Claudio Chiara is one of Italy's busiest jazz musicians. The former lead alto saxophone player in Gianni Basso's Big Band, Tullio De Piscopo's Big Band, and Paese Degli Specchi Big Band, Chiara has toured Europe with the Paolo Conte Band since 1995. In addition to recording two albums, Claudio Chiara Quintet and Il Jazz, with his own quintet, Chiara has worked with such stellar jazz musicians as Bob Mover, Benny Bailey, Alvin Queen, Bill Evans, Jean-Louis Rassinfosse, Riccardo Zegna, Luciano Milanese, Andrea Pozza, Luigi Bonafede, Stefhan Belmando, and Furio Di Castri. Together with the New Generation Band, he recorded two albums, Indian Fire and Modern Word, of big band-influenced original tunes. Since 1995, he has performed in Europe with the Paolo Conte Band. Initially an upright bass player, Chiara studied with Enzo Ferraris at the G. Verdi Conservatory of Music. Teaching himself to play alto saxophone, he made his debut on the instrument as a member of Gianni Basso's Big Band in 1986. ~ Craig Harris