Sabir Mateen: alto & tenor sax, flute, piccolo, Bb clarinet | Silvia Bolognesi: doublebass

Recorded at the Teatro dei Varii (Colle Val D’Elsa – Si) On December 29, 2010 by Antonio Castiello. Mixed by Antonio Castiello at the Ass. ne Spazio Zero. Photo by Alessandro Carpentieri. Artwork by Ale Sordi.

Tracklist:  1. Glory [8.46]  2. 2 with 3 [1.03]  3. Walts for Jack [8.57] 4. Flavio’s wine [5.59] 5. Double S [0.56] 6. It will Be heaven in 2011 [12.36] 7. Hugs [10.58] 8. Sunset in Legoli [7.46]

Poetry’s strength is unexpected.

It always surprises us, probably because there is lesser and lesser of it around us. It overcomes geographic distance, generational features and language differences. It drags us to a sublime level, since it moves into a space without reference points and crosses the boundaries of what we can see, hear think and imagine. But how it comes that we speak of poetry for a musical artifact? Because Sabir Mateen and Silvia Bolognesi, in “Holidyas in Siena”, are poets, first of all. Far from a worn out romantic concept (inspiration, destiny…) they create sounds, mix, contrasts, silence spots, that show not only contemporary anxiety but also the joy of playing together. Not only Mateen and Bolognesi have all this and much more, but they are also driven elsewhere, far away, by their poetic license that set them free. So far away that somebody will not like “Holidays in Siena”. Perhaps the same person in which no consequences are left by Fontana’s scratches, by Rothko colors, by Joyce words or by Cage’s silences. Because poetry, music, art are for everyone, but not everyone knows it.– Paolo Carradori

Silvia Bolognesi

Born in Siena, graduated in double-bass at the “R.Franci” Institute with Andrea Granai while attending Alberto Bocini’s instrument classes at the “G.Verdi” Institute in Prato. Her approach to jazz starts by following F.Spinetti’s lessons at Siena Jazz Foundation and during the summer courses(1998-1999) organized by the same Institute.

At Siena Jazz she gets the chance to study with Furio di Castri, Ettore Fioravanti and Giancarlo Gazzani, to attend the European Community-founded course in “High level qualification for Jazz Performers” (with Furio di Castri, Mario Raia, Stefano Zenni and Francesco Martinelli) and the “Trio course” directed by Stefano Battaglia, Paolino dalla Porta and Fabrizio Sferra, furthermore she participates to Stefano Battaglia’s “Musical Research Lab”.

In 2003 she is selected to be part of Butch Morris Orchestra with which she’ll perform during the 13th Edition of “Roccella Jonica Jazz Festival” and again, in 2010 (conduction N. 192 “possible universe” ) during the 25th Edition of “Sant’Anna Arresi Festival”.

She has followed several improvisation and composition labs with Muhal Richard Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton and has deepened her skills on the double-bass with William Parker. She works with the dance company “Virgilio Sieni” (“Soli sulla tenerezza”, “La visitazione”, “Concerto” – this last one together with Virgilio Sieni and Francesco Giomi on live electronics, performed in Lille november 2004). Several the experiences in classical music (Città di Grosseto and R.Franci Orchestras) and in the theatre area (David Riondino, Marco Messeri, “Liminalia” Company). She plays permanently with Tiziana Ghiglioni and, since 2007, she is part of the group “New Nexus”, lead by Tiziano Tononi and Daniele Cavallanti.

Since 2004 she directs the “Open-Combo”with which she has recorded 3 albums; “introducing open combo” and “What was I saying?”(“33 jazz records” British Record Label) and “Large” edited by her new-launched “Fonterossa Records”. She also leads the “Living Quartet” and the wooden-instrument-based ensemble “Xilo Music”. In 2009 she creates the “Hear in Now” Trio together with Tomeka Reid(Cello, from Chicago) and Mazz Swift(violin and voice, from New York). She performs in various european and international festivals like Sant’Anna Arresi Jazz, Vignola Jazz in It, Roccella Ionica fetsival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Englewood jazz fest, Bansko jazz festival, Jazz Cerkno, “Onna Jazz” (Tokyo).

Since 2007 she delivers workshops on “conduction” together with the Open Combo musicians. 3rd classified among the best emerging jazz talents in 2009 on the leading italian magazine “Musica Jazz” and winner of the “InSound” Prize 2010 Edition double-bass category. She teaches Double-bass, bass, music theory and harmony at the “Fondazione Siena Jazz”, the “Mosaico” association in Colle Val d’Elsa and the summer courses “Marcello Melis” 2009 Edition. Silvia Bolognesi is the winner of “Musica Jazz Award” as new best talent 2010.

Sabir Mateen

Alto & Tenor Saxophones, Flute, Piccolo, Bb & Alto Clarinets, Composer, Arranger, Conductor, Poet. The name Sabir Mateen has been one to deal with and listen to.

Originally from Philadelphia (b. April 16th 1951), he moved to Los Angeles and played with Horace Tapscott and his Pan-Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and other bands. He moved back to Philadelphia in the ’80’s and played with two musicians he still collaborates with today, Sunny Murray and Raymond A. King, and also with Monette Sudler, Bill Lewis and many others. He also pursued studies with Byard Lancaster.

Having moved to New York in 1989, Sabir became a world renowned artist and has performed with the greats such as Cecil Taylor, William Parker Ensembles (Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra & The Inside Songs Of Curtis Mayfield), Alan Silva, Wilber Morris, Jemeel Moondoc, Charles Downs (Rashid Bakr), Marc Edwards, Mark Whitecage, Raphe Malik, Dave Burrell, Butch Morris, Henry Grimes, Kali Z. Tom Bruno, Roy Campbell, Daniel Carter, Steve Swell The Sun Ra Arkestra, Frode Gjerstad, William Hooker and many others. Mateen has performed in Europe, Japan, and Africa. He is also involved in Collective bands such as TEST (w/ D. Carter, Matthew Heyner and T. Bruno), The Downtown Horns (w/ R. Campbell & D. Carter), The East 3rd St. Ensemble (w/ Matt Lavelle, Clif Jackson and David Gould).

Sabir leads his own bands as well: The Sabir Mateen Ensemble, Omni-Sound, Trio Sabir, and Juxtapositions. Sabir also performs in solo and duo configurations with Matthew Shipp and Hilliard (Hill) Greene.

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