Attilio Zanchi began studying double-bass in 1978 after devoting himself to various music genres. He attended the Milano Conservatory Jazz courses for two years and the Milano Council School of Music for three years. In 1980 and 1981 he specialized with Dave Holland both in Canada at the “Banff School of fine arts” and in the USA at the “ Woodstock Creative Music Studio”. Since his return to Italy, he has been playing with the F. D’Andrea band, the Paolo Fresu Quintet and Tiziana Ghiglioni, with whom he has also been on a world-wide tour and played in various Jazz Festivals in USA, Canada, Australia, Africa, Russia and Europe. He has also brought out several records with them, some of which, in the opinion of critics, turned out to be “the best of the year” at the time when they were released. The well-known American jazz players he has been on concerts and recording with include George Lewis, Sam Rivers, Jimmy Giuffrè, Ed Blackwell, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler, Jack de Johnette e John Abercrombie, Baikida Carrol, Julius Hemphill, Ed Blackwell, Nana Vasconcellos, Collin Wallcot, Dewey Redman e Howard Johnson, L.Konitz, T.Scott, Bud Freeman, G.Masso, Kai Winding, Joe Newman, J.Owens, Sam Rivers, Joe Farrell, S.Hampton, H.Edison, M.Forman, Robin Kenjatta, Mal Waldron, B.Watson, D.Liebman, Al Cohn, G.Mulligan, S.Nistico, Lew Tabackin, Mike Melillo, Franco Ambrosetti, J. Knepper, G. Mulligan, B.Berg, L.Hayes, D.Cherry, F.Lowe, F.Morgan, R. Hargrove, R.Matthews, T.Stanko, C.Corea, P.Erskine, I.Sullivan, J.Surman, J.Cook, J.Baron, E.Lockjaw Davis, T.Campbell, P.Favre, P.Woods, W.Bishop, K.Washington, D.Schnitter, J.McNeely, G Keezer, G.Bertoncini, J.Stowell, S.Lacy, G.Burton, M.Jackson, M.Murphy, D.Liebman, T.Gurtu, S. Jordan ... ; Throughhout his carreer, he has recorded over 80 albums, among which 5 all on his own. One of these “Early Spring” came second in a pool held by the “ Musica Jazz” magazine to choose the best record of the year, and third in the “Musica & Dischi” magazine. Another of his record, called “Some Other Place”, saw the cooperation of several musicians, including Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, George Garzone, Franco D’Andrea, Gianluigi Trovesi and many others. Alongside his carreer as a musician, Attilio teaches at the Milano CPM School and holds seminars all over Italy and abroad ( Melbourne Univerity, Australia); he also edited “The Comparative Encyclopedia of Scales and Chords” together with F. D’Andrea, the “ Educational Course for the Developing of Musical Hear” with R. Cipelli, “Walkin’ Bass Styles” and “ A Practical Method for Improvisation” with M. Colombo. In 1992 he was voted as “ best italian bass player of the year” by the “Guitar Club” magazine.

1974Aktuala, 'LA TERRA', (Bla Bla)
1981Open Form Trio, 'OLD MEMORIES', (Red Rec.)
1982D'Andrea Quartet, 'MADE IN ITALY', (Red Rec)
1982Milan Jazz Quartet, 'OASIS', (Dire)
1982George Masso, 'ROOTS', (Master)
1982L. Patruno, C. Bagnoli, 'BIX BEIDERBECKE MEMORIAL ALBUM', (Carosello)
1983Milan Jazz Quartet, 'TRAVELLIN', (Dire)
1983Milan Jazz Quartet, 'TOP JAZZ ITALY', (MJ)
1984Bobby Watson, 'PERPETUAL GROOVE', (Red Rec.)
1985P. Fresu Quintet, 'OSTINATO', (Splasch)
1985M. Waldron, F. Bellomo, 'SINCE YOU'VE GONE', (Dire)
1985O.F.T. con B. Watson, 'APPOINTMENT IN MILANO', (Red Rec.)
(miglior disco dell'anno 1986 per le riviste ;SUNDAY TIMES; e ;NEW YORK TIMES;), '', ()
1985O.F.T. con B. Watson, 'SAX TODAY', (MJ)
1986P. Fresu Quintet con D. Liebman, 'INNER VOICES', (Splasch)
1986Franco D'Andrea Quartet, 'QUARTET LIVE', (Red Rec.)
1987D'Andrea Quartet, 'MY SHUFFLE', (Red Rec.)
1987O.F.T. con B. Watson, 'ROUND TRIP', (Red Rec.)
