"Szilárd Mezei, born February 12th, 1974 in Senta, Serbia (then Yugoslavia) as a member of the Hungarian minority in the multiethnic region of Vojvodina. Completed his violin studies in Senta and Subotica and studied composition for four years at the University of Arts in Beograd under prof. Zoran Eric. As violinist, violist, double bass player and composer and in various formations (from duo to nonett) held many concerts: Senta, Kanizsa (the "Jazz, Improvisative Music..." Festival 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002), Subotica, Novi Sad (all Serbia, then Yugoslavia), Maribor (Slovenija), Szeged (Hungary, 'MASZK' Festival 1994, 1997), Budapest (Hungary, 'FONÓ' 1997), Gyor (Hungary, 'Mediawave' Festivals 1992, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2006, also 'Gyorfree Impro Workshops' 2003, 2004, 2006), Gyergyószentmiklós (Romania), Leverkusen (Germany, 'Leverkusener Jazz Tage' 1991), Düsseldorff (Germany, 'Düsseldorffer Altsadt Herbst' 1996 - special prize for improvisation), Copenhagen and Aarhus (Denmark, 'Magic Music Festival' 1999), Kluj-Napoca (Romania, 'Charta Minimumia Festival' 2000), Odorhei Secuiesc (Romania), Beograd (Serbia, 'Ring Ring Festival' 2002, 2005), Pécs (Hungary, 'Gassztro Fest' 2002, 'POSZT' 2006), Kishegyes ('Dombos Fest' 2003), Copenhagen, Aero, Aalborg, Aarhus (Denmark, 2003 - tour with the Creative Workshop Ensemble), Debrecen ('Debrecen Jazz Days' 2003), Klagenfurt ('CIK', Austria, 2004), London ('Klinker Nunhead', 2005), 'Cerkno Jazz Fest' (Slovenia, 2006, 2007), Avignon 2006, Zagreb, Graz , Warszawa (Music Academy), Budapest (Music Academy), Gyor, Subotica, Novi Sad, Debrecen , Vác 2007, Dunajska Streda (Are You Free? Festival), Beograd (Ring Ring Festival 2008, Lasciar Vibrare festival), Budapest (Újbuda Jazz festival 2008), Ljubljana, Krakow (Krakow Jazz Fall 2008, Graz (Stockwerk).

His orchestra plays contemporary improvised music, mostly performing his own compositions. As a composer, Mezei is interested in exploring the relationship between improvisation and composition (similarly to Witold Lutoslawski's aleatoric and Anthony Braxton's creative music methods), incorporating elements of jazz and authentic folk music as well. As a young musician he followed the path of B.Bartók and Gy.Szabados. Mezei is also very actively involved in composing scenic music and plays authentic Hungarian folk music on genuine folk instruments (koboz and oud).

Since 2001, Mezei is closely collaborating with choreographer Josef Nadj, director of the 'Centre Chorégraphique National d'Orléans' in Orléans, France. Their mutual project 'Les Philosophes' was selected theatre-piece of the year 2001 in France. The play was performed with great success at the 'Festival of Dance' in Cannes, France 2001, in Avignon 2002, in Brugge (Belgium - the capital of European Culture for the year 2002), in Orléans in October 2002, in Paris in May 2003, in Reggio Emilia (Italy), in Le Havre, in Nantes (France) 2004, and in London 2005. In 2006 they collaborated on a new project 'Asobu' (together with co-composer Akosh S.). This play was premiered at the Festival d'Avignon in 2006, then successfuly toured Europe and Japan.

In 2003 Mezei was invited by the Creative Workshop Ensemble of Denmark to tour in that country, performing some of his compositions.

In 2007 He was invited to play with The Fonda / Stevens Group. They held concerts in Magyarkanizsa, Zagreb, Graz, Oberwart, Cerkno, performing compositions by Michael Jefry Stevens, Joe Fonda and Mezei.

His 'String Trio' was performed at the Festival of Contemporary Music 'Ondine '98' in Rovereto, Italy . The composition 'Trio for Flute, Piano and Percussion' won the 3rd prize at the 7th International Review of Composers in Beograd 1998 in the category of student-composers. He got the 'Sterija Prize' for the music of the theatre-piece 'Szelídítések' (Tamings). In 2004 Mezei won also the prize for music at the 54th 'Festival of Professional Theatres' in Vojvodina (for the theatre-piece 'Via Italia'). In 2009 He won the prize for composition in Theater Festival "Joakim Vujic, Sabac, Serbia for the music in theater-piece "Tempest". As a performer Mezei participated in many workshops of improvised and intuitive music (with Tim Hodgkinson in Budapest, William Parker in Gy?r, among others). Played so far with musicians/improvisors like Matthias Schubert, Tamás Geröly, Róbert Benk?, György Szabados, Mihály Dresch, Michael Hornstein, Tim Hodgkinson, Albert Márkos, Peter Ole Jörgensen, Jens Balder, Joe Fonda, Michael Jefry Stevens, Joelle Leandre, Hamid Drake, Herb Robertson, Frank Gratkowski, Charles Gayle. His writings on music were published in many periodicals in Former-Yugoslavia and Hungary.

