Emilio Giovanoli Quintet

In physics, the term ‘refraction’ refers to the deviation that a ray of light undergoes as it passes from one medium to another. The same happens in any creative process, when an artist’s experiences and influences converge to present a product that is nothing more than a reflection of the world around them, filtered through the prism of their own eyes. This is what the members of the Emilio Giovanoli Quintet are trying to achieve, by rendering as sincere a vision as possible of their own musical vision.

The project came to life in 2022 thanks to the impetus of Emilio Giovanoli, a double bassist/electric bassist and composer from Ticino, already known on the Swiss music scene as a versatile sideman, with the aim of bringing together musicians with a common musical sensibility met while studying at the renowned Basel Jazzcampus. The compositions on their debut album ‘Refractions‘ (2023, self-produced) are influenced by today’s jazz panorama, not forgetting nods to the hardbop of the 60s and reminiscences of classical impressionist composers’ harmonies or glimpses of electronic music’s polyrhythms and repetitive patterns.

Constantly on the move between north and south of the Alps, Emilio’s writing is also influenced by the horizons that surround him on his many travels. The album ‘Refractions‘ is also intended as a sound painting and tribute to the wild landscape of the Alpine Arc, an omnipresent natural obstacle which, with its peaks, lakes and forests, provides a source of inspiration for radiant, open and communicative music. The project was selected to be part of the festival Swiss Diagonales Jazz 2024, which enabled it to play in a number of Swiss clubs including Moods (Zurich), BeJazz (Bern), La Spirale (Fribourg) and Jazz in Bess (Lugano).

Alexandre Cahen – Piano

Lennard Fiehn – Tenor Saxophone

Martín Theurillat – Guitar

Max Liebenberg – Drums

Emilio Giovanoli – Upright Bass/Composition