Monday, April 7, 2014

Yes, Gesualdo Rocked Out Like That.

Carlo Gesualdo Group Carlo Gesualdo Group: Scott Fultz (sax), Andrew Bergmann (bass), Adam Patterson (drums), Sean Roderick (keys), Tom Nordlund (guitar).

Sean Roderick kicked off a great introduction to A Month of Sundays Jazz at TORCH last night performing with Carlo Gesualdo Group. A small audience was treated to an exceptional jazz exploration of the 16th century madrigal compositions of the infamous Italian Prince, Carlo Gesualdo; a late renaissance recluse known for his extreme emotional themes and wildly vocal musical forms.

Bassist and leader Andrew Bergmann engaged the audience about half way through the first set informing us they’ve taken Gesualdo’s vocal arrangements and rewritten them for modern instruments.

Tom Nordlund Tom Nordlund

Famous for murdering his wife and her lover, Carlo, in a self-imposed seclusion at his castle, composed choral pieces influenced by many of his contemporaries although much more experimental in tonal range. “Most of his music was only performed for his own fancy,” Bergmann instructed us, “parlor performances with hired musicians who he composed for.”

Gesualdo’s music is among the most experimental and expressive of the Renaissance, and without question is the most wildly chromatic. Progressions such as those written by Gesualdo did not appear again in music until the 19th century, and then in a context of tonality.

Carlo Gesualdo Group Carlo Gesualdo Group at TORCH

The Carlo Gesualdo Group gave modern life to these compositions which delighted the audience and sparked much approval from those who attended. When asked if Gesualdo rocked out like that? the consensus of the band was, “yeah … probably.”

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