Zurich Jam Session 3-24
Opening act: Bardia Charaf (saxophone), Alessandro Pittini (guitar), Mischa Frey (double bass), Maxime Paratte (drums)
L200, Langstrasse 200, 8005 Zurich, Switzerland | 28 April 2024 | 18:00 to 21:00 h
Lineup:
Alessandro Pittini
Alessandro Pittini, a Swiss guitarist of Italian descent, pursued studies at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) with a specialisation in jazz/pop under the guidance of Chris Wiesendanger, classical guitar with Markus Hochuli, and Indian classical music with Ken Zuckerman. He has performed with several groups including Bardia Charaf Group, Yumi Ito Trio, Yuri Goloubev Trio, Philipp Eden Quintet, and as a duo alongside Chris Wiesendanger. Being passionate about flamenco, he relocated to Madrid in 2017, delving deep into the genre. Since 2022 he has been teaching at Alato Music School while continuing to perform with various bands and duos.
Bardia Charaf
Bardia Charaf, a versatile Swiss composer and multi-instrumentalist, grew up in a musically rich environment where he was exposed to various traditions including classical European, Persian, and popular music. He began his musical journey at the age of six with the recorder, later mastering the saxophone, clarinet, and piano. After studying classical and jazz saxophone in Havana, Cuba, he pursued a Master's in Composition/Theory at the Bern University of the Arts. Alongside his formal education, he delved into historical composition and Persian music. Charaf is acclaimed for his compositions for both historical and modern ensembles, collaborating notably with Ensemble Ad Fontes. He has served as Composer-in-Residence for prestigious festivals and is recognized for his diverse repertoire spanning solo, chamber, and symphonic works. Charaf is also a dedicated educator, conducting masterclasses internationally and teaching piano. Additionally, he has been involved in choir direction and festival planning at the Herz Jesu Church in Zurich. His performances as an instrumentalist, composer, and conductor have graced numerous national and international festivals.
Mischa Frey
Mischa Frey, born in 1991 in Baden, Switzerland, initially began his musical journey with the guitar and electric bass before gravitating towards the double bass during his time in high school. His formal education in jazz double bass commenced in 2012 at ZHdK, where he studied under the tutelage of prominent instructors such as Dominique Girod, Christian Weber, Rätus Fleisch, and Chris Wiesendanger. As a versatile musician, Mischa Frey is actively engaged as a freelance electric and double bassist across a diverse range of projects and ensembles. Notable collaborations include the Konrad Bogen Trio, Twilt, Gnome, Sad Pumpkins, Caroline Ferrara Quartet, Alice Paroissienne, and many more. His musical style transcends genres, encompassing free jazz, salsa, pop, traditional, and contemporary jazz, with a particular emphasis on the latter. In addition to his ensemble work, Frey occasionally lends his talents to recordings for film and theater and participates in impromptu jazz sessions.
Maxime Paratte
Born in 1987 in Biel, Switzerland, he completed his Master of Arts in Jazz Drumming at the Zurich University of the Arts in 2011 after earning a Bachelor's degree in Sound Engineering. Alongside receiving his degree with honors, he was also honored for his remarkable educational achievements with the Werner and Berti Alter Foundation Award. He is actively engaged in concert performances both domestically and internationally. He won the Swiss Drummer Competition in Altishofen (CH) in 2001 and 2009. He serves as a sideman in various musical genres and was a co-founder of the recording project "Cool Island" in 2013. Additionally, he works as a sound engineer in the field of improvised music. His concert activities include performances at venues such as Montreux (CH), Unerhört (CH), The Secret Garden Party (UK), Blue Balls (CH), Jazz no Jazz (CH), Waves Central Europe (A), The Great Escape (UK), Eurosonic (NL), SNFCC (G), and SUNS Europe (I). Furthermore, he has toured in Portugal, Germany, Austria, Greece, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Russia. As a co-leader, he has been involved in various projects such as Enigma, Your Eyes!, Blue Bolero, Bird!, and Uto Paradise. Currently, he is actively performing as a dedicated sideman with The Sad Pumpkins, Ursina, and Silent Neighbour.