LIVIO MINAFRA (ITA)
Stage: Union Hall
Time: 01.07.2006 at 20.30
Music: MP3
Born in 1982, LIVIO MINAFRA, took part in a workshop on Drums and Percussion with Vladimir Tarasov Already at the early age of nine. One year later, he began studying piano with Professor Francesco de Santis. He graduated in October 2004 at the "Niccolò Piccinni" Conservatory in Bari after completing his studies with Professor Valfrido Ferrari.
Since 2001 he has been a member of his father's sextet, the Pino Minafra Sud Ensemble, both as a pianist and as a composer. With this ensemble he has played extensively in Italy, Germany, Japan, France, Holland, Spain, Austria and Macedonia.
On the National Music Day 2001 in Paris, in the courtyard of the Royal Palace, a composition of his, "Pinocchio", was performed by the Banlieues Blues Brass Band of Paris, which on that occasion was conducted by Michel Godard and Dave Bergeron.
In 2002 he and his father Pino wrote and performed some music compositions inspired by the character of the famous puppet Pinocchio; such piece of work had been commissioned by the American choreographer Karole Armitage (who also worked as a choreographer in the videos of the superstar Madonna) for the Dutch theatre company Introdans.
In 2003 he joined Canto General, a music ensemble including V.Curci, N.Pisani, R.Ottaviano, P.Minafra, F.Mezzina and V.Mazzone and whose name was inspired by Pablo Neruda's epic poem. Since its birth this ensemble has been committed to taking part in political and trade union demonstrations, peace demonstrations and any other events related to social and civil issues (Father A.Zanotelli and the Combonian Missionaries, Gay Pride 2003, Gravina-Altamura Peace March 2003, Marzabotto, etc.). With Canto General, in a project dedicated to South Africa, he also performed at the "Notti di
Stelle" Festival in Bari as well as the Talos Festival in Ruvo di Puglia, joined on this last occasion by Louis Moholo and Keith and Julie Tippett.
In the same year, though turning his hands to the accordion, he took part in the Municipale Balcanica from Terlizzi, a music ensemble that has given about a hundred performances all over Italy so far (over a span of only one year and a half).
His first CD, "La dolcezza del Grido ¬ Crying with Tenderness", a piano solo recording of all original compositions, was released in 2003 by Leo Records, the prestigious record label based in London and producing "Music for the Inquiring Mind and the Passionate Heart". This piece of work has already received wide recognition. Just to make a few examples, this recording was chosen by the American journalist Steve Koenig for jazzhouse.org among the top ten CDs of 2003; it was recommended by the Slovenian journalist Bogdan Benigar as one of the best CDs for students to the local Student Radio Station in Lubijana; it was placed by the Greek Tzaz Magazine among the top ten CDs of 2004 in its annual referendum.
Now two new CDs have been released: "Terronia", the new CD of Pino Minafra's Sud Ensemble (with the female choir "Faraualla", the poet Vittorino Curci and the Meridiana Multijazz Orchestra as guests), produced by the German recording label Enja, and "Fòua", the first CD of the Municipale Balcanica.
He has also performed and plyed with Mario Schiano, Lucilla Galeazzi, Michele Lomuto, etc.
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