(21 November, 2016) Duccio Bertini chose to live his life between Florence and Barcelona. He is a composer and jazz orchestra director who currently divides his artistic activity between Italy and Spain. He was born in Florence in 1968. His mother was a painter and he began to study the piano with his father who was a jazz pianist. He then passes on to the clarinet and the saxophone, studying with Mirko Guerrini, Nico Gori, Marco Bini, Renato Cordovani, Daniele Malvisi, Pietro Tonolo and Barend Middlehoff. A few days ago “A day in Barcelona” (Temps Record): Bertini’s new album with the Spanish singer Susana Sheiman, accompanied by the Big Band directed by the Florentine director. “One of the best jazz voices in Madrid” comments the director enthusiastically on his new work shown live at the Jamboree Jazz Club of Barcelona “where many Italians came to see us. The album will also be released in Italy” according to Bertini. The maestro collaborated with many orchestras and big jazz bands in Italy and Europe: “I must admit that being Italian is a feather in our cap. People abroad have great respect for us and our music: they appreciate and admire our creativity. We have musicians in Italy that are envied all over the world. It is a shame however, that orchestral culture is slightly lacking in Italy” adds Bertini. This is infact, one of the reasons that pushed the musician to go to Spain where he has been loved and appreciated for many years: “Working as a director, composer and arranger, I have had to leave Italy. It is hard to bring orchestral projects to term whereas in Spain a fervent reality. Barcelona, with two and a half million citizens, has twelve or thirteen orchestras. There is in fact a blossoming activity of musicians and possibilities: for this I divide my time between Italy and Spain. I obviously also continue in my countr”. The album “A day in Barcelona” was recorded at the Medusa Estudio of Barcelona and mixed by Andrea Benassai near the Sonoria Recording Plant of Prato: “I met Susana Sheiman several years ago and her voice immediately captured me: we have worked on this project together for a long time. I believe in this album and and I hope i twill be appreciated by the public”. Bertini teaches in music conservatories and his students never forget his precious advice and suggestions: “talent must be accompanied by humility. One must always keep their feet on the ground and not fool oneself. I often tell my students they need to study and have a a goal. But they should never forget to have a positive and prospective attitude. They certainly must never forget the importance of being humble, it is the secret to being successful in life”. (Gil)
