Battista Lena started his musical studies at an early age with teachers like Tony Ackermann and Eddy Palermo, then with Barney Kessel, Attila Zoller, Gary Burton. In 1985 is with Italian drummer Roberto Gatto with whom he recorded 5 CDs, and later with trumpet legend Enrico Rava, for six years. He directed the project "Banda Sonora" for the French label Label Bleu winning Choc de Musique, Teleramà. “Mille Corde" with Paolo Fresu presented at Umbria Jazz Festival, “I Cosmonauti Russi", presented at the Teatro Regio di Torino.
In 2008 the Koln Wdr Big Band recorded a tribute to his music with live performances and Euroradio broadcasting.
He has intensively worked on cinema writing over 20 soundtracks for some of the major Italian movie directors. He has been nominated for spanish Goya Award, italian Golden Ciak, Golden Globe, Silver Ribbon. He taught Jazz Guitar, composition and film scoring at NYU Florence Music Program.
He coordinated a project produced by Roccella Jonica Jazz Festival and Casa del Jazz in Rome, titled 'Ballata in Sud’.
In 2014 in Paris, as part of the “Nouveaux Commanditaires” of the Fondation de France, he created "Ultimo Cielo", inspired by the work of the artist Pinot Gallizio. His music has been used in theatrical production by many directors and choreographers: Georges Lavaudant, Philippe Decouflé, George Appaix, Laurent Pelly , Giorgio Tirabassi, Giuseppe Piccioni.
Is son of art critic and feminist Carla Lonzi.
More on: https://www.battistalena.com
