Sicilian Jazz 🎷 Musica Jazz dalla Sicilia Salvatore Bonafede was born on August 4, 1962 in Palermo, Italy and began playing the piano at the age of four; at first he was self-taught, but later he received classical lessons and in 1973 entered the Conservatory of Music in Palermo. As a teenager he started gigging with local groups and big-bands, accompanied several visiting American Stars, worked in the orchestra for a number of theatrical performances as well as appearing on national Radio and Television programs. In 1986 Salvatore Bonafede won a scholarship to Berklee College, where he graduated three years later. Since living in Boston, Mass. he joined the Jerry Bergonzi Quartet. In 1989 Bonafede moved to New York where he led his own groups and performed as a sideman with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Dewey Redman, Joshua Redman, and Joe Lovano , he also recorded with Marc Johnson , Paul Motian, Paolo Fresu, Judi Silvano, Randy Brecker, John Abercrombie, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Jerry Bergonzi, Tim Berne, Ralph Towner, Dave Douglas, Michael Formanek, Enrico Rava. In 1991 magazine Musica Jazz voted him "Top young player" of the year and in 2001 received the "Top record of the year" award.