Peter Guidi - Biography

Born in Scotland from Italian origins Peter Guidi is a self-taught musician. His principle instruments are alto and soprano saxophones, flute, alto flute, and bass flute. He began his musical career in Italy where he wenton to play with many leading jazz musicians and performed in major Jazz Festivals including 'Umbria Jazz', the �Aosta Jazz Festival�, the 'Jazz Festival of Pescara' and the 'Ivrea Jazz Festival'.

He now tours with his own Quartet throughout Europe and has performed at the 'North Sea Jazz Festival' in Holland, 'Torino Jazz' in northern Italy, the 'Jazz Festival of Ostend' in Belgium and the 'Django Reinhardt Festival' in France.The Peter Guidi Quartet has also appeared on European national radio and television networks in Holland, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.

The Quartet has also performed outside Europe performing a series of concerts in 2002 at the Museum of Arts Theatre in Tel Aviv and Haifa, Israel. A frequent visitor to the United States he has played with some of the most prominent American jazz musicians, such as organist Jimmy McGriff and drummer Mel Lewis. In 1992 he participated in the 'World Festival' in Atlanta Georgia as co-leader of the European Jazz Quintet. In 1993 he performed as guest soloist with the 'Gillespiana' project led by composer/pianist Lalo Schifrin at the 'North Sea Jazz Festival'.

Since moving to Holland he has founded the Jazz Department of the MSA consisting of ensemble and improvisation classes, and is leader of the 'Jazzmania' big band the 'Jazzfocus' Big Band the Jazz Kidz the Jazz Juniors and the Jazz Generation at the Muziekschool Amsterdam. The bands and ensembles have won a total of EIGHTY SEVEN PRIZES in national and international Big Band competitions.

For a complete list of prizes click here.

Peter Guidi has also given jazz flute and saxophone seminars and master classes for the Netherlands Flute Association in Holland, the Taller de Musicos in Madrid, Spain and the Music Library in Tel Aviv, Israel.

As well as leading his own Big Band Peter Guidi has performed with several top big bands as a featured soloist including �The Skymasters�, the �Big Band Barchem�, the 'Millenium Big Band' the Big Band Arnhem', the 'Utrecht Big Band', the 'Dual City Big Band', the 'Holland Big Band' and �The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw�.

In 1997 Peter Guidi was commissioned by the NTB ( the Dutch Musicians Union) and the FIM (International Federation of Musicians) where he is a member of the jazz working groups, to assemble and conduct a Euro Big Band made up of professional jazz musicians from the member countries of the European Union. The concert, which was organized to bring European jazz to the attention of the members of the Euro Parliament, was the first jazz concert to take place within the European Parliament Building in Strasbourg.

In 1998 he began a new project of concerts combined with workshops �From Blues To Bebop� in which a workshop is held for music students and/or members of the audience before the concert. During the workshop audio and video materials are used to trace the developement of jazz and the jazz flute from its origins in the blues until the bebop era.

In 2000 Peter Guidi was asked to join the artistic commitee involved in setting up the first national 'Dutch Jazz Competition'. During the year he was invited to lecture on the subject of pre-conservatory jazz education at both the �Jazz and Jazz Education Festival 2000' in Budapest, Hungary and the �Netherlands Jazz Congress' in The Hague, Holland. In July he performed at the 25th Anniversary of the �North Sea Jazz Festival' leading the �Jazzmania' Big Band.

In 2001 he continued his work for the artistic commitee of the 'Dutch Jazz Competition'. In January he started a regular monthly performance with the Jazzmania big band in one of Amsterdams' most prestigious jazz venues the 'Cafe Meander', featuring top Dutch instrumentalists as guest soloists. In May, together with the Jazzmania big band, he participated in the 'Harkany Big Band Jazz Festival' in Harkany, Hungary.

