Michael Becker News Editor mbecker@nsnews.com THE Italians are com- ing. Italian Instabile Orchestra, the musical equivalent of an Orange Mocha Chip Frappuccino, washes upon North American shores for the first time this summer. North Shore jazz enthusi- asts will have their chance for a first live taste of this engaging ’ free-jazz ensemble June 28 at the Vancouver East Cultural : Festival Vancouver. Mich like its coffte-based counterpart, Italian Instabile Orchestra’s taste is ‘defined by a playfiul blending of Italian expressivencss “: Despite its name, the ensemble has been able to “Maintain a remarkably stable roster of musicians. : Most of its members have been with the grou) from start. a “ Rome-based Giancarlo Schiaffini blows rombone dt cuba with Italian Instabile Orchestra. He’s one of founding players. “Iz’s a very extra stable Instabile,” he qui k ina pre-festival interview with the Schiaffini had just returned to Rome from Washington DC, where he played with the Peter car- wooden bench $359.99 wicker table $109.99 fantastic Fraize Trio. . The 57-year-old composer's musical ideas are built ona firm foundation. In 1976 Schiaffini snedied in Darmstadt with composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. In 1972 he studied electronic music with Franco Evangelisti. Along the way Schiaffini has played and recorded with countless musicians and collaborated with John Cage, Karole Armitage, Luigi Nono and Giacinto Scetsi. He sees trombone as “the more human instru- ment.” Said Schiaffini, “It’s more similar to the human voice. In the Middle Ages they used a trom- bone choir to double the voice choir. It’s a long, far away tradition for that. I started with trumpet actual- ly; it was more brilliant, but when I was 17 I switched *o trombone, and I think it was a good choice for me.” His take on what it is that makes this orchestra Italian, aside from the country of origin: “That’s diffi- cult to say being inside. The image outside is general- ly more melodic, eclectic, happy, everyone expects that. We sometimes have things that are different from Italian; we have things from Eastern Europe, or from Africa. Maybe we don’t have as deep roots as wooden folding chair $159.98 UP TO 50% OFF! seashell urn $139.99 Friday, June 23, 2000 — North Snore News - 15 Er awed Fe aon photo du iMsurier Intemational Jazz Festival Vancouver 7 (TALIAN Instabile Orchestra makes its Vancouver debut June 28 at the Vancouver East Cultura! Centre. the jazz tradition is — not a traditional image of jazz. In some ways it’s a different school of jazz. I think it’s a natural thing when jazz develops in different contexts.” Tealian Instabile Orchestra will spin off into splin- ter projects for the jazz festival: Sebi Tramontana & Giancarlo Schiaffini June 28 at Western Front; Italian String Trio, June 27 at Western Front; Itulian Nexus, June 28 at Studio 16. Trombonist Tramontana and Schiaffini met in 1982, playing classical “stuff,” Schiaffini said. They regularly play as duo. ~ “We've been ra long time, so it’s like speak- ing with one you know, but it’s not always the same conversation of course. We feel relaxed and free.” When Schiaffini is not playing, he’s teaching. He leads trombone technique classes in L’Aquila, 100 ’ Kilometres from Rome as well as a summer jazz course in Siena. Among the discs to seck out: Italian Instabile Orchestra — ltalian Instabile Festivai (Leo Records CD LR 262/263, 1998); Italian Instabile Orchestra — European Concerts °94-'97 (Neljazz 0968-2, 1997); Italian Instabile Orchestra — Skies of ” Europe (ECM 1543, 1995). picnic basket $89.99 abe moe ey John Goodman This Week editor jgoodman@nsnews.comn Si x&kkk*k Bebel Gilberto — Tanto Tempo (Ziriguiboom/Six Degree Records). The bossa nova subtly updated by someone who has been around the music - all her life. Bebel Gilberto, daughter of legendary Brazilian musicians Joao Gilberto and Miucha, will perform this mix of °60s clas- sics and new tunes at the Commodore on July.1 as part of the jazz festival. For her debut album Tanto Tempo Gilberto worked in Sao Paulo with the electronica/bossa nova. producer Suba. He tragically died in a fire lass November. before finishing the CD. - The eleven tracks (seven: new and four re-interpreta- tions from the bossa nova book) involved collaborators such as Carlinhos Brown, Jozo Parahyba, Celso Fonseca, Amon Tobin and Washington, D.C.’s Thievery . Corporation. Wonderful. See CD Reviews Page %8 : silver copper pots $34.89 LIBERTY | | _. 1296 SEYMOUR STREET AT DRAKE VANCOUVER BC V6B 3N6 TELEPHONE 604.682.7499 WWW.LIBERTYINSIDE.COM