Surprise - CD

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Born in 1982 near Bari in Southern Italy, <span data-scayt_word="Livio" data-scaytid="1">Livio</span> <span data-scayt_word="Minafra" data-scaytid="4">Minafra</span> began studying the piano with Professor Francesco de <span data-scayt_word="Santis" data-scaytid="7">Santis</span> at age 10. In 2004 he graduated from the <span data-scayt_word="“Niccolò" data-scaytid="8">"Niccolò</span> <span data-scayt_word="Piccinni”" data-scaytid="9">Piccinni"</span> Conservatory in Bari after completing his studies and three years later also earned a diploma in jazz (with a thesis on Cecil Taylor). The son of jazz trumpeter <span data-scayt_word="Pino" data-scaytid="10">Pino</span> <span data-scayt_word="Minafra" data-scaytid="5">Minafra</span> and excellent harpsichordist <span data-scayt_word="Margherita" data-scaytid="11">Margherita</span> <span data-scayt_word="Porfido" data-scaytid="12">Porfido</span>, <span data-scayt_word="Livio" data-scaytid="2">Livio</span> is a playing and composing member of several outstanding bands such as <span data-scayt_word="Sud" data-scaytid="13">Sud</span> Ensemble, Canto General, <span data-scayt_word="Municipale" data-scaytid="15">Municipale</span> <span data-scayt_word="Balcanica" data-scaytid="16">Balcanica</span> and <span data-scayt_word="MinAfric" data-scaytid="17">MinAfric</span> Orchestra and has performed with them extensively in Italy, Germany, Japan, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Portugal and other countries. The <span data-scayt_word="Sud" data-scaytid="14">Sud</span> Ensemble won <span data-scayt_word="MUSICA" data-scaytid="18">MUSICA</span> JAZZ's "Top Jazz 2005 " -- for the "best band " and the "best CD " (<span data-scayt_word="Terronia" data-scaytid="19">Terronia</span>, <span data-scayt_word="ENJA" data-scaytid="20">ENJA</span> Records) --, while Canto General was awarded for the "best CD in 2007 " (Viva La Black, <span data-scayt_word="Ogun" data-scaytid="21">Ogun</span> Records) by <span data-scayt_word="Música" data-scaytid="22">Música</span> e <span data-scayt_word="Dischi" data-scaytid="23">Dischi</span>.<br /> <br /> <span data-scayt_word="Livio" data-scaytid="3">Livio</span> <span data-scayt_word="Minafra" data-scaytid="6">Minafra</span>, after various solo concerts in the recent two years, has now formed his quartet with <span data-scayt_word="Domenico" data-scaytid="24">Domenico</span> <span data-scayt_word="Caliri" data-scaytid="25">Caliri</span> on electric guitar, <span data-scayt_word="Gaetano" data-scaytid="26">Gaetano</span> <span data-scayt_word="Partipilo" data-scaytid="27">Partipilo</span> on alto sax and <span data-scayt_word="Maurizio" data-scaytid="28">Maurizio</span> <span data-scayt_word="Lampugnani" data-scaytid="29">Lampugnani</span> on drums and percussion. <span data-scayt_word="Minafra’s" data-scaytid="30">Minafra's</span> themes are joyful, and playful, and in his music today there are strong references to some progressive rock, as in Surprise and also to <span data-scayt_word="Uzbek" data-scaytid="31">Uzbek</span> songs exploring Balkan rhythms. He also uses the voice, the whistle, and a keyboard, to add color to his imaginative music world, which maintains a constant background brightness.<br />