BIOGRAPHY

MARIO LAYNE FABRIZIO is the essence of a contemporary renaissance-man putting forth movement to encourage rebirth in society towards wisdom, intuition and to inspire society to seek and find their truest selves. His work is multidisciplinary creating as a visual artist, composer, drummer, percussionist, filmmaker and writer. Around the world MARIO has been presented at The Whitney Museum, Salzburg Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Panama Jazz Festival, Birdland, Kunming’s International Drum Festival and the Kennedy Center. He has performed with notable musicians such as Cecil Mcbee, Claudio Roditi, Nilson Matta, Santi DeBriano, Joe Morris, Ali Boulo Santo Cissoko, Jason Palmer, Oran Etkin, Noah Preminger and Volker Goetze. Works he’s premiered include The Black Clown at American Repertory Theatre, Arturo O'Farrill’s Little Tiny Walls and showcasing in Jason Moran’s STAGED exhibition. London Jazz News describes him pretty accurately as "ferocious but subtle," and Steve Smith of On The Record says that he presents “with assurance, charisma and infectious enthusiasm.” Compositions of his have been acknowledged by the NYTIMES, ALLMUSIC, FRANCEMUSIQUE and you may find in depth interviews about his visual art and multimedia works that are said to be “surreal, trippy dreamscapes” (Seattle Met) in SEATTLEREFINED & KOMO NEWS as the artist of the week, JazzTimes and most recently in Earshot. MARIO’s works have been commissioned by National Sawdust, and recently, he completed a triptych mural project for MadArt. Poetry and language exists to MARIO as a means of compressing abstract thought into stories, some of which are his published poetry in Art and Letters and his features at Boston’s Intercollegiate Poetry Festival and Grolier. He has won awards, grants, and/or fellowships with YoungArts, MassMOCA, Assets for Artists, Jack Straw Cultural Center, Mass Cultural Council, San Francisco EBCP and the Foundation for Contemporary Art. MARIO graduated with a BA in Jazz Studies from Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory in 2018 and throughout that time, he studied with an array of teachers like Jabali Billy Hart, Cecil McBee, Joe Morris, Vijay Iyer and Jason Moran. Studies before college were also formative and inspiring as he worked through the various programs with New Jersey’s Jazz House Kids,a jazz and community program run by Melissa Walker and Christian McBride. Currently, his art exhibition “THE LAST MAGICIAN” is installed from January - March 2024 at AXIS GALLERY in Pioneer Square.

BRIEF STATEMENT

“Magic and mystery: living by the foundations and implications of these words have transformed my life to allow for an intrigue and understanding of a deeper part of human experience. I understand that at the basis of humanity, we have always desired creation; we have always needed to take the leap of faith, trust the unknown since we have always been intrigued by the jungle of mystery. The multimedia artwork that I create including paintings, sculptures, moving pictures and music (with and without words) are ongoing fables and tales that are completed as my life continues. It is in tandem with my own journey and I communicate through this art, solidified versions of the evolving mythology of our current day utilizing an artistic manner that in based in variety, contrast, theme and an agglomeration of the things that inspire me and that inspire the world in the present, past and future. I intend to create art that is entirely me, rooted in my emotion, body, mind and spirit.”