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.”
This is one of Gabriele di Franco’s most profound values. This led Gabriele to create “The Value Of Choices”, his new orchestral constellation and upcoming album. 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 few years alone. Among them, 3rd prize with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra & JamMusicLab University 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 into this new ambitious project. The album, sharing its title with the project, draws inspiration from Gabriele’s mentor Kris Defoort’s greatest teaching, which is why its title track is dedicated 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. The Value Of Choices features 8 original tracks, perfectly capturing Gabriele’s musical journey, with the special participation of 4 exceptional guests: Lieselot De Wilde (soprano), Vanesa Diaz Gil (alto), Francois Vaiana (baritone), and Federico Pecoraro (electric bass). 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 album will be released on Challenge Records (NL) 6th March 2026.“While composing, one is often faced with an infinite range of possible timbres, dynamics, and evolutions through which the music may unfold. Every note chosen, every decision made, has a profound impact on the final result. In composition, as in life: this is the value of choices.”
“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
Finally the video of INHALE is out.
Premiered by SJO/CGN at Subway Club on December 8th 2021 as part of the European Composers project.
Check it out on you tube and on instagram is also available a small explanation of the idea behind.
Here available also a small interview where I say more about INHALE (Inspira)!
www.subwayjazzorchestra.com
Subway Jazz Orchestra | European Composers
Concert and live recording at Club Subway on December 8th 2021
“Inspira (Inhale)” composed by Gabriele di Franco
commissioned by the Subway Jazz Orchestra, Cologne
REEDS
Julian Bossert
Johannes Ludwig
Joachim Lenhardt
Jens Böckamp
Heiko Bidmon
TRUMPETS
Matthias Schwengler
Christian Mehler
Maik Krahl
Cay Schmitz
TROMBONES
Janning Trumann
Philipp Schittek
Matthias Schuller
Tobias Herzog
RHYTHM
Philip Czarnecki (git)
Felix Hauptmann (p)
David Andres (b)
Thomas Sauerborn (dr)
CONDUCTOR
Stefan Karl Schmid
Recorded & Mixed by Julian Speyer
Filmed by Cologne Custom Studios
Supported by Land NRW & Rheinenergie Stiftung Kultur
I’m glad to announce that I was selected s part of the project EUROPEAN COMPOSERS promoted by Subway Jazz Orchestra of Cologne. The big band selected five young composers from all over Europe who have composed new works especially for Subway Jazz Orchestra and will be giving their world premieres on the 8th of december. This was preceded by a Europe-wide call by the SJO for composers up to 35 years of age. From the 54 applications received, the collective selected five candidates who were awarded a commission to compose for the orchestra. Congrats also to the other 4 selected composers: Jorik Bergman (born 1996 in Leiden, The Netherlands) is a professional jazz flutist, composer and arranger living in Cologne. She enjoys writing for large jazz ensembles and is currently organising her next big project. On the side, she has her own jazz trio in which she plays the flute, is doing her Master’s degree in composition at the Cologne University of Music and Dance and is also a professional model. Her dream is to retire one day and build her own miniature golf course in the south of France. Tobias Hoffmann (*1988) is a saxophonist, composer and arranger born in Germany and currently living in Vienna and Graz. Besides being the bandleader of his award-winning “Tobias Hoffmann Nonet”, he works as a sideman for various projects and bands. He is also currently working on the debut CD of his “Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra”, which will be released in 2022. Bianca Rantala is a 22-year-old arranger, composer, pianist and big band conductor from Estonia. She is currently studying music production in Helsinki, Finland and works as a freelance musician. Rantala is the conductor of several Estonian big bands, including the Taltech Bigband, the GOMK Bigband and the New Wind Jazz Orchestra. She has composed and arranged for all kinds of ensembles, but especially for big bands, vocal groups, wind and string orchestras. In 2020 she won 1st place in the Baltic Big Band Composition Contest. Born in 1992 in south-eastern Styria (Austria), singer, composer and pianist Ursula Reicher shows her great passion for music in her diverse work, moving in many musical styles. She completed her master’s degree in jazz composition and arranging with Ed Partyka at the Kunstuniversität Graz/Institut Jazz as well as studying music education at KUG Graz and German at KF-Uni in Graz. Her great love is her current main project ‘The Void-Quintet’, a special formation with which she released her debut album “Globular Cluster” in 2019 and was also awarded a Downbeat- Award for “Outstanding Performance” in 2019 and 2020. Ursula was also awarded a Downbeat Award for Outstanding Composition in 2020 and 2021.
