Berklee Global Jazz Institute Events

Born in Oslo, Norway, Felix Peikli found his way into music trough the local marching band at the age of 8. They picked out the instrument, which today seems to have been the perfect choice, a clarinet. Two years later, Peikli received a Benny Goodman recording by his grandfather. The motivation came right away after hearing the dazzling and amazing music that a clarinet could produce, and Benny Goodman became the new idol. His first performance was during a jam session at Oslo Jazz Festival in 2002. Too young to enter the bar, Peikli and his mother Une argued their way in. Unaware that celebrities like Joe Lovano were in the audience, Peikli played and was invited back the next day for his first hired gig, playing with a visiting band in the Grand Hotell the Mirror Hall.

This was motivation beyond belief, and hard practicing lay ahead, together with upcoming achievements. Peikli participated in contests such as AOM (local), OM (state), NM (national), and UKM (national) and won a series of prizes. He became a student at Barratt Dues Classical Institute of Norway and studied there with Fredrik Fors (from 2004 to 2008). He also was selected to compete on national TV and won the National Dream Prize in 2005. After that achievement, he began performing heavily, with three to four gigs a week, while still in school maintaining top grades.

Peikli has always cared about helping other people through music and has always volunteered to play for people who need it the most, playing monthly at a center for people with amnesia. He became a student at Foss Music High School in 2006 and in the same year he won the Grand Chance on national TV. After that, Peikli became a national icon and the official face fronting the art of jazz. He begun playing at national and international festivals and making international appearances (in Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, U.K., and more), and Talent.no became his main sponsor in 2007, working closely with Jorn Hoel. Peikli received the Capital of Norway Honors Prize as the youngest recepiant ever in 2007, and the same year he attended Berklee College of Music's Five-Week Summer Performance Program, where he was granted a full-tuition Scholarship. He is also a recent winner of the prestigious Vandoren Emerging Artists International Contest.

In his mission to help others through his music, Peikli held a concert in 2007 in conjunction with Harry Belafonte's visit to Oslo, Norway, where all the money went to people with AIDS in the third world, raising $5,000 for that cause. In 2008 he had his Ready for Boston concert as a token of his acceptance into Berklee College of Music the same year, and came back one year later, touring Oslo with his Berklee professor Harry Skoler, playing a tribute to Benny Goodman, who would have celebrated 100 years in 2009. In August 2010, Peikli performed his first international tour as a bandleader with his group the Felix Peikli Quintet (Felix Peikli, Italo Cunha, Takeshi Ohbayashi, Justin Richey, and Jeff Fajardo) and appeared at venues such as Oslo Jazz Festival, TV2, NRK1, Rica Victoria, and more. 

Peikli began his studies at Berklee College of Music in the fall of 2008 and has been fortunate to have the opportunity to study and play with/for many talented musicians and professors such as Frank Tiberi, Harry Skoler, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Leo Blanco, Greg Osby, Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Eddie Gomez, Aaron Goldberg, Wayne Shorter, Ralph Peterson Jr., and Ben Street. As a part of the newly founded honors program the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (directed by the world-renowned Danilo Pérez and Marco Pignataro), Peikli has had a chance to meet many wonderful musicians worldwide. In 2011 he went with the BGJI to tour New Orleans and Panama.

As of February 2011, Peikli was asked to be a sideman as a part of Ralph Peterson Jr.'s world-renowned jazz group the Ralph Peterson Fo'tet. They have performed extensively in the U.S. and recorded Ralph Peterson Jr's upcoming CD Duality Perspective, due to be released May 20, 2012.

For frequent updates, visit kingclarinet.com or myspace.com/kingclarinet.

Albino Mbie was born in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, a country in southern Africa known for its rich musical and cultural heritage. Taken by the sounds of neighborhood street musicians just over a decade ago, he began to pursue the guitar at the age of 16. With the resourcefulness and determination that characterize Mozambicans, he built his first guitar from a five-liter can of oil, scrap wood for a neck, and cords strung over an electric cord.

Mbie currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is a student at Berklee. He was also selected to participate in the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, which is directed by Danilo Pérez. 

His compositions and performances incorporate his musical experiences from Mozambique, the U.S., and many other places around the world, combining rhythmic patterns and musical concepts to create a unique Afro-jazz sound. 

Albino Mbie's original composition "Mozambique Dance" was recorded by Jazz Revelation Records (a student-run record label at Berklee) for its eighth-annual album released in 2011. He has performed in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Italy, the U.S., and Mexico, produced, and recorded various project in Mozambique and in the United States.  

Born and raised in Israel, saxophonist Lihi Haruvi is now living in Boston studying on a full-tuition scholarship at Berklee, majoring in performance and film scoring.

Haruvi studied in the prestigious Thelma Yellin High School of the Performing Arts; was awarded with the America Israel Cultural Foundation scholarship, the Tel-Aviv Conservatory scholarship, and Excellent Musician status in the Israel Defense Forces; and was an official arranger for the army orchestra.

During her military service, she was chosen to represent Israel by performing as a soloist around the world, and she received a scholarship to study at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.

These days she is a part of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute directed by Danilo Pérez and Marco Pignataro and has the honor of working with Joe Lovano, Ben Street, John Patitucci, Jim Odgren, Terri Lyne Carrington, George Garzone, Kenny Werner, Eddie Gomez, and many other outstanding musicians.

