(Mbuso Khoza with the
group)
Society needs its storytellers and whether those stories
are told in prose, poetry or music they remind us of our humanity and shared
histories. Composer/bassist and music virtuoso Carlo Mombelli is one such
narrator and along with the daring collective of musicians: The Stories
Ensemble is touring Southern Africa in March and April. With the support of Pro
Helvetia these storytellers bring to their audiences performances that are as
experimental, as they are awe-inspiring.
Mombelli is joined by traditional Zulu singer Mbuso
Khoza, trombonist Adrian Mears, cellist Daniel Pezzotti, Dejan Terzic on drums
and the 2014 Standard Bank Young Artist award winner for Jazz, Kyle Shepherd on
piano.
Mombelli recorded the deeply personal Stories in September 2013 in Basel
Switzerland with Pezzotti, Mears and Terzic who he had been playing with as
part of a quartet in Europe. To this mix, Mombelli introduced Khoza. Stories was recorded, in studio using
1940s vintage microphones and was mastered on reel- to-reel tape machines. The
album has been described as Mombelli’s most personally revealing album.
Comprised of narratives about the people who have meant the most in his life -
his wife, children and music teachers - it became a tribute to them.
Described by The Jazz Times in the USA as “disconcertingly
beautiful”, this eclectic ensemble unites each musician’s diverse talent and
musical background in emotionally charged improvised chamber music both
acoustic and electronic.
The Stories ensemble will perform in Durban at the Centre
for Jazz at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal on April 1 at 18h00. Tickets available
at the door.
For more information visit www.carlomombelli.com or link to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhK-XivvLs or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWK4J4sG
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