Italian-born jazz pianist, vocalist, composer and producer Joe De Gregorio released The Opening on Aug. 18, 2026, an 11-track collection drawn from The Trilogy, a 52-track, three-album project recorded over one year in New York, Los Angeles and Paris. The release marks the first time bassist Ron Carter and drummer Peter Erskine appear together on the same recording.
The Trilogy is organised into three parts: In Blues, focused on the blues form; Crossover, built around cinematic storytelling; and Crooner’s Journey, drawing on the international popular vocal tradition.
“52 titles is a full banquet for any listener’s plate; I curated The Opening as an 11-track collection/appetizer,” De Gregorio says.
Featured Artists
- Ron Carter and Peter Erskine, multiple Grammy Award winners
- Ike Sturm, bassist and composer named a Downbeat “Top Ten” honoree
- Daniele Truocchio, film composer and arranger named to Forbes 30 Under 30
- Maureen Sickler, Grammy Award-winning engineer at Van Gelder Studio
De Gregorio is credited as pianist, vocalist, composer and producer, and is a voting member of the Grammy Academy.
Background and Training
Born in Rome, De Gregorio began formal music study at Italy’s Alfredo Casella Conservatory, where he trained in classic percussion, piano and composition. He later moved into jazz and spent a decade studying with European teachers in the Netherlands, Sweden and France. He also received scholarships to New York’s New School and Boston’s Berklee College.
Performance History
De Gregorio has performed at more than 100 international venues across the United States, Italy, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Morocco and Monaco. Notable appearances include:
- The Kennedy Center
- Detroit Jazz Festival
- Saint Peter’s Jazz Vespers in New York
- Rick’s Café in Casablanca
- Paris Jazz Voice Festival
- Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome
