ITACA
“The music of ITACA 4et is dynamic, highly rhythmic and rich of improvisational chances.”
ITACA is a trans-atlantic collaboration between eminent Italian and Canadian musicians in the field of avant-jazz and improvised music. Their music is dynamic, rhythmic and rich with improvisatory possibilities. Alessandro Fedrigo (bass) and Nicola Fazzini (sax) have performed at the Toronto Jazz Festival with Nick Fraser, and with François Houle at the Vancouver Jazz Festival. Strong from these meetings, these four musicians decided to join forces to form a unique international collaboration. Featuring new works composed especially for a Canadian tour in 2019, the group is releasing a new CD on the musics.org label.
The Jazz Music Blog - May 26, 2020
Maurice Hogue - One Man’s Jazz Ep. 1148 - April 16, 2020
JazzIt - March 20, 2020
Lynn René Bayley - The Art Music Lounge - March 30, 2020
JazzBluesRock.gr - March 22, 2020
Eyal Hareuveni - Salt Peanuts - June 15, 2019
Alessandro Fedrigo, Bass
Alessandro Fedrigo is one of the few specialists in the fretless acoustic bass guitar. He often uses electronic effects in order to further manipulate the peculiar sound of his instrument. Born in Treviso, he trained through a long apprenticeship during which he practiced jazz, free improvisation, experimental music, and electronic music. He has collaborated, among others, with Tony Scott, Chris Hunter, Elliott Sharp and Robert Wyatt. He was named one of the 10 best Italian bassists for the ranking of the magazine JAZZiT and is the artistic director of the nusica.org record label. Since 2011, he has been the artistic director and curator of the Sile Jazz festival, which offers 'site-specific' concerts with Italian jazz musicians in the territory of the Marca Trevigiana.
Nicola Fazzini, alto sax
Nicola Fazzini is a Venetian saxophonist who has played and collaborated with Enrico Rava, Peter Erskine, Carla Bley and Mark Murphy. In recent years he has dedicated himself to the development of compositional techniques that feature a strong use of metric modulations and polyrhythms. From 2007 to 2014 he was director of the Thelonious Monk School in Mira (VE), one of the most prominent music educational centers in Italy. Since 2010 he has been the artistic director of the "JAM Jazz A Mira" festival, which gives space and attention to innovative musical projects of young Italian and foreign musicians
François Houle, Clarinet
Clarinetist François Houle has established himself as one of today’s most inventive musicians, in all of the diverse musical spheres he embraces. Inspired by his collaborations with the world’s top musical innovators, François has developed a unique improvisational language, virtuosic and rich with sonic embellishment and technical extensions. He has worked with Dave Douglas, Mark Dresser, Joëlle Léandre, Benoît Delbecq, Evan Parker, Samuel Blaser, Gerry Hemingway, Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford, René Lussier, Alexander Hawkins, and many of Canada’s top creative music artists. His extensive touring has led to solo appearances at major festivals around the world. A prolific recording artist, he has released over thirty recordings as a leader.
Nick Fraser, Drums
Nick Fraser (drums) has been an active and engaging presence in the Toronto new jazz and improvised music community for over twenty years. He has performed with a veritable "who's who" of Canadian jazz and improvised music and with such international artists as Tony Malaby, Kris Davis, William Parker, Roscoe Mitchell, Marilyn Crispell, and Anthony Braxton. A JUNO award winner, he was also awarded a 2017 Chalmers Arts Fellowship. In addition to his own projects, he is a member of Peripheral Vision, Eucalyptus, Titanium Riot, Ugly Beauties, and the Lina Allemano Four.