In 2002 Peter Guidi was invited to join the advisory committee of the Princess Christina Competition to help organize the first PCC jazz competition. In January he started a regular monthly performance with the Jazzmania big band at the 'Pompoen Club', Amsterdam's leading jazz venue, featuring top Dutch and international instrumentalists as guest soloists. In July he performed at the 'North Sea Jazz Festival' leading the Jazzmania big band. He also peformed at the festival with the Junior Jazz Workshop, the youngest group of the MSA Jazz Department and the youngest group ever to be invited to the festival. After performing a special program of South African musicf in Den Haag, the Juniors played with inspiration and energy at the North Sea Jazz Festival and received a very enthusiastic reception from the audience. Parts of the concert were recorded for the Jeugd Journal (the Dutch t.v. children's Newsreel) and were broadcast the same evening along with interviews from the band members. In 2002 the Jazzmania big band recorded a new cd released by Munich Records entitled 'New Impressions'. The presentation was held in Amsterdam at the BIM Huis (the Dutch 'temple' of jazz) in November where the cd was presented by Henk Meutgeert the director of 'The Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw'. The Peter Guidi Quartet performed in various jazz venues and festivals including the 'Django Reinhardt Festival' in France. The Quartet also performed outside Europe performing a series of concerts in 2002 at the Museum of Arts Theatre in Tel Aviv and Haifa, Israel.

In 2003 he was asked to give a flute workshop for the Netherlands Flute Society and another for Flutonicon at which over 60 flute players attended. He performed with the Jazzmania big band on TROS Sesjun Hollands' top live jazz radio program and performed as a soloist with the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw for the TROS Sesjun 30th anniversary a month later. In May he started a regular monthly series of performances with the Jazzmania big band at the Heeren van Aemstel, one of Amsterdam's most popular night spots. He also performed with the big band at the club Pannonica, the new major jazz venue in The Hague. Also in May he was asked to be on the jury of the Netherlands Big Band Competition which the Jazzmania big band had won four times. Under his leadership in June the Jazz Juniors won the Publieksprijs, the top award at the Amsterdam Music Schools Ensemble Competition. In June he gave a big band workshop and performed as a soloist at the Jazz In The Park Festival in Jersey, Channel Islands. In August he performed with the Jazzmania big band at the Notte di Fiabe Festival in Riva del Garda, Italy. Peter Guidi was also invited to lecture on Pre-Conservatory Jazz Education at the first meeting of the IASJ (International Association of Schools of Jazz) held in The Hague Jazz Conservatory in October. As well as giving big band and flute workshops in Holland and performing regularly with his quartet, in 2003 Peter Guidi also performed as a guest soloist with the 'Big Band Arnhem', the 'Holland Big Band' and �The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw�.

In January 2004 Peter Guidi saw the realisation of a long term project to connect the Jazz Workshops founded by him in the Muziekschool Amsterdam with the Jazz Conservatory of Amsterdam. The newly formed Muzieklyceum gives young musicians (from as young as ten years of age) the possibility to start a jazz study course that prepares them for eventual entrance to the Conservatory. In February he was awarded the 'Holland Jazz Feel Good Prize' for his work in promoting jazz music in The Netherlands. In January he gave big band workshops in Zutphern and in Arnhem. The regular monthly series of performances with the Jazzmania big band at the popular Heeren van Aemstel continued with guest soloists Jan Wessels, Gerlo Hesselink, Tineke Postma and Benjamin Herman. In July his Jazzmania big band was once more invited to perform at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival. in 2004 Peter Guidi also performed as a guest soloist with the 'Big Band Venlo', the 'Holland Big Band' and the 'Sonic Blast' big band. Peter Guidi was once again invited to sit on the juries of the Nedarlands Big Band Competition in Hoofddorp and the national Princess Christina Competition in Utrecht which he also helped organize. He was also again invited to be on the artistic comittee of the Dutch Jazz Competition. In July he gave a big band workshop and performed as a soloist at the Jazz In The Park Festival in Jersey, Channel Islands and later a big band workshop in Breda, The Netherlands. In the same month bands from the Jazz Department directed by Peter Guidi won five prizes in one week, in national and international competitions. In addition the Jazz Juniors won the Lichte Muziek Prijs, the 1st prize in the Light Music category at the Amsterdam Music Schools Ensemble Competition. In August his Jazzmania big band was invited to play a week in RIVA DEL GARDA, Italy performing at the NOTTE DI FIABE festival. In October Jazzmania released it's new cd 'Further Impressions' released by Munich Records. The presentation was held in Amsterdam at the BIM Huis (the Dutch 'temple' of jazz). In November the Jazz Juniors won the 1st prize in Category 1 at the prestigious Princes Christina Jazz Concours, which includes a performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2005 - plus a master class from Justin di Cioccio of the Manhatten School of Music.

