I Wouldn’t Be Sure

Artist : Manolo Cabras & Basic Borg

Release Date : December 11, 2012

Label : El Negocito Records

Format : CD

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Basic Borg started as quartet, out of a recording in September 2005. It was the consequence of a natural connexion between four musicians that seemed to share a common way of responding to the music. Only in April 2009, the saxophonist Riccardo Luppi joins the group; finding immediately a natural spot in the sound of the band. Nevertheless the group’s acoustic sound (in addition of a small range of electronics), it is capable to produce a large diversity of colors. Inspired by bands such of Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter… and the modern european jazz music, the quartet has its own particular sound. Their repertoire exists out of original compositions , as well as free improvised music. It’s a band where each of the musicians’ personal contribution is crucial to its sound. Exploring their own boarders every time they play. Musical leader Manolo Cabras, envisioned an electro-acoustic band that play structures while keeping the fresh approach you can find in improvisation.

• Lynn Cassiers: voice, fx
• Manolo Cabras: double bass
• Matteo Carrus: piano, keyboards
• Riccardo Luppi: tenor and soprano saxophones
• Oriol Roca: drums

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Press

The group bassist Manolo Cabras brought together for a shot at El Negocito label, combines such spirits who remain radically rebelling against obviousness in the musical life they lead. Lynn Cassiers is not just the sympathetic and fragile singer which one could respect her, she is much more. Cassiers enchants, hypnotizes and oppresses her meticulous vocals from a psychological ingenuity witnesses where several colleagues a tip can suck. Riccardo Luppi rips repertoire like from the inside open and Oriol Roca on drums refuses to be a flowing stream which his companions could float carefree. The piano and keyboards Matteo Carrus expired as the percussion in fits and starts, from top to valley, from confirmation to denial, the tension constantly entertaining and groundbreaking for an untapped area.
The album’s title is anyway not stolen. “I Wouldn’t Be Sure” is what the musicians constantly communicate to each other: simply land on his or her feet is indeed a fact that none of the quintet members are interested. Each song is a re-scan of the darkness: starting with a tabula rasa, and slowly but surely be signed by the comments which the instrumentalists provide their companions. Especially in the longer tracks, where the time is taken to solo material as it were to be fertilized by the collective, the quest is captivating to follow. Precisely because there is no key exists to the fairytale of Manolo Cabras and Basic Borg, is a forest where is fine to get lost: for as the conceptual framework is composed of “right” versus “wrong” way – why would not every turn permuted ?
What if ‘I would not be sure’ is about the poetry of freedom? When rigid harmonic thinking and the structural development of compositions equally are putted aside, it becomes possible to return from the intuition voice, electronics and acoustic instruments to move towards each other. Silence and cries that remain unanswered are the white lines of the poem that this album is, places where it is up to the listener to complete the picture or to get a moment to breathe. Of course the lookout for the elusive one job to beaches where he also started: this album also reached no illuminating lock. These five unleashed brains understand, however, that the way are the soul of the experience. A more beautiful tribute to the libertarian principles of jazz seems hard to imagine. Jan-Jakob Delanoye, Kwadratuur (May 2013)

Cet album nous emmène dans des sphères différentes. La voix de Lynn Cassiers, les effets électroniques que la jeune chanteuse gère, la contrebasse et les compos de Manolo Cabras, le sax free de Riccardo Luppi, la batterie d’Oriol Roca et le piano de Matteo Carrus se conjuguent pour nous offrir une musique nouvelle, sensible, intelligente pour une nouvelle ère. Jean-Claude Vantroyen, Le Soir (January 2013)

Intriguing title for an intriguing piece of Italian bassist settled in Belgium who is best known as a sideman for Erik Vermeulen, Ben Sluijs and Manu Hermia. The group’s name refers to the enemies of the Star Trek crew. Sounds from the cosmos are also here and slid between the folds courtesy of vocalist and “electronic diva” Lynn Cassiers. The quintet plays music and is hovering above on quite openly in the gray area between free improvisation and with the important rule: Treat your fellow musicians getting their own way. Somewhere between Bobo Stenson, Ornette Coleman and Miles Davis Live At The Plugged Nickel but transposed to the 21st century. Pieces of pure spiel canals threading the ideas flow together. The remarkably warm sound you get is a bonus. The very strong narrative structure with perfect center piece calling for a vinyl release. Georges Tonla Briquet, Jazzmozaiek (April 2012)

