He is a very sensitive and creative musician, whose artistic projects, ranging from piano solo to quartet, present a repertoire based on original compositions and own arrangements of music coming from different parts of the world.

Ceccarelli's newest projects include:

Together with Italian bassist Ferruccio Spinetti, he has started a collaboration with Brazilian composer, guitarist and singer Dadi. The group, named InventaRio, present a program of original songs with Portuguese and Italian lyrics, as well as some classics of the Brazilian and Italian songbook. InventaRio has just released an album, with such special guests as Ivan Lins, Marisa Monte, Pacifico and Petra Magoni.

Ceccarelli has recorded an album of standards with great saxophonist Lee Konitz, to be published in 2010; the recording took place last year on the occasion of a concert tour in Italy with Konitz and the two members of Ceccarelli's trio: bassist Chris Jennings and drummer Patrick Goraguer.

Ceccarelli's quartet, featuring saxophonist Christophe Panzani, bassist Nicolas Rageau and drummer Antoine Paganotti, have recorded an album entirely dedicated to Ceccarelli's music.

Other recent releases are "Feedin' Inner Urges", a duo original project with singer Fabrizia Barresi, and "The Nights of the Beuscher", a double album documenting two duo concerts with great saxophonist Massimo Urbani.

For ten years Ceccarelli has been part of singer Ada Montellanico's projects, a collaboration that has led to the release of two albums. Moreover he works with several groups and musicians in Europe, also taking part in numerous artistic projects involving music, cinema, literature and dance.

Ceccarelli has played live and in the studio with many internationally renowned artists, including Benny Golson, Kenny Wheeler, Amii Stewart, Nancy King, Tony Scott, Mark Murphy, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu, Arnoldo Foà. He has given concerts in numerous theaters, festivals and venues in Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia.

Ceccarelli is also a very active jazz educator, teaching jazz piano, chant and piano workshop and jazz ensemble at InJazz Summer Clinics in Fabriano (since 1999) and SpringInJazz Music Seminars in Labro, Italy. He currently teaches jazz piano and vocal coaching at the Ecole Des Arts in Marcoussis, France. He is the president and founding member of InJazz Cultural Association, which organizes jazz clinics, lectures and concerts.

For more on Giovanni please go to his website and MySpace page.

Photo credits - Angelo Trani

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