MARIO MARCHISELLA & JOÃO ORECCHIA

Instrumental performance for opening of KZNSA exhibitions.

Zurich-based Mario Marchisella and Johannesburg-based João Orecchia will perform at the KZNSA Gallery’s next exhibition opening on October 6.

They will perform an electro-acoustic improvised set, played partially on self-built or modified instruments from vuvuzelas to tomato tins, combined with synthetic electronic sounds and common instruments like guitar and bass. The two musicians had their first encounter in 2008 in Johannesburg, where they performed together at Berlin Bar. Their music is loop-based, using layer upon layer to create atmospheric soundscapes. Stylistically open, Mario and João create unique moments dependent on the space, time and audience, resulting in “custom-made music“.

Mario Marchisella was born and lives in Zurich, Switzerland. He studied classical music at the Conservatory of Zurich. Since then he has been working as a freelance drummer and percussionist in classical orchestras such as the Opera Orchestra of Zurich. In 2002 he launched Audioscope, a recording studio and label in Zurich, where he composes music for theatre, film, CD productions and art installations. These works show across Europe and the USA at theatres from the Thalia Theater Hamburg to Bricstudio Brooklyn, New York and many others. Mario has collaborated with many visual artists and directors including Marianne Halter, Com&Com, Anna-Lydia Florin, Zilla Leutenegger, Cooky Gordon and J.Egli. Many of these collaborative works belong to private and public collections.

João Orecchia is an electro acoustic musician based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His is a process-orientated practise, mixing improvisation with loosely pre-composed material, finding joy in “accidents” and “mistakes”. Using a collection of looping devices and effect pedals to create sounds with a variety of acoustic and electronic instruments including guitar, banjo, voice, bass, melodica, toy instruments, theremin and more, he combines layer upon layer of sound, constantly reprocessing and chopping up the sounds he records in real time, building dense soundscapes, while pulling it all together into an abstract song structure.

João has collaborated with musicians from all over South Africa, fostering an open, experimental and collaborative approach to performance as well as composition. Past collaborators include Carlo Mombelli, Marcus Wyatt, Siya Makuzeni, Mpumi Mcata, Tshepang Ramboba, Lee Thomson, Ross Campbell, Righard Kapp, Jane Rademeyer and many more. Prior to Johannesburg, João spent several years in Berlin, Germany, where he composed music for theatre, film and dance performance. He also collaborated with many musicians playing concerts all over Germany. His music has been released on several albums and compilations in Germany and New Zealand. His newest album, Hands and Feet, featuring Mario Marchisella on drums, will be released in 2009.

The performance is supported courtesy of ProHelvetia.

The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood. More information on 031 277 1705, or email: gallery@kznsagallery.co.za or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za