Gianni Mimmo - Prossime Trascendenze (AMIRANI RECORDS 2017)

Forms, shapes, their dislocation in space, their own dynamics, functions, their contagious outputs and expressive inner logic.

Constellations, definitely.

Composing was to look at them as parts of a complex system, keeping transparency in mind as the final goal […] 

Gianni Mimmo

Pivotal work in Mimmo’s discography this “Prossime Trascendenze” explores the intriguing relationships between composed and improvised forms, “tight corners” and collective interplay.

A seamless orchestration toward a higher level of articulation that leads the listener through a textural pulsing structure where enlightened details deliver a splendid intelligibility.

In his liner Massimo Ricci states: […] Across the contrapuntal tableau and the solipsistic fragments we can walk slowly, inhale deeply and observe the small particles against the light rays […]

“Prossime Trascendenze” is a body of compositions Gianni Mimmo wrote between 2014 and 2015, consisting of graphic scores intended as formal structures and improvisational strategy for Quintet and Sextet ensembles.

The scores are quite detailed (duration, height, dynamics, etc.), as the idea is to develop a kind of strategy by moving across the given form. According to Mimmo’s definition these scores provoke a “Navigation through form”: “I consider these scores as maps traced on a puddle. A single touch can transform the whole reflection, delivering rippled skies, deviating the calm transit of generous clouds” […]

Due Sestetti (2015)

1 Daphne

2 The Nestled Thought

Cinque Multipli (2014)

3 Ivy and Birds

4 Five Facet

5 Esercizio della Distanza

6 Dress Code

7 Aspera

Basset Horn – Michele Marelli (tracks: 1,2)

Composed By, Producer, Soprano Saxophone – Gianni Mimmo

Double Bass – Fabio Sacconi (tracks: 1,2)

Edited By, Mixed By – Fabio Sacconi

English Horn – Mario Arcari (tracks: 3,4,5,6,7)

French Horn – Martin Mayes (tracks: 3,4,5,6,7)

Graphics – Mirko Spino

Liner Notes – Massimo Ricci

Mastered By – Maurizio Giannotti

Percussion – Marco Clivati (tracks: 3,4,5,6,7)

Recorded By – Alberto Callegari

Trombone – Angelo Contini (tracks: 1,2)

Trumpet – Mario Mariotti (tracks: 1,2)

Viola – Benedict Taylor (tracks: 1,2)

Violin – Alison Blunt (tracks: 3,4,5,6,7)

All music composed by Gianni Mimmo

Recorded at Elfo Studio on November 26, 2014 and on May, 15, 2015.

Sound Engineer: Alberto Callegari

Editing and mixing: Fabio Sacconi

Mastering: Maurizio Giannotti, New Mastering studio, Milano, Italy

Liner notes: Massimo Ricci

Graphics: Mirko Spino

Produced by Gianni Mimmo for Amirani Records

Luca Segala Libertrio - La Rete Di Indra (AMIRANI RECORDS 2017)

Libertrio is the newest project of Luca Segala: another interesting investigation on post-jazz language through a very personal saxophone voice, here interplaying with drums and double bass, delivering luminous frames and complexity of the lines, dense trialogues and classical clarity. Intriguing, assertive, evocative and really good.

1 Tony's Hungry 7:52

2 My Sweet Home 6:16

3 Little Suite 5:42

4 The Charm of the Dance 4:55

5 Acqua 8:12

6 L'occhio di Nina 6:45

7 A Prayer 5:43

8 Prendi i soldi e scappa 3:35

Luca Segala: tenor saxophone

Gianluca Alberti: double bass

Tony Boselli: drums

Gianni Lenoci / Francesco Cusa - Wet Cats (AMIRANI RECORDS 2017)

Stunning interplay, sound consciousness, colour palette of the richest kind. A musical exploration driven through expressive depths, textures delights and complex pixeling sparks, by two cutting edge musicians who really master their instruments in the most flexible way without losing a solid, bodied sound. Lenoci and Cusa, already bold presences on Amirani catalogue, really play a pregnant interaction on this Wet Cats album where everything moves fluidly through eccentric creative circles of inspired music. Don’t miss it!

