Franco Degrassi/ Gianni Lenoci (CD)
piano, musical workstation, environmental and acoustic sounds
This is why I review records. The label says they put out "contemporary jazz," but this isn’t jazz-like at all. It’s first-rate, highly imaginative free improvisation that doesn’t swing or have any connection to the blues. With the mysterious "instrumentation" listed, it’s anybody’s guess who plays what or how the two produce the ravishing sounds they do. On luxurious, long tracks like "3" (almost exactly ten minutes long) the guys coax a heavenly range of harmonics from their axes. "5" evokes a large group of thumb pianos leading a collective of gregarious acoustics. "7" is an aching, plaintive piece that stirs up a penumbra full of longing. If Ligeti worked in the free improv music scene, he might make pieces like this. For fans of Tamia and Pierre Favre (worth seeking out!), this is must listening. As for Degrassi and Lenoci, long may they record!
Richard Grooms
ASC Records Ltd.
145A Chester Rd.
Macclesfield, Cheshire
England SK11 8PT
U.K.