Paola Furlano e Paolo Vianello DUO

Paola Furlano: voice
Paolo Vianello: piano

The duo’s repertoire spans a wide range, from classic and lesser-known jazz standards by composers such as Kenny Barron and Jay Clayton to unique interpretations of iconic songs like The Beatles‘ “Blackbird” and other beloved jazz classics.

The hallmark of the duo is a remarkable interplay, a testament to the musicians’ extensive experience and profound musical chemistry

Now retired from her career in education, Paola Furlano can dedicate herself completely to her lifelong passion: jazz. While Paola is Venetian, her roots are woven from different threads, stretching from Kosovo to Calabria. Her mother, a Kosovar, and her Calabrian father met during the Second World War. After the conflict, they settled in Venice, building a life in Sacca Fisola, Giudecca, and other corners of the city.

Paola’s youth was shaped by journeys to her mother’s homeland in the former Yugoslavia and by the stories shared around the dinner table—tales of ethnic conflicts, of the complex web of hatred and love between Serbs, Kosovars, Albanians, and Turks. These were dynamics that fractured entire societies and disintegrated families. This rich and complex Balkan history became the backdrop of her upbringing.

Blessed with a beautiful voice from a young age, she began her formal vocal training at 15, participating in various singing competitions and performing as a seasonal singer in seaside resorts. As she matured, her artistic path led her definitively to jazz. She honed her craft at prestigious institutions like the Dizzy Gillespie School in Bassano del Grappa and Il Suono Improvviso in Venice. Her pursuit of excellence didn’t stop there; after numerous workshops, she was accepted to the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts Graz (Jazz Department) in Austria. There, she had the transformative opportunity to study with luminaries who would change her life: Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Andy Bey, Jay Clayton, and Betty Carter.

It was this experience in Austria that truly ignited her love for improvisation. She later earned degrees in jazz from conservatories in Trieste and Venice.

Reflecting on her career, she notes,

I’ve never recorded an album because I am my own harshest critic; I don’t feel confident that I can achieve the level of perfection I demand of myself. Now, in retirement, I can finally dedicate myself to teaching vocal jazz improvisation, which has allowed me to meet the most extraordinary people.

Paola Furlano began her singing career at the age of 15 and was drawn to jazz in the early 1980s.

This passion led her to the Jazz Department at the University of Graz, Austria, where she studied with internationally acclaimed vocalists including Betty Carter, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Andy Bey, and Jay Clayton.

In 1989, she began teaching Jazz Voice at the Dizzy Gillespie School in Bassano del Grappa, followed by positions at the Thelonious Monk School in Vicenza and other notable jazz institutions. She has also organized masterclass workshops in Mestre with legends like Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, and Mark Murphy.

For several years, she has led a workshop on vocal improvisation, focusing specifically on the “Free” vocal techniques acquired from her studies with Jay Clayton, one of the pioneers of Free Jazz singing.

She recently earned a Bachelor’s degree from the Experimental Jazz program at the G. Tartini Conservatory in Trieste and a Master’s degree in Jazz Voice from the B. Marcello Conservatory in Venice.

In 2020, she recorded the album “When You Are Far,” produced by Francesco Sorrenti for the Holly Music label, featuring orchestrations by Maestro Gianni Ephrikian.

Throughout her forty-year concert career in jazz, she has performed in various ensembles as a leader, collaborating with a host of esteemed musicians, including Paolo Birro, David Boato, Marco Vaggi, Andrea Michelutti, Roberto Chicco, Marco Castelli, Roberto Magris, Fabio Grandi, Roberto Dani, Francesco Mariella, and many others.

She was also a featured vocalist in Maestro Arrigo Cappelletti’s musical project, “Homage to Andrew Hill,” which brought her to stages at numerous prestigious theaters and jazz festivals.