In March 2005 Peter Guidi was invited to give big band workshops at the Holland Big Band Festival in Meppel. In May his Jazzmania big band was invited to perform at the Sibiu Jazz Festival in Roumania where they played a 2 hour program which was broadcast live on Roumanian national and international television. His Jazz Juniors were also invited to play at the Liberation Day Festival on the Rijksmuseum square in Amsterdam. Together with the Jazzfocus big band and the Jazz Juniors he organised a special 'Jazz For Kids' program at the new BIM Huis, Amsterdam where young children can interact with a big band on stage. In the same month the Jazzmania and Jazz Juniors were also invited to play at the inauguration of the new Ijtram at the BIM Huis. In June the Juniors performed at the 'Gigs For Kids' program at the North Sea Jazz Festival a part of which was broadcast on the NOS Jeugdjournaal, the Dutch television news program for children and teenagers. In July the Jazz Juniors won the 'Grote Ensemble Prijs' the top award in the Amsterdam Muziekscholen Prijs. Peter Guidi has been asked to play as guest soloist with the Utrecht big band the Sonic Blast big band the West Coast big band and the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw. He has also been invited to play with his quartet in Italy at the Sarteano Jazz Festival in June and the Padova Porsche Jazz Festival in November. In May Peter was asked once again to be on the jury of the Dutch Big Band Competition in Hoofddorp and to sit for a fourth year on the Artistic Committee of the Dutch Jazz Competition. In June the Jazzmania big band performed at the famous Club 'Schlot' in Berlin and the Peter Guidi Quartet performed at the opening ceremony of the European Championships Pentathlon in Montepulciano, Italy, as well as giving a special concert at the Castello dei Conti Guidi in Poppi, Tuscany. In July Peter's Jazz Juniors performed in the Junior Jazz Festival in Langnau, Switzerland and they were so appreciated by the jazz educators at the festival that they invited the Juniors to perform at the IAJE Conference in New York. In order to get sponsorship for the trip they appeared in October on the popular, prime-time Paul de Leeuw Show (Mooi Weer De Leeuw) on VARA t.v. In November the Peter Guidi Quartet performed at the Padova Porsche Jazz Festival, in Padova,Italy. In December his Jazz Juniors won the Grote Prijs, top award in the 'Gala Jong Talent Verzekerd'.

In 2006 Peter continued his activities on the Dutch Jazz Competition and Princess Christina Competition advisory committees. He has also been asked by the Stichting JA from the NTB (Dutch Musicians Union) to form the first National Dutch Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2007. In January Peter's Jazz Juniors presented their first cd "It's Cookin'' in front of a packed BIM Huis. The cd is receiveing great reviews which state that the Jazz Juniors are Holland's best ambassadors for jazz music! In Febrauary he gave a big band workshop for the Doe Jazz Society and continued with the bi-monthly series of concerts at the BIM Huis with both the Jazzmania and Jazzfocus big bands. In July Peter's Jazzmania big band performed at the renowned North Sea Jazz Festival in its new location of the Ahoy in Rotterdam - one of the largest jazz festivals in the world. Also in July Peter's Jazz Juniors were once again invited to play at the Junior Jazz Festival in Langnau, Switzerland. In September the Juniors also appeared live on AT5 television while performing at the Seven Bridges Jazz Festival in Amsterdam and also performed at the Laren Singer Jazz Festival during the same month. Several articles have been written about the Juniors this year including in the Dutch 'Fluit' music magazine, the 'Kinder Krant' childrens' newspaper and a full page article in the Dutch national newspaper 'Het Parool'.In March the Dutch national television station N.P.S. T.V. started filming a documentary about Peter Guidi's teaching and playing career. The documentary followed several of Peter's bands as they rehearsed, performed concerts, participateted in jazz competitions and went on tour. The documentary entitled 'Serious Fun' was broadcast on October 29th as a part of the NPS Arena series. On 10th December the Jazzmania big band released a double DVD entilted 'Jazzmania Live in het BIM' featuring legendary jazz trumpeter Benny Bailey, together with a DVD of the documentary 'Serious Fun'. The Jazz Juniors won the first prize in the Amsterdam Music School Ensemble Prize and the Jazz Focus big band won the first prize in the Princess Christina Competition.

