Gertrude

Putting a contemporary sheen on the marching band concept is Italy’s Gertrude quintet which conjures up a tasty repast blending reed and brass tones with a mixture of  notable compositions and improvisations. All Italians, except for Australian tubaist Martin O’Loughlin, the ensemble consists of clarinetist Clarissa Durizzotto who has been in Orchestrer Brez Meja/Orchestra Senza Confini; flutist Paolo Pascolo, who has recorded with Stefano Giust; trumpeter Gabriele Cancelli, who plays with Cene Resnik; and trombonist/French hornist Mirko Cisilino, who like the others is part of other Italian bands.

One of Gertrude’s skills involves transforming the processional solemnity or herky-jerky merriment expressed by village bandas with similar personnel into layered improvisations. These balance on tuba burps that then give free rein to pinpointed trumpet fanfares, trombone smears, clarinet flutters and flute peeps, though linearity is always maintained. Simultaneously the five perform sophisticated arrangements of multi-sectional pieces whose harmonies suggest those of larger configurations. On tracks like “Sonno parte 1” and “Sonno parte 2” and the successive “Sagra” and “Cloud 0”, slides and drones are affiliated to present advanced sonic tinctures while filling in the details of musical canvases.

The two parts of “Sonno” suggest different strategies. “Parte 1” alternates an andante exposition with hollow trumpet buzzes, downward trombone smears and tutti sequences in waltz time that circle, twist and turn until throbbing tuba snorts blow away both sections that are replaced by Pascolo’s flute trills in “Part 2”. During it, references to a religious procession are subverted by harsh clarinet shakes, whole band vocal murmurs as well as an elephant heralding and mouse squeaking duet between O’Loughlin and Pascolo, climaxing as blended horn vibration reach a swing groove.

More contrapuntal  “Sagra” is divided between mellow reed glissandi and the brass players’ yelps and suckles, until tuba burbles and flute chirps introduce the exposition, preserved with linear trumpet breaths as the other instruments snore and bite. “Cloud 0” reinforces group undulations that alternately shatter and harmonize until brass grace notes solidify the narrative into broken octave motion.

Gertrude won’t take work away from marching or orchestral brass ensembles. But it easily showcases a unique variant on the all-horn tradition.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Cielo 2. Sonno parte 1 3. Sonno parte 2 4. Ovi 5. Pika 6. Ceneri 7. Sagra 8. Cloud 0 9. Tenporale 10. Nuageux

Personnel: Gabriele Cancelli (trumpet); Mirko Cisilino (trombone and French horn); Martin O’Loughlin (tuba); Clarissa Durizzotto (clarinet) and Paolo Pascolo (flutes)