In 2014, trumpeter Till Brönner invited the Italian pianist to perform at the Ruhr Piano Festival as his “Piano Friend”. Antonio Faraò now returns, this time in trio formation with bassist Ameen Saleem and drummer Bruce Ditmas. Bursting with musical vitality, Faraò has been one of the star pianists on the international jazz scene for many years. In 1991 the Ciak Theatre in Milan awarded him the Jazz Four Roses Competition Prize. Then, in 1998, Faraò won the renowned Jazz Piano Martial Solal Competition, organized by the City of Paris only once every ten years. Faraò’s international career took off from there; in the meantime, he has concertized with jazz greats of the likes of Gary Bartz, Lee Konitz, Chico Freeman, Miroslav Vitous, John Abercrombie, Richard Galliano, Toots Thielemans, Jack Dejohnette, Mc Coy Tyner, and Johnny Griffin. None other than Herbie Hancock falls into raptures: “Antonio is not only a fine pianist – but a great one.”