For a complete list of the EIGHTY SEVEN PRIZES won by Peter's bands click here.

In May 2007, as leader of the Jazz Focus big band, Peter has participated in the European Youth Music Festival in Budapest, Hungary. His Jazz Juniors and Jazz Generation bands have both reached the finals of the Amsterdam Music Schools Ensemble Prize. Both these bands will be performing in the Jazz For Kids section of the North Sea Jazz Festival. As jury member Peter took part in the first Holland Casino Jazz Competition. Peters' Jazz Focus big band won the 1st prize in their category at the Enschede Big Band Competition which took place in May. In June Peter organized a seven hour jazz program on The Jazz Stage in the center of Amsterdam as a part of the Feest der Muziek festival. Also in June all eight bands from the Jazz Workshops performed at the prestigious BIM Huis, Amsterdam's 'temple of jazz' during the yearly MSA Jazz Night. In June Peter was invited as a guest on the popular radio jazz quiz show Jazzkotabel. Also in June 2007 the Jazz Juniors appeared on the Dutch national t.v. program De Werelrd Draait Door. In July the Juniors appeared together with the younger group Junior Swing and the teenage group the Jazz Generation in the North Sea Jazz Festival For Kids. A special item was broadcast about the Juniors on the Jeugdjournaal, Dutch national televisions' youth news program. A video of the Junior Swing was also recorded live for the national newspaper De Volkskrant's video web site (click on the video link below to see these and other recordings of the bands). In August Peters' Jazz Focus big band appeared at the Amstedam Uitmarkt the largest city festival in Holland. Also in the summer the Jazzmania big band toured Italy including appearances at Barga Jazz Festival, Castello Guidi and the Riva del Garda Festival. In September the two youngest bands the Junior Swing and the Jazz Juniors performed at the prestigious Laren Singer Jazz Festival and the Jazz Generation at Amsterdams' famous Seven Bridges Jazz Festival and the International Rotterdam Jazz Festival in the Doelen Theater. In November Peter was invited to appear in the live Internet t.v. talk show 'Het Gesprek'.

In February 2008 the Jazz Focus and JazzMania big bands started a series in the Toomler Club in Amsterdam. In March Peters' students won 2 first prizes in the Amsterdam Music Schools Cmpetition bringing the total of prizes won by the ensembles and students of the Jazz Workshops to 46. Also in March Peter began work on the formation of the first Dutch National Jazz Youth Orchestra a project financed and supported by the Dutch Union (NTB) and various national subsidy funds. In May Peter's top big band the Jazzmania big band won the 1st prize in the Dutch National Big Band Competition held during the Meer Jazz Festival. In addition two of the band members won best soloist prizes bringing the tottal of prizes won by Peter's bands to fifty. In June Peter organized the Young Talent Stage during the IJAZZ Festival in Amsterdam which comprised a five hour program of young jazz talent between the ages of 9 and 21. In July Peter's teenage group the Jazz Generation were invited once again to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival For Kids. In September the Jazzmania big band was invited to perform at the Divino Jazz Festival in Torre del Greco, Naples, Italy. On the 19th October the Jazzmania Big Band celebrated its 20th anniversary in the BIM Huis, Hollands' Temple Of Jazz. Together with the Jazz Focus big band and special guest soloists Jazzmania played to a packed house and performed a great concert in what was an unforgettable evening. Much of the concert was filmed and will appear shortly on the Intrernet, including Youtube. In November the Jazzmania big band and Jazz Focus big bands both won the 1st Prizes in their respective categories in the 3rd International Big Band Competition in Kerkrade. In the Princess Christina Jazz Competition that same month the bands from the Jazz department collected no less than four prizes iuncluding a 1st Prize for the Jazz Focus Big band, a 2nd prize for the Jazz Juniors and the Publics Prize also went to the Jazz Focus Big band.

