concerto Torino
The project of TRI MUZIKE is born in Milan in spring 1997, when some components of the Theater Orchestra of Moni Ovadia (the most important Italian band of Klezmer and Yiddish music) get toghether with other musicians coming from various artistic experiences.The basin of Mediterranean, framework and craddle of exchanges among several cultures, represents the meeting and starting point of the musical experience of this band. The intense research that the musicians carried out on musical traditions, on Slavic, Greek, Jewish, Arabic, Turkish and Rom (gipsy) languages and sounds, leads to an interesting synthesis which the language of the group unmistakably expresses.
In 1998 their first album "TREO" produced by Felmay is issued. It can be defined a "traditional" one both in musical choices and executive style. Their eclecticism brings them to perform in any sorts of musical situation: from important festivals of ethnic music to seasons of classical music in theaters, not to forget tipical situations of traditional festivals and wedding parties.
In May, 2004 their second album is issued, it is called "UN VEGH PES MARII" that in the dialect of Emilia (an Italian region) means a strange sea fish, produced by Felmay as well. A funny title that summarizes, though, the various musical aspects of Tri Muzike; they are able to compose and read again musical themes in an always different and original way using the endless sourses of the polyinstrumentalists.Rootsworld (USA) .. November 2004 n°287 TRI MUZIKE: Un Vègh Pes Marii Nondas Kitsos Tri Muzike always manage to surprise. With "Un vègh pes marii" (a strange ocean fish), they present a varied repertoire that is not fishy at all but rather fluid like an eel, calling in at ports in Turkey, Greece, their native Occitania, Romania, Cyprus and Bosnia. This flexibility is not restricted to the choice of the material but carries itself over to the entire presentation: there are traditional oriental tunes, Slavic Balkan sounds and finally a return to their roots in the Occitanian. Not that this is the complete story, as the music cavorts and caresses, getting you off your seat or forcing you into inane air-guitar poses without really knowing why, until it leads you into quite a pensive retreat. The music continually changes, evolves and gets you involved. On "Oriental Rumba" the esteemed members of Tri Muzike have certainly done their fieldwork, and executed what they found with zeal and zest. Their interpretation is spot-on, even if the heavily accented vocals create a heavily dystopian feeling in this song about "exotic women from the Orient/who are like cold water," sung by a Western European woman, Paola Lombardo.The seven members of Tri Muzike combine percussive instruments with a lot of horns to achieve their unique and deeply gratifying mix of jazz and Balkan/Oriental music. A darbouka, a trumpet, clarinet, oboe, sax, nay, kaval and zampogna as well as acoustic and electric bass, electric and classical guitar, bouzouki and laoud feature among the instruments used. Particular mention should be made about the vocals of Lombardo, who provides a constant in the rhythmic metamorphoses of the musical background.Tri Muzike create a musical canvas that has an continuity that, despite being loyal to the original versions, still sounds exotic. Their optimism and love for their repertoire is deeply contagious and although this record has its pensive, melancholic moments, it maintains a highly energizing and joyous feeling. A daring proposal, but one that succeeds on all counts, and is recommended for anyone interested particularly in Greek, Turkish or Balkan music.
ROOTS (U.K.) .. October 2004 N° 256 TRI MUZIKE Un Vègh Pes Marii: A Journey In The Mediterranean Dunya (Feimay) FY8084 Michael Hingston
Tri Muzike were formed in 1997, in Milan, by some of the musicians from Moni Ovadia's Theaterorchestra. Their first album Treo was issued in 1999, so it has been a long wait for this, but all remain from the originai line-up. The new members of the seven-piece band are Antonio Pani (percussion), Agostino Ciraci (double bass), Massimo Latronico (guitar) and Armando Ilario (accordeon). There are also guest appearances on a few tracks from Faisal Taher (vocal), Albert Mihai (accordeon) and Marian Serban (cymbalom). The musical sources for the album come from Turkey, Greece, Romania, Cyprus and Bosnia. Added to this stylistic mix is a strong jazz influence, mainly emanating from Massimo Marcer's trumpet, Patrick Novara's woodwind and Massimo Latronico's guitar. The performances are of an exceptionally high standard and the settings are inventive and draw inspiration from some unexpected sources. The most stunning track is the Occitan song Triste Es Lo Cèl, which also demonstrates the breadth of influences. The track includes funky electric guitar, complex layered polyrhythmic percussion, Lomabardo's beautifully clear vocal, a Miles Davis-inspired trumpet solo and some Eastern European-tinged ciarinet playing. Un Vègh Pes Marii roughly translates as A Strange Fish; strange but fascinating. I cannot really improve on the summary that appears on the Felmay website, "A stylistic and sensory cornucopia".Moni Ovadia in 1999 wrote: "Many years ago i embarked on a voyage, in my own way, to discover ethnic music, traditional cultures and the multiple contaminations inspired by them.In these territories i met musicians who vibrated with the same passion as my own, many of them bearing their own projects within themselves, even when unexpressed for a certain period of time. I gave, i received. Today i have the privilege of witnessing the discographic debut of a new musical movement born whitin my work group thanks to a coming together of personalities of extraordinary value. TRI MUZIKE are simply magnificent, the rhythms, colors, and musical forms that flow forth from their performances are luxuriant, the energy we need, joy for the ears and viscerae. Their journey through the Slavic world of the south, the Greek world and the Jewish musical wanderings is a window of musical light on our future which need to be a convergence of cultures, reciprocal listening and sharing of legacies. This future need not be born by a specific national identity because its personal traits are impressed in the soul of its wanderers. I wish them an adventurous and prosperous journey!".
