Giovanni Monteforte
JAZZ GUITARIST · COMPOSER · AUTHOR

Biography, discography, testimonies and media links.

Born in Reggio Emilia on 13 October 1950, Giovanni Monteforte is an Italian jazz guitarist and composer. Active in jazz ensembles since the 1970s, he studied in London with bassist Peter Ind. Milan has been central to his musical life.

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Born in Reggio Emilia on 13 October 1950, Giovanni Monteforte is an Italian jazz guitarist and composer. Active in jazz ensembles since the 1970s, he studied in London with bassist Peter Ind. Milan has been central to his musical life.

His approach, described in critical sources as neo-cool, favours semi-acoustic sounds and a dialogue between tradition and improvisation. His 2022 interview with Marcella Baldassini points to Charlie Parker, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Raney, Tal Farlow and Billy Bauer as musical references: a listening tradition within which to develop an individual voice.

With Lee Konitz he recorded Lennie Tristano’s 317 East 32nd, included in Antologia della chitarra jazz in Italia, vol. 1 and 25 anni Scimmie. His work with Paolo Cattaneo spans recordings and publications; Tel Quel documents his duo with Franco Finocchiaro.

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Born in Reggio Emilia on 13 October 1950, Giovanni Monteforte is an Italian jazz guitarist and composer. Active in jazz ensembles since the 1970s, he studied in London with bassist Peter Ind. Milan has been central to his musical life.

His approach, described in critical sources as neo-cool, favours semi-acoustic sounds and a dialogue between tradition and improvisation. His 2022 interview with Marcella Baldassini points to Charlie Parker, Lee Konitz, Jimmy Raney, Tal Farlow and Billy Bauer as musical references: a listening tradition within which to develop an individual voice.

With Lee Konitz he recorded Lennie Tristano’s 317 East 32nd, included in Antologia della chitarra jazz in Italia, vol. 1 and 25 anni Scimmie. His work with Paolo Cattaneo spans recordings and publications; Tel Quel documents his duo with Franco Finocchiaro.

From 1988 to 2021 he taught jazz guitar at Milan’s Civici Corsi di Jazz. With Franco Cerri and Paolo Cattaneo he wrote Chitarra jazz: approcci, sviluppi, esperienze. Teaching runs alongside his composition and concert work.

He conceived and edited the Archivio dei Chitarristi Jazz Italiani, hosted by ADGPA, helping preserve and share a musical tradition. On 3 July 2022 he performed at Folkest in Spilimbergo with Tommy Fusco and Mimmo Tripodi.

Discography
Dimensione verticale — 1987 / 1989
With Paolo Cattaneo.

Paesaggi sonori – Dal blues alle nuove sonorità — 1989
Anthology featuring Paolo Cattaneo.

Antologia della chitarra jazz in Italia, vol. 1 — 1996
Includes Lennie Tristano’s 317 East 32nd, recorded with Lee Konitz.

Mondi sottili — 1999
Original compositions, with Roberto Del Piano on bass.

Tel Quel — 2001
Duo with Franco Finocchiaro. Released by MAP.

25 anni Scimmie — 2006
Anthology contribution: 317 East 32nd, recorded with Lee Konitz.

Neo Modern Jazz Trio — 2011 / 2015
With Mimmo Tripodi and Alberto Viganò.

Pieffe jazztime e... Dintorni — 2019
Giovanni Monteforte and Alberto Viganò. Eight tracks; digital release dated 15 February 2019.

Music & Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLc9I1a5obY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4KWQ0MhuY0

Bibliography and further reading.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_Monteforte
https://web.archive.org/web/20160126114101/http://www.giovannimonteforte.com/profilo.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160126104032/http://www.giovannimonteforte.com/discografia.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160126082413/http://www.giovannimonteforte.com/photogallery.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160126082302/http://www.giovannimonteforte.com/rassegna_stampa.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160126064915/http://www.giovannimonteforte.com/Libri_dvd.html
https://www.folkest.com/artisti/giovanni-monteforte-trio/
https://www.adgpa.it/archiviochitarrajazz.htm
https://www.adgpa.it/chitarristi%2015.htm
https://www.ultimaparola.net/il-jazz-il-suono-dellarte/
https://win.jazzitalia.net/lezioni/giovannimonteforte/indicegiovannimonteforte.asp
https://jazzprofiles.com/profile/it-giovanni-monteforte/
https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/album/pieffe-jazztime-e-dintorni-giovanni-monteforte-alberto-vigano/h1hq8opwxf64a
https://music.apple.com/br/album/pieffe-jazztime-e-dintorni/1451606189
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/giovanni-monteforte/1057301674
https://music.amazon.in/artists/B017Y3G59A/giovanni-monteforte-mimmo-tripodi-alberto-vigan%C3%B2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLc9I1a5obY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4KWQ0MhuY0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmWKAsZxJjU
https://www.youtube.com/@neomodernjazztriomontefort2468
https://m.youtube.com/@what-u1/videos
https://guitargallery.it/progetto/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stacks_image_77.jpg
https://www.fingerpicking.net/rendez-vous-dei-liutai/
https://www.musicoff.com/musica-e-cultura/interviste/la-chitarra-di-giorgio-secco-artista-e-turnista-al-top/

A tribute from students and former students celebrating Giovanni’s 25 years of teaching at Milan’s Civici Corsi di Jazz.
https://giovannimonteforte.it/downloads/grazie-giovanni.pdf