In March 2009 Peter organized the Jazz In Paradise concert with four of his prize winning bands performing in Amsterdams' Paradiso concert podium. In 2009 Peter started a series of national auditions as director of the first Dutch National Youth Jazz Orchestra. After rehearsing a program of new arrangements written especially for the band by the best Dutch arrangers the big band performed a press premiere at the Amersfoort Jazz Festival on 8 May, followed by a public premiere on 9 May. The band received enthusiastic reactions from press and public alike. For more information about the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NJJO) go here for the NJJO website. On Saturday 17 May the band recorded a live DVD in the BIM Huis, Amsterdams' international jazz arena. The NJJO tour also includes an appearance at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival in July. Between May and June Peters' students and bands won a total of six prizes in jazz and music Compertitions bringing the total of prizes to sixty four. In September Peter performed with the Jazzmania big band at the Singer Laren Jazz Festival and in October Peter was invited to play as a guest soloist with the Millenium Jazz Orchestra in the Theater Boukunde, Deventer. In November he recorded two CD's with his ensembles in the Mirasound Studios, Amersfoort. 'Twisted' with the Jazz Juniors and 'The Award Winners' with his ensemble from the Junior Jazz College of the Amsterdam Conservatory.

In January 2010 Peter performed as a guest soloist on the Radio Uit De Bieb jazz program and on the Dutch jazz and culture radio channel Radio 6. In January he performed to a packed BIM Huis, Amsterdam with both the Jazzmania and Jazz Focus big bands in a big band party that also celebrated his 60th birthday. In January he recorded a new CD with the Jazzmania big band entitled 'Jubileum' in Dudoc Studios, Amsterdam. In June Peter was invited to perform and give both flute and big band workshops in the Standard Bank Jazz Festival which takes place in Grahamstown, South Africa in June. Also in June the Jazz Juniors performed with guest soloist saxophonist Benjamin Herman in the large hall of the renowned Amsterdam Concertgebouw. In July Peter performed with both the Jazz Kidz and the Jazz Juniors at the North Sea Jazz Festival For Kids. In the same month he travelled with the Jazz Juniors to participate in the Junior Jazz Festival, in Langnau, Switzerland.

On 29 April 2010 Peter Guidi was named in the Dutch Queens' birthday honours list and was awarded a knighthood (Knight In The Order Of Oranje-Nassau) for his work in jazz education and promotion in the Netherlands. In November 2010 the Jazz Focus Big Band won the 1st prize in the Prinses Christina Big Band Competition in the Nieuwemuziekgebouw, Amsterdam. This brings the total of prizes won by Peter's bands and students to seventy three!

In March 2011 the Jazzmania big band began a series of concerts with renowned Dutch vocalist Mathilde Santing entitled 'Mathilde Santing Sings - Jazzmania Swings'. A tribute to the music of Frank Sinatra. The series includes performances at the Comedy Theater, Theater van 'T Woord, the BIM Huis and Jazz In Duketown. Also in March Peter played with his JJC Combo at the Alkmaar Jazz Festival and began assembling the Biggest Big Band Ever, a mega big band which gave a unique performance in the Concertgebouw Amsterdam on 25 June. In May four of Peter's bands performed at the second edition of Jazz In Paradise in the famous Paradiso, Amsterdam. During the same program he also performed as soloist with the Jazz Orchestra Of The Concertgebouw. In June the Jazz Focus big band played on the popular national Radio program Mijke's Middag recorded live in the Club Panama, Amsterdam. In June both the Jazz Juniors and the Jazz Generation won the 1st Prize in their categories in the Amsterdam Music Schools Ensemble Competition. In October the Jazz Focus big band won the 1st prize in the 4th International Big Band Competition in Kerkrade.

In January 2012 the Jazz Juniors were invited to perform at the EMU European Union Music Festival in Ferrara, Italy which took place from 16 to 21 May, 2012. On 27 May the Jazzmania Big Band played for the third year in a row at the Jazz in Duketown Festival in Den Bosch with Denise Jannah as guest vocalist. On 3 June Peters' bands will take part in the 3rd edition of Jazz in Paradise in the Paradiso, Amsterdams' temple of rock. Also in June the bands played throughout Amsterdam during the iLike Music Festival, including the Dam Square and the Heineken Square (see photo gallery for pictures). At the end of June the Jazz Kidz won a 1st Prize in the AMP Music Prize 2012.