Haruvi is a signed artist of Berklee's Jazz Revelation Records label. She has performed at respected jazz festivals and venues such as the Red Sea Eilat Jazz Festival, Birdland, and the Berklee Performance Center.

Vocalist Vanisha Gould was raised in a household where jazz was the music of choice. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Carmen McRae have all influenced her, as well as Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis. She wants her music to inspire her audience and unite people of all walks of life.

Pianist Caili O'Doherty, 20, is currently a sophomore at Berklee, studying jazz performance on a full scholarship.

Growing up as a classical pianist, O'Doherty was exposed to a variety of musical styles before discovering her love for jazz at age eleven when she transferred to an arts school in Portland, Oregon. Since that time, she has focused on developing a career as a jazz pianist.

In high school, O'Doherty began receiving national recognition for her compositions and performance. She received an ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award as well as two Downbeat Student Music Awards for jazz piano performance and composition, and was selected for the Berklee Summer Jazz Workshop band led by Terri Lyne Carrington. In 2010, Caili was one of five female jazz pianists invited to participate in the inaugural Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Emerging Artists Workshop held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and to perform at a showcase concert. O'Doherty was chosen to become a member of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), an intensive performance program headed by highly acclaimed pianist Danilo Perez.

O'Doherty  has recently performed with the BGJI at the Toronto Jazz Festival and at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, opening for French pianist Martial Solal. She has studied with Dr. Billy Taylor, Danilo Perez, Joanne Brackeen, Terri Lyne Carrington, Hal Crook, and Greg Osby. She has performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Portland Jazz Festival, and the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival (as pianist for Terrell Stafford).

The Yesberger Band, an East Coast college band founded in early 2010 at the Berklee College of Music, is the project of lead singer and pianist Devon Yesberger, backed up by good friends Spencer Stewart (bass) and Gabriel Smith (drums). They are a sensible, groovy, and poetic trio, mixing jazz nuances with catchy original pop.

Inspired by the untapped bounty of wisdom hidden amongst the stars and spread throughout daily life, Yesberger writes songs that channel the feelings of laughter and smiles that everyone desires. The resulting performances only strengthen these feelings with a positive energetic stage presence that is unmatched by most young musicians, and is evidence of a strong passion for music, as well as a deep friendship between the performers and audience.

The Yesberger Band has completed a successful summer tour that took them cross-country, opening for acts including Bobby McFerrin, the Yellowjackets, and the Temptations. Along the way they played 22 dates, sold over 500 CDs, met hundreds of new fans, and had the incredible opportunity to share their music with many open ears: just a small glimpse of their bright future. Their debut album, The Bad Weather EP, features six catchy original tracks and one original cover of the popular Beatles tune "Blackbird." The CD is an independent release featuring the talents of many Berklee students making appearances on most tracks, as well as behind the scenes engineering and mixing.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Septet will visit WBGO 88.3 FM to give a live in-studio performance and interview. Listen to the broadcast at wbgo.org.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Students may pursue a performance degree, diploma, or two-year certificate through the institute.

The BGJI has three main goals: to provide an interdisciplinary music program where students may explore their creativity to the highest level; to explore the social power of music as a tool for the betterment of society; and to connect musical creative thinking with the restoration of nature.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Septet and Octet, directed by world-renowned pianist Danilo Perez, will play New York's Blue Note Jazz Club. It will be the 12th straight year a group of Berklee's top students have performed in the annual concert. Past showcases have included notable Berklee alumni Esperanza Spalding, Julian Lage, Kendrick Scott, Jaleel Shaw, Daniela Schaechter, Bryan Baker, and others.

The octet will play at 8:00 p.m.; the septet will play at 10:30 p.m. Earlier that day, the septet will visit WBGO 88.3 FM to give a live in-studio performance and interview from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Listen to the broadcast at wbgo.org.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Students may pursue a performance degree, diploma, or two-year certificate through the institute.

The BGJI has three main goals: to provide an interdisciplinary music program where students may explore their creativity to the highest level; to explore the social power of music as a tool for the betterment of society; and to connect musical creative thinking with the restoration of nature.

Brooklyn-born drummer Mark Whitfield Jr. leads a group of Berklee's finest musicians in an evening of his favorite jazz standards and original compositions.

Hailey Niswanger's accomplishments reach far beyond the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon and well beyond her years. The alto saxophonist has shared the stage with jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, George Garzone, Red Holloway, Terell Stafford, Phil Woods, James Moody, Steve Nelson, Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, Maceo Parker, Wynton Marsalis, and Mark Whitfield, among others. Her own quartet has performed at the Portland Jazz Festival, Jimmy Mak's Jazz Club, Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, and other jazz venues around Portland.  In September 2009 she was selected as the new alto saxophonist for the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenon and Jaleel Shaw, among others.  

Niswanger's June 2009 recording debut as a leader—the self-produced and self-released CD Confeddie—established her throughout North America. The album was reviewed in such leading jazz magazines as Jazz Times and Jazziz and inspired veteran jazz critic Nat Hentoff to profile her in the Wall Street Journal. Confeddie appeared on the Jazz Week Top 50 chart 3 times and was among the top 100 jazz CDs in the country for two months. It features a rhythm section composed of fellow Berklee students Michael Palma on piano, Greg Chaplin on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. 

Niswanger was a featured artist at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where she won the festival's saxophone competition in 2008.

Hailey Niswanger's accomplishments reach far beyond the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon and well beyond her years. The alto saxophonist has shared the stage with jazz greats Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, George Garzone, Red Holloway, Terell Stafford, Phil Woods, James Moody, Steve Nelson, Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, Maceo Parker, Wynton Marsalis, and Mark Whitfield, among others. Her own quartet has performed at the Portland Jazz Festival, Jimmy Mak's Jazz Club, Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, and other jazz venues around Portland.  In September 2009 she was selected as the new alto saxophonist for the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenon and Jaleel Shaw, among others.  

Niswanger's June 2009 recording debut as a leader-the self-produced and self-released CD Confeddie-established her throughout North America. The album was reviewed in such leading jazz magazines as Jazz Times and Jazziz and inspired veteran jazz critic Nat Hentoff to profile her in the Wall Street Journal. Confeddie appeared on the Jazz Week Top 50 chart 3 times and was among the top 100 jazz CDs in the country for two months. It features a rhythm section composed of fellow Berklee students Michael Palma on piano, Greg Chaplin on bass, and Mark Whitfield Jr. on drums. 

Niswanger was a featured artist at the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where she won the festival's saxophone competition in 2008.

Niswanger's appearance is presented in collaboration with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. For more information, visit: http://www.berklee.edu/focused/global-jazz

Paulo Stagnaro, a rising percussionist and composer, is quickly establishing both a national and international reputation. Stagnaro has performed with Marcus Miller, Danilo Perez, Paquito D'Rivera, and Gloria Estefan, among many others, and at festivals and venues across the United States including the Newport Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. His band La Timbistica/Berklee Latin Jazz All-Stars appeared at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival. This concert is presented by Harvard Longwood Campus and takes place at Harvard Medical School.

The septet's members are in the inaugural class of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. World-renowned pianist Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Members include Andrew Burglass, Greg Chaplin, Matthew Halpin, Christian Li, Hailey Niswanger, Paulo Stagnaro, and Mark Whitfield Jr.

Andrew Burglass is a guitarist from New Orleans. Originally inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Steve Vai, his musical world was blown up when he discovered jazz as a student at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Burglass graduated from NOCCA and Mandeville High School in 2008, and is currently attending Berklee College of Music on scholarship. Some of his career highlights include performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; the Park City Jazz Festival, in Utah; and the Jazz in Marciac Festival, in France.

Greg Chaplin, 19, is an acoustic bassist from Hopedale, Massachusetts. He has worked with Patti Austin, David Baker, Chris Botti, Billy Childs, Jimmy Cobb, James Moody, McCoy Tyner, and Phil Woods, to name a few, and has also been active on the festival circuit, performing at the Monterey, Newport, and Tri-C Jazz Festivals, and at the Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center. In high school, he participated in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Combo, the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at the Kennedy Center, and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia Park. Chaplin has a deep commitment to public service and is a volunteer at several local charities.

Matthew Halpin is a tenor saxophonist from Dublin, Ireland, currently pursuing a degree in performance and jazz composition at Berklee. In 2009, he was one of only two international recipients of Berklee's full-ride Presidential Scholarship. He has played in many bands as a leader and as a member of renowned large ensembles like RTE National Concert Orchestra, the Dublin City Big Band, and the Riam Big Band. He was a headlining performer at the 2009 Sligo Jazz Project, a festival at which he'd been a student for the two previous years. Halpin has studied with George Garzone, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Branford Marsalis, and Jamie Oehlers. Before coming to Berklee, he studied classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Pianist Christian Li, 19, was born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Horseheads, New York. The recipient of several Down BeatStudent Music Awards, he has performed with Geri Allen, Jack DeJohnette, Fred Hersch, Frank Morgan, Renee Rosnes, and Dave Santoro, among others. He was chosen for the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band in 2006, and for New York's All-State Instrumental Jazz Band in 2006 and 2007. Li has studied at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. He is currently attending Berklee on a full-tuition scholarship, where he is majoring in jazz composition and music synthesis, and taking private lessons with professor JoAnne Brackeen.

Hailey Niswanger has an impressive list of accomplishments that reach far past the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon, and well beyond her years. She has shared stages with Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Red Holloway, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, James Moody, Maceo Parker, McCoy Tyner, Mark Whitfield, Phil Woods, and other jazz greats. Her 2009 debut album Confeddie has been covered in the Wall Street Journal,Jazz Times, and Jazziz, and was on the CMJ Jazz Top 40 chart for 11 consecutive weeks. Last year, Niswanger was selected as the new alto saxophonist in the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenón. Niswanger is currently attending Berklee on a full scholarship, where she is majoring in performance.

Boston native Paulo Stagnaro is a percussionist and composer who has performed with Paquito D'Rivera, Gloria Estefan, Greg Hopkins, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Marcus Miller, Danilo Perez, Mark Turner, Diego Urcola, and others. In 2008, his band La Timbistica won the Down Beat Student Music Award. Stagnaro has played prominent festivals and venues across the globe, including both the Monterey and Newport  Jazz Festivals, IAJE, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the Kimmel Center, and the Blue Note Jazz Club.

