Rick Mathis
What impresses me most is that, unlike many other electronic musicians, Ceccarelli's playing has the distinct ability to "breathe" just as much as his fellow artist's acoustic instruments. The music seems to float, mingle, seperate, and then join again as a beautiful tapestry of sound is produced. Mesmerizing!!! 😎
"Open Border is a beautiful, truly collaborative project between Ken Vandermark on reed instruments, Luigi Ceccarelli on electronics, Hamid Drake on drums and Gianni Trovalusci on flutes... Interplay between Drake and Vandermark stellar as always, as is the light and fluid section for flute and electronic sound, and graceful spoken vocalization leading everyone to come together for a elegant and memorable conclusion. This was a unique and very enjoyable album, taking three stellar instrumentalists and adding Ceccarelli to create electronic sound and process the other band members playing in real time to create a vibrant and rich performance that continuously moves in dynamic and spontaneous ways." -Tim Niland, Music and More, April 4, 2020
—
This first-time encounter was recorded during a concert at the magnificent Chiesa di San Giacomo - Complesso Museale San Domenico - Forlì, for the Forlì Open Music Festival on October 14th, 2018. The music performed has the impact of that magnificent space and, like the architecture, is both expansive and extreme. Configurations of the participants shift from passages of solo to quartet, and the improvisations move between pure texture and evolving melodicism.
Luigi Ceccarelli, who has been working with electronics since 1970, and has won numerous electronic music awards, not only creates his own incredible web of sound, but also processes the other musicians' playing in real time. Hamid Drake, one of the most respected percussionists in the world today, goes deep into free territory here, making the recording an even more unique document. The reed combinations between Gianni Trovalusci's flutes and Ken Vandermark's clarinet and tenor sax give the proceedings a unique spacial and dynamic character, one that is informed by Trovalusci's investigation of the contemporary repertoire and early music, along with Vandermark's decades-long history of collaborating with musicians from around the world.
The music on Open Border defies musical conventions and boundary lines. Instead it focuses on a search for creative ground without categories. It is a recording of improvised music invented at the highest level, spontaneous and timeless, energized and austere, always exhilarating.
credits
released March 23, 2020
Luigi Ceccarelli: electronics
Hamid Drake: drums
Gianni Trovalusci: flutes
Ken Vandermark: reeds
Music recorded live in concert by Luigi Ceccarelli at Forlí Open Music, October 14th, 2018. Mastered by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Service.
Thanks to to the musicians; Sam Clapp and Federico Peñalva for their assistance at Audiographic Records; and to the listeners.
Special thanks to Ariele Monti and the Area Sismica crew.
Cover painting and design by Federico Peñalva
Executive producers: Ariele Monti and Area Sismica, and Ken Vandermark
Produced by Ken Vandermark for Audiographic Records
Simply amazing to hear a new album with Wadada and Ewart!! ...And Reed rounds out this trio beautifully.
Just gave it my first spin. Absolutely magical. jeffrey maurer