Bernardo Sassetti

Bernardo Sassetti (June 24, 1970 - May 10, 2012) was a portuguese pianist and composer. Sassetti began studying classical piano at the age of 9. In 1987, he begins playing jazz professionally, studying with musicians like Z? Eduardo, Horace Parlan and Sir Roland Hanna and playing with the Carlos Martins quartet and the Moreiras Jazztet. In the first 15 years of his carrer, he played all over the world with musicians like Al Grey, Frank Lucy, Andy Sheppard, Paquito D’Rivera and Benny Golson.

Sassetti began studying classical piano at the age of 9. In 1987, he begins playing jazz professionally, studying with musicians like Z? Eduardo, Horace Parlan and Sir Roland Hanna and playing with the Carlos Martins quartet and the Moreiras Jazztet.

In the first 15 years of his carrer, he played all over the world with musicians like Al Grey, Frank Lucy, Andy Sheppard, Paquito D’Rivera and Benny Golson. In 1997 he participated in Guy Barker's album "What Love Is", which also featured the London Philarmonic Orchestra and the singer Sting.

As a composer, Sassetti was hailed as one of the best in the contemporary music scene in Portugal. He released his first album as a leader, "Salsetti", in 1992, followed by "Mundos" (1996). The albums "Indigo" (2004) and "Livre" (2004) were released through the Clean Feed label, as well as his jazz trio's albums.

Cinema and photography were his other two artistic passions. He composed the soundtrack of various portuguese (and some international) films, short films and documentaries.

Sassetti formed the Bernardo Sassetti Trio with Carlos Barretto and Alexandre Fraz?o, with whom he released 3 albums. He played live and studio duets with fellow portuguese jazz pianist Mário Laginha and a piano trio with Laginha and [astist]Pedro Burmester as 3 Pianos. He also collaborated with other portuguese musicians outside of the jazz circuit, like fadista Carlos do Carmo.

He died accidentally on May 10, 2012 after falling into a ravine, while photographing on the Cascais shore, near Lisbon.