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Sitting Bull: Sitting Bull
ByPozzer had studied classical piano from childhood and into his time at the Conservatory of Vicenza. It may not be coincidental that his thesis was on the celebrated Ukrainian pianist, Misha Mengelberg who had also recorded with Bennink. Serbia born Škorić and Pozzer met in Holland in 2013 when both were attending the Conservatory "Prins Claus" in Groningen. The two had recorded as part of a self-titled quintet, Falga (Cantina, 2015). Their synergyand diverse musical interestsmake Sitting Bull an intriguing and unusual album.
There are twelve pieces on the album, with nine of them being improvised, one ("Pigeons") composed by Pozzer and covers of Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane. Three of the pieces clock in around one-minute each; more sonic ideas than fully executed concepts. The opening "Hoka Psice" features dramatic washes of cymbals along with bells and rattles and what may be Pozzer tinkering with the inner workings of the piano. "Dakota" has Pozzer dropping in chords, then letting the silence settle in between. Monk's "Criss Cross" is somewhat true to the original albeit, a harder, more spikey interpretation. An oddand unintentionally humorousfire and brimstone preacher is the backdrop for "What is Your Life (Part 2)"; the speaker's high drama blending perfectly with the frenzied improvisations of Pozzer and Škorić. The last half of Coltrane's "Sun Ship" is given to an amazing and exhausting Škorić solo.
There's not a lot of down time on Sitting Bull though "Crowded" and "Pigeons" are quietly melodic breaks in the hyper-complexity that pervades throughout this album. Despite the free nature of the music, there's a clear and consistent vision; Pozzer and Škorić finding an intuitive empathy as they trade-off between complementing each other and playing in near-seclusion. This album is as good as it is different and well worth the listening time.
Track Listing
Hoka Psice; Dakota; Criss Cross; What is Your Life (Part 2); Prelude to Oasis; Oasis ( Joy ); Sun Ship; Oasis; Crowded; Luigia Non Fare la Cattiva; Two Humming Birds; Pigeons.
Personnel
Federico Pozzer: piano; Aleksandar Škorić: drums.
Album information
Title: Sitting Bull | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced