Renzo Spiteri
Encyclopedia
Multi-percussionist Renzo Spiteri is a versatile solo artiste and session musician who creates "a sheer mesmerising atmosphere whenever he performs" (EM, The Sunday Times of Malta).
Throughout the years Spiteri has been committed to using the universal language of music to bring different cultures together. He participates extensively in cross-cultural music exchanges and collaborations that have resulted in performances with various artistes from across the globe, including Mercan Dede
(Turkey), N'faly Kouyaté
(Rep. of Guinea), Mousse Ndaiye (Senegal), Trilok Gurtu (India), Joji Hirota (Japan), Yelemba D’Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Nitin Shankar (India) and Dan Moore(USA).
From jazz to classical, from solo percussion performances to fusion, contemporary and world music, his performances and collaborations have been described in a review as alluring and intriguing ... [giving] a very good idea of Renzo's mastering of the percussion and his ways and means to adapt to different styles (From “A new waterfront experience”, Eric Montfort, The Sunday Times of Malta: July 30, 2006).
Recent engagements include Intersections: The Art of Duo (January 2007) which will also be presented during PASIC 2007, performances during the Sori-WOMAD Festival 2006 (Jeonju
, Rep. Korea), the vibrant all-percussion performance in collaboration with percussion players from the China Conservatory of Music (Beijing) (presented in Beijing and during the Malta Jazz Festival 2006), Ghadames
Festival of the Desert, Sounds Unlimited performed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005 in Malta (presented by The British Council
), and Re:Public, in collaboration with Maltese installation artist Vince Briffa, selected as closing event during Cork
2005 - European Cultural Capital 2005.
In his relentless search into more contemporary presentations of percussive music, Spiteri uses the stage as a meeting point for traditional instruments and recycled materials that he categorises as “raw materials”. Metal sheets, wooden boxes, paper, oil tanks, cans have all merged into his music and live performances – from his outstanding “2000 RHYTHMS” (commissioned by the Maltese government as part of the country's official celebrations of the New Millennium) to his energy-packed performances presented with his ¡JunkFunk! Percussion Band.
Meanwhile, he continues to perform with his Latin Jazz Quintet, that includes some of Malta’s finest jazz musicians, and regularly holds drum circle workshops in djembe playing, open to people from all walks of life. He is the musical director and drummer/percussionist of the Maltese folk band Walter Micallef
u l-Ħbieb, and works very closely with Contact Dance Company (Malta), writing music and performing live on stage with the company in Malta and across Europe.
His solo album entitled This is my language (2005) is a collection of sketches using traditional as well as unconventional percussive instruments, and is described by the artiste as a personal statement, an inner voyage […] like an abstract painting, there to be perceived by every individual.
Renzo and his music have been featured on MTV
music channel and BBC
radio stations, and as featured music in art exhibitions in Malta, Florence
and Tokyo
. He has earned international endorsements from world leading companies Toca Percussion, Paiste Cymbals and Gibraltar Hardware and is supported by Yamaha Drums and Olimpus Music (Malta).
Renzo’s official website is available at www.renzospiteri.com
Artiste management: Musiconnect (Malta)
Throughout the years Spiteri has been committed to using the universal language of music to bring different cultures together. He participates extensively in cross-cultural music exchanges and collaborations that have resulted in performances with various artistes from across the globe, including Mercan Dede
Mercan Dede
Mercan Dede , also known as DJ Arkin Allen, is a Turkish composer, ney and bendir player, DJ and producer. He divides his time between Turkey, Europe and North America...
(Turkey), N'faly Kouyaté
N'Faly Kouyate
N'Faly Kouyate is a Guinean musician. He is a member of the Mandinka ethnic group of West Africa. His father was the griot Konkoba Kabinet Kouyate, who lived in Siguiri, Guinea....
(Rep. of Guinea), Mousse Ndaiye (Senegal), Trilok Gurtu (India), Joji Hirota (Japan), Yelemba D’Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Nitin Shankar (India) and Dan Moore(USA).
From jazz to classical, from solo percussion performances to fusion, contemporary and world music, his performances and collaborations have been described in a review as alluring and intriguing ... [giving] a very good idea of Renzo's mastering of the percussion and his ways and means to adapt to different styles (From “A new waterfront experience”, Eric Montfort, The Sunday Times of Malta: July 30, 2006).
Recent engagements include Intersections: The Art of Duo (January 2007) which will also be presented during PASIC 2007, performances during the Sori-WOMAD Festival 2006 (Jeonju
Jeonju
Jeonju is a city in South Korea, and the capital of Jeollabuk-do, or North Jeolla Province. It is an important tourist center famous for Korean food, historic buildings, sports activities and innovative festivals.- History :...
, Rep. Korea), the vibrant all-percussion performance in collaboration with percussion players from the China Conservatory of Music (Beijing) (presented in Beijing and during the Malta Jazz Festival 2006), Ghadames
Ghadames
Ghadames or Ghadamis is an oasis town in the Nalut District of the Fezzan region in southwestern Libya.-Geography:Ghadames lies roughly to the southwest of Tripoli, near the borders with Algeria and Tunisia. Ghadames borders Illizi Province, Algeria and Tataouine Governorate, Tunisia.The oasis...
Festival of the Desert, Sounds Unlimited performed during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2005 in Malta (presented by The British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
), and Re:Public, in collaboration with Maltese installation artist Vince Briffa, selected as closing event during Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
2005 - European Cultural Capital 2005.
In his relentless search into more contemporary presentations of percussive music, Spiteri uses the stage as a meeting point for traditional instruments and recycled materials that he categorises as “raw materials”. Metal sheets, wooden boxes, paper, oil tanks, cans have all merged into his music and live performances – from his outstanding “2000 RHYTHMS” (commissioned by the Maltese government as part of the country's official celebrations of the New Millennium) to his energy-packed performances presented with his ¡JunkFunk! Percussion Band.
Meanwhile, he continues to perform with his Latin Jazz Quintet, that includes some of Malta’s finest jazz musicians, and regularly holds drum circle workshops in djembe playing, open to people from all walks of life. He is the musical director and drummer/percussionist of the Maltese folk band Walter Micallef
Walter Micallef
Walter Micallef is a leading Maltese singer songwriter, born in the central Maltese town of Birkirkara. He has composed well over a hundred songs, nearly all in Maltese.-Childhood:...
u l-Ħbieb, and works very closely with Contact Dance Company (Malta), writing music and performing live on stage with the company in Malta and across Europe.
His solo album entitled This is my language (2005) is a collection of sketches using traditional as well as unconventional percussive instruments, and is described by the artiste as a personal statement, an inner voyage […] like an abstract painting, there to be perceived by every individual.
Renzo and his music have been featured on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
music channel and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio stations, and as featured music in art exhibitions in Malta, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He has earned international endorsements from world leading companies Toca Percussion, Paiste Cymbals and Gibraltar Hardware and is supported by Yamaha Drums and Olimpus Music (Malta).
Renzo’s official website is available at www.renzospiteri.com
Artiste management: Musiconnect (Malta)