Francesco Calì is an Italian composer, pianist and accordionist, based in Copenhagen since 2003. He began his professional carrier at the age of 12 playing the accordion and after some years he entered the Conservatory V. Bellini in Catania (Italy) graduating both in classical piano and classical composition, all the while also performing as a jazz pianist and accordionist. In 2000 he won the international competition Pépinières Européennes pour Jeunes Artistes, obtaining a residency in Copenhagen, where he attended classes at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory. Soon the Danish jazz environment discovered the Italian musician with the Mediterranean feeling and the audience and critics followed: "Francesco Calì's playing is simply formidable" ('Jazzspecial' magazine). As a composer and arranger, Francesco Calì has written works for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal combinations (e.g., symphonic orchestra, string orchestra, string quartet, horns, accordion and guitar, choir, as well as “solo” accordion, and piano). He is a member of several Copenhagen based jazz projects and features on more than 70 albums during his long career.