1987P. Fresu Quintet, 'MAMUT', (Splasch)
1987Attilio Zanchi & friends, 'EARLY SPRINGS', (Splasch)
1987Dino Betti Band, 'THEY CANNOT KNOW', (Soul Note)
1988P. Fresu Quintet, 'QUARTO', (Splasch)
1988Dino Betti Band, 'A CHANCE FOR A DANCE', (Innowo)
1988Cinzia Spata Unit, 'FELINI', (Phrases)
1988A. Zanchi Quartet, 'CATS', (Splasch)
1989S. Battaglia Trio, 'JAZZ IN DIRETTA', (ER)
1989F. Romano Quintet, 'INTER NOS', (Splasch)
1990P. Fresu Quintet, 'LIVE IN MONTPELLIER', (Splasch)
1990A. Zanchi, M. Colombo, 'MUSIC FOR ANIMAGINARY MOVIE', (Pepper)
1990A. Zanchi & friends, 'TOP JAZZ FROM ITALY', (YVP Music)
1990G. Di Leone Trio con P. Fresu, 'ALL FOR HALL', (Splasch)
1991O.F.T. con B. Watson, 'BOBBY WATSON', (MJ)
1991P. Fresu Sextet, 'OSSI DI SEPPIA', (Splasch)
1991P. Fresu Quintet, 'IL TREDICESIMO APOSTOLO LAB 2029', ()
1992Giorgio Gaslini, 'MASK', (Soul Note, MJ)
1992P. Fresu Quintet, 'BALLADS', (Splasch)
1992Tiziana Ghiglioni con S. Lacy e E. Rava, 'S.O.N.B.', (Splasch)
1992Giampiero Prina, 'THE WORLD OF ISHER', (Le Parc)
1992Attilio Zanchi con J. Taylor, K. Wheeler, G. Garzone, F. D'Andrea ecc., 'SOME OTHER PLACE', (D.D.D.)
1992P. Fresu Quintet, 'LIVE IN LUGANO', (Blue Jazz)
1992F. D'Andrea Septet, 'FLAVOURS', (Penta Flowers)
1992G. Di Leone Trio con Claudio Fasoli, 'SCHERZO', (Pentaflowers)
1994Paolo Fresu Sextet, 'ENSALADA MISTICA', (Splasch)
1994G. Di Leone & A. Zanchi, 'HEARING A RAPSODY', (Modern Times)
1994Riccardo Luppi, 'TWELVE CHANCES', (Modern Times)
1994P. Fresu Quintet, 'I DISERTORI', (Columbia)
1994Phil Woods & D'Andrea Trio, 'ORNITOLOGY', (Philology)
1995P. Fresu Quintet, 'JAZZ SAMPLER BLUE NOTE', (EMI-Blue Note)
1995Luca La Penna, 'WORDS FOR EVANS', (Splasch)
1995P. Fresu Quintet, 'NIGHT ON THE CITY', (OWL)
1995Paolo Fresu Sextet, 'ONIX JAZZ CLUB', (Onix)
1995Phil Woods & D'Andrea Trio, 'TOP JAZZ AUDIO OGGI', (comp. Philology)
1996Franco D'Andrea Quartet, 'SPECIAL EDITION', (Red Record)
1996Paolo Fresu Sextet &Orchestra Utopia, '6x30', (Onix)
1996Tiziana Ghiglioni Quartet & Gianluigi Trovesi, 'SPELLBOUND', (YVP)
1996Paolo Fresu Sextet, 'ITALIAN JAZZ TODAY', (Musica Jazz)
1997Paolo Fresu Sextet, 'WANDERLUST', (BMG)
1997Encanto, 'VOLANDO CON NACO', (Aspirine Music)
1997Ornella Vanoni & P. Fresu Quintet, 'ARGILLA', (CGD- East West)
1997Attilio Zanchi Fourways con John Stowell, 'FOURWAYS', (Splasch)
1997Massimo Colombo, 'IL SUONO ELEGANTE', (Symphonia)
1997Tiziana Ghiglioni con Tony Scott,Lee Konitz, 'MY ESSENTIAL DUKE', (Philology)
1997P. Fresu Quintet, 'A FLEUR DE JAZZ FESTIVAL', (Parc Floral)
1998E.S.P. Trio & Modern Ensemble, 'CONFLUENZE', (Splasch)
1998Tiziana Ghiglioni, 'TENCO IN JAZZ', (Philology)
1998Tony Scott- D’Andrea Trio, 'HOMMAGE TO B. HOLIDAY', (Philology)
1998Pietro Vitale Jazz Combo, 'ENTAO ESTA’', (Musical Team)
1998The Great Naco Orchestra, 'THE GREAT NACO ORCHESTRA', (Symphonia)
1998Sheila Jordan & E.S.P. Trio, 'LIVE IN B.ARSIZIO', (Pro Music)
1999Sheila Jordan & E.S.P. Trio, 'SHEILA'S BACK IN TOWN', (Splasch)
1999E.S.P.Trio, 'A REASON TO BELIEVE', (Philology)
1999Nancy King Quartets con John Stowell, 'MOONRAY', (Philology)
1999Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'BERCHIDDA-the Italian years', (Arco – Iris)
2000Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'MELOS', (BMG)
