Gianni Bardaro

Gianni Bardaro saxophonist, composer, arranger and sound therapist, received the prestigious Latin Grammy in 2019, as solo saxophonist in the album 'Andres Cepeda Big Band' published by Sony Music.
A musician with an international profile, he has lived between Italy, Denmark and Colombia. His versatility combined with the unique timbre of his instrumental voice, described by specialized critics as poetic and captivating, have attracted the attention of the international press.

He has 6 recordings under his belt, the last 3 signed by the prestigious record label Universal Music Group (UMG): Next Stop recorded in Italy and published by the prestigious US record label Verve Records; Unfolding Routes recorded in Copenhagen (Denmark) and Soul Blueprint recorded in New York (USA) with the participation of the legendary trumpeter Randy Brecker. All three albums received the Jazzit Award-100 Greatest Albums, consecutively in 2012, 2013 and 2016.
Thanks to his father Benedetto, an amateur drummer, he came into contact with the local music scene at a very young age and was 'struck' by the sound of the alto saxophone. At the age of 8 he briefly studied music theory and piano. He then resumed studying music at the age of 11, inspired by the alto saxophone. Two years later he is already very active on a professional level in the local scene. With Maestro Carmine Saveriano he discovered the language of be-bop by listening to some records by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. At just 13 years old he became so passionate about jazz that he defined it as "an irreversible love". An artist with an academic background, he officially began his classical and jazz studies at the age of 15 with Maestro Mauro Zazzarini at the 'O. Respighi 'of Latina, where he graduated with honors in Saxophone. Subsequently he graduated with top marks in Jazz Music with Maestro Bruno Tommaso at the 'S. Conservatory. Pietro a Majella' of Naples. He also completed a year of specialization in jazz improvisation, composition and arranging at the 'Conservatory of Rhythmic Music' in Copenhagen (DK).

He attended seminars and masterclasses held by: Bob Mover, Maurizio Gianmarco, Danilo Rea, Fabrizio Sferra, Giovanni Tommaso, Jesper Bodilsen, Lars Møller, Morten Lund, Agostino di Giorgio, Cesar López (Irakere) Alvaro Collado (Los Van Van). He attended the following courses: International Advanced Course (Saxophone) at the Academy of Arts Symphonic Institution of Rome; Jazz course at the Roman Jazz Academy; Cuban Music Week Seminar at RMC in Copenhagen.

In 1999 he participated in the Baronissi national jazz music competition, obtaining 1st place in the young talent category and in 2000 obtaining 2nd place in the professional category. In 2001 he participated in the GAI 'Association of Young Italian Artists' competition, winning a scholarship to the 'Conservatory of Rhythmic Music' in Copenhagen. In 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2013 he won scholarships for the production of his albums from the DJBFA, Association of Danish Composers. In Colombia he won the Bibliored-Idartes district competition in 2014 with the Gianni Bardaro project The Joint Project. In 2018 and 2019 he won the national IDARTES competition, for first place in Big Band Bogotá, where he was then also invited as guest composer and arranger in 2019.​

Throughout his career he has been invited to play in recognized jazz clubs and international festivals in the following countries: Bulgaria, Cuba, Colombia, Denmark, India, Italy, Latvia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Santo Domingo, Spain, Sweden and Swiss. Some festivals are mentioned: Aarhus International Jazz Festival, Ajazzgo Festival, Festival Internacional Barranquijazz, Balticness Jazz Festival, Beat Onto Jazz Festival, Boquete Jazz Festival, Cartagena Festival Internacional de Musica, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Winter Jazz Festival, En Clave De Jazz Festival , Festival de Jazz y Música del Mundo Manizales, Festival Estéreo Picnic, Festival Internacional de Jazz del Teatro Libre, Festival Internacional de Piano UIS, Festival Internacional de Jazz de Los Andes, Festival Internacional Suoni Intorno al Monte, Festival Vive Italia Parque de la 93 , Goa Jazz Festival, III Encuentro Capital De Jazz Bogota, Jazz Al Parque, Jazz Capital Festival Universidad Javeriana, Jazz in Campo Festival, Jazzflirt Festival, Medejazz Festival, Napoli Jazz Festival, Orsara Jazz Festival, Pomigliano Jazz, Sinú Jazz Festival, Spoleto 53rd Festival of 2 Worlds, Targu Mures Open Jazz Festival, XXI Festival De Cine Curtas Villa du Conde, Ærø Jazz Festival, Vinter Jazz Festival Hillerød.

His teaching activity is also intense, with over 25 years of private teaching, to which are added 8 years of music teaching at the AOF Metropol in Copenhagen and numerous seminars/workshops at the following Colombian universities: Universidad De los Andes, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Universidad Industrial UIS, Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. He was an international juror invited to the Bass en Vivo Competition of the Berklee Latino College of Music and the International Piano Competition of the UIS University.

In 2012 he trained as a Sound Therapist in Spain, obtaining certification from the International Association of Sonotherapy. With his Intentional Sounds project, he has been invited to various countries to hold seminars, conferences and hold meditative concerts, with the aim of sharing and disseminating scientific and at the same time ancestral knowledge on the beneficial properties of therapeutic sound.

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Collaborations: Randy Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, Phil Woods, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, Oscar Stagnaro, Edy Martinez, Samuel Torres, Adrián Herrera, Agostino di Giorgio, Aldo Bassi, Andrés Cepeda, Antonio Arnedo, Bernard Maseli, Bill Molenhof, Bob Mover, Bruno Tommaso, Cristiano Arcelli, David Goloshekin, Deniss Pashkevich, Deniss Pashkevich, Enzo Avitabile, Erling Wicklund, Flora Martinez, Francesco Villani, Gabriel Guerrero, Jan Freicher, Jason Lindner, Javier Girotto, Jesper Bodilsen, Jolanta Gulbe, Jukka Eskola, Karl-Martin Almqvist, Kike Purizaga, Lamy Istrefi, Lars Møller, Liudas Mockunas, Maria Pia De Vito, Mario Raia, Massimo Morganti, Neff Irizarry, Nanpa Basico, Niclas Campagnol, Oscar Acevedo, Pierluigi Villani, Pietro Condorelli, Pietro Iodice, Pino Iodice, Pippo Matino, Roberto de Simone, Salomon Beda, Salvatore Tranquini, Sebastian Studnitzky, Seth Sharp, Sofia Rubina, Tico Arnedo, Ulf Adåker, Villu Veski. Andres Cepeda Big Band, Big Band Bogotá, Big Band Colombia, Carrera Quinta Big Band, Los Petite Fellas Big Band, ONJ Neapolitan Jazz Orchestra, Orient West Choir, Plutarkamon Big Band, South People.