Ciacca, Antonio

Born in Germany, Italian-American jazz pianist, composer, and arts-presenter Antonio Ciacca has established himself as a consummate musician and powerful advocate of the jazz tradition. Ciacca began his career as a sideman for such acclaimed jazz artists as Art Farmer, James Moody, Lee Konitz, Jonny Griffin, Mark Murphy, Dave Liebman, and Steve Grossman. In 1993, Ciacca moved to Detroit to study at Wayne State University with Kenny Barron, after which he studied privately with Jackie Byard in New York. In Detroit, he was first exposed to gospel music, an influence he soon integrated it into hi...