Mark Whitfield Jr. is a drummer from Brooklyn. He made his first concert appearance at age two as a guest drummer with his father, guitarist Mark Whitfield, and clarinet legend Alvin Batiste, at the Varsity Theater at Louisiana State University. At four, he appeared with his father's quartet on the Good Morning America 1994 Thanksgiving Day broadcast, and he would continue to perform with his father throughout his early years. Whitfield has opened shows for the likes of Peter Cincotti and Chris Botti, and performed at the Newport, Duke Ellington, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. He is currently on full scholarship at Berklee, where he studies with Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Ralph Peterson.

Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. For more information, visit: http://www.berklee.edu/focused/global-jazz

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) Septet's members are in the inaugural class of the BGJI, a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. World-renowned pianist Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Members include Andrew Burglass, Greg Chaplin, Matthew Halpin, Christian Li, Hailey Niswanger, Paulo Stagnaro, and MarK Whitfield Jr.

Andrew Burglass is a guitarist from New Orleans. Originally inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Steve Vai, his musical world was blown up when he discovered jazz as a student at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Burglass graduated from NOCCA and Mandeville High School in 2008, and is currently attending Berklee College of Music on scholarship. Some of his career highlights include performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; the Park City Jazz Festival, in Utah; and the Jazz in Marciac Festival, in France.

Greg Chaplin, 19, is an acoustic bassist from Hopedale, Massachusetts. He has worked with Patti Austin, David Baker, Chris Botti, Billy Childs, Jimmy Cobb, James Moody, McCoy Tyner, and Phil Woods, to name a few, and has also been active on the festival circuit, performing at the Monterey, Newport, and Tri-C Jazz Festivals, and at the Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center. In high school, he participated in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Combo, the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at the Kennedy Center, and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia Park. Chaplin has a deep commitment to public service and is a volunteer at several local charities.

Matthew Halpin is a tenor saxophonist from Dublin, Ireland, currently pursuing a degree in performance and jazz composition at Berklee. In 2009, he was one of only two international recipients of Berklee's full-ride Presidential Scholarship. He has played in many bands as a leader and as a member of renowned large ensembles like RTE National Concert Orchestra, the Dublin City Big Band, and the Riam Big Band. He was a headlining performer at the 2009 Sligo Jazz Project, a festival at which he'd been a student for the two previous years. Halpin has studied with George Garzone, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Branford Marsalis, and Jamie Oehlers. Before coming to Berklee, he studied classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Pianist Christian Li, 19, was born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Horseheads, New York. The recipient of several Down BeatStudent Music Awards, he has performed with Geri Allen, Jack DeJohnette, Fred Hersch, Frank Morgan, Renee Rosnes, and Dave Santoro, among others. He was chosen for the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band in 2006, and for New York's All-State Instrumental Jazz Band in 2006 and 2007. Li has studied at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. He is currently attending Berklee on a full-tuition scholarship, where he is majoring in jazz composition and music synthesis, and taking private lessons with professor JoAnne Brackeen.

Hailey Niswanger has an impressive list of accomplishments that reach far past the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon, and well beyond her years. She has shared stages with Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Red Holloway, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, James Moody, Maceo Parker, McCoy Tyner, Mark Whitfield, Phil Woods, and other jazz greats. Her 2009 debut album Confeddie has been covered in the Wall Street Journal,Jazz Times, and Jazziz, and was on the CMJ Jazz Top 40 chart for 11 consecutive weeks. Last year, Niswanger was selected as the new alto saxophonist in the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenón. Niswanger is currently attending Berklee on a full scholarship, where she is majoring in performance.

Boston native Paulo Stagnaro is a percussionist and composer who has performed with Paquito D'Rivera, Gloria Estefan, Greg Hopkins, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Marcus Miller, Danilo Perez, Mark Turner, Diego Urcola, and others. In 2008, his band La Timbistica won the Down Beat Student Music Award. Stagnaro has played prominent festivals and venues across the globe, including both the Monterey and Newport  Jazz Festivals, IAJE, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the Kimmel Center, and the Blue Note Jazz Club.

Mark Whitfield Jr. is a drummer from Brooklyn. He made his first concert appearance at age two as a guest drummer with his father, guitarist Mark Whitfield, and clarinet legend Alvin Batiste, at the Varsity Theater at Louisiana State University. At four, he appeared with his father's quartet on the Good Morning America 1994 Thanksgiving Day broadcast, and he would continue to perform with his father throughout his early years. Whitfield has opened shows for the likes of Peter Cincotti and Chris Botti, and performed at the Newport, Duke Ellington, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. He is currently on full scholarship at Berklee, where he studies with Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Ralph Peterson.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) Septet's members are in the inaugural class of the BGJI, a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. World-renowned pianist Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Members include Andrew Burglass, Greg Chaplin, Matthew Halpin, Christian Li, Hailey Niswanger, Paulo Stagnaro, and Mark Whitfield Jr.

Andrew Burglass is a guitarist from New Orleans. Originally inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Steve Vai, his musical world was blown up when he discovered jazz as a student at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Burglass graduated from NOCCA and Mandeville High School in 2008, and is currently attending Berklee College of Music on scholarship. Some of his career highlights include performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; the Park City Jazz Festival, in Utah; and the Jazz in Marciac Festival, in France.

Greg Chaplin, 19, is an acoustic bassist from Hopedale, Massachusetts. He has worked with Patti Austin, David Baker, Chris Botti, Billy Childs, Jimmy Cobb, James Moody, McCoy Tyner, and Phil Woods, to name a few, and has also been active on the festival circuit, performing at the Monterey, Newport, and Tri-C Jazz Festivals, and at the Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center. In high school, he participated in the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Combo, the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz All-Stars, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead at the Kennedy Center, and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia Park. Chaplin has a deep commitment to public service and is a volunteer at several local charities.

