Mirko Guerrini
Italian-Australian jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger.
Mirko Guerrini (born 28 April 1973) is an Italian-Australian jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He was born in Florence, where he studied piano, saxophone, classical composition, and jazz at the Conservatorio “Cherubini,” and later studied jazz saxophone with Dave Liebman in New York.
A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and orchestra conductor, Guerrini has released 20 albums as a solo saxophonist and leader of jazz ensembles, and has appeared on more than 50 CDs as a sideman. He currently leads the Mirko Guerrini Horizontal Quartet, featuring Andrea Keller, Tamara Murphy, and Niko Schäuble, and co-leads the band Torrio! with Paul Grabowsky and Niko Schäuble.
He has published six books: two collections of his compositions through Carisch Ed, and three educational books on jazz tenor saxophone focusing on Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, and Oliver Nelson. Guerrini was part of the Carioca project with Stefano Bollani, which sold over 80,000 copies on CD and DVD, and toured Italy three times with more than 50 concerts; on two of those tours, Caetano Veloso joined the band.
For six years, he hosted the award-winning radio show *Dottor Djembè* on Italy’s national Radio3 alongside comedian David Riondino and Stefano Bollani, producing over 180 episodes. His collaborators include Billy Cobham, Brian Auger, Mark Feldman, Stefano Bollani, Enrico Rava, Stefano Battaglia, Paul McCandless, Caetano Veloso, Hermeto Pascoal, Paul Grabowsky, Tony Gould, Niko Schäuble, Andrea Keller, the Monash Art Ensemble, and singer-songwriters Ivano Fossati and Giorgio Gaber, among others in Italy and abroad.
Guerrini is also sought after as a composer and conductor for symphony orchestras, including the Orchestra “A. Toscanini” of Parma, the Orchestra Regionale Toscana, and the Orchestra della Campania. He won the “Concorso 2 Agosto di Bologna” in 2000 and 2005. In Australia, he composed music commissioned by the Melbourne Museum for its Aztecs Exhibition, producing the soundtrack for both TV ads and live performances. In 2019, he composed and produced the soundtrack for the stop-motion VR film *The Passenger*, which was a finalist at the Venice International Film Festival.
He has performed in Brazil, Japan, Australia, Canada, the United States, France, Spain, Russia, Finland, Indonesia, and many other countries. As an educator, Guerrini was a professor of jazz saxophone and small j
- born
- 28 April 1973
- field
- Jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger
- nationality
- Italian-Australian
- known_for
- Leader of Mirko Guerrini Horizontal Quartet, co-leader of Torrio!, composer for film and exhibitions
Lore & Background
Mirko Guerrini was born in Florence, Italy, and studied piano, saxophone, classical composition, and jazz at the Conservatorio 'Cherubini' in Florence, as well as jazz saxophone with Dave Liebman in New York. He has 20 albums as a solo sax player and leader of jazz ensembles, and more than 50 CDs as a sideman. He leads the Mirko Guerrini Horizontal Quartet and co-leads Torrio! with Paul Grabowsky and Niko Schauble.
Guerrini has released six books, including two with his compositions by Carisch Ed and three educational books on jazz tenor saxophone. He was part of the Carioca project with Stefano Bollani, which sold over 80,000 copies, and toured Italy three times with more than 50 concerts, with Caetano Veloso joining on two tours. He hosted the radio show Dottor Djembè with David Riondino and Stefano Bollani on Italian national radio Radio3, which won several awards and produced over 180 shows over six years.
He has collaborated with many artists including Billy Cobham, Brian Auger, Mark Feldman, Stefano Bollani, Enrico Rava, Caetano Veloso, Hermeto Pascoal, and Paul Grabowsky. He has composed for symphony orchestras and won international competitions such as the 'Concorso 2 Agosto di Bologna' in 2000 and 2005. In Australia, he composed music for the Melbourne Museum's Aztecs Exhibition and the soundtrack for the VR movie The Passenger, a finalist at the Venice Film Festival.
Reader's Guide
Mirko Guerrini's significance lies in his dual career as a performer and educator, bridging Italian and Australian jazz scenes. His extensive discography as a leader and sideman, along with his educational books and teaching roles at Monash University and other institutions, highlight his influence on jazz pedagogy. His work with symphony orchestras and film scores demonstrates versatility beyond small ensembles. The success of the Carioca project and the radio show Dottor Djembè show his ability to reach broad audiences. His move to Australia in 2013 expanded his impact, with commissions from the Melbourne Museum and ongoing teaching. His legacy includes fostering listening skills through the expEARience project with Niko Schäuble.
Did You Know?
- Mirko Guerrini was born in Florence, Italy, on 28 April 1973.
- He has released six books, including three educational books on jazz tenor saxophone.
- He hosted the award-winning radio show Dottor Djembè on Italian national radio Radio3 for six years.
- He composed the soundtrack for the VR movie The Passenger, a finalist at the Venice Film Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mirko Guerrini?
He is an Italian-Australian jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger born in Florence on 28 April 1973. He is best known for leading his Horizontal Quartet and for composing music for film and exhibition projects.
What instruments and roles does Mirko Guerrini take on?
Although he is primarily recognized as a saxophonist, Guerrini is a multi-instrumentalist who also works as an orchestra conductor and arranger. His training included piano and classical composition alongside jazz performance.
Who plays in the Mirko Guerrini Horizontal Quartet?
The quartet pairs Guerrini with Andrea Keller, Tamara Murphy, and Niko Schäu. It serves as his current primary ensemble for both live performances and recordings.
Where did Mirko Guerrini study and who were his teachers?
He trained at the Conservatorio 'Cherubini' in Florence, studying piano, saxophone, classical composition, and jazz. He later deepened his jazz saxophone work by studying with Dave Liebman in New York.
How extensive is Mirko Guerrini's discography?
Guerrini has released 20 albums as a solo saxophonist and bandleader. Beyond that, he has appeared as a sideman on more than 50 additional CDs.
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