Valerio Pontrandolfo è nato a Potenza il 24 aprile 1975.
Nel 1994 si trasferisce a Bologna dove attualmente vive. Nella città emiliana comincia lo studio del sassofono con Piero Odorici e Carlo Atti, dopo essersi appassionato al jazz grazie al chitarrista Emanuele Basentini.
Nel 1999 incontra il pianista americano Barry Harris, con il quale approfondisce lo studio dell’armonia e dell’improvvisazione jazz.
Nel 2003 consegue il Diploma in Musica Jazz presso il conservatorio G.B. Martini di Bologna.
Ha successivamente studiato privatamente con Steve Grossman e George Coleman.
Valerio Pontrandolfo was born in Potenza (Italy) April 24, 1975.
In 1994 he moved to Bologna where he currently lives.
His passion for jazz started after meeting jazz guitarist Emanuele Basentini and he began studying saxophone with Piero Odorici and Carlo Atti.
In 1999 he met american pianist Barry Harris, with whom he continued to study harmony and jazz improvisation.
In 2003 he obtained a Diploma in Jazz Music from the Conservatory G.B. Martini in Bologna.
He has since continued to study privately under Steve Grossman and George Coleman.
He performs in many jazz clubs and theatres and has collaborated with many important italian and international musicians, including: Harold Mabern Jr., Steve Grossman, Alvin Queen, Bobby Durham, Joe Farnsworth, John Webber, Greg Hutchinson, Darryl Hall, Willie Jones III, Danny Grissett, Byron Landham, David Hazeltine, John Engels, Jason Brown, Ulysses Owens Jr., Chuck McPherson, Sangoma Everett, Joe Magnarelli, Jim Rotondi, Alain Jean-Marie, Tom Kirkpatrick, Mario Gonzi, Tyler Mitchell, Anthony Pinciotti, Spike Wilner, Roberto Gatto, Dado Moroni, Giovanni Amato, Renato Chicco, Andrea Pozza, Paolo Birro, Nico Menci, Gianni Cazzola, Aldo Zunino, Dario Deidda, Luca Pisani, Luciano Milanese, Carlo Atti, Piero Odorici, Jimmy Villotti, Emanuele Basentini, Marco Tamburini, Roberto Rossi, Marco Bovi.
Dal 2005 al 2012 ha fatto parte del gruppo “Two Tenors Quintet” di Steve Grossman.
From 2005 to 2012 he has been part of Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet.
Valerio performed at many festival and jazz venues, including:
Modena Jazz Festival, 2003 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quintet feat. Bobby Durham)
Today’s Jazz Cantina Bentivoglio, 2004 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quartet feat. Bobby Durham)
Festa dell’Unità Bologna, 2004 (Gianni Cazzola Quartet)
Altamura Jazz, 2005 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quartet)
Today’s Jazz 2, 2005 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Abano Jazz Fest, 2006 (Gianni Cazzola Quartet)
Alba Festival “Summertime”, 2006 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Bicentenario Potenza Città Capoluogo, 2006 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Finestra Jazz, 2006 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Parco Delta Jazz, 2006 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Zola Jazz & Wine VIII, 2007 (Nicoletta Manzini Quintet)
Laigueglia Jazz Festival, 2007 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Polla Jazz, 2007 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Corinaldo Jazz, 2007 (Jimmy Villotti Quartet )
Bologna Jazz Festival, 2007 (Jimmy Villotti Septet)
Umbria Jazz Winter, 2007 (Jimmy Villotti Septet)
Today’s Jazz 4, 2008 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Boves Vie di Jazz, 2008 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Jazz A Vienne, 2008 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Venezia Jazz Festival, 2008 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Lioni Jazz, 2008 (Jazz Quintet feat. Steve Grossman)
Jazz in Lamis, 2008 (Jazz Quintet feat. Steve Grossman)
Jazz à Liège, 2009 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Corinaldo Jazz, 2009 (Jimmy Villotti Quintet feat. Steve Grossman)
Festival Internazionale di Interpretazione Musicale: da Bach a Bartok, 2009 (Jimmy Villotti Quintet feat. Steve Grossman)
Sicily Jazz Festival, 2009 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
InnToene Jazz Festival, 2010 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Festival de l’Anche, 2010 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Mundus Festival, 2010 (Jimmy Villotti Quintet feat. Steve Grossman)
Festival Internazionale del Jazz di La Spezia, 2010 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Riccione Jazz, 2011 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Dinant Jazz Nights, 2011 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Jazz En Baie, 2011 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Bologna La Strada del Jazz, 2011 (Steve Grossman & Friends)
Jazz a La Tenda, 2013 (Steve Grossman Two Tenors Quintet)
Montagnola Music Club, 2013 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quartet)
To Be Jazz Festival, 2013 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quartet feat. Danny Grissett)
Festa dell’Unità Jazz, 2013 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quartet)
Henghel For Ever IX, 2014 (Jimmy Villotti Quartet)
Zola Jazz & Wine XV, 2014 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Trio)
Budrio Jazz Fest, 2014 ( John Webber Quartet)
Festa dell’Unità Bologna, 2014 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
To Be Jazz Festival II, 2014 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
Selva in Jazz, 2015 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
Bonazza Jazz, 2015 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
Anteprima To Be Jazz Festival III, 2015 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
Bologna La Strada del Jazz, 2015 (Valerio Pontrandolfo – Giovanni Amato Quintet)
Festival Jazz Au Sommet, 2015 (Roberto Zanetti Quartet)
Castelvetro Jazz Festival, 2016 (Spike Wilner Trio guest Valerio Pontrandolfo)
Zola Jazz & Wine XVII, 2016 (Jimmy Villotti Quartet)
Montagnola Music Club, 2016 (Valerio Pontrandolfo – Giovanni Amato Quintet)
Modena Jazz Festival Winter, 2016 (Valerio Pontrandolfo & Harold Mabern Trio)
Bologna La Strada del Jazz, 2017 (Valerio Pontrandolfo Quartet feat. Greg Hutchinson)