It was during his childhood that Stefano Di Battista was introduced to music, in a neighborhood orchestra composed mainly of brass instruments. Having started playing the saxophone at the age of thirteen, he became interested in jazz through records by Art Pepper and Cannonball Adderley, two musicians who would remain lasting influences. He pursued academic training before beginning his professional career in the pop music scene. His encounter with Massimo Urbani (1957–1993), an Italian alto saxophonist deeply influenced by the fiery style of Charlie Parker, also played a decisive role in his ambition to become a jazz musician. However, it took a fortunate series of events for the young Roman saxophonist’s talent to emerge in full light.
Encouraged to go to Paris by pianist Jean-Pierre Como, who heard him in the summer of 1992 at the Calvi festival, Stefano Di Battista quickly charmed several musicians in the French capital who helped launch his career. Notably, drummer Aldo Romano (two albums document their collaboration) and conductor Laurent Cugny, who gave him – along with his compatriot, trumpeter Flavio Boltro – a significant role in the ONJ (Orchestre National de Jazz) he formed in 1994. Though he became primarily active in France, he maintained close ties with the Italian jazz community, recording with compatriots such as Enrico Rava (1996), Rita Marcotulli (1998), Daniele Scannapieco (2003), and Dario Rosciglione (2004).
Thus, in 2002, he recorded his third album for Blue Note, Round About Roma, with a transalpine quartet (Eric Legnini, André Ceccarelli, Rosario Bonaccorso) and a symphony orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza. He continued his journey with the label, releasing a tribute project to Charlie Parker, followed by the virtuosic Trouble Shootin’ in 2007, featuring guest musicians such as Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet and Baptiste Trotignon on the Hammond organ.
A few years later, he returned to the Italian label Alice Records with the album Woman’s Land, drawing inspiration from some of the great female figures of the 20th century. At the same time, he continued a faithful collaboration with singer Nicky Nicolai, accompanying her on her personal projects.
A recognized sideman, invited by his peers in both France and Italy, on stage and in the studio, he has cultivated a particular ability to engage in musical dialogue with other artists. In 2014, he recorded his album Giù La Testa with Bayonne-born guitarist Sylvain Luc, a melodist as virtuosic as Di Battista himself. He then reunited with Nicky Nicolai for an original project with writer Erri De Luca, titled La Musica Insieme, at the crossroads of Neapolitan literature and musical performance.
For 2021, Stefano Di Battista embarked on an album paying tribute to Ennio Morricone, with whom he had the privilege of working. On this project, he was joined once again by André Ceccarelli on drums, Fred Nardin on piano, and Daniele Sorrentino on double bass.