Richard Galliano (born December 12, 1950) is a French-Italian accordionist. He was drawn to music at an early age, starting with the accordion at 4, influenced by his father Lucien, an accordionist originally from Italy, living in Nice. After a long and intense period of study (he took up lessons on the trombone, harmony, and counterpoint at the Academy of Music in Nice), at 14, in a search to expand his ideas on the accordion, he began listening to jazz and heard on records the great trumpet player Clifford Brown. "I copied all the choruses of Clifford Brown, impressed by his tone and his drive, his way of phrasing over the thunderous playing of Max Roach." Fascinated by this new world, Richard was amazed that the accordion had never been part of this musical adventure. Some later collaborations include George Mraz, Al Foster, Juliette Greco, Charles Aznavour, Ron Carter, Chet Baker, Enrico Rava, Martial Solal, Miroslav Vitouš, Trilok Gurtu, Jan Garbarek, Michel Petrucciani, Michel Portal and Toots Thielemans. He was a key member of Claude Nougaro's band for several years as a pianist and accordionist.
Discography
Discography with Francis Dreyfus:
- Viaggio (1993), with Charles Bellonzi, Pierre Michelot and Bireli Lagrene
- Laurita (1995), with Palle Danielsson and Joey Baron, and guests Michel Portal, Toots Thielemans and Didier Lockwood
- New York Tango (1996), with Bireli Lagrene, George Mraz and Al Foster
- Panmanhattan (re-release) (1996), with Ron Carter
- Blow Up (1997), with clarinet, soprano saxophone and bandoneon player Michel Portal
- French Touch (1998), with Michel Portal, J. F. Jenny-Clark and Daniel Humair (first session; May 1998), and André Ceccarelli, Remi Vignolo and J. M. Ecay (second session; June 1998)
- Spleen (1999)
- Passatori (1999)
- Gallianissimo! — The best of Richard Galliano (2001)
- Face to Face (2001), with organist Eddy Louiss
- Piazzolla Forever (2003), with string quartet, piano and double bass
- Concerts (2004), with Michel Portal
- Ruby, My Dear (2005), with Larry Grenander and Clarence Penn, as the New York Trio
- Mare Nostrum (2007), with Jan Lundgren and Paolo Fresu
