE)
  • November 2, 2024 – Milan Rai Radio3 Piazza Verdi (IT)
  • November 3, 2024 – Rome CIMI – Italian Center for Integrated Medicine (IT)
  • November 4, 2024 – Rome Vatican News – Vatican Radio (IT)
  • April 11, 2025 – Fragagnano – Osteria dei 4 Venti (IT)
  • April 12, 2025 – Andria (IT)
  • April 13, 2025 – Ass Cult Bud Powell Maglie  (IT)
  • April 25, 2025 – Sounds Jazz Club – Bruxelles (BE)
  • JULY – GERMANY (TBA)
  • JULY – GERMANY (TBA)
Press-Kit EN
Press-Kit FR
Press-Kit IT

Gabriele di Franco

guitar and effects

Francesco Negro

piano

DISCOGRAPHY

CANTABILE

Synolon // Gabriele di Franco, Francesco Negro

NEWSLETTER

Would you like to be updated about my latest news?

Deep_recording ©Federico Fiordigiglio

Deep

2nd August 2022 by Gabriele di Franco
classical guitar, deep, etudes, jasper iturrospe, studies

Deep

contemporary studies for guitar

  • Copertine_Facebook_all platforms_Deep
  • Deep_recording ©Federico Fiordigiglio
  • deep recording14

Deep is a series of 5 etudes and 1 interlude for modern classical guitar.

Each study explores a specific technique or musical idea.
The end of each study heralds the ‘exploratory’ element that will be developed in the following study.

The recordings of DEEP are the result of a collaboration with Belgian guitarist Jasper Iturrospe.

CREDITS

Deep
contemporary studies for guitar

Composed by Gabriele di Franco
Performed by Jasper Iturrospe

Etcetera Records

Release date 10_03_23

thanks to Jasper for playing so beautifully,
thanks to Arianna, Raffaele, and Anita for supporting me every day,
thanks to Federico and Valentina for being such wonderful human beings.

recorded by Dries Van Ende in Brussel on 6/02/2022
Filmed by Federico Fiordigiglio (©Studiosciolto)

ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS

DOWNLOAD THE SCORES

Deep 1

Deep Interlude 1

Deep 2

Deep 3

Deep 4

Deep 5

Meantime let's stay connected:

LULELA

15th March 2022 by admin

An interactive concert with multiple evolutionary possibilities.

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU THINK:

WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT FLIGHT?

WHAT IF I WOULD HAVE KISSED HER?

WE CHOOSE AND EVOLVE ON THE BASIS OF THE CHOICES WE MAKE, AND SO DOES LULELA.

19 different endings
21 crossroads
38 chapters
228 minutes of interactive performance
11.706 words

Lulela-4
Lulela-2
Lulela-3

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Lulela, a combination from the Italian ‘lui’, ‘lei’ en ‘l’altro’ or ‘he, ‘she’ and ‘the other’, is a hybrid jazz concert in which performers, protagonist and audience become one fluid identity. Lulela is a musical trip that combines emotions as loneliness and melancholia with humour and romance.

PRODUCTION INFO

Lulela is a multi-layered jazz concert, performed by 6 musicians on stage, with a story that enfolds differently during each performance. When the protagonist is at a crossroads,his path is determined by the decisive power of the audience: who he will be and what he could have been, is defined by the audience. The audience navigates through 19 different storylines of which only 2 are revealed during each performance, resulting in a 1 hour and 30 minutes interactive music theatre concert.

More about Lulela

NL
ENG
ITA

for contacts and info:

https://planning.lod.be/

LOD / Gabriele di Franco: Lulela

concept, text, composition & direction Gabriele di Franco //
narration & bassoon Marcello Giannandrea // soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou // vibraphone & glockenspiel Pierre Hurty // drums Daniel Jonkers // double bass Filipe Caporali // jazz guitar Gabriele di Franco // technics Johannes Ringoot // production manager Rozemarijn Van Kalmthout // production LOD muziektheater

Produced by:

BIJA

11th June 2021 by admin
The Sanskrit term “bija” (seed) represents the source and at the same time the cause of all things.

It is the vibration, the primordial sound from which it all began. From this fascination, in 2011 Bija were born.
This atypical trio, composed, somewhat by chance, of an electric guitar, a trumpet and drums, made the decision to create music according to their personalities without musical prejudices. Read More

NOBIS TRIO

11th June 2021 by admin
Nobis Trio brings its own original music and classic adaptations. Their music is poetic, picturesque, and playful. It is both romantic and fun, although they are only three the concert is full of tension. If you don’t have a lot of travel experience, then let them take you travel with the music!

Line-up:
蔡雯慧 Wen-Hui Tsai- Voice
Marco Puzzello- Flugelhorn
Gabriele di Franco- Guitar Read More

Ramon van Merkenstein TRIO

10th June 2021 by admin
The Ramon van Merkenstein Trio conveys their love for performing jazz music and adores connecting with their audience.
These are jazz players who can make their music dance deviously or swell like ocean waves.
The Ramon van Merkenstein Trio takes command of their music and they take it on a journey. Read More

Copyright © 2021 – 2025 Gabriele di Franco
All rights reserved

Powered by DAVEA Studio