Luca Collivasone / Gianni Mimmo

Audrey Lauro/Giotis Damianidis

Dark Ballads

Silent Water SW016/Mr. Nakayasi MN 007

Melding a saxophone’s extended techniques with the pulses and crackles created by an electrified instrument in real time calls for both players to have near extrasensory perception and instantaneous reactions. Luckily these sessions clearly posses these qualities, although the instrument and time frame for each is distinct. Featuring Italians, soprano saxophonist Gianni Mimmo, who has played with tonal innovators like Vinny Golia, and sound designer Luca Collivasone, who manipulates a self-created cacophonator, Rumpus Room was recorded without multi-tracking or overdubbing in separate session over an 11 month period. Somehow common ground is reached for idiosyncratic reed patterns and quirky noises produced by a sewing machine with attached chassis plus recycled springs, hardware tools, toys and other implements. More conventional in instrumentation Dark Ballads features Belgian alto saxophonist Audrey Lauro, who has played with the likes of Peter Evans and Greek electric guitarist Giotis Damianidis, who works with Akira Sakata among others. The six tracks were recorded in one session and presented in their original form.

Although it’s the three variants of the title tune that create a leitmotif for Dark Ballads, other tracks are as innovative. For instance the constant rhythmic flow of rubbing string patterns stabilizes “Almandin” as Lauro’s whimpering reed bites become higher pitched and more eviscerated during each chorus. Finally they shatter into jagged split tones that brush against Damianidis’s knife-style stabs. Interestingly each version of “Dark Ballads” separated by other tracks offers a near-contradictory mood. “Dark Ballads Pt. 1” for instance is a relaxed respite from the rasping first track, with buzzing guitar flanges and accented reed split tones creating a clean tremolo narrative. “Dark Ballads Pt. 3” sums up the program with warmer extensions. Swaying timbres link the two allowing reed trills move the narrative to a focused conclusion while decorated with Arcadian frails from the guitarist. Still “Dark Ballads Pt. 2” offers the most variety. Shaking, the buzzing intersections eventually define the sophisticated exposition after Lauro propels altissimo smears steadily upwards and Damianidis connects to them with buzzing twangs. Below the bridge string scratches and palm percussion vibrate to stake out a guitar refrain alongside reed overblowing.

With its dual genesis in Rube Goldberg and Pierre Schaeffer, Collivasone’s cacophonator is often the focal point of Rumpus Room. This is particularly obvious in the disc’s concluding sequences. Pounding on wood and metal as springs echo characterizes “Nattmara”, for example. Yet there and elsewhere, Mimmo doggedly insists on chromatic lines to preserve the exposition with straight-ahead trills. Meanwhile Collivasone further detonates ring-modulator-like gongs and mumbled voice samples. The invention’s wacky commotion is emphasized throughout with noises resembling furniture movement, rocket-launching and rubber-band-like undulations. Yet the saxophonist’s sound strategies not only complement many of the sounds but also slip distinctive overblowing, flattement, tongue trilling and stuttering flutters among the cacophonator’s blasts. Furthermore although Collivasone’s manipulations can suggest the textures of an entire rhythm section of guitar flanges, double bass slaps and drum thumps, as it does on “As You Certainly Know”, the saxophonist’s flutters and slurs keep the track’s evolution horizontal. Resolution of the concept is on the concluding “Longing of a Dragonfly”. As bell-tolling and earth-moving groans from the cacophonator join with guitar-like string slashes, Mimmo stays focused on a quick tongued theme extension and in derision or triumph ends the tune and the CD with extended sweet glissandi.

Close listening and instantaneous challenge-response characterize both CDs as each duo confirms unshakable commend of the material.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Dark: 1. Obsidienne 2. Dark Ballads Pt. 1 3. Almandin 4. Dark Ballads Pt. 2 5. Béryl Rouge 6. Dark Ballads Pt. 3

Personnel: Dark: Audrey Lauro (alto saxophone) and Giotis Damianidis (guitar)

Track Listing: Rumpus: 1. Township Ecstasies 2. Whirling Sema 3. Swooning Benefit 4. As You Certainly Know 5. Nattmara 6. Severe 7. Beyond Turbulence 8. Longing of a Dragonfly /

Personnel: Rumpus: Gianni Mimmo (soprano saxophone) and Luca Collivasone (cacophonator)