Born in 1979 in Belgium, Fabrizio Graceffa began playing guitar as a self-taught musician at the age of 13. By 17, he was already performing with various rock bands and discovered jazz two years later. At 19, he decided to further his education by taking private lessons exclusively focused on jazz. In 1999, he participated in the Lundis d’Hortense workshops and took lessons with Marco Locurcio, Paolo Radoni, Peter Hertmans, Daniel Stokart, Erwin Vann, and others.
In 2000, he founded the group 7ième Set, in which he was the principal composer, and with whom he continued to actively perform for more than 5 years. That same year, he enrolled at the Brussels Academy, where he studied with Paolo Loveri and Bruno Castellucci.
In 2002, he entered the Luxembourg City Conservatory, studying with Jacques Pirotton and Guy Cabay, and participated in various Master Classes (Mike Mainieri, Pierre Van Dormael, among others). Three years later, he graduated with first prize in jazz guitar.
In 2004, he focused on composition and formed his own quartet with trumpeter Peer Baierlein, drummer Herman Pardon, and double bassist Piet Verbist.
On September 9, 2010, he released his first album, "Stories," with the Fabrizio Graceffa Quartet under the Mogno Music label. That same year, he produced the first EP for the rock band "Bes."
In 2012, he became the guitarist for the French band Lenox, with whom he performed in some of the most prestigious venues in Paris, such as La Cigale, La Maroquinerie, and Le Centre FGO. In 2013, he toured France and Switzerland with Lenox and recorded an episode of the show Taratata.
In 2016, Fabrizio released his second album as a leader, "U-Turn," under the prestigious Dutch label Challenge Records. That same year, the group received the "Jazz Tour" from Lundis d’Hortense and performed in the finest venues in the kingdom.
In 2020, Graceffa formed a new quartet with the highly sought-after Igor Gehenot and released his third album as a leader, "Gardens."
In 2022, he created the funk band No Steam with his collaborator, pianist Igor Gehenot, and they recorded their first EP under the "Le Rideau Rouge" label.
CDs as a Leader:
2010 "Stories" Mogno Music
2016 "U-Turn" Challenge Records
2020 "Gardens" Fabrizio Graceffa
2024 "Stringscape" Fabrizio Graceffa
CDs as a Sideman:
2017 Seb K "No Wind Stirring The Leaves Of The Sycamore Tree" Steppenwolf Records 2020 Claude Evence Janssens "PolyMorphosis"
2023 "BXVI" NØ Steam
Today, the guitarist is active on the Belgian and Parisian music scenes and has had the opportunity to play and/or record with Peer Baierlein, Piet Verbist, Jean-Paul Estiévenart, Herman Pardon, Teun Verbruggen, Lionel Beuven, Samuel Rafalowicz, Reggie Washington, Erwin Vann, Nicolas Kummert, Raf Debacker, Jacques Pili, Santo Scinta, Marcus Weymare, Fabrizio Erba, Hervé Letor, Phillippe Cornet, Laurence Mathieu, Jennifer Scavuzzo, Sarah Letor, Olivier Bodson, Hervé Noirot...
You can hear influences of Kurt Rosenwinkel and Jim Hall, as well as BB King, in Graceffa's guitar playing, which embodies contemporary jazz under the influence of all these masters. Surrounding him is a solid band: Jean-Paul Estiévenart (trumpet), Nicolas Kummert (saxophone), Edouard Wallyn (trombone), Boris Schmidt (double bass), Teun Verbruggen (drums). — J.C Van Troyen (Le Soir).