2002Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'SCENE(S) D’AUJOURD’HUI', (compilation AGHJA)
2002Zanchi, Naco, Bebo Ferra, 'ENCANTO', (Splasch)
2003Antonello Monni, 'FRIENDS', (Music Center)
2003Garrison Fewell, 'RED DOOR NUMBER 11', (Splasch)
2003E.S.P. TRIO, 'ECHOES', (Splasch)
2003Rachel Gould Quartet, 'LIVE IN MACERATA', (Philology)
2003Barbara Balzan Quartet, 'TENDER AWAKENING', (TCB)
2003Luca Pasqua III, 'JACK OF ALL TRADES', (Videoradio)
2004Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'LIVE IN STUDIO', (Jazzit)
2004Vincenzo Corrao, 'MY FAVOURITE SONGS P.A.', ()
2004Vanni Stefanini, 'NOBODY KNOWS', (RUS)
2005Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'KOSMOPOLITES', (Blue Note)
2005Sheila Jordan & E.S.P. Trio ,P. Fresu, 'STRAIGHT AHEAD', (Splash)
2005Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'ALL’INCROCIO DEI VENTI', (Onyx)
2005Nota Estranea Ensemble, 'MUSIC FOR LIFE', (Mi)
2005Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'P.A.R.T.E. play the music of A.Zanchi', (Blue Note)
2006Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'INCANTAMENTO', (Blue Note)
2006Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'BLUE NOTE FESTIVAL EDITION', (Blue Note)
2006Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'SUMMERTIME', (compilation Blue Note)
2006Sheila Jordan & E.S.P Trio, 'DIO, LA SCIMMIA E IL BIG BANG', (comp. Edel)
2006Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'THINKING', (Blue Note)
2007Grossi, Zanchi, Castiglioni, 'DISTANZE', (Music Center)
2007Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'ROSSO,VERDE, GIALLO E BLU', (Blue Note)
2007Francesco Di Lenge, 'TREE', (Music Center)
2007Giuseppe Emmanuele, 'NORTH SOUTH OR VICE-VERSA', (Blue Note)
2008Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'THE PLATINUM COLLECTION', (Blue Note)
2008Eva Simontacchi, 'PURE ECSTASY', (Splasc(H))
2008Lara Iacovini, 'EVERYBODY’S SONG', (Splasc(H))
2008Felice Reggio, 'MIO CARO TENCO', (Splasc(H))
2009Don Friedman Trio, 'I’D LIKE TO TELL YOU', (Music Center)
2009Paolo Fresu Quintet, 'JAZZ IS FOR LOVERS', (compilation EMI)
2009Tommaso Starace, 'DON'T FORGET', (Music Center)
1974Claudio Fucci, 'Claudio Fucci', (Trident records)
1975Eugenio Finardi, 'Non gettate oggetti dai finestrini', (Cramps)
1975Gianni Siviero, 'Del carcere', (Divergo)
1976Yu Kung, 'Pietre della mia gente', (Orchestra)
1976Gianni Siviero, 'Il castello di Maggio', (Divergo)
1976Paolo Pietrangeli, 'Lo sconfronto', (Dischi del Sole)
1978Maad, 'Wake up', (Philips)
1978Ivan della Mea, 'La piccola ragione d’allegria', (Dischi del Sole)
1979Ivan della Mea, 'Sudadio giùdabestia', (Dischi del Sole)
1988Sergio Caputo, 'Italiani mambo', (CGD)
1991Franco Mussida, 'Racconti della tenda rossa', (Virgin)
1990Max Meazza, 'Only angels have wings', (Solid air)
1990Sergio Caputo, 'Sogno erotico sbagliato', (Fonit-Cetra)
1993Max Meazza, 'Summer of 71', (Solid Air)
1994Max Meazza, 'Better late then never', (Appaloosa)
1994Fabio Turchetti, '', (Francis drake)
1996Max Meazza, 'Nightime call', (Solid air)
1998Sergio Caputo, 'Serenadas', (Polygram)
1999Pueblo, 'The big thunder', (Solid Air)
1997Ornella Vanoni, 'Argilla', (CGD-East West)
2007Ornella Vanoni, 'Una bellissima ragazza (con Mario Biondi)', (Sony BMG)