Yugen is a musical project born during autumn of 2004 from an idea by Francesco Zago and Marcello Marinone. Four years after the end of The Night Watch, with whom he published the only cd of the group (Twilight, 1997), and after several musical experiences far from rock (Musicamorfosi, Exaquier, OZ, Contrapplugged, Flabby Puddings), Francesco Zago begins thinking about a synthesis between rock (progressive and RIO-style oriented) and chamber music. Thanks to the ideas and fundamental support of Marcello Marinone, the project takes its shape from a few chamber compositions (Danze corazzate, Catacresi5), enriched with electric sounds and a rock rhythm section. The name of the project became Yugen, a japanese word impossible to translate in its precise meaning which expresses the aesthetic canon of japanese art, as haiku in poetry or N in theatre.
Between December of 2004 and January of 2005 the first demo of Yugen was produced. Diego Donadio, formerly drummer of The Night Watch, contributes to the drums arrangements. In February, during an extemporaneous jam session in Tradate, the keyboard player Paolo Botta (French TV) and swiss saxophone player Markus Stauss (Spaltklang, Ulterior Lux) joined the group. Then Stephan Brunner, who plays electric bass in Spaltklang, and reed player Peter Schmid (Evan Parker, Vinny Golia) accept to play with Yugen.
In the meantime, new compositions come out: Zago writes Le rovine circolari e Corale metallurgico, plus other little acoustic pieces. To satisfy the complexity and richness of the arrangements, other instrumentalist join the band: the percussionist Massimo Mazza, Giuseppe Olivini (OZ, Contrapplugged) plays harpsichord, the classical players Maurizio Fasoli (piano), Elia Mariani (violin) and Marco Sorge (clarinets). Last arrivals, but not less important, the drummer Mattia Signò, Tommaso Leddi (Stormy Six) and U.S. drummer Dave Kerman (Thinking Plague, 5uus, Present, Blast, Ahvak.) for Corale Metallurgico drums.
The recordings began in June of 2005 and they continued until January of 2006. During the following months, Udi Koomran (Avhak, Present, Thinking Plague, Chris Cutler.) worked on mixing and mastering.
The first cd of Yugen will be entitled Labirinto d'acqua (Water maze) and probably released between September and October of 2006.
Members:
Francesco Zago, Diego Donadio (Nightwatch)
Tommaso Leddi (Stormy six)
Dave Kerman (5uus, U Totem, Thinking Plague, Ahvak, Blast)
Markus Stauss, Stephan Brunner (Spaltklang)
Peter Schmid (Evan Parker, Vinnie Golia)
Paolo Botta (French TV)
And many others check the site www.yugen.it
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New band e-mail: [email protected]
Yugen live members:
Paolo “Ske†Botta: Tastiere
Pietro Cavedon: Tastiere
Maurizio Fasoli: Pianoforte
Tommaso Leddi: Mandolino, Ehru
Elia Mariani: Violino
Giuseppe Olivini: Percussioni, Glockenspiel, Theremin
Mattia Signò: Batteria, Glockenspiel
Valerio Cipollone: Clarinetto basso, Sax soprano
Francesco Zago: Chitarra
Yugen at AltrOck 2007 with Tommaso Leddi and Markus Stauss
