Unfiltered, curious, bold: it’s Ananasnna
An unusual double duo plus electric bass
fighting formalities in “Veloci come in 500”
Led by Italian composer Stefano Risso, the band features
two alto sax players (Simone Garino and Davide Pignata)
and two drummers (Michele Bussone and Nicholas Remondino)
By picking the glorious Fiat Cinquecento as their cover image, Ananasnna kick off their game of references that mixes vintage and futuristic approaches. With the sharp dexterity of an artisan – one that rejects ready-to-use solutions – “Veloci come in 500” (“Fast as in a Cinquecento”) is Ananasnna’s debut album released by Auand Records. The Italian quintet actually identifies as a double duo plus one – the “one” being bass player and composer Stefano Risso, who penned all eight tracks for his four young aides: Simone Garino and Davide Pignata, both on alto sax, and Michele Bussone and Nicholas Remondino, both on drums.
Among the many stories of this record, the place of honor is for the spark that made it happen: a “recording jam” with Piedmont-based musicians suggested by Studio Rubedo’s Manuel Volpe. What started as a trio (sax, bass, and drums) quickly evolved into a double duo plus one. «Doubling an instrument in an ensemble – Stefano Risso recalls – is something I always find very interesting. It’s a sort of auditory illusion. It may not sound like you’re listening to two musicians on the same instrument. Instead, it might feel like a sort of four-armed “music Shiva”!»
Risso wanted this project to involve several creative challenges – he never meets the rest of the band. «Luckily everyone understood my intention. They are young and talented, with strong identities. They played along.» He listened to them online. They would only meet for one rehearsal, and then at the recording session. After five hours, a record was born.
Risso’s brave approach highlighted the qualities in the band. Drummers Michele Bussone e Nicholas Remondino «are interested in researching on timbers – he says – though in different directions. This creates more depth in the music, enriched by simple polyrhythms on different meters. Simone Garino is always in the frontline when more energy is needed. Davide Pignata loves afro beat and African groove. Not having a harmonic instrument partially conceals the texture: counterpoints arise. I think it’s music based on groove and at the same time it’s solid. Looking closer at the details can reveal many surprises.»
The band as a whole is key in all tracks (especially “Scatta il rosso”, “Peso a valle” and the only song in the album, “Arearitroso”). «When you find yourself in a recording session – Risso adds – and you don’t know much of the others, it’s likely that everyone’s ego tries to dominate, forgetting that music is only possible when playing together. This is why I tried to provide, as much as possible, structures that forced everyone to stay focused on the entire group. If I think of Ananasnna, words like unfiltered occur to me. That feeling of meeting someone for the first time and immediately wanting to uncover all of their traits, digging deep, and being amazed.»
1. Scatta il rosso 05:57
2. Peso a valle 04:06
3. Spariglio 05:36
4. Tu di là io DC Comics 05:54
5. ZeroCalorie 03:35
6. Il Gran San Bernardo 05:46
7. Le assurdiSio 04:34
8. Arearitroso 02:27
9. XXXNem_o 16:35
Ananasnna is:
Stefano Risso EKO 995 violin electric bass
Simone Garino alto sax
Davide Pignata alto sax
Michele Bussone drums
Nicholas Remondino drums
all compositions by Stefano Risso published by Jazz Engine
Produced by Stefano Risso
Exectuive producer: Marco Valente
Recorded at Rubedo Recordings, Torino, Italy
Mixed and mastered by Manuel Volpe
