Stick and String quartet/sextet (Italy)
The Stick & String quartet is a truly contemporary ensemble, somehow faithful to the traditional string quartet structure while incorporating a strong jazz idiom merged with traditional folklore. Started at the end of ‘91 the S&S has produced 2CDs as a quartet and has now expanded to become a sextet including two violins, cello, sax, drums and bass. Evident is the influence of balcanic, klezmer and gipsy melodies, with some hints of middle and far eastern atmospheres cropping up here and there. The S&S sound is often moody and melancholy, the execution is measured, carefully avoiding unnecessary solos.
The members of the band come from the most diverse experiences and belong to the same musical breed, open minded and exploratory musicians who can never resist the temptation of trying new avenues. These previous experiences can be read between the lines of the compositions and contribute to create a music that is rich and enjoyable, evocative and somewhat pictorial.
Svoboda Orchestra (Italy)
A merger between the Stick & String Quartet and Svoboda, an ensemble of musicians from disparate backgrounds.
The orchestra includes a string quartet, vocals, clarinet, acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums and percussions plus guest artists.
The resulting sound is distinctly original and is representative of a new open minded trend.
The solid but gentle and imaginative rithmic base supports the interweaving of unexpected melodic lines, drawing inspiration from the archive of our unconscious memory and the innate curiosity of musical sentiment.
The Svoboda Orchestra plays both original compositions and remakes of known songs. The interpretation ranges from the quotation of chamber music tradition to the atmosphere of a nomadic wedding party.
Robat (UK/Italy)
(Roberto Battista) with a past in bands ranging from free improvisation to eclectic contemporary/jazz/ethnic, originally part of the group of musicians that are now members of the Orchestra Svoboda and the Stick&String Sextet. Now playing and recording solo work for manipulated, fretless, e-bowed guitar and toy keyboards. Trying to find an expressive way to produce emotional timeless music, combining sharp panicky urban sounds with meditative fragile microtonal minimalism. Blending the compositional madness of Zappian root with the methodology and atmosphere of Fripp’s sensitivity. Frisell, Dr. Nerve’s Didkowsky and Frith are the other acknowledged inspirations. (Robat is also the creator and organiser of RustyRobot).
Robin Jones/Ian Millican (UK)
Robin is a master guitarist able to combine the pure and warm tone of the acoustic guitar with subtle use of the guitar synth. Virtuoso player when required he is measured and inventive all the time. Ian Millican is an ideal counterpart, he plays the 10 string acoustic guitar with all the flair and passion of South America, creating a finely threaded carpet of sound, cleverly interweaving it with Robin’s motifs. The duo’s live performance is a real treat while their recordings are full of surprises and colour.
While the duo plays original and inventive compositions the style of musicians like Gismonti, McLaughlin and Metheny is detectable as a source of inspiration, if you like this style you will love the Duo.
Robin Jones/Richard Miles (UK)
The combination of Robin’s elecroacoustic and synth guitar with the “stick” played by Richard results in a challenging blend of sounds. Far from the sweetness of the acoustic duo this is a completely different aspect of Robin’s playing, This music evolves along unexpected lines and sequences, looping to create complex landscapes of sampled and synthetic sounds. The guitar and the stick blend into calm seas of aural drones or chase each other in intricate contemporary architectures.
Richard’s way of playing the stick lets him create dense threads of polyrithmic textures onto which he weaves elaborate motifs. A rich and challenging listening experience, full of surprises.
Passion Dance (UK)
Another project by Robin Jones, on the same lines of the duo with Ian Millican. Robin’s partner is here Savash Saka. Yet another aural feast for lovers of the guitar sound.
A further project for a trio under the same name is being developed, out soon....
NTT (UK)
Finely constructed atmospheres evolve throughout Entity’s compositions taking the listener into a relaxed meditative state. Ambient music on an almost drum’n’bass structure, varied and full of unexpected twists, elegant and delicate, this is music that filters straight to the emotional side of listening.
Roberto Manes (UK/Italy)
Jazz blends with ethnic colours in a music of total openness, meditative and relaxed, varied and deep.Roberto’s violin dances with the finely woven carpet of tabla percussions to create a gentle music coloured with eastern flavours. The rarefied atmosphere is sustained by a solid flow of gently evolving rythm in relaxing and compelling sequences. The virtuoso performance of all the musicians involved never becomes protagonism and the result is a beautifully crafted work of total sincerity. Hints of blues merge seamlessly to create an altogether original and unusual blend of sounds. Meditative and lively at the same timeRoberto Manes music ranks with the finest in this genre, where jazz and ethnic traditions blend harmoniously.
This is music that takes the listener drifting to far away places as well as inner ones.
Phase Space (UK/Italy)
A project by Davide Mantovani involving various first rate performers.
Davide is a composer of rare versatility and a bass player of fine personality. His music spans from circus compositions to complex Zappa-like constructions, from gentle meditative drones to modern classical style - all sustained by clever bass playing in the best modern jazz tradition. Intelligent and intellectual without being snobbish or difficult Davide’s production is a typical example of how different traditions can blend harmoniously to create a new breed of cross-cultural music.
Louis Borenius Coup D’Etat (UK)
Louis is a percussionist who has been around for years playing with an impressive list of big names in Jazz, Salsa, Samba, Funky...
The distinctive sound of his Simmons Silicon Mallets swings in and out of different but always playful atmospheres. Last of the Aztecs is Louis’ own project but you can hear him with Big Chief too. A warm, full and lively breeze runs along the tunes, making Coup D’Etat a thoroughly enjoyable band.
A forthcoming project is a collection of Louis’ compositions for guitar, performed by six different guitarists. Soon out.
Michael Greene Band (France/USA)
Michael is a pure guitar player in the truest sense, the bare blues soul and the traditional sound of the southern States are untampered in Mike’s music. He plays a variety of guitars, including Dobro, and his music is always warm, soulful and incontaminated.
Mike plays with a number of different bands and is now developing a project where the American guitar tradition is merged with African sounds and rithms with unexpected results. Mike’s live CD Southern Wind represents his more bluesy side, we are expecting to publish soon some of his most genuine research into the tradition of the southern States.
Big Chief (UK)
Big Chief is an historical ensemble that has included too many famous names to list them all. On the scene from the ‘70s with their happy blend of Blues, Jazz and Funk, BC’s music is lively, warm and swinging, a timeless sound that includes covers and original compositions. Big Chief is impeccably and happily energetic music for listening pleasure.
Dave Chambers’ Afro Blue (UK/South Africa)
Sax and flute player with Big Chief among many others, Dave has played for years with important names of the South African scene. The mark of South African jazz and township music is evident in Afro Blue’s sound. Their CD includes many compositions written by the heroes of South African music together with some of Dave Chambers own compositions.
U.C.O. - Lunatix - Pulsar
These are three ensembles that were active in Italy in the seventies/eighties. Most members of the Svoboda Orchestra, Stick & String quartet/sextet and Robat come from there.
They represent a very interesting phase of experimentation, showing all the signs of today's eclectic global music, well worth re-discovering. We hope to be able to remaster and mix some of the numerous recordings produced by these groups and/or re-arrange, perform and record their compositions with a new ensemble. It's one of the long-term projects RustyRobot aims to develop in the future.
Diego Souto
Chapman Stick player from South America, inventive musician about to join the RustyRobot bandwagon with other southamerican musicians. A blend of Guitar Craft and Latin colour. Expect to hear something great coming from it!
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