Life on Art, out February 14, 2026, as a supplement to Musica Jazz, the new recording work by Federica Michisanti
Life on Art is the new project by double bassist and composer Federica Michisanti, out with the February issue of Musica Jazz, a historic magazine that celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2025, on newsstands Feb. 14, 2026.
Federica Michisanti, instructor of the Jazz Double Bass courses and ensemble music workshops at Saint Louis, was a guest of Stefano Bollani and Valentina Cenni on their program Via dei Matti n.0, which aired Thursday, Feb. 5, premiering during the Rai3 broadcast.
The idea for the string quartet came from a commission to the Roman musician from the Cultural Association 4’33” in collaboration with the Fondazione Palazzo Te in Mantua.
Unlike the traditional quartet, which features two violins, viola and cello, the lineup features Eloisa Manera‘s violin, Maria Vicentini ‘s viola and Salvatore Maiore‘s cello alongside the double bassist, musicians with great and refined experience not only in academic music but also injazz and radical improvisation.
Joining the quartet as a guest is French violinist Dominique Pifarèly, who embellishes the music with his virtuoso improvisations and unmistakable sound.
The compositions by Michisanti – with the exception of the two radical improvisations “Le Satyre I and II” – do not follow the canonical form of classical writing for string quartet, but rather present influences from European cultured music on the one hand and the jazz avant-garde on the other.
The album is a co-production of Musica Jazz and the Saint Louis college of Music.
The record will be presented live on March 8, 2026 in Mantua at Palazzo Te.
Credits Life on Art by Federica Michisanti:
Dominique Pifarèly – violin
Eloisa Manera – violin
Maria Vicentini – viola
Salvatore Maiore – cello
Federica Michisanti – double bass and compositions