On 4 July, in the internationaly renowned BIM Huis, Amsterdam, Peter Guidi and his big bands celebrated a Double Jubileum: the 15th anniversary of the Jazz Focus Big Band combined with the 25th anniversary of the Jazzmania Big band. On 6 July the celebration continued with the Jazzmania big band performing at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival.

In September his band was invited to perform at the TED Amsterdam congress in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam. Later that month the Jazz Juniors performed at the Junior Jazz Festival in Delft. In November the Juniors also played for the arrival of Sinterklaas on the Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam.

In February 2013 both the Jazzmania big band and the Jazz Focus big band, with guest vocalist Denise Jannah, performed to a completely packed house at Amsterdam's famous Concertgebouw Theatre. On 1 March the Jazzmania big band will kick-off its new BUSTED! project at the Comedy Theater in Amsterdam. BUSTED! is a series of concerts celebrating jazz music from gangster movies and detective t.v. series.

In April 2013 the Jazz Focus big band won the first prize in the Royal Big Band Battle held in the Zaantheater, Zaandam on the coronation day of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.

In August the Jazz Focus big band conducted by Peter Guidi performed at the open-air Magneet Festival in Amsterdam.

In October the Jazz Juniors Unlimited conducted by Peter Guidi with guest voclaist Mathilde Santing performed in the large hall of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam during a special concert for the Concertgebouw share-holders.

In January 2014 the Jazz Focus big band performed as part of the Amsterdam World City of Jazz kick-off concert in the Melk Weg Amsterdam, with guest soloists Ack van Rooyen, Sanne Huijbregts and Greetje Kauffeld. The band also played a grand finale together with the New Cool Collective big band and saxophonist Candy Dulfer.

In April 2014 the Jazzmania big band together with the Jazz Focus Big Band performed a Lunchconcert to a full house in in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam's international concert hall.

Also in April the Jazz Focus big band together with the Jazz Juniors Unlimited performed at the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam.

In May 2014 Peter performed in theaters and clubs and gave a master class 'Accentos en Swing' at the Tuxtla Conservatory of Music (UNICACH) in Chiapas, Mexico.

In June the Jazz Juniors Unlimited and the Jazz Focus big band performed at the first edition of the Jazz Festival Amsterdam Zuid in the Miranda Paviljoen.

In July all the bands of Peter performed at the BIM Huis, Amsterdam's international Temple of Jazz during the MA Jazzavond.

Also in July Peter's Jazz Focus big band performed at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam.

In August both the Jazz Juniors Unlimited performed at the Amsterdam Grachtenfestival, the biggest yearly music event of the Amsterdam calender.

In October the Jazz Focus big band together with a choir of 75 schoolchildren performed a special programme of Amsterdam songs arranged in a jazz style. This programme entilted 'Ode To Amsterdam' was performed specially for the Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan.

In November the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band was invited to perform at the Dutch Premiere of the jazz movie 'Whiplash' (winner Jury Prize at the Sundance film festival). This took place in the new Filmhallen in Amsterdam. Also in November the Junior Jazz Unlimited performed at the Alkmaar Big Band Festival and at the presentation of the new Louis van Dijk Award at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. The Jazz Juniors performed during the SAX '14 Congress held in the Muziekgebouw Amsterdam.

In March 2015 the Jazz Focus big band performed in Zaal 100, Amsterdam and the Junior Jazz Unlimited were the guest performers at the Radio 4 Prize in Tivoli, Utrecht for the Prinses Christina Concours. In May the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed at the Kingsday Party at the Groot Melkhuis, Vondel Park Amsterdam and the Jazz Focus big band performed during International Jazz Day at the Tobacco Theater, Amsterdam with Benjamin Herman as guest soloist. Also in May Peter Guidi presented the new edition of the Netherlands Youth Jazz Orchestra in the famous BIM Huis, Asterdam. In July The Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed at the North Sea Jazz Club, Amsterdam and at the Robeco Volvo Ocean Race Festival as part of the fundraising for their upcoming trip to New York in October. Also in July Peter was invited for an interview and photo shoot at the Jazz Museum in Rotterdam for DJAZZ t.v.
In August the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed at the Grachtenfestival and the Sail Amsterdam Festival both held in the heart of Amsterdam.

