Andrea Grossi Blend 3, Beatrice Arrigoni - Songs and poems (2022) [Hi-Res]

Songs and poems is a project born from the necessity to explore, in a chamber dimension, the possibilities of the sound of the word. The quartet joins Blend 3 – the trio of Andrea Grossi with Manuel Caliumi and Michele Bonifati – to the voice of Beatrice Arrigoni and finds its personal dimension within a sound world generated by the fusion of 20th century European traditions, starting from improvised music and European jazz, passing through contemporary music until arriving in echoes of progressive rock, noise, and ambient. An aspect on which the research of this group is based is the relationship between the human voice and instruments, in particular the instrumental use of the voice and the translation of vocal inflections and possibilities onto instruments. The compositional architecture of the poetic text can also suggest that of the musical writing, avoiding a constant coloristic evocation, in favor of a deep research, based on structural affinities: abstract episodes with a visionary flavor are mixed with more punctual and scientific interventions. To each Poet, Emily Dickinson and E. E. Cummings, in this case, corresponds a different compositional style aimed at emphasizing and praising the uniqueness of each “voice”.

Beatrice Arrigoni vocals
Manuel Caliumi alto sax
Michele Bonifati electric guitar
Andrea Grossi double bass

All the compositions are by A. Grossi
Poems by Emily Dickinson [1-3] and e e cummings [6-9], Lyrics by A. Grossi [4]
Beatrice Arrigoni: vocals / Manuel Caliumi: alto sax / Michele Bonifati: electric guitar / Andrea Grossi: double bass
Gledis Gjuzi: toy piano on “I should not dare to be so sad” and “Aria”
Recorded by Simone Coen at The Shelter Recording Studio, Meda (MB) – Italy – on July 5th, 6th, October 13th 2021 and at Riverplant Music Studios, Monza (MB) – Italy – on December 8th 2021.
Mixed and Mastered by Simone Coen at Chocolate Audio Studio, Seregno (MB) – Italy.
Cover: collage “Songs and Poems” by Milc @milcollage. Inside photo by Erica Mela Magagnato
Design by MAOBI – Produced by WE INSIST! Records, 2022

Tracklist:
1.01 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - Low at my problem bending (6:43)
1.02 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - I should not dare to be so sad (4:56)
1.03 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - Had we known the Ton she bore (3:42)
1.04 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - SnailTale (3:07)
1.05 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - Aulodia (1:35)
1.06 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - i shall imagine life (7:27)
1.07 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - un(bee)mo (4:02)
1.08 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - in time (2:11)
1.09 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - silence (3:02)
1.10 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - Chant (2:19)
1.11 - Andrea Grossi Blend 3 - Aria (5:12)