Matthew Halpin is a tenor saxophonist from Dublin, Ireland, currently pursuing a degree in performance and jazz composition at Berklee. In 2009, he was one of only two international recipients of Berklee's full-ride Presidential Scholarship. He has played in many bands as a leader and as a member of renowned large ensembles like RTE National Concert Orchestra, the Dublin City Big Band, and the Riam Big Band. He was a headlining performer at the 2009 Sligo Jazz Project, a festival at which he'd been a student for the two previous years. Halpin has studied with George Garzone, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Branford Marsalis, and Jamie Oehlers. Before coming to Berklee, he studied classical music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Pianist Christian Li, 19, was born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Horseheads, New York. The recipient of several Down BeatStudent Music Awards, he has performed with Geri Allen, Jack DeJohnette, Fred Hersch, Frank Morgan, Renee Rosnes, and Dave Santoro, among others. He was chosen for the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band in 2006, and for New York's All-State Instrumental Jazz Band in 2006 and 2007. Li has studied at the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. He is currently attending Berklee on a full-tuition scholarship, where he is majoring in jazz composition and music synthesis, and taking private lessons with professor JoAnne Brackeen.

Hailey Niswanger has an impressive list of accomplishments that reach far past the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon, and well beyond her years. She has shared stages with Dee Dee Bridgewater, George Duke, Red Holloway, Terri Lyne Carrington, Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, James Moody, Maceo Parker, McCoy Tyner, Mark Whitfield, Phil Woods, and other jazz greats. Her 2009 debut album Confeddie has been covered in the Wall Street Journal,Jazz Times, and Jazziz, and was on the CMJ Jazz Top 40 chart for 11 consecutive weeks. Last year, Niswanger was selected as the new alto saxophonist in the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenón. Niswanger is currently attending Berklee on a full scholarship, where she is majoring in performance.

Boston native Paulo Stagnaro is a percussionist and composer who has performed with Paquito D'Rivera, Gloria Estefan, Greg Hopkins, Israel "Cachao" Lopez, Marcus Miller, Danilo Perez, Mark Turner, Diego Urcola, and others. In 2008, his band La Timbistica won the Down Beat Student Music Award. Stagnaro has played prominent festivals and venues across the globe, including both the Monterey and Newport  Jazz Festivals, IAJE, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, the Kimmel Center, and the Blue Note Jazz Club.

Mark Whitfield Jr. is a drummer from Brooklyn. He made his first concert appearance at age two as a guest drummer with his father, guitarist Mark Whitfield, and clarinet legend Alvin Batiste, at the Varsity Theater at Louisiana State University. At four, he appeared with his father's quartet on the Good Morning America 1994 Thanksgiving Day broadcast, and he would continue to perform with his father throughout his early years. Whitfield has opened shows for the likes of Peter Cincotti and Chris Botti, and performed at the Newport, Duke Ellington, and Monterey Jazz Festivals. He is currently on full scholarship at Berklee, where he studies with Hal Crook, Joe Lovano, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Ralph Peterson.

Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. For more information, visit: http://www.berklee.edu/focused/global-jazz

Christian Li is a jazz pianist from Horseheads, New York. He has won several Down Beat magazine Student Music Awards and has attended highly selective programs, including the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. Li was the New York State All-State Instrumental Jazz Band pianist for 2006 and 2007 and the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band Pianist in 2006. 

In 2008, he received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee. There he studies privately with JoAnne Brackeen and Ed Bedner and has had the opportunity of working with Jack DeJohnette, Danilo Perez, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. He has also worked with the Cornell University and Ithaca College big bands, and played solo piano at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Christian Li is a jazz pianist from Horseheads, New York. He has won several Down Beat magazine Student Music Awards and has attended highly selective programs, including the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. Li was the New York State All-State Instrumental Jazz Band pianist for 2006 and 2007 and the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band Pianist in 2006. 

In 2008, he received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee. There he studies privately with JoAnne Brackeen and Ed Bedner and has had the opportunity of working with Jack DeJohnette, Danilo Perez, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. Li has also worked with the Cornell University and Ithaca College big bands, and played solo piano at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

This concert is part of Courtyard Series: Berklee at the Regattabar.

Christian Li is a jazz pianist from Horseheads, New York. He has won several DownBeat Student Music Awards and has attended highly selective programs, including the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. Li was the New York State All-State Instrumental Jazz Band pianist for 2006 and 2007 and the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band Pianist in 2006. 

In 2008, Li received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee. There he studies privately with JoAnne Brackeen and Ed Bedner and has had the opportunity of working with Jack DeJohnette, Danilo Perez, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. Li has also worked with the Cornell University and Ithaca College big bands, and played solo piano at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

This jam session is part of the Detroit Jazz Festival.

Christian Li is a jazz pianist from Horseheads, New York. He has won several DownBeat Student Music Awards and has attended highly selective programs, including the Skidmore Jazz Institute, the Brubeck Institute Summer Jazz Colony, and the Vail Jazz Workshop. Li was the New York State All-State Instrumental Jazz Band pianist for 2006 and 2007 and the New York State Band Directors Association Honors Jazz Band Pianist in 2006. 

