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CLAUDIO JR. DE ROSA QUARTET

CLAUDIO JR. DE ROSA QUARTET

 

 (Italy – Tunisia – Lithuania)

Claudio Jr De Rosa Lemonjazz 2017 foto Paolo Terlizzi

Claudio Jr De Rosats

Wajdi Riahi p

Mauro Cottone db

Augustas Baronasdr

 

Claudio Jr De Rosa, one of the most promising Italian saxophonists touring Europe with a variety of performers, has formed his Quartet from talents coming from different countries. All of them studied in the Netherlands, and only Lithuanian Augustas Baronas has returned from the Netherlands to his native country.

 

Formed in 2016, the ensemble released its debut album Grovin’ Up! (Incipit Records) a year later. It was hailed by the press and critics, and was included in Top10 of emerging Italian artists, which has prodded the Quartet to major festival scenes, including North Sea Jazz, Umbria Jazz, Veneto Jazz, Getxo International Jazz Festival, Bermeo Jazz and Otis Park Jazz.

 

The Quartet’s second album, Forces, received accolades for stylistic and compositional freshness, and depth of music. “Every journey starts from inside, and only by allowing yourself to explore your inner world, you will manage to express and share your true forces. If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins”, says the group leader.

 

These thoughts inspired him to new compositions, a vehicle in his search for idiosyncratic sonorities to which each member of the Quartet contributes in his own way.

 

In Birštonas Jazz, Spanish pianist Xavi Torres Vincente will be replaced by young Tunisian Wajdi Riahi.

 

The saxophonist, clarinettist, arranger and composer Claudio Jr De Rosa, whose creative achievements are truly impressive, is one of the most promising voices on the European jazz scene.

 

He studied classical and contemporary saxophone at the conservatoires of Salerno and Rome (Italy) and graduated as a jazzman from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague. A couple of years ago, the musician was listed in the top ten of emerging Italian jazz artists. He has already won numerous international jazz awards, including the First Asian Saxophone Congress in Taiwan (2016), the National Chicco Bettinardi 2016 Prize and the prestigious Louis van Dijck Jazz Award for arrangements (2016).

 

In 2017, he was among the winners of the AIR project organised by MIDIJ (Italian Jazz Musicians Association), which selected the jazz musicians for artist residencies in different Italian Institutes of Culture around the world.

 

As an arranger and composer, De Rosa has collaborated with the Concertgebouw Jazz Orchestra, the NJT (New Jazz Talent) Big Band, various big bands, Filarmonica di Belluno, the CJDR Jazz Ensemble and others.

 

Since 2007, the musician has appeared on many important international scenes in Italy, France, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Spain, Canada, Poland and Sakartvelo.

 

A native of Tunisia, Wajdi Riahi originally studied Arabic music in his home country. He gave his first jazz concerts in 2015 with musicians from the Tunis Jazz Club.

 

In 2016, the pianist honed his jazz improvisation and composition skills at the Royal International Summer Academy in Wallonia (Libramont-Chevigny, Belgium), and later at the master class of the American pianist Barry Harris in Italy. He is currently studying at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

 

In 2017, Wajdi participated in Tunisian bassist Wassim Ben Rhouma’s project Darimba, and soon presented his personal project North Africa, with which he won prize as the best soloist and was awarded prize for the best composition.

 

In 2020, the pianist formed his own Trio in Brussels, inviting double bassist Basile Rahola and drummer Pierry Hurty to become his regular stage partners. With this Trio, Wajdi has released two personal albums on Fresh Sound New Talent Records and won first prize at the Dinant Jazz competition in Belgium. He also plays in Basile Rahola’s Baz Trio, with which he has recorded a couple of albums; collaborates with other ensembles.

 

Mauro Cottone, a Sicilian double bass player, arranger and composer, is also an up-and-coming graduate of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He is active with his jazz Trio and Quartet performing original compositions inspired by hardbop and contemporary African-American music. Mauro is also involved in international projects.

 

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acc. nr. LT 43 7181 6000 0014 4640

comp. code 190025748

AB ,,Šiaulių bankas'' Birštono KAS

bank code 71816

acc. nr. LT 43 7181 6000 0014 4640

comp. code 190025748

Sorry, the ticket office can be settled only in cash.

tel. + 370 319 65546

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