Franco Cerri (1926-2021) Italian Guitarist

Franco Cerri Italian Guitarist (1926-2021)

Short Bio

Franco Cerri Was a Italian Musician, Guitarist. Considered among the greatest and most authoritative Italian jazz guitarists.

Much appreciated internationally, he has worked alongside artists such as Django Reinhardt, Gorni Kramer, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Billie Holiday, Stéphane Grappelli, Lee Konitz, Dizzy Gillespie, Tullio De Piscopo, Pino Presti, Jean Luc Ponty. His approach to the instrument came relatively late, at the age of 17, when he received a guitar as a gift from his father and began playing it alone, working in the meantime as a bricklayer and elevator man.

After the Second World War, Cerri had begun to perform frequently around and make himself known for his extraordinary technique, making his professional debut in 1945 with the entry of Gorni Kramer’s orchestra. Starting from 1980 he then formed a duo with the pianist Enrico Intra, with whom he founded the ‘Scuola Civica di Jazz’ in Milan.

Full Bio

Franco Cerri Biography

Cerri was born in Milan and learned to play guitar when he was 17. In 1945 he became a member of the group led by Gorni Kramer and joined the orchestra of the television show Buone vacanze. He played double bass in addition to guitar starting in the 1950s, such as with Chet Baker and Buddy Collette.

Children: Stefano Cerri

Franco has also played with Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Griffin, Stéphane Grappelli, Lars Gullin, Billie Holiday, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Lou Bennett, Bud Shank, Tony Scott, Django Reinhardt, Phil Woods, and the Modern Jazz Quartet. He cited as influences Django Reinhardt, Barney Kessell, and René Thomas.

Cerri has led quartets and quintets with Tullio De Piscopo, Pino Presti, Gianluigi Trovesi, Flavio Ambrosetti, and Jean-Luc Ponty.

In 1980 he formed a duo with pianist Enrico Intra, with whom he founded the “Civica Scuola di Jazz” in Milan.

On 1 January 2006, he was knighted by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

Franco Cerri Death

Cerri died on 18 October 2021, at the age of 95.

The Franco Cerri quintet 1973:
Nando De Luca, Franco Cerri, Giorgio Baiocco, Pino Presti, Tullio De Piscopo
As leader
Franco Cerri and His European Jazz Stars (Columbia, 1960)
International Jazz Meeting (Columbia, 1961)
Bossa Nova (Columbia, 1963)
Franco Cerri (Columbia, 1964)
La Sera a Casa Con Te (CGD, 1965)
12 Bacchette Per 1 Chitarra (GTA, 1966)
6 (Dire, 1971)
Metti Una Sera Cerri (1973)
A Limmen (Malobbia, 1975)
From Cathetus to Cicero (Malobbia, 1975)
Querce Platani e Cerri (PDU, 1975)
Franco Tony and Pompeo (Malobbia, 1976)
Nuages (Ricordi, 1976)
Uno Suo Modo Di Dire (Dire, 1977)
Franco Cerri Jazz (Dire, 1977)
Noi Duero (Malobbia, 1978)
Demoiselle (Dire, 1979)
Omaggio a Bill Evans (Dire, 1981)
Effetto Alfa (Paragon, 1983)


Today! (Dire, 1984)
From:Milan to:Frankfurt/Main Re: Jazz Twins (Dire, 1985)
Pregiata Ditta Dal 1980 (Ariston, 1990)
Cerri & Cerri (Dire, 1994)
En Souvenir De Milan (CDpM LION, 1995)
In Punta Di Cerri (MAP, 2000)
Jazz Italiano Live 2007 (Casa Del Jazz, 2007)
Cerrimedioatutto (MAP, 2011)
Passavo Di Qui (Musica Jazz, 2012)
Barber Shop (Abeat, 2014)
Antonio Onorato & Franco Cerri (Abeat, 2016)
Take the A Train with Gianni Basso (VideoRadio, 2008)
E Venia Da’ Campi Che Di Cerri Sentia (Red, 2008)