Francesca Remigi
ARCHIPÉLAGOS - Il Labirinto Dei Topi (2020)
Emme Produzioni Musicali
text: Robin Boer
Founded in Brussels, 2019, this sextet, led by Bergamo drummer and composer Francesca Remigi, already booked successes in various showcases, like the Maastricht Jazz Awards 2020 (finalist), All You Have To Do Is Play 2019 and Nuova Generazione Jazz 2021 (winner). Renowned musicians like Steve Lehman and Stéphane Galland have sent their compliments and explained their appreciation of Remigi's music. After a bunch of performances on and in various European festivals and venues, there is the release of debut album 'Il Labirinto Dei Topi.'
Remigi is joined by five different nationalities: Claire Parsons (LUX) on vocals and effects, Niran Dasika (AUS) on trumpet, Federico Calcagno (ITA) on bass clarinet and clarinet, Simon Groppe (FRA) on piano and Ramon van Merkenstein (NLD) on double bass. A standard jazz sextet, you would stay. However, the music proves quite the opposite.
Concept and background
The music on this album is meant to represent and denounce examples of social disfunction and decadence, connected to some of the principals explained by authors like Noam Chomsky, Zygmunt Bauman, Roberto Saviano, Samuel Huntington and William McNeill.
The eight compositions on the album feature a high level of mathematical and rhythmically unusual, though highly creative elements, accurately fitting the current state of the world. These elements are meant to symbolize a kind of “matrix” organized society that controls and oppresses its subjects through Corporations and Social Media. The free improvisations by individual players in the sextet feature as a metaphor of individuals that rise up against establishments. The improvisations are featured in solo sections, though they are smartly arranged so they collaborate with the full band arrangements, explaining the profit of community (Archipélagos, which is Spanish for 'groups of islands'), hope and solidarity, maintaining one's personal identity.