In August Peter’s Jazzmania big band performed a program featuring music from Woody Allen films in the Eye Cinema Museum, Amsterdam.

In September the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band was invited to perform at the Loosdrecht jazz festival. Also in September the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed during the International Children’s Museum Conference in the Tropen Museum, Amsterdam.

In October Peter travelled with his Junior Jazz Unlimited big band on a cultural trip to New York which included performances at Silvana’s in Harlem, the West End Collegiate Church and the Netherlands Club of New York on Fifth Avenue. As well as visiting the famous Village Vanguard and Blue Note jazz clubs the band also attended workshops at the Jazz Lincoln Center run by Wynton Marsalis and at the New York Jazz Workshop run by Marc Mommaas.
On returning to Holland the band performed at the Alkmaar big band festival and the Music Education Day in the Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam.

In November Peter was invited to do a video portrait for the Netherlands Jazz Archive a video interview about his musical career and jazz educational work.

In December the Junior Jazz Unlimited played at the Robeco Christmas Dinner in the World Trade Center, Rotterdam. Also in December the NPR tv program Zapp Music Challenge featured 11 year old trumpeter Anna-Luna van Dijk from the Jazz Juniors performing together with the successful Jungle By Night band in the Paradiso, Amsterdam’s famous music temple.

In January 2016 the Jazz Focus big band began the New Year with a performance at the Club New Orleans in Amsterdam. Also in January the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed concerts and workshops in Roeselare, Belgium and later in the month gave a special childrens concert in the Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam.

In Februaray the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band became the first jazz big band ever to be invited to the populat TV show Holland's Got Talent. The same month the Jazz Focus big band performed at the 25th anniversary of the Club Mahogany Hall in Edam.

In March the Junior Jazz Unlimited went through to the second round of Holland's Got Talent and the Jazz Focus big band kickstarted a series of concerts in Jazz in Ijburg, Amsterdam.

In April a special edition book commisioned by the Rijksmuseum about the Flemish Masters (for which Peter Guidi contributed an article about Vermeer's painting 'The Love Letter') was presented in the Library of the Rijksmuseum. The Junior Jazz Unlimited made a CD recording in Studio 2 Muziekcentrum, Hilversum. The Jazz Focus big band performed at the presentation of the Louis van Dijk Award during the International Jazz Day at Tobacco Theater, Amsterdam.

The first week in May the Jazz Focus big band was abroad participating in the European Youth Music Festival in San Sebastian, Spain. The Junior Jazz Unlimted performed in the semi-final of Holland's Got Talent in front of two million TV viewers. The Jazz Focus and Junior Jazz Unlimited big bands perforemd together during a benefit concert for War Child held in the North Sea Jazz Club, Amsterdam.

In June the Jazzmania big band gave a special lunch concert in the main hall of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam featuring jazz music from Woody Allen movies. Also in June a video interview about Peter Guidi's life and musical carreer was broadcast by the Netherlands Jazz Archive as part of their Jazz Heroes series.

In July all ten jazz ensembles and big bands of the MA Jazz Department performed at the MA Jazz MArathon in the BIM Huis, Amsterdam. The Jazz Focus big band also took part in the Rijnstraat Street Festival in connection with the Club New Orleans.

In September the Jazz Focus big band performed in the Rode Hoed for the NTB (Dutch musician's Union) and NORMA party. The Junior Jazz Unlimited big band took part in the Jazz in de Walvis Festival, Amsterdam. Peter Guidi gave improvisation workshops and performed with his quartet in the Amsterdam JAM jazz Institute. As co-founder Peter was invited to present the Zilveren Notekraker Prize to the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in the Paradiso, Amsterdam. The Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed in the ZoJazz Lounge, Amsterdam as well as recording a video for the Kazoo music education program of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam.

In October the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band performed for an International Congress of music educators in the Conservbatory of Rotterdam followed by a performance at the Alkmaar Big Band Festival.

