Frank Valeriani was born in Newark - NJ.
He shows his first interest in music when he's just a little kid. His dad's drum set seems to be his favorite toy.
Later on, at age of 12 he starts to study music theory with his grandfather Giuseppe Valeriani, a very talented violinist and conductor.
In High School he discovers his passion for saxophone, and his dad's band turns out to be the best way to get started.
When his family moves to Italy he starts his first band, Mediterranean blues oriented.
He is still a youngster when he gets to meet James Senese, the Italian emblem of Mediterranean jazz & blues.
Frank is impressed by James' personality and learns from him that a real musician should know about the meaning of at least three things: persistence, ambition and most of all simplicity.
From this moment on, the path is clear.
In Italy Frank attends and graduates from the music Conservatory in Naples achieving excellent results (magnum cum lauda).
In those years he approaches jazz with some of the best Italian saxophone players, such as Franco Giancola, Anthony - or Antonio - Balsamo (Composer and Arranger who performed with artists such as Johnny Hodges, The Modern Jazz Quartet, and many famous Italian artists), Maurizio Giammarco.
After graduating he finds himself interested into latin jazz and fusion music. This interest leads him and some of his musician friends to participate to several festivals that feature some of the best Italian performers, such as the Antonio Onorato trio, the Jerry Popolo quartet, the Marco Zurzolo trio and many others.
"The Bop Messengers", "The Jazz Brothers" and "Kalimma" are very formative experiences in Frank's musical life. This last one in a particular way because it gives Frank a chance to perform into theatres with the talented guitar player Sal Cangiano. The warm Mediterranean feeling of their sound brings the audience to give the duo the name of "Kalimma". This word comes from Neapolitan slang and it means infact "warmth".
Frank moves then to Milan.
Here he attends the C.P.M (Professional Music Center), probably the best alternative contemporary music school in Italy.
At C.P.M. Frank studies songwriting-arranging and harmony with jazz pianist Massimo Colombo.
Also more specifically he studies jazz with a great saxophonist from New York: Michael Rosen (a graduated from Berklee college of music).
Frank graduates from C.P.M. in three years and again with excellent grades.
During the Italian years he performs with some of the most well known Italian pop artists, such as Wess, Rocky Roberts, Cristiano Malgioglio, Peppino Gagliardi, etc.
Also performs as music coordinator and conductor of the folk show "Quanno Tramonta 'o Sole". This folkloristic show tours all over Italy for several years and features some of the best neapolitan singers such as Franco Cipriani, Pamela Paris and others.
Although the most significant cooperation is with Maestro Gianni Mazza from R.A.I. TV (Italian national TV conductor). With Maestro Mazza Frank tours all over Italy, performs on Italian tv networks and also jams with Gege' Telesforo (Italian jazz drummer-singer) and other Italian artists.
At some point in his life Frank decides to move back to the USA, and picks Las Vegas for its hyper musical activity. In Vegas he performs with some of the best musicians in town, such as piano entertainers Dehner Franks and Ned Mills, saxophonist Tommy Alvarado (former musician of Joe Cocker's band), guitarists Paul Mills and Eddy Pascua, Latin American performer Rico Diamante, etc. Many popular bands in town book Frank for important gigs. To be mentioned : In10ct - Touch & Go - Rags - etc. After several years in Vegas, Frank receives a phone call from crooner Steve Rossi (from the Allen & Rossi comedy team).
For a whole year Frank is Steve Rossi's music coordinator and saxophone player. Steve in his shows usually hosts some special guests. This is Frank's opportunity to perform with historical names such as The Platters, The Drifters, jazz singer Nancy Kelly from New York and Steve Rossi's good friend Tony Bennett.
Besides all cooperations, Frank also performs with the Frank Valeriani Band. Recently promoting his first release : "Sax Supreme - Live in Vegas".
Frank is a 360 degrees artist. He loves jazz, smooth jazz, pop.
Charlie Parker, Paul Desmond, David Sanborn and Eric Marienthal are among his favorites.
He also doubles on percussions, rhythm guitar & keyboards and enjoys singing when required. His unique sense of melody also enables him to compose and arrange wonderful songs.
In his recording studio he produced a cd for the romantic love singer Richard Villa: "Dreaming all along".
Richard is a contemporary love poet, besides a great singer...Frank often says. Listeners all agree that Richard's lyrics and Frank's music combined are terrific.
In Vegas Frank has recently run into Peppe Merolla, one of his Italian friends, who also attended the Conservatory in Naples (life can be so funny!).
Peppe is an excellent drummer, he also sings, plays piano, trumpet, and when there's no music to perform rather than leaving the stage he turns himself into a very skilled actor !
In his latest release "Boom Boom" Peppe Merolla features Frank Valeriani on saxophones in "Hola Bonita".
When asked : "What's music to you ?"
Frank always says : "Music is the sound of your soul, enriched with all the experiences of life".