VI.BE

Played and studied literally every instrument that happened to pass through her hands, she finally chose the one that she could always carry with herself: the voice. Francesca is now a singer established and performing in Brussels. The last of her magical meetings has been with a Kaoss Pad, leading to experiment with voice and electronics.

Francesca Palamidessi’s musical path begins at the early age of 6, when she undertakes the studies of classical piano, under the guidance of her father, the guitar player Stefano Palamidessi. At 11 years old she discovers the violin (and by 13 years old she graduates at the Intermediate Music School in Rome), then a few years after she tries out the guitar and even the drums. This variate path leads her to discover her true soul in the art of singing. By the age of 17 though she already starts performing in different musical enviroments, with musicians from the Italian (especially roman) scene.

All the previous musical experiences convey into her love for jazz music, from the tradition to the most contemporary stiles, to the passion for electronics and free improvisation. Francesca moves to Belgium at the age of 19 and extends her network of musicians to the scene of northern europe. In june 2014 she has recorded her first CD on her name, called “In other words I am three”, in which she explores and interprets the music of Charles Mingus, featuring Hendrik Lasure (piano), Matteo Pastorino (alto and bass clarinets), Simone Schirru (guitar), Francesco Galatro (double bass) and Armando Luongo (drums) and she has appeared as a guest in the last release of the important libanese oud player Kamal Musallam, entitled “Homemade in Rome”. Currently she lives and performs mainly in Brussels.

Francesca has studied jazz first with Elisabetta Antonini, then at the conservatory of Frosinone, and finally she has graduated at the Lemmensinstituut in Belgium in 2013, studying voice with the sperimental jazz/electronics singer Lynn Cassiers, piano with Ron Van Rossum and Bart Van Caenegem, combo classes with Frank Vaganeè, Peter Hertmans, Nick Thys, Bo Van Der Werf and a lot of other amazing belgian musicians.

She has partecipated to many international workshops (UmbriaJazz, Tuscia in Jazz, Jazz’s Cool, Siena Jazz), having the chance to study and play with artists like John Taylor, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Theo Bleckmann, Diana Torto, Lionel Loueke, Antonio Sanchez, Sheila Jordan, David Kikosky, Danilo Perez, Joey Blake, Franco D’Andrea and many others.