I’m glad to announce that my composition Berlin got selected as a finalist at the XXII CONCORSO INTERNAZIONALE DI ARRANGIAMENTO E COMPOSIZIONE PER ORCHESTRA JAZZ.
The final will take place in Barga the 21st of August 2021.
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
L’Associazione Culturale Jazz Bud Powell di Maglie apre le iscrizioni per la Bud Powell Jazz Orchestra (BPJO) diretta da Gabriele di Franco. Tutti i musicisti che suonano uno strumento sono invitati a prendere parte a questa magnifica esperienza che in questi anni si è consolidata grazie a grandi sforzi. Per chi volesse avere una testimonianza di ciò che siamo riusciti a realizzare basta ascoltare “Dedalo” l’ultimo disco della Bud Powell Jazz Orchestra prodotto dall’Associazione Culturale Jazz Bud Powell. Per partecipare alle audizioni è necessario registrarsi sul sito: magliejazz.it e inviare i propri dati per prenotarsi all’incontro che si terrà domenica 23 dicembre 2018 alle ore 17:00 presso la sede dell’Associazione in piazzetta stazione, 5 a Maglie. “Unire le forze, condividere i progetti, e proporre nuove idee è lo spirito di quest’Associazione che da anni cerca di divulgare grazie all’enorme passione.” Telefono 3899768558 Email direttoreartistico@magliejazz.it Sito internet www.magliejazz.it —— ENG The Cultural Association Jazz Bud Powell of Maglie opens the inscriptions for the Bud Powell Jazz Orchestra (BPJO) conducted by Gabriele di Franco. All musicians who play an instrument are invited to take part in this magnificent experience that has been consolidated over the years thanks to great efforts. For those who would like to have a testimony of what we have achieved, just listen to “Dedalo”, the latest album by the Bud Powell Jazz Orchestra produced by the Cultural Association Jazz Bud Powell. To participate in the auditions you must register on the site: magliejazz.it and send your details to book at the meeting to be held Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 17:00 at the headquarters of the Association in the station square, 5 in Maglie. “Joining forces, sharing projects, and proposing new ideas is the spirit of this Association that for years has been trying to spread thanks to the enormous passion.”
(scroll down for english) Sono orgoglioso di annunciare di far parte di questo bellissima squadra docenti: Marcello Allulli: fiati, Greg Burk: pianoforte, Paola Arnesano: canto, Francesco Diodati: chitarra, Matteo Bortone: contrabbasso, Ermanno Baron: batteria, Angelo Urso e Giancarlo Nino Locatelli : Soundpainting; Gabriele di Franco : Summer School Jazz Orchestra. Il progetto Maglie Jazz Summer School è una iniziativa dalla Associazione Culturale Jazz “Bud Powell” di Maglie. Dal 27 agosto al 2 settembre 5 partecipanti per ogni strumento, divisi in 6 classi (una per ogni strumento: sax, piano, voce, chitarra, contrabbasso, batteria) prenderanno parte all’unico Jazz workshop estivo del Salento.
Grazie alla collaborazione con Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, tutti gli studenti del KCB beneficeranno di uno sconto del 20%.
I am proud to announce that I am part of this beautiful teaching team: Marcello Allulli: horns, Greg Burk: piano, Paola Arnesano: singing, Francesco Diodati: guitar, Matteo Bortone: double bass, Ermanno Baron: drums, Angelo Urso and Giancarlo Nino Locatelli : Soundpainting; Gabriele di Franco : Summer School Jazz Orchestra. The Maglie Jazz Summer School project is an initiative of the Jazz Cultural Association “Bud Powell” of Maglie. From August 27 to September 2, 5 participants per instrument, divided into 6 classes (one for each instrument: sax, piano, vocals, guitar, double bass, drums) will take part in the only summer Jazz workshop in Salento.
Thanks to the partnership with Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel all KCB students will benefit of a 20% discount.
Monday 19th I had the honor to perform 2 of my arrangements inspired by two great composers: Monk and Ellington, in the great venue of Bozar, coached by the members of the Lincoln Jazz Orchestra and with the support of Kris Defoort. Here some wonderful photos by Pepa Niebla. © Pepa Niebla www.thefoghouse.com
