Oscar Rossignoli

Oscar Rossignoli is the musician New Orleans’ didn’t know it needed. No other pianist in the city can currently boast the level of chops or the improvisational acumen that have become the keyboard phenom’s calling cards. Raphael Helfand Anti-Gravity Interview 

The sounds that flow from Honduras-born, Oscar Rossignoli, when he sits down at the piano, are a reflection of the path he has taken, starting at age 6in the church worship band-where it was the drums that first captured his imagination--quickly followed, by an attraction to the piano. Then, throughhigh school at The National School of Music Conservatory in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where he began his classical training while at the same time, being captivated by the fearless improvisation of, Chucho Valdez, Arturo Sandoval, and Michel Camilo.

In the daytime, devoting untold hours to his classical studies, he began experimenting, along with fellow students, with Afro Latin jazz improvisation at night. And sparked by an introduction to the swinging, blues-inflectedplaying, of the great Oscar Peterson, he embarked on a deep exploration of American jazz. All the while, following his instinct to begin experimentingwith a blend of both worlds, adding an improvisational touch to the suites of Chopin and Debussy, while bringing the harmonic flavors of the European classics, to his own compositions. 

Upon completion of his studies at the conservatory Oscar was awarded a scholarship in Piano Performance, at Louisiana State University located in Baton Rouge, an hour and a half drive, from New Orleans. It did not take him long to appreciate the fact that there was no better place for him to have found himself for the chance to continue his exploration.

As Oscar says, “While I came here interested in studying classical and jazz, New Orleans showed me a world of possibilities in many genres and how they can all blend together. The amazing thing about this city is that is loaded with world class musicians, so it wasn’t long before I found a group of friends with the same passion, and I got to play with amazing musicians like, Brian Blade, Herlin Riley, Jason Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, John Boutte, Donald Harrison,Dee Dee Bridgewater, Victor Goines, Joe Dyson, Bill Summers, the Masakowski Family, and so many others.”

He settled in 2014 New Orleans, and In fairly short order, his calendar was full, with musicians calling on him to lend his touch to, traditional New Orleans jazz, modern jazz, funk, be-bop, and gospel. Today, Oscar is first-call, in a city blessed with an abundance of enormously talented musicians.  

While separately. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, has also taken note of his extraordinary, talents and his ability to navigate particularly difficultpieces, like Leonard Bernstein’s, ‘Riffs for Everyone”, Oscar has twice been a featured guest with the LPO with conductor, Matthew Kraemer, in a Christmas show, in a tribute featuring the Marsalis family to patriarch, Ellis Marsalis, and a Creole Composers Concert, in early 2026. 

All of this has brought him to the moment where he is prepared to step out as leader of his own ensemble, featuring musicians who are among the most accomplished in his adopted home, of New Orleans. 

Recording has been started, for release of Oscar’s first trio album, with a vinyl release, scheduled for Fall, 2026.

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