Cosimo Gentili is a saxophonist, composer and educator based in Rotterdam, NL. He was born and raised in Italy, in a small town in the center of Tuscany, by Italian father and Dutch mother. He had his first contact with music at the age of 8 with piano, moving later on to saxophone. In 2017, right after high school, Cosimo permanently moved to the Netherlands, to pursue his studies at the conservatory of Rotterdam, Codarts - University for the Arts. Here, he had the opportunity to study with internationally known musicians such as Tineke Postma and Benjamin Herman, and to meet tons of talented musicians from all over the world that helped Cosimo with his musical development.
In 2019 he had the chance to broaden up his view on music and art by going on Erasmus in the exquisite and stimulating city of Barcelona and having lessons by saxophonist Gorka Benitez in the conservatory ESMUC (Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya).
During his studies, he had the chance to play also in larger ensembles and in sections, playing 2nd alto from 2017 to 2019 in the Codarts Big Band (along with the project featuring Jesse Passenier and Renier Baas), and lead alto from 2020 to 2021; and as lead alto in the Codarts Pop Orchestra (2019-2021).
He graduated in June 2021, presenting a repertoire of all original compositions, written mainly for the already existing project Cosimo Gentili 4tet (guitar, bass and drums), but also for other line-ups, such as quintet and sextet (adding tenor and trombone). He also becomes a fixed member of the band Su Nichel, led by bassist Dean Montanaro and drummer Andrea Carta.
In the same year he co-leads another project, BoiaDeh, along with Montanaro, drummer Pete Galea and guitarists Andrew Moreno.
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 2022, Cosimo was chosen to participate at programs "Jazz Rookies", by TivoliVredenburg.
Since January 2023, Cosimo Gentili is band director of big band "Vals Plat" and "JazzedUp".