About Me
MEDITERRANEO is: LYDIA FILIPOVIC vocal, THEODOSII SPASSOV kaval, INBAR FRIDMAN guitar, CAMELIA BEN NACEUR piano, OLIVIER GATTO bass & arranger,SPECIAL GUEST BILLY COBHAM drums .......................... LYDIA FILIPOVIC's Mediterraneo ......................................A multi-cultural mix of swinging and intricate rhythms, beautiful soulful melodies, perfect phrazing, great arrangements, all of this combining for one purpose, to deliver an intense emotion to the audience. 2005, saw the raise of a new project "Mediterraneo". She sings Greek, French, Italian, Romanian, Montenegrin, Macedonian songs in a totally contemporary way with new Jazz arrangements from Olivier Gatto's pen. The Band includes drummer Billy Cobham, kaval player Theodosii Spassov, guitarist Inbar Fridman, pianist Cam..lia Ben Naceur and bassist Olivier Gatto. Different from „Nekada“ and its traditionnal colors, based mostly on more contemporary material „Mediterraneo“ is a musical trip through the different cultures surrounding the beautiful sea. Dark, joyful, sad, happy, meditative, proud, contemplative, the music of „Mediterraneo“ reflects the different feelings of the mediterranean people.With this new band she performed at the Bucharest Jazz Festival in October 2005, Nish Jazz Festival 2006, North City Jazz Festival in Kosovo, Zvecanin. Lydia Filipovic is one of the few singers in Europe able to pass from the Jazz standards to the most contemporary sounds without loosing her personnality. Because she has an inner creative force and a soulful approach, the creators of yesterday and of today, are recognizing in her one of them. ............................................................ ...................................................... OLIVIER GATTO, born in Manosque ( France ) on January 22nd, 1963. Started his musical career as the first bass player of the French Air Force Big Band. Went to Berklee College of Music where beside studying Jazz arranging & composition he played with other students such as : Roy Hargrove, Antonio Hart, Delfeayo Marsalis, Julian Joseph, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mark Turner, Sam Newsome, Geoff Keezer, Danilo Perez, Chris Cheek among others. Left school to perform with trombone legend Slide Hampton and then performed in Europe or in the USA with : Joe Henderson, Bill Evans, Billy Cobham, John Stubblefield, Billy Hart, Ernie Watts, James Williams, Ravi Coltrane, Vincent Herring, Eric Reed, Eric Alexander... Beside being a bass player he has also worked as a producer on Giorgos Kontrafouris' "Sonny Clark Project", he arranged and produced Lydia Filipovic " Nekada", "Mediterraneo" projects and "Butterfly Dreams". Have recorded with Salif Keita & Cesaria Evora ( "Yamore" ) nominated for the Grammy Award in 2003....& with Billy Cobham, John Stubblefield, George Cables, Roberto Gatto, Craig Bailey, Mino Cinelu, Sam Newsome, Mark Turner.... He has also played with : Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Gary Smulyan, Mike Stern, Theodosii Spassov, Jeff Watts, Victor Lewis, Danilo Rea, Junior Cook, Dick Griffin, Virgil Jones, Eddie Henderson, Clark Terry, Rick Margitza, Keith Copeland, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Dusko Gojkovic, Stjepko Gut, Stafford James, Glenn Miller Memorial Orchestra..... Team mates : Benjamin Henocq, Lydia Filipovic, Fred Borey, Camélia Ben Naceur, Stefano Lucchini, Inbar Fridman, David Patrois, Mathieu & Thomas Saint Laurent.....
