Born
into a musical family, Giuseppe has been playing guitar for a large part of his
life. It was at the age of seven, that his musical interests began. He studied classical
guitar at the Classical Music Academy in Pescara (Italy) and later he moved to California
in order to study at Musicians Institute in Hollywood where he graduated
with vocational honor. He also did private study in Los Angeles with some of the
finest jazz musicians in the
world:
Joe Diorio, Ted Greene, Howard Roberts, Ron Escheté,
Scott Henderson, Don Mock, Pat Martino, Robben Ford,
Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis and many others.
In 1994 he founded the
European Musicians Institute
(E.M.I) in Pescara (Italy) that's
one of most advanced european music school.
Giuseppe has involved in the Institute teachers like
Tuck Andress, Joe Diorio,
Bireli Lagrene,
Jimmy Bruno,
John Stowell, Scott Henderson, Gary Willis, Jeff Richman,
Paul Bollenback, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Jack Wilkins,
George Lynch, Jennifer Batten, Dominique Di Piazza, Dave
Friesen and many others.
Giuseppe
Continenza has performed and recorded with world famous musicians like
Joe Diorio (S.Getz,
P.Metheny,
J.Hall), Bireli Lagrene
(J.Pastorius, M.Petrucciani,
J.Zawinul),,
Bobby Watson, Gary Willis (Tribal Tech, Wayne Shorter),
Dominique Di Piazza (John Mc Laughlin), Paul Bollenback (J.DeFrancesco,
S.Turrentine, C.Byrd),
Jimmy Bruno, Howard Alden, Jack Wilkins, John Stowell
(L.Hampton, L.Coryell, R.Towner), Royce Campbell (H.Mancini), Jeff Richman
(M.Stern, F.Gambale D.Grusin), Gene Bertoncini (W.Shorter,B.Goodman,
P.Desmond), Vic Juris (Dave
Liebman), Dave Friesen, and others.
Giuseppe Continenza has toured in May
2000 in duo with jazz guitar genius
Bireli Lagrene. He is,
for almost eight years, a contributor in Guitar Club & Tuttochitarra
some of the finest european magazines. He writes three columns: "Contemporary
Jazz Guitar", "Lesson With The Greats" and "Chord Melody". He write also columns
on Jazzit and Jazzitalia.net.
Check out the interviews on Guitar Club December
1999 with Joe Diorio and Tuttochitarra, July
2001 with
Bireli Lagrene. His latest
interview was on the American magazine Just Jazz Guitar, August
2001.
In August
2003 Giuseppe Continenza became a
Fender/Benedetto Guitars, U.S.A. endorders with Robert Benedetto (The
greatest living liuther)making a great guitar for him. Other endorsers are
Jimmy Bruno,
Andy Summers (Police), Jack Wilkins, Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard
Alden, etc.
He also endorses Benedetto Pickups/Seymour Duncan, La Bella
Strings and Buscarini Classical Guitars.
The
new cd
Journey,
produced by Heiner Franz from Jardis Records, is a duo project with the
great jazz guitar master Vic Juris (Dave
Liebman's guitarist for over 10 years) and a famous jazz sidemen.
In August 2003 Giuseppe Continenza
& Vic Juris recorded a new album
"…a true virtuoso of jazz guitar, he can play in every style. A really outstanding
guitarist…" - Guitar Club magazine
"… is a very excellent guitarist…" - Bireli Lagrene
"…is a great guitarist, we all look forward to great things from him…" - Paul
Bollenback (Joey DeFrancesco)
"he has in incredible command of harmony and he plays music with all his soul.
Amazing talent…" – John Stowell
"Giuseppe Continenza is a monster guitarist…" - Gene Bertoncini (New England
Conservatory & University of New York)
"After hearing one of the latest recordings
of Giuseppe Continenza, I was greatly impressed. His time, harmonic concept and
overall feeling was wonderful. He is one of the great talents of the jazz guitar…"
- Dave Friesen (H. Hancock, C.Corea, G.Benson)
"
… a great guitar virtuoso! he is really amazing!!!…" - Just Jazz Guitar magazine,
U.S.A.
"Listen Giuseppe Continenza's playing is simply a delight. He is an incredibile
musician gifted with an extraordinary talent…" - Vic Juris (Dizzy Gillespie,
Dave Liebman)
Quotes about the album of Vic Juris & Giuseppe Continenza "Journey":
"...one of the best cd I've heard in years, two great masters of jazz music..."
Hank Garland (Guitarist who played and recorded from Elvis Presley to Charlie
Parker)
"Giuseppe Continenza & Vic Juris, a marriage made in heaven. One of the
finest guitar duo ever…" - Jimmy Bruno (Concord Jazz Recording Artist)
"wonderful standards played with lots of heart and terrific interplay…" Jack
Wilkins (C.Mingus, R.Charles,D.Gillespie)
"Together, Giuseppe and Vic are THE voice of jazz guitar. Their endless creativity
is a delightful gift to players, listeners &makers" - Bob Benedetto
(Fender/Guild-Benedetto Guitars Maker)