Ultimissimo titolo Amirani pubblicato in catalogo (siamo al numero 52), “We Cats” sancisce l’incontro al vertice tra Gianni Lenoci (piano, anche preparato, e flauto in legno) e Francesco Cusa(batteria).

Il musicista pugliese e quello siciliano hanno in verità background piuttosto dissimili ma in questa registrazione effettuata in studio a Monopoli si concedono l’uno all’altro al meglio delle loro capacità, conseguendo in modo facile ed esemplare un risultato finale degno di applausi. Qui il loro dialogo prende forma in un unico brano improvvisato per cinquantuno minuti di musica avvincente e proteiforme.

La coppia parte in sordina, in modo circospetto, attendendo una scintilla creativa che non tarda ad arrivare. Cusa stuzzica nervosamente i piatti mentre Lenoci agisce tra tastiera e cordiera. Dopo il sesto minuto i due sono già a bordo, nella cabina di comando di un aeroplano che lentamente decolla tra accordi pieni, acciaccature, sfregamenti, note percussive e sbattimenti ritmici. Raggiunta una certa quota il volo resta orizzontalmente sospeso nel vuoto, cullato da una lieve inerzia microtonale.

D’improvviso, al quindicesimo minuto, si affronta una moderata perturbazione atmosferica generata dal frenetico sovrapporsi timbrico e ritmico dei rispettivi strumenti. Un paio di minuti dopo torna la quiete. L’atmosfera è tersa, neoclassicamente rarefatta. Arriva quindi un pindarico crescendo di piano accompagnato da un intenso rollio percussivo. Il velivolo prende velocità ma segue una rotta folle e irregolare, rischiando a tratti di precipitare. I due piloti se ne accorgono e riprendono il controllo sui tempi pressanti di moderne variazioni impro-jazz.

Dopo il trentesimo minuto spengono inspiegabilmente i motori, facendo vibrare il suono con labili rintocchi. Il viaggio riprende su motivi prima ripetitivi e poi istericamente sconnessi. La tastiera di Lenoci arde note su note, la batteria di Cusa accelera la loro combustione. 

Al quarantacinquesimo la conversazione diventa concitata, il velivolo risale in quota un’ultima volta. Il viaggio però volge al termine, la meta è all’orizzonte. Si plana e atterra dolcemente, cullati dall’infantile e impercettibile soffio del flauto. File under: impro aerodinamica. Sound Contest / Olindo Fortino

1 Wet Cats 51:36

Gianni Lenoci Piano, Flute, Producer

Francesco Cusa Drums, Producer

Sestetto Internazionale - Aural Vertigo (AMIRANI RECORDS 2017)

SESTETTO INTERNAZIONALE features some of the most original and sincere voices in contemporary improvised music scene.

The 2015 tremendous Finland tour Harri Sjöström set up made this band play in several venues and theatres.

The recordings of the two concerts at Kanneltalo theatre in Helsinki and at Sibelius Museum in Turku are on this album.

The combination of SESTETTO INTERNAZIONALE

instrumental voices (a really unusual line-up!!!) looks as designed to generate an original creative process that involves the listener to observe the multiple, sometime mirroring, interplay, the collective timbral palette, the different and simultaneous sound consistencies and the single, respective paths.

Reciprocal listening, intelligible architecture, lyrical streams and seamless orchestration: the music, simply beautiful.

At times it looks detailed as an astral map crossed with a high degree of liberty showing distant connections, lyrical lines, dramatic changes, different depths.

At times it is intimate and chamber scented. Suddenly, angular collective pulses gently merge to splendid dialogues in a natural transparency, sound vertigos land on flowing microtonal backgrounds.

Aural

Vertigo

Harri Sjöström: soprano and sopranino saxophones

Gianni Mimmo: soprano saxophone

Alison Blunt: violin

Achim Kaufmann: piano

Veli Kujala: quarter tone accordion

Ignaz Schick: turntables