Basic Borg résulte d’un étonnant carrefour de rencontres. D’abord, celle de la vocaliste Lynn Casiers qui s’exprime dans un jazz expérimental aux frontières du rock alternatif, de l’improvisation comme de la musique électronique et dont le talent innovant s’est notamment illustré au sein des groupes Lidlboj du claviériste Jozef Dumoulin (album Trees Are Always Right en 2009) et Octurn du saxophoniste Bo van der Werf (7 Eyes en 2009) mais aussi au sein de son propre quartet avec le pianiste Augusto Pirodda et, déjà, Manolo à la contrebasse. Ensuite, la rencontre avec l’expérimenté saxophoniste italien Ricardo Luppi qui a collaboré plusieurs fois avec Nexus, l’une des meilleures formations italiennes (notamment pour We Did It, en hommage à Roland Kirk) mais qui a aussi enregistré à son nom, avec ses amis Daniele Cavallanti (saxophone ténor) et Tiziano Tononi (batterie), un très original Homage to Duke Ellington (un album chroniqué en 2003 dans le magazine Jazzaround). En 2006, ce saxophoniste avait fondé le groupe Mure Mure en compagnie de Manolo et, par la suite, de Lynn Cassiers. Au piano, on retrouve Matteo Carrus, jeune instrumentiste italien qui a notamment joué avec le trompettiste Mario Massa avant de rejoindre Basic Borg en 2009 pour des concerts au Sounds et au Negocito de Gand. Enfin, à la batterie, on retrouve l’Espagnol Oriol Roca que l’on avait découvert, en compagnie de Manolo, au sein du trio de Giovanni Di Domenico et qui a vite rejoint Basic Borg. Au répertoire du quintet, six compositions originales de Manolo, deux de Lynn Cassiers, une de Matteo Carrus et deux compositions-improvisations collectives (le très court duo entre percussions et effets électronique de Scalar’e Bottulusu et It Should Be There sur lequel saxophone ténor et piano dialoguent avec une voix comme en écho dans une atmosphère très mystérieuse). La musique proposée par Manolo et Lynn marie, avec une réelle originalité, tradition (des lyrics chantés d’une voix limpide comme sur I Wouldn’t Be Sure) et modernité (vocalises modulées par des effets électroniques comme sur Game Over ou Ti Ricordi) et mélange, avec audace, musique mélodique très intimiste (G Whatever ou ce Plaça de Cristo Rey avec un beau dialogue entre piano et contrebasse) et fulgurances free (avec un ténor rageur et effets électroniques comme sur Pronti, Partenza, Via). Chacun devient soliste à son tour (très belle intro de contrebasse sur Dolce ou de piano sur A Ciascuno il Suo) sur la riche trame rythmique d’Oriol Rocca, batteur doublé d’un percussionniste à la recherche de colorations nouvelles. Voilà assurément une musique innovante, fruit d’une démarche très personnelle, qu’on se réjouit de découvrir en concert.Claude Loxhay, Jazzaround (December 2012)

Bassist Manolo Cabras comes from Sardinia but has now found a permanent home in the Belgian jazz scene. His band Basic Borg appeared late last year the album “I Wouldn’t Be Sure”, featuring Riccardo Luppi alongside saxophonist, pianist and drummer Matteo Carrus Oriol Roca, also Lynn Cassiers as a singer and supplier of all kinds of electronics. Manolo Cabras is a great bassist, a beauty of an improviser. On ‘I wouldn’t be sure’ he delivers most compositions that serve as starting point for improvisation and freer sound experiments. Despite the electronics Lynn Cassiers, the music of Basic Borg remains yet very close to the jazz tradition. Beautiful is the back-and-forth game between the rhythm section, but also between the two voices (Lynn Cassiers and veteran Riccardo Luppi). A band to be listened live. Jeroen Revalk, Cobra Magazine (March 2013)

Ma al di là delle singole personalità è il suono della band che affascina l’ascoltatore e fa di I Wouldn’t Be Sure una bella testimonianza di come il linguaggio del jazz possa rinnovarsi con freschezza e creatività. Vincenzo Roggero, All About Jazz (April 2013)