With special guests Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Isotope
217), Scott Amendola (Nels Cline Singers), DJ Olive (Sonic Youth, MMW), and Ron
Miles (Bill Frisell), The Bottesini Project came together in August 2007 to
meld Denver’s thriving free improv scene with some of the finest
instrumentalists in the world. Bringing to the stage three musicians with
tremendous skill and diversity and adding a quartet featuring some of the best
players in Denver today created a night of music to remember!
With no preparation, rehearsal, or discussion, the band hit the stage with the
intent to explore the coming together of seven musical personalities, guided
only by the spirit of free improvisation. However, this music differs greatly
from the commonly expected result of free improv. Instead of meandering, pulse
free atmospheres, this band has an uncanny ability to create the impression of
composed, rehearsed music. There are songs spontaneously born, strong grooves,
and overall a feeling that all seven of these musicians were locked into each
other’s presence.
The concert was produced by Westword’s 2008 Mastermind recipient Creative Music
Works, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of musical
innovators. Knowing that this performance would be the only chance to capture
the unique energy of the first encounter, the night was recorded for release.
The result is one hundred minutes of music, spanning two discs, that covers a
stunning amount of territory, and both shows off the great individual talents
involved as well as the synergy of the ensemble as a whole.
This
Bottesini Project is:
Paul Riola: Tenor, Soprano Saxes &
Electronics
Jeff Parker: Guitar
Scott Amendola: Percussion & Electronics
DJ Olive: Turntables & Laptop
Ron Miles: Cornet
Glenn Taylor: Pedal Steel
Doug Anderson: Bass |
