Filippo Valli is a Swiss alto saxophonist and composer from Switzerland.
He discovered his love for the saxophone at the age of 7 and pursued it with passion until it became his profession. Guided by the renowned teacher Gabriele Comeglio, he began exploring jazz in his hometown before deepening his studies at the Civica Scuola di Jazz Claudio Abbado in Milan. There, under the tutelage of leading Italian jazz musicians, including Paolo Tomelleri, Enrica Intra, Giulio Visibelli, Marco Vaggi, Franco D'Andrea, Claudio Fasoli, and many others, he honed his skills as an alto and tenor saxophonist, performing with renowned bands.
After graduating, he completed a master's degree at the Hochschule Musik in Lucerne, refining his craft under the guidance of esteemed musicians such as Nat Su, John Voirol, Handy Herrmann, Nils Wogram, Michael Arbenz, Heiri Känzig, Jean-Paul Brodbeck, and others. In Lucerne, he gained professional experience playing with various bands and collaborating with some of the best musicians on the international jazz scene, including Peter Erskine, John Patitucci, Wayne Bergeron, Louis Cole, Genevieve Artadi, Ingrid Laubrock, Marius Neset, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Valli has performed extensively throughout Switzerland and is involved in numerous musical projects both as a leader and a sideman, showcasing his talent and original compositions. He is a respected figure in the Swiss jazz scene.
Filippo Valli draws inspiration from promising up-and-coming bands, often from American soil. Names such as Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Braxton Cook, Marquis Hill, Soweto Kinch, Marcus Strickland, Terrace Martin, and many others populate his list of musical influences, and their complex ensembles provide fertile ground for his creativity. However, it is the soul of "black music" that permeates his art. Through the enveloping sounds of blues, soul, and funk, Valli transports the listener to a universe all his own. With his compositions, Valli creates an engaging and evocative musical journey, drawing on a range of emotions from pure fun to deep contemplation.