In November the Jazz Focus big band performed at the Kennemer Jazz Festival in Beverwijk with the suave Humphrey Campbell on vocals and the legendary Cor Bakker as guest soloist on piano. Also in November Peter's Junior Jazz Unlimited big band won the 1st Prize in the prestigious National Prinses Christina Big Band Competition presented by Prinses Christina in person.

In December the Jazz Focus big band participated in a benefit concert for the Chinese charity Sunshine Children Foundation and later in the month Jazz Focus performed at the Ruigoord Kerk during the Christmas Market Fair.

In January 2017 the Jazz Focus big band performed in the Tpodium jazz venue in Uithoorn.

In February the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band gave a live concert on NTR National Radio's 'Co Live' programme from the legendary Nick Vollebregt's Jazz Cafe in Laren as part of the 1st Prize in the Prinses Christina big band Competition.

In March the Junior Jazz Unlimited big band presented their new CD 'Serious Fun' in the Club Panama, Amsterdam.

For photos of many of the above mentioned events click here.

For a list of the EIGHTY SEVEN PRIZES won by Peter's bands click here.

 

Videos

To watch videos of Peter and his bands search on Youtube for any of the following: Jazzmania big band, Jazz Focus big band, Jazz Kidz, Jazz Juniors, Jazz Generation, Junior Jazz Unlimited, Peter Guidi.

For a selection of videos go to the video page:

Video Page

Selected Interviews

Watch a receent video interview with Peter Guidi as part of the series
'Jazz Helden' (Jazz Heroes) on the website of the
Netherland Jazz Archive (spoken in Dutch)

Interview with internet jazz site 'Jazzitalia' plus photos of Jazzmania at the Divino Jazz Festival Naples. Interview Jazzitalia (Italian)

Interview 'Jazzism' Magazine 'The Guidi Clan' (Dutch)

Interview for the Dutch classical music magazine 'Akkord' (Dutch)

Intervierw 'Jazzism' Magazine 'Amsterdam Jazz Scene' (Dutch)

Interview with the Netehrland 'Jazzagenda' (Dutch)

Interview with the music critic of Dutch 'Playboy' magazine (English)

Featured member of the 'Internet Flute List' Interview (English) - DEAD LINK (WORK IN PROGRESS)

Interview 'Muziek en Theater Netwerk' magazine (Dutch)

Interview 'Fluit' magazine (Dutch)

Interview 'Haarlem Dagblad'
'Meer' Big Band Fetsival (Dutch)

Interview 'Ritmo' magazine (Italian)

Interview 'Het PAROOL' (Dutch)

Interview 'Garda Magazine' Festival, (Italian)

Interview 'Kunst en Media' (Dutch)

Interview for the 'Jazzmania' big band 10 year Jubilee (Dutch)

Interview 'Muziek Wereld' (Dutch

Interview 'De Volkskrant' (Dutch)

Interview 'Music & Show' (Dutch)

The Euro-Big-Band project in the European Parliament (Dutch)

Read a review of this website from 'Fluit' magazine (Dutch)

Interview for Stichting Swing about the Princess Christina Jazz Competition (Dutch)

Interview for the Netherlands Jazz Archive Publication 'Bulletin' (Dutch)

A test and review of the Borgani saxophones
by Peter Guidi
(English)

 

The Jazzmania Big Band can be heard on the cd's �TARGET PRACTICE� and 'NEW IMPRESSIONS' plus the latest release 'FURTHER IMPRESSIONS' . The Jazz Juniors can be heard on the cd 'IT'S COOKIN' - DEAD LINK (WORK IN PROGRESS). The Jazz Foucs Big Band can be heard on the cd 'FOCUSED'.

Peter Guidi has recorded as sideman with various European formations and can be heard on three CDs under his own name: 'BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP' Timeless SJP 352 (in quartet formation), 'A WEAVER OF DREAMS' Timeless SJP 401 (in trio formation) and on �FORBIDDEN FLUTE� BMCD 309 ditributed by MUNICH RECORDS. He has recently released a double DVD comprising 'JAZZMANIA LIVE AT THE BIMHUIS' with special guest Benny Bailey and 'SERIOUS FUN' a documentary about Peter's work made by NPS Dutch National television.

Peter Guidi is author of a two volume flute method 'THE JAZZ FLUTE� published by Molenaar Edition BV.

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