Album reviews
"A sonic narrative, a true cinematography of sound. The music is written with open spaces, like a commedia dell'arte of jazz."
Maxi Broecking, Jazz Thing (DE)
"Di Franco demonstrates precise control over sectional balance, confirming a writing style that rejects the obviousness of volume in favor of the intelligence of space."
Diego Librando, Sound Contest (IT)
"Narration, song and music become one."
Philippe Thirionet, JazzMania (BE)
"A complex, masterfully crafted work with a vivid narrative voice."
Wolfgang Giese, Musik an sich (DE)
"Incredibly exciting, and sonically outstanding!"
Claus Volke, Hören und Fühlen (DE)
"Great music. Resembles the classic big bands of the swing era, but enriched with contemporary musical elements and themes from folk and classical music."
Ruud Jonker, Music Emotion (NL)
About the album
- 8
- original pieces, two of them award-winning
- 18
- musicians
- 4
- guests
The Value of Choices is Gabriele di Franco's orchestral project, released on Challenge Records on 6 March 2026. Shaped by years of artistic research, reflection and compositional exploration, the album brings together eighteen musicians and guest artists in a deeply narrative musical journey where jazz meets classical colors, folk sensibilities and contemporary imagination.
The album draws inspiration from one of the most profound teachings of Gabriele's mentor, Kris Defoort, to whom the title track is dedicated. Combining previously awarded compositions with new material written over the past years, it unfolds as a collection of musical narratives where every composition opens a distinct emotional and imaginative world.
Across eight original tracks, di Franco explores themes of choice, doubt, memory, loss, transformation and creation: a dreaming fly, an ancient Sardinian chant revisited through a woman's perspective, a lullaby, the heaviness of loss, the intimacy of uncertainty, the breath that becomes creation.
About the compositions
Two award-winning pieces and six new original compositions.
- The Fly feat. François VaianaThe story of a fly that loved to sleep, and to dream.
- Betsabea awarded 1st prize at Scrivere in Jazz 2022Inspired by an ancient Sardinian choral, Tibi. What if we looked at King David's story through Betsabea's eyes?
- Bloemen feat. Vanesa Diaz GilA lullaby dedicated to my two beautiful flowers, Anita and Raffaele.
- The Value of Choices feat. Lieselot De WildeDedicated to my mentor, Kris Defoort. Grazie Kris, you changed my musical growth!
- Another Loss Unheard cries fall among wind and dust like bombs.
- Slak A slow interlude leading into an improvisation.
- Blues in F feat. Federico PecoraroA blues that would love to be in F.
- Inhale (Inspira) Inspired, dedicated, and commissioned by Subway Jazz Orchestra/CGN.
Made by 18 wonderful human beings
Woodwinds
Martin Gasser (alto sax, soprano, flute, alto flute, piccolo), Pierre Lagache (alto sax, soprano, flute), Lennert Baerts (tenor sax, soprano, flute), Tobias Volckaert (tenor sax, B♭ clarinet), Duilio Ingrosso (baritone sax, bass clarinet)
Trumpets and flugelhorns
Antoine Colin and Loïc Dumoulin, Jany Van Lul, Thomas Mayade, Pierre-Antoine Savoyat
Trombones
Frederik Heirman, Tim Daemen, Quinten De Cracker and Nabou Claerhout, Els Verbruggen (bass trombone, tuba)
Rhythm section
Fil Caporali (double bass), Daniel Jonkers and Toni Vitacolonna (drums), YuTing Li (piano, effects), Machiel Heremans (guitar, effects)
Guests
Lieselot De Wilde, soprano on The Value of Choices. Vanesa Diaz Gil, alto on Bloemen. François Vaiana, baritone on The Fly. Federico Pecoraro, electric bass on Blues in F
Conducting and composition
Gabriele di Franco
Reviews and radio
Reviews
- Jazz Thing, Maxi Broecking (DE), print only
- Musik an sich, Wolfgang Giese (DE)
- Hören und Fühlen, Claus Volke (DE)
- er-em-online.de, TheRealPal (DE)
- Sound Contest, Diego Librando (IT)
- QuiSalento, Matteo Tangolo (IT), print only
- All About Jazz, Ieva Pakalniškytė (US)
- JazzMania, Philippe Thirionet (BE)
- Music Emotion, Ruud Jonker (NL), print only
Radio
- Radio France, Au Cœur du Jazz, Nicolas Pommaret (FR)
- Klara, two airplays (BE)
- radiocittaperta, interview, ForNo One (IT)
- Take 5 Jazz, programme 1327, Jan Klein (NL)
Supported by the Flemish Government