Felix Peikli Quartet Headed to Oslo, June 19–26

The student group, led by rising Norwegian jazz clarinetist Felix Peikli, will appear on TV 2's God Morgen Norge and perform at the U.S. Embassy.
June 5, 2011

The Felix Peikli Quartet, led by Norwegian jazz clarinetist and Berklee student Felix Peikli, are headed to Oslo, Norway from June 19 to 26. Their schedule includes performances at Teaterkjeller'n, June 19; TV 2's God Morgen Norge, June 20; the Rica Hotel Jazz Jam, June 20 to 22; and the United States Embassy, June 22. The tour concludes at Valdres Sommersymfoni with a master class on June 24 and concerts on June 25 and 26. Peikli's quartet is comprised of fellow Berklee scholarship students Christian Li (piano), Justin Richey (bass), and Adam Arruda (drums).

Felix Peikli is a rising star on the international jazz scene. He made a splash at home as the youngest-ever recipient of the Capital of Norway Honors Prize and as the winner of the National Dream Prize in 2005. Last year, he led his quintet in a performance at the Oslo Jazz Festival. His unique style, which blends jazz improvisation with folk music from all over the world, has drawn attention beyond the borders of Norway, playing at festivals and venues throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, and Panama. 

Since being awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee in 2007, he has studied with Terri Lyne Carrington, Hal Crook, Eddie Gomez, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, John Patitucci, Ralph Peterson Jr., Danilo Perez, Ben Street, and other renowned musicians. In 2010, he was one of 18 students selected for the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, the college's prestigious center for musical creativity. His composition "Eternal Flame" was recently featured on Octave, the new album from Berklee's student-run label Jazz Revelation Records. 

Prior to enrolling at Berklee, he studied at Barratt Due Institute of Music from 2004 to 2008. He found his way into music through the local marching band at 8. Two years later, inspired by a Benny Goodman recording he received from his grandfather, he played his first gig: a jam session at the 2002 Oslo Jazz Festival. Too young to enter the festival, he and his mother argued their way in.