Bruno Lauzi

The Profile

Bruno Lauzi (1937–2006) was an Italian singer-songwriter, poet and writer. Born in Asmara and raised around Genoa, he became a key voice of the Genoese cantautore scene, moving with ease between pop chanson and jazz phrasing. Active from the early 1960s to 2006, he authored and interpreted classics such as Ritornerai and explored standards and original material with a distinctive, nuanced delivery.

Associated with the Genoese cantautore circle; Italian nationality; active through 2006 and publicly known to have faced Parkinson’s disease. Reviews document: the double LP “Amore caro, amore bello...” (Dec 1971) split between a live recital at Teatro Filodrammatico di Milano (with Andrea Sacchi) and a studio set featuring contributors from the Numero Uno milieu (including members of PFM, Flora Fauna Cemento, Equipe 84, Dario Baldan Bembo, the La Bionda brothers, Gianni Dall’Aglio). Tracks include “L’aquila” (Battisti–Mogol) and “Lei non è qui, non è là” (with Edoardo Bennato). The 2003 album “Nostaljazz” features Italian jazz greats like Renato Sellani and Gianni Basso, blends American Songbook standards with Lauzi originals (“La nostalgia”, “Nell’estate del ’66”), and highlights his jazz-inflected phrasing.

Two reviews revisit Bruno Lauzi as a refined cantautore with a strong jazz streak. One celebrates the rare 1971 double LP Amore caro, amore bello..., split between a live recital and studio cuts featuring Numero Uno collaborators and Battisti-Mogol material. The other spotlights Nostaljazz (2003), where Lauzi’s impeccable phrasing meets Italian jazz stalwarts on standards plus two originals. Together they argue he was long underestimated and deserves renewed attention.