In 2008, Li received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee. There he studies privately with JoAnne Brackeen and Ed Bedner and has had the opportunity of working with Jack DeJohnette, Danilo Perez, and Terri Lyne Carrington, among others. Li has also worked with the Cornell University and Ithaca College big bands, and played solo piano at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

Li and his trio will be presenting a clinic from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. in the Pepsi Jazz Talk Tent and performing from 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m. at the Absopure Waterfront Stage. This clinic and concert is part of the Detroit Jazz Festival.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Septet will play at the 53th annual Monterey Jazz Festival, which features live jazz on multiple stages over three days. The group will be laying at the Garden Stage at the festival.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), directed by world-renowned pianist Danilo Perez, is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Danilo Perez serves as its artistic director. Students may pursue a performance degree, diploma, or two-year certificate through the institute.

The BGJI has three main goals: to provide an interdisciplinary music program where students may explore their creativity to the highest level; to explore the social power of music as a tool for the betterment of society; and to connect musical creative thinking with the restoration of nature.

The Monterey Jazz Festival is dedicated to perpetuating the uniquely American form of music known as jazz by producing performances that celebrate the legacy and expand the boundaries of jazz, and by presenting year-round local, regional, national, and international jazz education programs.

Learn more about the BGJI Septet.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of the Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival, WGBH-FM is broadcasting a live recording of a Guest Street Session featuring the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Ensemble.

The band, including some of Berklee's top jazz students, represents more than a dozen countries, as well as multiple musical traditions and genres. Berklee Global Jazz Institute artistic director Danilo Pérez makes a rare appearance performing with the group, and offers a jaw-dropping solo improvisation.

Hosted by Jazz on WGBH's Steve Schwartz, the broadcast, recorded in WGBH's Fraser Performance Studio, may be heard at 89.7 FM and at wgbh.org.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director.

The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment. Though launched less than a year ago, BGJI musicians have already played at a host of major festivals around North America, including the Newport Jazz Festival and the Beaches International Jazz Festival (Toronto). 

Drummer, composer, and Berklee Global Jazz Institute member Nahum Corona from Guadalajara, Mexico presents his recital with some of Berklee's most gifted and expressive musicians. The music will be a compelling array of original compositions as well as some contemporary standards in the jazz and Latin idioms.

This performance features talented students from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI). The BGJI, under the artistic direction of world-renowned pianist Danilo Perez, is a unique focused area of study at the college designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines. Students may pursue a performance degree, diploma, or two-year certificate.

The BGJI has three main goals: to provide an interdisciplinary music program where students may explore their creativity to the highest level; to explore the social power of music as a tool for the betterment of society; and to connect musical creative thinking with the restoration of nature. Learn more about the institute.

A concert celebration of the academic exchange between the Siena Jazz Foundation in Italy and the Berklee Global Jazz Institute. The concert will include students and faculty from both academic institutions.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), under the artistic direction of world-renowned pianist Danilo Pérez, is a unique focused area of study at the college where some of the finest young jazz players in the world concentrate on creativity and musicianship while maintaining an active performance schedule. Wayne Shorter; BGJI faculty members Terri Lyne Carrington, George Garzone, David Gilmore, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, and Pérez; and the BGJI students will play Shorter's music in celebration of his journey.

Can't make it to this concert? Berklee is teaming with Concert Window to broadcast live streams of this and other Berklee shows. Concert Window is dedicated to presenting live music on the web, and is building a network of venues, including the Berklee Performance Center and the legendary Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. Learn more . . . 

National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Wayne Shorter gives a master class with Berklee Global Jazz Institute artistic director Danilo Pérez and BGJI faculty member John Patitucci. The event is part of Berklee's Global Jazz Summit for Humanity and Peace, April 25–27.

National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Wayne Shorter gives a master class with Berklee Global Jazz Institute artistic director Danilo Pérez and BGJI faculty member John Patitucci, who are also members of his quartet. They will discuss  "zero gravity," the concept of music, and the kind of improvisation that the quartet has been been working on for the past 11 years. BGJI students will also perform in concert. The event is free and open to the public and part of Berklee's Global Jazz Summit for Humanity and Peace, April 25-27.

Drummer, composer, and Berklee Global Jazz Institute member Nahum Corona from Guadalajara, Mexico presents his senior recital with some of Berklee's most gifted and expressive musicians. The music will be a compelling array of original compositions as well as some contemporary standards in the jazz and Latin idioms.

Berklee student Hailey Niswanger has an impressive list of accomplishments that reach far beyond the borders of her home in Portland, Oregon and well beyond her years. She has shared the stage with DeeDee Bridgewater, George Duke, George Garzone, Red Holloway, Terell Stafford, Phil Woods, James Moody, Steve Nelson, Christian McBride, McCoy Tyner, Maceo Parker, Wynton Marsalis, Mark Whitfield, and other jazz greats. She leads her own quartet, which has performed at the Portland Jazz Festival, Jimmy Mak's Jazz Club, Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, and other jazz venues around Portland.  In September 2009, she was selected as the new alto saxophonist in the internationally acclaimed big band the Either/Orchestra, occupying the chair previously held by Miguel Zenon and Jaleel Shaw, among others.

