Quartetto PsicoGeografico

A percussion focused free session that isn’t exclusively beat oriented, Quartetto PsicoGeografico’s eponymously titled disc stirs up five sound sequences that delineate dulcet articulation as well as drum beats. Consisting of veteran Italian improvisers, who have worked together in various combinations in various genres, the quartet is woodwind/lute player Sergio Fedele, who has recorded with Piero Bittolo Bon and in duos with keyboardist Andrea Bini; percussionist Davide Negrini, who has recorded with Enrico Caimi; while drummer, pianist  and mirliton Enrico Caimihas has worked with Daniele Goldoni.
This disc is all free improvisation that is translated through different pitches and tempos. Its base is that of snare pops, cymbal clanks and bass drum crashes connected to percussion pressure encompassing gong resonations, darbuka-like hand patterning, triangle pings and güiro-like rubs. Meanwhile hard piano clips and reed overblowing can be as percussive as the expected idiophones vibrations. Thickened drum beats are met with choked reed cries, snorts or honks and intense piano patterning.

The final two tracks bring speedier and more moderated timbres forward as woody and metallic percussion smacks are carefully positioned and measured in counterpoint with pinched saxophone whines and yowls plus full keyboard rumbles and lead to decided finality. However the multi-sectional “Sq. 2” gives the quartet the most space to develop. As cymbals clank and drums rumble during the first section, Fedele’s lyrical clarion tones develop a linear exposition that turns to yelps, and snorts as piano comping becomes more irregular and threatening. Jackhammer-like strokes on unyielding metal idiophones intensify the mood that only lessens in the third variation. Prestisssimo split tones and shakes vie for supremacy with Bini’s exploration of the piano’s inner string set until a transformative pivot follows vibe-like reverb that coordinates lyrical reed puffs with almost opaque bracketing percussion rubs and hard slaps.

Distinctive in its invention and interaction Quartetto PsicoGeografico shows how rhythm and refrain can be connected for musical exploration and resolution.

–Ken Waxnan

Track Listing: 1. Sq. 1 2. Sq. 2 3. Sq. 3 4. Sq. 4 5. Sq. 5

Personnel: Sergio Fedele (flute, clarinet, alto and tenor saxophones); Andrea Bini (piano and mirliton); Enrico Caimi (drums) and Davide Negrini (percussion)