Enrico Granafei

Harmonica virtuoso, classical guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, composer Enrico Granafei has a long history of musical experience which encompasses both Classical Music and Jazz. Enrico After earning a degree in classical guitar from the Conservatory of l’Aquila in Italy , Enrico started to broaden his horizons by discovering Jazz through the harmonica In 1978 Enrico moved to Germany where he began to perform and to teach in two different “Musikschulen”. In the early 80’s, after returning to Italy, Enrico started to broaden his horizons by discovering Jazz through the harmonica. Following in the tradition of the legendary Toots Thielemans, he began to explore new possibilities for the harmonica, an instrument too often associated solely with Rock and Blues. Besides playing in the best jazz clubs in Italy during that period, Enrico performed regularly on national television where he was a member of the Pippo Caruso orchestra in the show “Un milione al secondo” on national TV.
His love for Jazz led him to New York City, the world capital of Jazz,. , where he soon started to perform in local jazz clubs, including The Blue Note, Birdland, Visiones, Angry Squire, and the Bottom Line.
In 1992 Enrico earned a masters’ degree in Jazz Performance from the Manhattan School of Music where he was the only student of Toots Thielemans .

Particularly significant in Enrico’s life was his association with Ted Curson who took him under his wing allowing him to become known in Finland and France.
Upon Ted’s death Enrico was asked to write an article about his relationship with the well known trumpet player. The article was published in the Montclair Times in December 2012.
During the time that he has resided in the New York area, Enrico has performed extensively on the Chromatic Harmonica in the United States and continued to be a featured musician in major Festivals and Jazz clubs in Finland, Estonia, France, Italy and Hungary.
He has recorded with Eddie Gomez, Eliot Zigmund. Marc Johnson, Adam Nussbaum, Patrick Saussois, Dany Doriz, Amina Figarova, Billy Hart, Wallace Roney, Vic Juris, Dave Stryker, Ted Curson, Irio de Paula, Nnena Freelon ( Concord Records) and many others.
Enrico’s latest CD ” Alone and Together” on CAP Records reached number 1, 2 and 4 in three different categories on the Radio charts of Jazz Week.