H. Gualdi was born in San Martino in Rio 4 july 1924, deceduto a Bologna in data 16 june 2005.
He was an Italian composer and clarinetist very known abroad, and he's considered among the greatest interpreters of the instrument.
His musical passion blossomed very early, so that since he was 10 years old he played in the band “Luigi Asioli” in Correggio, deserving, on 1953, the best report card in solfeggio and instrument.
He was an Italian composer and clarinetist very known abroad, and he's considered among the greatest interpreters of the instrument.
His musical passion blossomed very early, so that since he was 10 years old he played in the band “Luigi Asioli” in Correggio, deserving, on 1953, the best report card in solfeggio and instrument.He studied at the Conservatory "Achille Peri" in Reggio Emilia, with the teacher M° Augusto Battaglia, until obtaining the diploma in clarinet. During World War II, experiencing the charm of American big band, he approached to jazz and improvisation, using as models the great orchestras of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.
After the war, his fame spread to a national skyline. One evening the writer Ernest Hemingway came to listen him at the Hotel Cristallino in Cortina D'Ampezzo, and he was very impressed ; he played with Rex Stewart in Milan (Duke Ellington trumpeter) enjoying great success. It began its most important partnerships with world class artists very soon: Bill Coleman, Chet Baker, Count Basie, Sidney Bechet, Albert Nicholas, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gerry Mulligan and the legendary Louis Armstrong.
On 1954 He won a radio contest "Bacchetta d'oro Pezziol", organized by RAI and presented by Nunzio Filogamo, with orchestras as: Peppino Principe, Happy Boys di Nino Donzelli (in cui cantava Mina), Fred Buscaglione, Giovanni Fenati, Renato Carosone, Bruno Canfora.
Three years later he also won the "Benny Goodman Italiano", confirming as best jazz Italian talent.
His fame made Henghel Gualdi so known that Marshal Tito called him to inaugurate the stadium in Belgrade.
On 1962 he was Artistic Director of the Zecchino d'Oro in Bologna, until 1965. On 1968 He accompanied with his band Louis Armstrong at the Festival of San Remo. On 1981 He met Benny Goodman came to Italy to record "Fantasma d'amore", a song by Riz Ortolani which was the soundtrack of the homonymous film directed by Dino Risi. On that occasion Henghel Gualdi gave to Benny his latest album called "Dedicato a Benny Goodman", and the great American musician appreciated it so much, praising the great musical talents of Gualdi.
A memorable concert in the career of Henghel Gualdi was the concert at Memorial Clarinet of Riccione on 1982, with Pupi Avati and Gianni Sangiust.
After two years his San Martino in Rio granted him honorary citizenship.
On 1989, He participated in the American tour of Luciano Pavarotti: It was a huge success which followed numerous requests to play in the United States.
In Rimini on 1994 Henghel Gualdi played for George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, while on 1996 Woody Allen was to hold it for an hour, asking advice on the instrument.
Henghel Gualdi concert activity continued until 2005 with important musicians, like Paquito D’Rivera, Romero Tuduraky, Andrea Griminelli, and participating in major festivals, like Umbria Jazz. In the last years, Henghel Gualdi was often in Cattolica to teach boys about the love for jazz music. On 7 january 7 2005 He received the Tricolor flag as one of the famous people of the city of Reggio Emilia.
Henghel Gualdi, by many considered the best Italian clarinetist, died at his home in Bologna three weeks after his last concert.
He is buried in San Martino in Rio, as he desired to expressly.
After the war, his fame spread to a national skyline. One evening the writer Ernest Hemingway came to listen him at the Hotel Cristallino in Cortina D'Ampezzo, and he was very impressed ; he played with Rex Stewart in Milan (Duke Ellington trumpeter) enjoying great success. It began its most important partnerships with world class artists very soon: Bill Coleman, Chet Baker, Count Basie, Sidney Bechet, Albert Nicholas, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gerry Mulligan and the legendary Louis Armstrong.
On 1954 He won a radio contest "Bacchetta d'oro Pezziol", organized by RAI and presented by Nunzio Filogamo, with orchestras as: Peppino Principe, Happy Boys di Nino Donzelli (in cui cantava Mina), Fred Buscaglione, Giovanni Fenati, Renato Carosone, Bruno Canfora.
Three years later he also won the "Benny Goodman Italiano", confirming as best jazz Italian talent.
His fame made Henghel Gualdi so known that Marshal Tito called him to inaugurate the stadium in Belgrade.
On 1962 he was Artistic Director of the Zecchino d'Oro in Bologna, until 1965. On 1968 He accompanied with his band Louis Armstrong at the Festival of San Remo. On 1981 He met Benny Goodman came to Italy to record "Fantasma d'amore", a song by Riz Ortolani which was the soundtrack of the homonymous film directed by Dino Risi. On that occasion Henghel Gualdi gave to Benny his latest album called "Dedicato a Benny Goodman", and the great American musician appreciated it so much, praising the great musical talents of Gualdi.
A memorable concert in the career of Henghel Gualdi was the concert at Memorial Clarinet of Riccione on 1982, with Pupi Avati and Gianni Sangiust.
After two years his San Martino in Rio granted him honorary citizenship.
On 1989, He participated in the American tour of Luciano Pavarotti: It was a huge success which followed numerous requests to play in the United States.
In Rimini on 1994 Henghel Gualdi played for George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, while on 1996 Woody Allen was to hold it for an hour, asking advice on the instrument.
Henghel Gualdi concert activity continued until 2005 with important musicians, like Paquito D’Rivera, Romero Tuduraky, Andrea Griminelli, and participating in major festivals, like Umbria Jazz. In the last years, Henghel Gualdi was often in Cattolica to teach boys about the love for jazz music. On 7 january 7 2005 He received the Tricolor flag as one of the famous people of the city of Reggio Emilia.
Henghel Gualdi, by many considered the best Italian clarinetist, died at his home in Bologna three weeks after his last concert.
He is buried in San Martino in Rio, as he desired to expressly.