Niswanger's June 2009 recording debut as a leader—the self-produced and self-released CD Confeddie—was promoted to both U.S. and Canadian press and radio, establishing her throughout North America. The album was reviewed in such leading jazz magazines as JazzTimes and Jazziz and inspired veteran jazz critic Nat Hentoff to profile her in the Wall Street Journal. It was programmed on more than 100 radio stations in North America and was on the CMJ (College Music Journal) Jazz Top-40 chart for 11 consecutive weeks, four in the top-10 and three in the top-5—including two weeks at its peak position of No. 4 and was the No. 1 jazz add during its add week. Confeddie also appeared on the JazzWeek Top-50 chart three times and was among the top 100 jazz CDs in the country for two months.

Grammy Award–winner Danilo Pérez is among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time. In just over a decade, his distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz (covering the music of the Americas, folkloric and world music) has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences. Pérez's abundant talents and joyous enthusiasm make his concerts both memorable and inspiring.

Whether leading his own ensembles or touring with renowned jazz masters (Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Steve Lacy), Pérez is making a decidedly fresh imprint on contemporary music, guided, as always, by his love for jazz. Currently he serves as artistic director of the Panama Jazz Festival, artistic advisor of the innovative Mellon Jazz Up Close series at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and artistic director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute.

Pérez will be playing two shows, one at 8:00 p.m. and one at 10:00 p.m.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) Concert Series and Jam is a quarterly open musical forum for the BGJI ensembles to present their newer compositions on campus. Tonight:

BGJI Orange Ensemble

Zach Brown—bass
Roberto Giaquinto—drums
Zach Giberson—alto/tenor/bari sax
Clay Lyons—alto sax
Zayn Mohammed—guitar

BGJI Red Ensemble

Zach Brown—bass
Roberto Giaquinto—drums
Matt Halpin—tenor sax
Alex Hargreaves—violin
Christian Li—piano
Hailey Niswanger—alto sax

Joe Lovano is a Grammy-winning saxophonist, composer, and arranger. In 2010, he earned the "triple crown" distinction from Down Beat magazine, rating tops in the annual critics poll for best jazz artist overall, best tenor saxophonist, and best band. Lovano was named Jazz Artist of the Year in both 1995 and 1996 by Down Beat, and scored a prestigious trifecta in 1998: Musician of the Year, Improviser of the Year, and Best Tenor Saxophonist in the New York Jazz Awards. He also topped both the Down Beat readers and critics polls as Tenor Player of the Year in 2000.

Lovano attended Berklee in the early 1970s and received an honorary doctor of music degree from the college in 1998. In the fall of 2001 he began a prestigious teaching residency in the Berklee Ensemble Department, known as the Gary Burton Chair in Jazz Performance. Since joining the Berklee faculty, the Blue Note artist has released eight albums as a leader and appeared on dozens of other recordings. He has collaborated with many legendary musicians, including McCoy Tyner, Hank Jones, Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, Branford Marsalis, Jim Hall, and Paul Motian.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.

Alto saxophone player Hailey Niswangwer presents a concert of original music, written and inspired during the course of study at Berklee.

Loren Schoenberg, director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem will be presenting the Savory Recordings—recently discovered live performances of Count Basie, Lester Young, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Fats Waller, and others at the absolute peak of their creative powers.

These live recordings are extended performances in high fidelity. Schoenberg, a scholar and musician, will discuss the genesis and history of these priceless performances. Come out and hear music made by true masters. 

Co-sponsored by Berklee’s American Roots Music Program and Global Jazz Institute.  

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is proud to present this series of concerts featuring some of world's most talented emerging artists. Each of these concerts will be dedicated to the music of the artist in residence the group is working with at that time. Tonight's program will feature Terri Lyne Carrington and her music.

Drummer, composer, and producer Terri Lyne Carrington gained recognition on late night TV in the late '80s as the house drummer for the Arsenio Hall Show, then again in the '90s as the drummer on the Quincy Jones late night TV show VIBE, hosted by Sinbad. In 1989, Carrington released a Grammy-nominated debut CD entitled Real Life Story, which featured Carlos Santana, Grover Washington Jr., Dianne Reeves, Wayne Shorter, and Patrice Rushen, among others. Her production collaborations with artists such as Gino Vannelli, Peabo Bryson, Dianne Reeves, Siedah Garrett, and Marilyn Scott have produced notable works as well, including a special song commissioned for the 1996 Olympic Games, "Always Reach for Your Dreams." After an extensive touring career of over 20 years with luminaries like Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Stan Getz, David Sanborn, Cassandra Wilson, Clark Terry, and more, she recently returned to her hometown, where she was appointed professor in the Percussion Department at her alma mater, Berklee College of Music.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment. This concert will feature BGJI ensembles, faculty, and special guests.

This year, the BGJI Summit will focus on the creative outlook of the institute: global jazz with roots in folkloric music and interdisciplinary facets. The BGJI students and their music will be the centerpiece of the show, in the framework of their recent educational and musical experience in Panama. The lineup of BGJI faculty and BGJI artists in residence will support and complement the work of our talented students in this exciting musical journey.

Featured artists for the BGJI Summit includes:Danilo Pérez (piano); Dave Liebman (saxophone); Joe Lovano (saxophone; Terri Lyne Carrington (drums); John Patitucci (bass); George Garzone (saxophone); David Gilmore (guitar); Marco Pignataro (saxophone.

