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AS FOUNDER
SARABANDA – FRANCESCO TURRISI PIANO TRIO
Sarabanda is a project inspired by 17th century Italian music and contemporary European Jazz.
The core of Sarabanda is a piano trio that features Francesco Turrisi, Dan Bodwell on bass and Sean Carpio on drums, but it can increase in size to include different guests according to the specific project.
Sarabanda’s guests have included Jazz musicians such as Gianluigi Trovesi, John Ruocco, Brendan Doyle, Ronan Guilfoyle, Sean Carpio, Dan Bodwell; early music musicians such as Richard Sweeney (on theorbo) and classical musicians such as Cora Venus Lunny (viola).
This project has been funded several times by the Improvised Music Company, Music network and the Irish Arts council. The tracks are from the cd “Si Dolce e' il Tormento” released by Diatribe records in 2009
TARAB
“Tarab” (in Arabic) is a state of ecstasy and surrender one enters while listening, with body and soul, to music.
Tarab is an ensemble that aims at creating an imaginary link between aesthetic elements of Mediterranean music and the Irish instrumental and vocal tradition. Taking common elements such as similar instrumentation, ornamentation and performance practice as a point of departure, Tarab develops a whole new multicultural musical language based on instrumental virtuosity and exciting rhythms. Jazz and improvisation are also key elements in the musical creative process of Tarab. Tarab has collaborated with many guests such as Theodosii Spassov, Gabriele Mirabassi, Pedram Khavar Zamini, Bijan Chemirani, Andrea Piccioni.
More info at: www.myspace.com/altarab
GATO AZUL
Gato Azul is an original project created by Francesco Turrisi that focuses on the accordion and on several different traditions related to this versatile instrument. Gato Azul performs music that ranges from Brazil to Bulgaria passing via the Mediterranean and using Jazz improvisation as unifying element to these diverse musical languages.
Gato Azul’s lineup includes Argentinian guitarist Lucas Gonzalez, Irish bass player Mick Coady and Irish percussionist Robbie Harris Gato Azul performances have included several guest musicians such as Sergio Krakowski, Brendan Doyle, Brian Dunning, Noa Stroeter, Sonia Esquivel.
AS CO-FOUNDER
ZAHR
Zahr is an ensemble formed by pianist Francesco Turrisi, percussionist Andrea Piccioni and multi instrumentalist Fabio Tricomi. Focussing primarily on the influence that arabic music has had in many countries touched by the Mediterranean Sea, the ensemble tries to combine Italian traditional music, jazz improvisation, mediterranean music and early music. Zahr’s first cd features the amazing voice of Lucilla Galezzi as a special guest.
More info at: www.myspace.com/triozahr
MORISCA
Morisca is a new Irish ensemble performing music from the middle ages and early renaissance. The ensemble was born from the collaboration between singer Pauline Graham, recorder player Laoise O’ Brien and multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi. The group performs a vast range of secular and sacred music from the middle-ages and early renaissance, from plainchant to dance music.
AS GROUP MEMBER
YURODNY
Yurodny is a nonet founded by saxophone player Nick Roth. The repertoire of Yurodny varies between arrangements of traditional melodies from the Balkan region and original compositions with influences from eastern traditional music, contemporary classical music and Jazz.
More info at: www.myspace.com/yurodny
EX EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE
eX is one of the most important Irish early music ensembles. Francesco has worked regularly with eX as percussionist and he has participated in several eX recordings and productions such as “Shipwrecked”, “Motions of the Heart”, “Dulra”, “Possessed”
More info at: www.exireland.com
L’ARPEGGIATA
L’Arpeggiata is one of the most important early music ensembles dedicated to the performance of 17th century Italian music and not only. Francesco has performed and recorded extensively with L’Arpeggiata as harpsichordist and percussionist. He is featured in several Arpeggiata recordings such as Cavalieri “Rappresentazione”, “Los Impossibles”, “Teatro d’Amore” and “Via Crucis”
More info at: www.arpeggiata.com