Peter Zummo
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Peter Zummo (1948) is a trombonist who has explored ensemble music at the border between classical chamber music and free-jazz. His first album was Zummo With An X (august 1981 - Loris, 1985 - New World, 2006), in a trio with Arthur Russell on cello and Bill Ruyle on tabla, highlighted by the two lengthy minimalist suites Instruments (1980) for duo, trio and quartet and Lateral Pass (1985). Zummo With An X... Plus! (New World, 2012) adds a performance of Song IV (1985) from the Suite Six Songs.

The six movements of Experimenting with Household Chemicals (XI, 1995), composed between 1987 and 1992 and featuring Jon Gibson on saxophones, Joseph Kubera on keyboards and Arthur Russell on amplified cello, display a deviant intelligence as well as a sense of humour. Zummo's pretext is to explores a new melodic technique at the trombone, something he does best in the 17-minute Includes Free Information (which runs the gamut from a bizarre solo to a collective fanfare back to a spirited solo, but Fresh Batteries, Rocket Scientist (9:45) and the delicate In Three Movements (9:54) are mainly about timbric and dynamic counterpoint, an art of subtle, frugal, timid exchanges between musicians that sound chaotic at first but reveal a hidden logic upon repeated listening. The 14-minute Sung Played Heard actually emphasizes tempos via a grotesque use of percussions.
Peaceful Transportation (10:50) is an almost psychedelic drone that floats lifeless in vast seas of silence.

Slybersonic Tromosome (Penumbria, 2000) was a collaboration with digital soundsculptor Tom Hamilton.

(Translation by/ Tradotto da Rossana Sessa)

Peter Zummo (1948) è un trombonista che ha esplorato la musica d'ensemble al confine tra musica da camera classica e free jazz. Il suo primo album Zummo With An X (august 1981 - Loris, 1985 - New World, 2006), in trio con Arthur Russell al violoncello e Bill Ruyle al tabla, è caratterizzato da due lunghe suite minimaliste Instruments (1980) per duo, trio e quartetto e Lateral Pass (1985). L’edizione Zummo With An X... Plus! (New World, 2012) viene arricchita da una una performance di Song IV (1985) dalla Suite Six Songs.

I sei movimenti di Experimenting with Household Chemicals (XI, 1995), composto tra il 1987 e il 1992 e con Jon Gibson ai sassofoni, Joseph Kubera alle tastiere e Arthur Russell al violoncello amplificato, fanno sfoggio di un'intelligenza sregolata oltre che ad uno spiccato senso dell'umorismo.

Lo spunto per Zummo è quello di esplorare una nuova tecnica melodica con il trombone, ciò che fa al meglio nei 17 minuti di Includes Free Information (che spazia da un insolito assolo ad una fanfara per tornare ad un vivace assolo), mentre Fresh Batteries, Rocket Scientist (9:45) e il delicato In Three Movements (9:54) si basano principalmente sul contrappunto timbrico e dinamico: un sottile , frugale, schivo scambio artistico tra i musicisti che all’inizio potrebbe risultare caotico ma rivela poi, dopo diversi ascolti, un’affascinante logica nascosta.

Nei 17 minuti di Sung Played Heard il ritmo viene enfatizzato attraverso un uso grottesco delle percussioni.

Peaceful Transportation (10:50) è un drone semi-psichedelico che galleggia senza vita nel vasto mare del silenzio.

Slybersonic Tromosome (Penumbria, 2000) è stata una collaborazione con il compositore di musica elettronica Tom Hamilton.

Deep Drive (november 2014) featured the septet with Ernie Brooks (bass), Oliver Coates (cello and electronics), Bill Ruyle (drums and dulcimer), Ralph Cumbers (electronics and trombone), Keith McIvor (turntables) and vocalist Joyce Leigh Bowden, and contains the 14-minute Prepare For Docking.

Frame Loop (recorded in 1984) collects unreleased material of the Six Songs sessions, featuring Arthur Russell (cello), Mustafa Ahmed (congas) and Bill Ruyle (marimba).

Deep Drive 2+ (march 2020) featured a quintet with Joseph Carvell (acoustic and electric bass), Mabe Fratti (cello), Sebastian Rojas (synthesizer and electric organ) and Peter Broderick (drums, violin and synthesizer).

(Copyright © 2003 Piero Scaruffi | Terms of use )
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