Primary Instrument: Drums
Drummer and Scientist, Filippo Provenzale has been dedicating for years on his natural approach to improvised music, on multidirectional rythms, avant-garde forms, unexplored and creatively free musical territories. Played his drums among many others with: - “Der Ersatzmann” with Alexander Von Schlippenbach, Guy Bettini and Luca Sisera - Charles Gayle Trio - Elliott Levin and Steve Buchanan - Machinegun Trio, with John Menoud and Fred Berney - Quantum Quartet, with Bettini, Sisera and Buchanan - Parsec3, with D'Incise and Christian Graf - Igor Cubrilovic - Gilles Torrent Quintet - Kappellmeister III - the Giezendanner Quartet and the BigBand of Divonne-les- Bains, France. Member of the Insub Meta Orchestra(IMO) in Geneva.
Useful links for Filippo Provenzale's activities:
Machinegun “Three Wisemen in a Straightjacket” release page on Insubordinations
MACHINEGUN - THREE WISE MEN IN A STRAIGHTJACKET(2009, Insubordinations Netlabel)
Insubordinations is a Swiss netlabel based in Geneva, focused on experimental music, be it improvised, electro- acoustic or otherwise of a experimental nature. All their releases are available as free downloads. Some of them are released in a limited edition as CDR. This is the case with this new release.
Machinegun is a trio around composer and multi- instrumentalist John Menoud (alto and barytone saxophones), plus Frédéric Berney (bass) and Filippo Provenzale (drums). All three of them are fantastic players, engaged with equal power and musicality in their battles. Their highly concentrated improvisations originate clearly from a jazz background. The playing is very expressive and dynamic. These guys definitely have a story to tell. John Menoud has a nice sound and a wide range of techniques to his disposal and makes appropriate use of it. The trio builds intriguing dramatic structures, played with verve and togetherness. Impressive and very enjoyable. The music is very well recorded. Especially in the last track 'Sea Shell' however, it sounds as if the music was badly pressed on vinyl. Whether this was done with some purpose in mind I don't know.
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MACHINEGUN - FREE IMPROVISATIONS (2010, Creative Commons)
We reviewed their first one, “Three Wise Men in a Straight Jacket” earlier. Now this Swiss trio strikes back with a second release. Free improvising is their language and they speak it fluently. One hour of very concentrated improvisations, recorded live on two different locations in Switzerland. Again very captivating and wild excursions by a fantastic unit of John Menoud (saxes), Frederic Berney (bass) and Filippo Provenzale (drums). In the first track there is obviously someone playing the piano, Menoud I suppose, as the sax is absent. The drumming by Filippo Provenzale is of an enormous power. Just listen to “Zero Below”. ”F(x)=2f(x) + sin(x)” starts as quiet duet between sax and bass. Gradually they come lose and the drummer joins. The piece mainly circles around intense sax playing by Menoud. ”Breasted Wonda Kitty” is constructed around short patterns that come again from Menoud. At several moments we hear two saxes, played by Menoud at the same time. For “Willard”, the closing track, they concentrate on small gestures without losing intensity. All three have considerable musical possibilities, and they succeed in creating some very emotional and inspired improvisations. Chapeau gentlemen and grussie mit ein‚ and (DM).
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PARSEC3 - (2010, Insubordinations Netlabel)
A new release from this very interesting Swiss netlabel. Interesting for those who have a weakness for free music and noisy improvisations. This one by Parsec3 is again a fine example of this. Parsec3 is a trio of Christian Graf (guitar), D’Incise (laptop, objects) and Filippo Provenzale (drums), all three of swiss origin. Great playing from these musicians. They carve with great care and intensity very engaging sculptures in time. There is fine playing to be enjoyed by guitarist Graf, who is a very effective player. Drummer Provenzale is constantly on the move, introducing new patterns playing in a very dynamic style. The contributions by D’Incise are more difficult to grasp but fit very well in this line up. There are moments that this music really lifts you up. They built inspired structures that have an overwhelming effect from time to time. Emotional and passionate music. Great work!! (DM)
Machinegun: Three Wisemen in a Straightjacket (2009)
Machinegun: Free Improvisations (Live - 2010)
Parsec3: Parsec3 (2010)
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