Introduction
Michel Bisceglia is a Belgian musician. Born Michelino Bisceglia on January 4, 1970, he descends from a family of Italian origin. Although he began playing the keyboard at the age of 6, his formal training on classical piano only started when he was already 12 years old. A few years later he switched to modern piano, and by his second year in high school he knew he wanted to dedicate his life to music.
Jazz musician
As a jazz musician he worked with jazz icons such as Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Toots Thielemans and Dewey Redman. Bisceglia also got nominated twice as Best Belgian Musician of the year, 1999 and 2002.
In 1997 Bisceglia formed his own jazz trio, and to this date they still perform in their original lineup. During this period they have recorded six studio albums and played on famous jazz festivals all over the world. Their debut album 'about stories' features guest musicians Randy Brecker and Bob Mintzer. Bisceglia is well known for working with artists from outside the jazz world. His most notable coproduction in this regard was Jazz Works, released with Buscemi (DJ) on Blue Note Records.
Composer, arranger, orchestrator
As a composer, arranger and orchestrator. Bisceglia has worked with the Brussels Philharmonic and the Orquestra Nacional do Porto. In 2004 he started his own symphonic orchestra: Prova Symfonica. In 2010 at the start of Belgium's 12th Presidency of the European Council, he conducted a symphonic orchestra at the 'I Love EU'-concert in Brussels. In 2018, Michel arranged and played the film music of Tim Burton during the exhibition: "The World Of Tim Burton" in C-Mine Genk.
Film composer
Bisceglia is also a film composer.In 2013 he composed the soundtrack for the feature film Marina by director Stijn Coninx. This film is based upon the life of the Italian singer Rocco Granata, who moved to Belgium when he was a young boy. Moreover, he composed the music for Blue Bird, a feature film directed by Gust Van den Berghe that was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. He has also composed music for Vincent Lannoo's In the Name Of The Son and Little Glory, a film with Hollywood-actor Cameron Bright.
At the 25th of October 2014 Michel Bisceglia's soundtrack for the film Marina won the Public Choice Award at the World Soundtrack Awards.
Discography
As leader/co-leader
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | About Stories | BMG/RCA Victor | With Bob Mintzer (tenor sax), Randy Brecker (trumpet), Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 1999 | Le Temps Perdu | PAO | As Cattleya; trio, with Volker Heinze (bass), Harald Ingenhag (drums) |
| 2002 | Madeleine | Rent a Dog | As Cattleya; most tracks trio, with Volker Heinze (bass), Harald Ingenhag (drums); some tracks have guests |
| 2003 | Second Breath | Prova | Trio, with Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 2005 | The Night and the Music | Culture | With Werner Lauscher (bass), Lieven Venken (drums) |
| 2005 | Diary | Prova | As Cattleya; trio, with Volker Heinze (bass), Harald Ingenhag (drums) |
| 2006–07 | Inner You | Prova | Trio, with Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 2008 | Jazz Works | Blue Note | With Buscemi [Dirk Swartenbroekx] and others |
| 2009 | Invisible Light | Prova | Trio, with Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 2009 | Vertov, L'uomo Con La Macchina Da Presa | Prova | With Buscemi [Dirk Swartenbroekx] and others |
| 2013 | 11 | Prova | Duo, with Carlo Nardozza (trumpet) |
| 2014 | Singularity | Prova | With Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 2015 | Blue Bird | Prova | With Werner Lauscher (bass), Marc Lehan (drums) |
| 2017 | Nosferatu | Prova | With Buscemi & The Michel Bisceglia Ensemble |
| 2018 | Orchestral Works 1 | Prova | With Piet Van Bockstal, Brussels Chamber Orchestra and AMK Choir |
| 2019 | Whispered Wishes | Prova | With Didier François |
Compilation
- 20 Years Recordings (Prova)
Film Soundtracks
As composer
- Blue Bird – Feature film directed by Gust Van den Berghe (2010)
- Mixed Kebab - Feature film directed by Guy Lee Thys (2011)
- Little Glory - Feature film directed by Vincent Lannoo (2011)
- In the Name of the Son (Au Nom du Fils) - Feature film directed by Vincent Lannoo (2012)
- Valentino - Feature film directed by Remy Van Heugten (2013)
- Marina – Feature film directed by Stijn Coninx (2013)
- The Pickle Recipe – Feature film directed by Michael Manasseri (2016)
- Blue Silence - Feature film directed by Mavi Sessizlik (2017)
- Hannah - Feature film directed by Andrea Pallaoro starring Charlotte Rampling (2017)
- Light Thereafter - Feature film directed by Konstantin Bojanov (2017)
As arranger / orchestrator:
- Ushi Must Marry – Feature film directed by Paul Ruven (2013)
- Symfollies – Animated series directed by Ives Agemans - 32 episodes (1999 - 2004)
- Midden in de Winternacht – Feature film directed by Lourens Blok (2013)
- Boy 7 – Feature film directed by Lourens Blok (2015)
- Terug Naar Morgen – Feature film directed by Lukas Bossuyt (2015)
- Gluckauf – Feature film directed by Remy van Heugten (2015)
- Cafard – Feature film directed by Jan Bultheel (2015)
- Le Fidèle - Feature film directed by Michaël R. Roskam (2017)
Short film
- Hampi - Short film directed by Pim Algoed (2016)
- Sisters - Short film directed by Aza Declercq (2017)
- Palookaville - Short film directed by Pim Algoed (2017)