Mezei is a member of the Composers Association of Serbia and the Hungarian 'Gyorfree' Jazz, Improvisative, Contemporary and Folk Music Workshop Comitee.

He lead the Szilárd Mezei Trio, Szilárd Mezei Quintet (/ Sextet / Septet / Octet / Ensemble), and plays in many formations (duo, trio, etc.) for improvising music (among others, in duet with György Szabados, and with His orchestra MAKUZ, The Fonda/Stevens Group, Burány Quartet, duet with Albert Márkos)."

"Tim Trevor-Briscoe Saxophonist, clarinetist, composer.

Italian-British, currently resident in Bologna, who grew up in London. Exhibited at jazz from a young age but initially specialized in classical clarinet (1st clarinet National Youth Concert Band and others)

At the age of 18 he begins to travel as a clarinetist, spending many years in Nepal, India, Africa and ex-Yugoslavia, absorbing rhythms and experiences, dreams and nightmares, then moves to Scotland to finish his studies and here he starts to become more interested in the saxophone and jazz studies."

"The music of Nicola Guazzaloca integrates a variety of influences and approaches combined with sensitivity through personal choices and goals, working outside of gender, preferring uncompromising communication. Parallel to the deepening of his instrumental language, he elaborates a peculiar approach to composition, music organization and improvisation (under the guidance of Muhall R. Abrahms, Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Barre Phillips). In 2007 it was recognized by the specialized press (Jazz Music) among the most talented composers emerging in connection with the work with the quintet Comanda Barabba, avant-jazz training founded in the late 1990s. He has been part of the "Fete Foreign" ensemble, conducted by bassist Barre Phillips and various guitar-led cellist Tristan Honsinger, conducting his solo piano projects (Arcaic Techniques) and ensemble. He composed and played for cinema, theater, dance and multimedia with various awards (Prima Aziz '03, Favolando '04, Interculture Map '05). Since 2007, she has been a teacher of the Ivan Illich Music School in Bologna, where she has coordinated activities and conducts workshops and seminars. He has more than twenty publications (Leo Records, Rai Radio3, Amirani Records, Pig Set, Klopotec, Aut Records ...).

He has performed in international festivals and festivals in Italy, Germany, England, Russia, Portugal, Hungary, Serbia, Austria, Holland, France and Belgium, collaborating, playing and recording with many musicians including Tim Trevor-Briscoe, John Russell, Barre Phillips , Satsou Fukuda, Francesco Guerri, Mezei Szilard, Gianni Mimmo, Hannah Marshall, Gabriele Di Giulio, Tristan Honsinger, Edoardo Marraffa, Silvia Bolognesi, Sabir Mateen, Nils Gerold, Roger Turner, Christian Ferlaino, Piero Bittolo Bon, Luca Bernard, Gaetano Alfonsi Paulo Flaherty, Marcello Magliocchi, Stefano Giust, Carlo Mascolo, Rocco Papia, Lol Coxhill, Eugenio Sanna, Edoardo Ricci, Matthias Boss, Andrea Grillini, Ermanno Baron, Roberto Bellatalla, Davide Lorenzon, Maresuke Okamoto, Alex Ward, Joao Pedro Viegas, Taylor Ho Bynum, Carlos Zingaro, Harri Sjoestroem, Phil Minton, Luo Chao-yun, Thollem McDonas (piano duo), Maryclare Brzytwa, John Hughes, Peter Ajtai, Miklos Szilveszter.

He has given concerts in numerous festivals and shows, including Angelica Festival (Bologna IT), Long Arms Festival (Moscow RU), APositzia Festival (St. Petersburg RU), Ujbuda Jazz Festival (Budapest HU), Kanjiza Jazz Festival ), The Italian Jazz Rebels Festival (XM24 Bologna, the Seldic Meldola IT Area), the International Jazz Festival (Nijni Novgorod RU), the Rai Radio Tre - Battiti Series (Roma IT), Mopomoso (London UK) Orasara Jazz Festival (Orsara IT), Festival of Music Insolentes (Puget Ville FR), Avantgarde Jazz Festival (Imola IT), Sonora Festival Box (Alessandria IT), Massa Sonora Festival (Massalombarda IT), Suddenly Festival (Bologna IT), MamBo - Modern Art Museum (Bologna IT), Bordighera Jazz & Blues (Bordighera IT), Ceglie Jazz Open Festival (Ceglie IT), Monash University - Metastasio Festival (Prato IT), Ivan Il Terribile (Bologna IT) Free Flow Festival (Gravina IT), Limmitationes (Heiligenkreuz im Lafni (IT), Lucca IT (IT), Noise Delivery (Torino IT), Bimhuis (Amsterdam NL), Amigdala (Bologna IT), Jazz Unesco International Day ), Tell no lies (Bologna IT), MIA Music Improvisada Encounter (Atouguia da Baleia PT)."