Sun July 26

Gentili gives his own renditions and visions on some of the soundtracks of some of the most iconic Italian classic movies

Cosimo Gentili is a saxophonist, composer, and educator based in Rotterdam. Born in Italy to an Italian father and Dutch mother, he began his musical journey at the age of seven on piano before changing to saxophone. In 2017, after graduating high school, Gentili moved to Rotterdam to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at Codarts – University for the Arts, where he studied with renowned artists such as Tineke Postma and Benjamin Herman.

In 2019, he expanded his artistic horizons by studying in Barcelona on an Erasmus exchange at ESMUC, under the guidance of saxophonist Gorka Benitez.

Gentili graduated in 2021 presenting a thesis about legendary saxophonist Lee Konitz and a program of original compositions for various ensembles, including quartets, quintets, and sextets. Since then, he has established himself as a performer and educator, band coach jazz bands. From January 2023, Gentili directs the Jazzed Up Big Band in Dordrecht for which he writes arrangements and compositions. Gentili lead Jazzed Up in a little tour in Tuscany, Italy during August 2024 and August 2025.

In 2021 Cosimo Gentili had been chosen to take part as one of the finalists of that year’s edition of the Conservatorium Talent Award, performing in ’s-Hertogenbosch as a soloist whilst accompanied by the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. 

Another landmark moment of Gentili has been the collaboration with the Plankton Orchestra (Rotterdam based ensemble) in December 2021, featuring one of the world’s most renowned  guitarist: Yamandu Costa. 

In August 2023 Gentili wins the “Best Participant Award” at the Nuoro Jazz Seminars in Italy, which led to the creation of Linea Generale, a collaborative project featuring other winners. The group recorded their first album in 2024 with the great internationally renowned Paolo Fresu.