NEW YORK, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- A 14-year-old saxophone prodigy from Italy wowed attendees for three nights at the International Association for Jazz Education's 31st annual conference.
The conference, which concluded early Sunday, drew more than 7,000 educators, musicians, students and industry representatives from 35 countries.
Countless eyes were on Francisco Cafiso, an alto saxophonist who performed nightly with pianist James Williams, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Ben Riley in the program's late night club café series, United Press International reported.
Each night, the crowd roared its approval at his first U.S. series of performances.
Cafiso, a native of Victoria in Sicily's Ragusa province, took up the horn at age 7 and became a member of the Mediterranean Jazz Orchestra at age 9. His spirited tone is reminiscent of late saxophonist Sonny Stitt, but his playing is not at all derivative.
Last summer, he toured and performed across Europe with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Marsalis took Cafiso under his wing after hearing his band open for the LCJO at the 30th annual Pescara Jazz Festival.
Last week, IAJE also presented Cafiso with its third annual International Jazz Award. It includes a $5,000 prize and an opportunity to play at a minimum of six international jazz festivals this summer.
