Felix Peikli

Peikli began his musical life at eight, discovering jazz through the life-changing gift of a Goodman album from his grandfather and studying classical music with acclaimed clarinetist Fredrik Fors. He became the youngest recipient of the Capital of Norway Honors Prize and earned a full scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music before making an impact as a sideman and leader of the Felix Peikli Quartet, performing his own post-bop compositions with inspiration from global folk music.

After saluting the pioneering trio led by Benny Goodman in his last appearance during the 2019 San Francisco Jazz Festival, Peikli honors the legacy of DeFranco, a leader and collaborator with Count Basie, Stan Getz, and Oscar Peterson whose innovative style brought the fire and acuity of bebop to the clarinet.