Album Notes

Geni is a Shakuhachi & jazz flute player based in Boston. He was classically trained in Albania (Academy of Arts). Before moving to the US, Geni performed all around Europe, playing in orchestras and bands in Albania, Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Slovenia. He has also performed in jazz clubs, concert halls, and on national television.

In August of 2003 Geni was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music. He is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Contemporary Improvisation at New England Conservatory where he has received a merit scholarship. After moving to Boston, Geni found himself immersed in the local music scene, he has since been playing around the city. This has led to interesting collaborations both Live and in the Studio with talented musicians such as Dave Fiuczynski, Bob Moses, The Violent Femmes with Brian Tiraku Ritchie, Matt Marvuglio, Mark Walker, Bruce Nieske, Sal deFusco, Dave Harris, and Björn Wennås to name just a few.

Geni has played at Mathews Arena, Berklee Performance Center, Jordan Hall (at New England Conservatory), RegattaBar Jazz Club, Ryles Jazz club, The Middle East Club, Bob the Chef’s, Phoenix Landing, Tir Na Nog, Cantab Lounge, Zeitgeist Galleria, The Four Seasons Hotel, John Hancock Building, and a plethora of local churches.
He has given Workshops at Berklee College of Music & UMass Boston

While classically trained, Geni’s great love is for Jazz and World Music. With his bands he performs Contemporary Jazz, using ethnic instruments.

Dominik Wania was born in Sanok, Poland and began the study of piano at the age three. He attended elementary and secondary music schools in Sanok, and graduated from the Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland in 2005 where he was an honors music student studying classical piano performance. In 2006-2008 he was the recipient of Helena Foundation Presidential Scholarship at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he pursued Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance. While at NEC Dominik studied with Danilo Perez, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone and Frank Carlberg.

In 2001, Dominik received first prize in the Tadeusz Zmudzinski Scholarship in Krakow. In 1997 he met the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski, as a representative the many gifted youth of Poland. In 1998, he was named Art and Culture Laureate of Nagroda Miasta Sanoka (the town of Sanok Prize), in 1999 he received a scholarship from the Polish Prime Minister and in 2007 became an Honorable Member of Sanok Musical Society. Dominik is the recipient of numerous awards, including first prize in the 7th Annual International Contest of Contemporary Chamber Music in Krakow; first place and honorable mention in the 7th Polish Contest of Jazz Standards, Siedlce, 2003; first place in the 6th Polish Festival of Young Jazz and Blues Bands, Gdynia, 2003; and first place in the International Contest Jazz Juniors, Krakow, 2004, honorable mention at Jazz nad Odra, Wroclaw, 2005, first place in the 2nd Jazz Pianist Competition, Warsaw, 2005. He has performed with many prominent musicians: Jacek Kochan, Zbigniew Namyslowski, Janusz Muniak, Jan Pilch, Franz Hautzinger, Andy Manndorff, Dante Luciani, Gary Thomas, George Garzone to name just a few.