Federico De Vittor – Pianist, Composer, Arranger
Born in 1986 in Verona, Italy, Federico De Vittor is a versatile jazz pianist
He began his classical piano studies at the age of four with Maria Cristina Rigoni before transitioning to jazz under bebop master Oscar Zenari.
His passion for the art led him to study with luminaries such as Barry Harris and Renato Chicco, ultimately earning a place at the prestigious University for Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, where he refined his craft under the guidance of Harald Neuwirth, Fritz Pauer, and Olaf Polziehen.
Federico’s early career saw him touring with the Baobab Ensemble, performing at renowned venues and festivals across Europe, including Verona Jazz Festival, Pancevo Jazz Fest, and Leibnitzer Jazz Tage. In 2007, the band released their debut album Uzubuzu under Freecom Music, capturing their dynamic blend of jazz influences.
Around this time, he had the honor of sharing the stage with saxophone legend Don Menza, touringwith him across Italy and Austria.
In 2010, he moved to New York, becoming the accompanist for iconic vocalist Renée Manning while also studying with jazz greats Mike LeDonne and Earl McIntyre. Immersed in the city’s vibrant jazz scene, he performed alongside Dion Parson, Ron Blake, Reuben Rogers, Tommy Campbell and Earl McIntyre.
His debut album as a leader, Rhythm and Colors (2013), featured an outstanding lineup, including Steve Wood, Dion Parson, Renato Thoms and Renée Manning.
In 2015, Federico was featured on Dubwise, an album by Samuele Vivian, alongside the renowned drummer Antonio Sanchez.
Soon after, he returned to Europe, continuing to expand his musical journey. He toured, recorded and arranged two successful albums with the folk band Contrada Lorì and joined Prague-based vocalist Sisa Fehér’s quintet, with whom he recorded Cirrus in 2016. The group toured across Europe, supporting artists like Richard Bona and Esperanza Spalding and performing at prestigious venues such as Jazz Dock, Blue Note, and Bratislava Jazz Festival.
In 2018, he joined Orchestra Ottovolante, performing at major festivals such as Umbria Jazz and contributing to their 2022 album Il Mangiadischi.
His own projects flourished, including the formation of Tranqwild with New York saxophonist Tomas Majcherski and the release of Walking, Remembering (2025) on the London label, Kanuga Records.
In 2020, he relocated to London thanks to his long time friend and collaborator Mikele Montolli, quickly becoming part of the city’s thriving jazz scene, performing at venues like Ronnie Scott’s and Peggy’s Blue Skylight, and working with artists such as Pharoah Russell, Heidi Vogel and Byron Wallen.
His ongoing collaborations include a duo with vocalist Sara Fortini, with whom he has released two albums, and performances with the Latin jazz big band New Regency Orchestra.
In 2024, Federico recorded his third album as a leader, featuring Mikele Montolli, Gene Calderazzo, Tomas Majcherski, and Jonathan Bauer.
With an international career spanning continents and genres, including collaborations with some of the finest musicians in jazz, Federico De Vittor continues to push musical boundaries, blending tradition with innovation in every performance.