Berklee's Felix Peikli Quartet to Perform in Oslo, Norway, June 19-26

Boston, MA, June 2, 2011 – The Felix Peikli Quartet, led by Norwegian jazz clarinetist and Berklee College of Music student Felix Peikli, are headed to Oslo, Norway from June 19 to 26. Their schedule includes performances at Teaterkjeller`n, June 19; TV2′s God Morgen Norge, June 20; the Rica Hotel Jazz Jam, June 20 to 22; and the U.S. Embassy, June 22. The tour concludes at Valdres Sommersymfoni with a masterclass on June 24 and concerts on June 25 and 26. Peikli’s quartet is comprised of fellow Berklee scholarship students Christian Li (piano), Justin Richey (bass), and Adam Arruda (drums).

Felix Peikli (http://www.kingclarinet.com) is a rising star on the international jazz scene. He made a splash at home as the youngest ever recipient of the Capitol of Norway Honors Prize and as the winner of the National Dream Prize, in 2005. Last year, he led his quintet in a performance at the Oslo Jazz Festival. His unique style, which blends jazz improvisation with folk music from all over the world, has drawn attention beyond the borders of Norway, playing at festivals and venues throughout the U.S., U.K., Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Croatia, and Panama.

Since being awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music in 2007, he has studied with Ralph Peterson Jr., Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, Ben Street, Eddie Gomez, Dave Liebman, Hal Crook, Terri Lyne Carrington, Greg Osby, and other renowned musicians. In 2010, he was one of 18 students selected for the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, the college’s prestigious new center for musical creativity. His composition “Eternal Flame” was recently featured on Octave, the new album from Berklee’s student-run label Jazz Revelation Records.

Prior to enrolling at Berklee, he studied at Barratt Dues Classical Institute of Norway from 2004-2008. He found his way into music through the local marching band at 8. Two years later, inspired by a Benny Goodman recording he received from his grandfather, he played his first gig: a jam session at the 2002 Oslo Jazz Festival. Too young to enter the festival, he and his mother argued their way in.