The BGJI Green and Red ensembles will also perform. The Green Ensemble features: Zach Giberson (tenor saxophone); Lihi Haruvi (alto saxophone); Alex Hargraves (violin); Caili O'Doherty (piano); Spencer Stewart (bass); Isaac Haselkorn (drums); and Segio Martinez (percussion). The Red Ensemble features: Edmar Colon and Tom Wilson (tenor saxophone); Clay Lyons (alto saxophone); Roberto Giaquinto (drums); Zach Brown (bass); Sharik Hasan (piano); Sofia Rubino (voice); and Joseph Manzoli (guitar).

Panamanian master percussionist Ricaurte Villareal and the Tambores de Panama will also join the students and faculty for this event and resume the teachings and musical collaboration initiated at the Panama Jazz Festival 2012.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is proud to present a series of concerts featuring some of world's most talented emerging artists. This program features the music of Antonio Sanchez.

Three time Grammy Award-winner Antonio Sanchez is considered by many critics and musicians to be one of the most prominent drummers of his generation. Born in Mexico City, he started playing drums at the age of 5 and began performing professionally early in his teens. He pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico and in 1993 he moved to Boston to enroll at Berklee College of Music.

Since his move to New York City, Sanchez has become one of the most sought after drummers in the international jazz scene. He has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz including Pat Metheny (he's a member of the Pat Metheny Group and the Pat Metheny Trio with Christian McBride), Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Charlie Haden, Gary Burton, and Toots Thielmans.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive, contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment.   

April 30 has been named World Jazz Day by UNESCO, and an entire day of events, led by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock, is planned.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Sextet will perform at UNESCO World Headquarters, in the Miro Halls, on April 27.  The day's events will be carried live by TSF Jazz Radio.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is proud to present this series of concerts featuring some of world's most talented emerging artists. Each of these concerts will be dedicated to the music of the artist in residence they are working with at that time. Tonight's program will be feature Danilo Pérez and his music.

The Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) is a performance program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through various musical disciplines, with pianist and composer Danilo Pérez as its artistic director. The BGJI provides a comprehensive contemporary music environment where students are given opportunities to explore their creativity to the highest level possible, advance the power of music as a tool for the betterment of society, and connect musical creative thinking with the natural environment. 

The Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Danilo Pérez is among the most influential and dynamic musicians of our time. In just over a decade, his distinctive blend of Pan-American jazz, covering the music of the Americas, folkloric, and world music, has attracted critical acclaim and loyal audiences. Whether leading his own ensembles or touring with renowned jazz masters (Wayne Shorter, Roy Haynes, Steve Lacy), Pérez is making a decidedly fresh imprint on contemporary music, guided, as always, by his love for jazz. Born in Panama in 1965, Pérez went to Berklee in the 1980s and has led his own groups since the early 1990s. As a bandleader, he has earned three Grammy nominations for his ebullient and innovative recordings. Pérez serves as the ambassador of goodwill for Unicef, cultural ambassador of Panama, president and founder of the Panama Jazz Festival, and a faculty member at Berklee College of Music. He has worked as a music educator for more than 20 years.

Sergio Martinez was born in Madrid, Spain, he grew up in a very musical family and started playing percussion at age 15, studied with Paco de Lucia's percussionist Rubem Dantas, and afrolatin percussion with Rogerio da Souza and Luisito Dulzaides. Soon after, he added courses in Hindu percussion with Ramesh Sotham and studied percussion and drumset in el Taller de Musicos becoming part of the Latin Jazz Big Band conducted by Cuban guitarist Kotan. He soon developed an interest in Flamenco music and started his professional career at age 19 accompanying top Flamenco artist touring and playing in some of the most important theatres: Paris Opera, Sydney Opera House, or Teatro de Real Madrid to name a few.

Combining a flamenco music dedication with learning other styles of music and its rhythms and percussions, Martinez started becoming a very versatile percussionist who developed his voice as a sideman for many bands, as a studio recording musician and also as a leader.

During this process Martinez has recorded for artists such as Enrique Morente, Jose Merce, Diego el CIgala, Jorge Pardo among many others; accompanying some of the most important dancers like Joaquin Cortes, Antonio Canales, or Rocio Molina in flamenco; participating in some of the most important flamenco, jazz, and world music festivals; and touring all around the world in places like Montreal Jazz, Monterey Jazz, Panama Jazz, and Womad in Adelaide.

He decided to audition for and won a scholarship to Berklee and in September 2010, he began studies with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, whose artistic director is the celebrated Panamanian jazz pianist and composer Danilo Perez.

Martinez's knowledge in flamenco tradition has taken him to record for singers like Paul Simon, and has played and recorded with some important jazz musicians like Dave Liebman, Jeff Ballard, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrinton, and Jamey Haddad.

Sharik Hasan started his tryst with the piano at the age of 5 and by 16, had completed the curriculum of the Royal School of Music, London. He then went to the United States to attend Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.  

In 2007, Hasan moved to Paris for two years to study at the Bill Evans Piano Academy where the young pianist integrated quickly into the jazz scene, playing in international festivals with his trio. He was subsequently awarded a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where he was selected to be part of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute under the tutelage of Danilo Pérez. He has performed at venues all over the world including the Blue Note (New York), Panama Jazz Festival, and Nancy Jazz Festival (France).

Starting in the fall of 2012, Sharik Hasan will pursue a master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music on scholarship.