Caravaggio
(FRA)
industrial jazz, electronic avant-rock
The industrial esthetic is pretty much unused in a jazz context, but this French quartet thinks outside the box and enters the new territory with success. The catch is that they don’t create the rather electronic sounding music by machines, even though they have sequencers and plenty of effects. Mostly the highly atmospheric and mystical sounds capes and grooves are played live with electronically manipulated keyboards, electric violin and a rhythm section that uses also acoustic bass and regular drum set.
Caravaggio has made one studio and one live album. The founders are keyboardist Samuel Sighicelli and violinist Benjamin de la Fuente. Both of them have studied composition, improvisation and electro-acoustics at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris, and have composed several commissioned works for the likes of Arditti String Quartet, Les Percussions de Strasbourg and Ictus.
The rhythm department is in the custody of two brilliant musicians, whose near telepathic connection has been honed to perfection in guitarist Marc Ducret’s band. Eric Echampard also has a very exciting duo with accordion wizard Kimmo Pohjonen, while bassist extraordinaire Bruno Chevillon has worked with guitar guerilla Elliot Sharp, among others.