Kiko Berenguer is one of the most brilliant and expressive saxophonists among his generation. With a very personal style, forged from his origins and rich musical experiences, his saxophone arises as one of the most original and innovative sounds in the musical scene. Born in Xabia (Alicante), he took his first steps in the musical word in the local symphonic band, afterwards he studied at the Valencia Conservatory, where he got his diploma as Professor of music. Later he extended his studies at the Lyceum in Barcelona, and he received some lessons from some of such prestigious professors like Daniel Deffayet and Jean Marie Londeix (Paris). Ralph Moore and Chriss Cheek (N.Y.)
His endless musical interest, has taken Kiko Berenguer to deepen himself in his own roots and to assimilate music from different cultures as Jazz and Flamenco. In his very personal musical language the strength of the beat and the emotion of these styles go hand in hand with the expressiveness he has reached in his interpretation along the years, as it is shown in his last recorded work “Aire”.
He has worked with musicians of international prestige, like Richie Cole, Dennis Rowland, Madeleine Bell, Pat Metheni, MP Mossman, Skip Hadden, Michel Camilo, Claudio Roditi. He recorded together with Terell Stafford his first CD as a lead saxo , “Papi toca el saxo” (“Dad plays saxo”)in his project “Kiko Berenguer Jazzmakers”.
He has played in most of Spanish Jazz Festivals like San Sebastian, Alicante, San Javier (Murcia), Valencia, Madrid, etc. as well as in other countries like France, Switzerland (Montreux), Germany, Portugal, Italy, Canada (Montreal).
He does complement his work as musician, with participations in different international seminars as teacher of saxophone and big band. Also, he is actually the artistic director of the International Festival “Xabia jazz”.
Berenguer shows as a sensitive spirit through phrasing, which he materialises with powerful sonority embellished with great variety of suances.............Vicente Ménsua, Cuadernos de Jazz.
