Among the historical exponents of Italian jazz, Franco Cerri (1926 – 2021) following self-taught training began his professional career alongside Gorni Kramer and the Cetra Quartet. In the early part of his career, Franco Cerri also played double bass, so much so that he was in demand much more often in this role than as a guitarist
In the late 1950s he recorded songs in which, joined by drummer Gianni Cazzola, he played both guitar and double bass. In November 1958 in Milan in the capacity of double bassist accompanies, together with pianist Mal Waldron and drummer Gene Victory, the American singer Billie Holiday, on stage at the Teatro Gerolamo in Milan
At the same time he began his long career as an actor, dancer, presenter and musician on RAI programs
In the 1970s he formed a quartet in which drummer Tullio De Piscopo and double bassist Giorgio Azzolini, among others, played
In addition to including young musicians such as Dado Moroni, Gianluigi Trovesi, and Nando De Luca in his many groups, the Milanese guitarist has collaborated over the years with important foreign and Italian musicians: Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall, Chet Baker, Stephane Grappelli, Barney Kessel, Lee Konitz, Flavio Ambrosetti, Nicola Arigliano, Tony Scott, Martial Solal, George Benson, and many others
In the 1980s he began a long collaboration with pianist Enrico Intra, with whom he founded and directed the Civici Corsi di Jazz in Milan, among the most important teaching institutions in Europe
A melodically elegant musician with a technically peculiar and never overpowering approach to the guitar, Franco Cerri during his career has divided his time between jazz and pop music, giving numerous concerts and making as many studio recordings
Essential discography: Franco Cerri (1964 – Columbia), La Sera A Casa Con Te (1965 – CGD), Metti Una Sera Cerri (1973 – Music Superstereo De Luxe), From Cathetus To Cicero (1975 – Malobbia), Demoiselle (1979 – Dire), Di Jazz in Jazz (1990 – Dire), Franco Cerri Gianni Basso (1998 – Fonola), Bossa with Strings (2010 – Blue Serge), Barber Shop (2014 – Abeat Records)
