8th International Festival of Jazz in the Ruins
started yestarday in Gliwice. Our „train to jazz” takes listeners on 8 concerts, music workshops and a graphics exhibition. All in a very international cast. We are going to see and to listen to artists from Denmark, Italy, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, and from Poland. Venue, as usual magic, the ruins of the Victoria Theatre in Gliwice. And all because we are “attracted to jazz” or, if you prefer we have a „train to jazz” to catch. Our train is not late, did not derail, you can go without a ticket, you can get on and off at the station of your choice. Because jazz is primarily about freedom.
Classes during workshops were divided into component intended for bass and bass guitarists, drummers and for the last part, which covers work of the entire rhythm section. We have catched Flavio Li Vigni for a while. In a few days’ you will have the possiblity to read what he told us just before the workshop for drummers.
Flavio Li Vigni was born in Palermo, Italy .The son of a drummer, he began playing at age seven and performed his first professional concerts and recording gigs during his early high school days. After a short period in New York, inspired by the encounter with John Coltrane\‘s drummer Elvin Jones, Flavio decided to pursue a career in music and moved to Holland to study at The Prince Claus Conservatory, where he received his degree under the direction of American jazz master Ralph Peterson. He also studied with Conrad Herwig, Grammy award winner, Brian Lynch, David Berkmann and Don Braden.
In 2008 Flavio moved to London where he obtained a Masters Degree in Jazz from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with support from a Leverhulme Trust Scholarship.
Flavio has played with, among others, Tony Kofi, Bob Wellins, Pete Churchill, Freddy Bryant, David Berkmann, Gianni Gebbia and his Festival performances include London Jazz festival, Hamburger Jazztage, Alicante Jazz Festival, Bristonas Jazz Festival 2006, Vodice Jazz Festival 2009, Siscia open Jazz and Blues Festival 2009 and Peter Gabriel\‘s Womad. Recent tours include clubs and concert performances in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Albania, Spain, Italy, Lithuania and the Uk. Having acted in the theatre as a child, Flavio has always had a lively interest in this field and has also composed music for theatrical shows. His two latest recordings, \‘Lorenzo Colella\‘s Out South\‘ and \‘O.I.D Live in Hamburg\‘, both with Fitzcarraldo records, have been critically acclaimed and the \‘O.I.D\‘ orchestra was voted second best jazz orchestra by the reader pool of Italian magazine Jazz.it.
As an educator, Flavio has given workshops in Italy, Lithuania, Albania and the Netherland and has worked in several music institutions both in Italy and Holland. During his studies he also taught drums for D.O.M.U, a course at the Prince Claus Conservatory aimed at training professional musicians to become music educators. In November 2009 Flavio was appointed Head of Percussion at Merton Music Foundation, a London based organization aimed at advancing musical education. He recently took part in their 20th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Photos: Maya M. Kowalczyk