"16 Minutes Of Happiness" by Francesco Cafiso

Francesco Cafiso (Vittoria 24 Maggio 1989)

One of the most precocious talents in the history of jazz. When he was barely nine years old Francesco took his first steps, working with internationally famous musicians. Meeting Wynton Marsalis in Pescara at the jazz Festival held on July 2002 was a decisive moment for Francesco's career.
Amazed by Francesco's qualities, Marsalis took him along with his septet on his European tour 2003, where Francesco performed in prestigious theatres in the largest cities in Europe. From that moment on, Francesco went through a series of important experiences both in Italy and abroad.
He won various important prizes: the Massimo Urbani National Award in Urbisaglia, the EuroJazz Award in Lecco, the International Jazz Festivals Organization Award in New York, the World Saxophone Competition in London, the Django d'Or in Rome and many others.
In order to improve his English, but most of all, in order to experience new musical styles and genres, Francesco went to New Orleans where he played with Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Thadeus Richard, Bob Franch, Maurice Brown and many other important local musicians while taking special lessons from Alvin Batiste.
In 2004, he participated as a special guest in the Sanremo Music Festival.
In 2005 the Swing Journal, the authoritative Japanese jazz music magazine, confers him the New Stars Award, prize reserved to the emergent foreign talents.
Immediately after, the affirmation in the Top Jazz, referendum of the Italian Music Jazz magazine, that recognizes him as the best new talent of the year.
Francesco has performed with world famous musicians: Hank Jones, Dave Brubeck, Cedar Walton, Mulgrew Miller, Jonathan Batiste, Ronnie Matthews, Jimmy Cobb, Ben Riley, Ray Drummond, Reggie Johnson, Doug Sides Lewis Nash, James Williams, Joe Lovano, George Mraz, Joe Locke, Enrico Rava, Gianni Basso, Dado Moroni, Franco D'Andrea, Franco Cerri and many other Italian and American musicians.
In February 2006 Francesco achieved the Diploma in Transverse Flute at the Musical Institute V. Bellini in Catania.
Since 2008 he has been Artistic director of the "Vittoria Jazz Festival" in Vittoria his native city.
On January 19, 2009 he played in Washington DC during the celebrations in honor of President Barak Obama and Martin Luther King Jr. day.
On July 17, 2009 the Umbria Jazz Foundation named Francesco "Ambassador of the Italian jazz music in the world." In 2012, he arranged "Don't Stop" the background music for the current commercial for the ENI station.
In July of 2012, for the Olympics, he was invited to perfom in London, at the headquarters of the Casa Italia in the presence of the Italian Ambassador in London and of the leaders of CONI.
In September of 2012, during a long stay in the United States, he has held a series of master classes in Saxophone at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

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