Franck Tortiller

Franck Tortiller was born in Burgundy in 1963, in a family making wine and music. He started his musical studies in classical percussion in Dijon Conservatory and then in the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris where he graduated at 21 with two first prices in classical percussions and musical analysis. The same year, he is made a state music teacher succeding in the Certificat d’Aptitude.

Then he quickly starts a career in jazz music and wins in 1989 the Solist award and Orchestra award in the famous Concours National de la Défense in Paris. He played in a lot of personal projects in jazz and is also kept busy playing with international musicians such as  Mike Mainieri, Dave Samuels, Steve Swallow…). In the meantime, he is asked to play for French singers albums (SAnseverino, Juliette Gréco, Juliette, Arthur H…).

In the 90’s, Mathias Rüegg ask him to join the Vienna Art Orchestra in which he will be playing solo for 10 years and will collaborate with Shriley Horn, Betty Carter, Helen Merril, Billy Cobham, etc.

In 2005, Franck Tortiller is musical director of the French National Jazz Orchestra. He is composing, directing and playing in this orchestra with which he is given the Django d’Or of the best music show. His projects are acclaimed by both public and critics and his National Jazz Orchestra will perform more than 200 times.