A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being briefly interviewed by Maxi Broecking, who created this beautiful article fully embracing the poetic world of The Value Of Choices.
The article is featured in the April/May 2026 issue of Jazz Thing magazine.
Thank you Maxi for your deep listening and your wonderful words, here’s a short quote below.
“A sonic narrative, a true cinematography of sound.
The music is written with open spaces, like a commedia dell’arte of jazz.”
Oh yes! BETSABEA got the 1st prize (A cat) at the international jazz competition for jazz orchestra ‘Scrivere in Jazz’ hosted by Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna ! This is a double win as it was a long time since my music wasn’t played in Italy, so this makes it even more special. But I want to congratulate all the finalists, all terrific composers, and human beings! A special ‘hug’ goes to my fellow composer and old friend Tobias Hoffmann and to my new compositional friend Gerardo Pepe for winning in categories B and C! And to Laura Giulia Veltri that got a Special Mention for her nice work. And last but not least…thanks to the Jury members that choose Betsabea: Marco Tiso, Corrado Guarino, Michele Corcella, Gianluigi Trovesi
I’m so glad to announce that my piece ‘Berlin’ has been selected as a finalist at the Helsinki Big Band Composing Contest.
The jury includes American composer and big band leader Bob Mintzer, composer and pianist Iro Haarla, UMO’s artistic director and chief conductor Ed Partyka, and conductor Antti Rissanen.
Only 10 finalists were selected between 76 applications coming from all around the world.
I’ll proudly represent Belgium (and Italy)! Connect on the 4th of June for following the stream of the final!
IT
La scrittura di Gabriele di Franco è costruita intorno ai rocciosi segmenti del passato, ma guarda con occhio vigile e purpureo verso l’irrequietezza del free jazz, dell’avanguardia europea…
…un lavoro e un progetto da ricordare. E, soprattutto, da far conoscere in ogni parte del globo: giusto per rammentare ai forestieri che anche qui le orchestre sanno il fatto suo.
EN
Gabriele di Franco’s writing is built around robust segments of the past, but looks with a watchful and purple eye towards the restlessness of free jazz, of the European avant-garde…
…a work and a project to remember. And, above all, to be made known in every part of the world: just to remind the strangers that here too the orchestras know what they are doing.
https://www.jazzinprogress.it/2020/07/29/bud-powell-jazz-orchestra-dedalo/
Wonderful review in the editorial section of Jazz Halo: Jazz the Italian way #2. – (Texte © ferdinand dupuis-panther)
EN
“Subconcious-Lee” is like a spring ripple in a soft green…
“Contemplation arises when the guitar solo opens the piece “P.”…
“…A homage to Amsterdam is to be found in “Leidseplein Madness”: It rocks really hard. The saxophone is eccentric, but then it catches itself again and makes a gentle wind whisper. The madness, it seems, to take a break. But then, as you continue listening, you think fireworks rockets are being shot into the sky, and the guitarist lets the strings buzz, howl, whimper, howl. At the end there is the musical “happiness”.
DE
“Einem Frühlingsrauschen im zarten Grün gleicht „Subconcious-Lee“…
“Kontemplation kommt auf, wenn das Gitarrensolo das Stück „P.“ eröffnet…
“..Eine Hommage an Amsterdam findet sich mit „Leidseplein Madness“: Da rockt es ganz gewaltig. Exaltiert gibt sich das Saxofon, das sich dann aber wieder fängt und ein zartes Windsäuseln von sich gibt. Der Wahnsinn macht, so scheint es, auch auf dem Leidseplein mal eine Pause. Doch dann meint man beim weiteren Zuhören, Feuerwerksraketen werden in den Himmel geschossen, und der Gitarrist lässt die Saiten schwirren, jaulen, wimmern, heulen. Zum Schluss findet sich dann noch das musikalische „Glück“.
Happy to share a new video: ‘About LULELA’.
Here a small pitch to present you LULELA.
Have been working already since a while on this exiciting project, but there are still a few months to go for ultimate the compositional work!
Looking forward to starting performing LULELA!
LULELA, Is an Interactive concert with multiple evolutionary possibilities. more info: http://www.gabrieledifranco.com/lulela co-produced by LOD muziektheater.
Gabriele di Franco: composition, libretto and concept.
video editing by Studio Sciolto
At this year’s conference, inJazz (Rotterdam – NL) introduced – in cooperation with the Bremen (DE) based label Berthold records – the Elevator Jazz Pitch.Only 10 were the finalists, and I’m glad to say that my presentation about my coming Interactive music-theatre piece (LULELA) won the inJazz inCentive of €1.000,-. more about InJazz conference: https://www.injazz.nl/ press: www.bumacultuur.nl/ ph. kevingruetzner.de and Maarten van Haaff |
Zondag voor JAZZ NOW I (JAZZHALO radio) op 22u. DJ: Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther Ons nieuwste album SO FAR Will bestreamd. ENG Sunday for jazz now I (Jazzhalo Radio) on 22 h. DJ: Ferdinand Dupuis-Panther Our latest album so far will be streamed. Web: jazzhalo.be FB: facebook.com/Jazzbuffjazzhalo
BUD POWELL JAZZ ORCHESTRA – DEDALO (2018) Produced by Ass. Bud Powell di Maglie. © Gabriele di Franco 2018 © Ass.Cult. Jazz Bud Powell di Maglie www.magliejazz.it