Renzo Spiteri
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)