‘I don’t belong to anything, exactly. In a good way’

Francesco Turrisi’s career defies simple categorization, reflecting a life shaped by cultural intersections and a restless artistic curiosity. Born in Turin to Sicilian parents, Turrisi’s upbringing was marked by a sense of in-betweenness, as he experienced exclusion both in northern Italy and on the island of Sicily due to his mixed regional identity. This duality has profoundly influenced his artistic outlook, inspiring a musical approach that embraces hybridity and resists confinement to any single tradition.

Around two decades ago, Turrisi added Ireland to his personal and professional geography, settling in Greystones, County Wicklow. There, he cultivated an expansive musical voice that draws from a broad palette of styles, ranging from jazz and baroque to Irish traditional and Mediterranean folk music. His work is notable for exploring connections across these diverse genres, not merely through technical elements like rhythm and melody but also by engaging with their distinct cultural and historical backgrounds.

Turrisi’s multi-instrumental prowess is central to his ability to traverse these musical worlds. Proficient on piano, accordion, harpsichord, organ, various stringed instruments, and a range of percussion, he embodies a comprehensive musical polyglot. This versatility reflects both a deep intellectual curiosity and an intuitive sense of how different traditions can converse, allowing him to craft soundscapes that challenge rigid genre boundaries.

After initial classical training in his youth, Turrisi’s path encountered a significant challenge when he developed focal dystonia, a neurological condition affecting his ability to play the saxophone, an instrument he had passionately pursued since adolescence. This setback prompted a return to the piano and a pivot toward integrating jazz with early music, a distinctive fusion that became the foundation of his formal studies at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. There, he pursued a unique combination of jazz and baroque music, a rare academic pairing that informed his subsequent explorations.

Throughout his career, Turrisi has collaborated with a wide array of artists from different cultural backgrounds. Notable partnerships include work with Irish cellist Kate Ellis, Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurtà, Portuguese drummer João Lobo, and American singer-songwriter Rhiannon Giddens. His duo recordings with Giddens, particularly the Grammy-winning album "They’re Calling Me Home" (2022), have garnered critical acclaim and highlight his ability to integrate diverse musical idioms.

His association with ensembles such as L’Arpeggiata, led by Christina Pluhar, and the Silkroad Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma and later directed by Giddens, further exemplifies his commitment to collaborative projects that transcend geographical and stylistic borders. These affiliations have positioned Turrisi at the forefront of contemporary musicians who dissolve traditional musical boundaries.

Turrisi’s recent work, including his 2023 album "Vuci: Voices from Sicily," marks a deeply personal reflection on identity and heritage. The album, blending solo piano compositions with archival field recordings and poetry, pays tribute to Sicilian culture and explores themes of migration and belonging. The project was inspired by a solo trip to Sicily, during which he reconnected with family roots and local traditions. The accompanying live performances incorporate visual elements by Irish artist Laura Sheeran, enhancing the immersive narrative of the music.

Beyond his recordings and performances, Turrisi maintains an active presence through his Substack newsletter "Cooking by Ear," where he intertwines his passions for music and food, further illustrating his multifaceted creative interests.

Turrisi’s trajectory, from a childhood marked by regional marginalization in Italy to becoming a globally recognized artist embracing multiplicity, offers a compelling narrative of how personal history can shape and enrich artistic expression. His work challenges conventional definitions of genre and identity, embodying an inclusive musical philosophy that resonates in today’s interconnected world.

The upcoming live presentation of "Vuci: Voices from Sicily" at Dublin’s Project Arts Centre on October 22nd, followed by the album’s digital and vinyl release, represents a significant milestone. It underscores Turrisi’s ongoing exploration of his roots while engaging with universal questions about migration, memory, and cultural belonging. As irishtimes.com reports, this latest chapter in his career continues to affirm his unique position as a musician who belongs everywhere and nowhere, creatively navigating the space between tradition and innovation.