SLAMCD530 Stefano Pastor & Ari Poutiainen – North South Dial

A very original album of free improvisations by Italian violinist and multi-instrumentalist Stefano Pastor and Finnish violinist and educator Ari Poutiainen.

Pastor was winner of “Best Instrumentalist of the Year” (Miscellanea Category) at Top Jazz 2010 and 2011, the prestigious Italian critics’ poll by Musica Jazz Magazine.

The violin duo is a rarity in jazz; here two masters of the instrument create music of warmth, passion and a level of sensitivity that reaches out to the listener.

Stefano Pastor: violin, synthesizer
Ari Poutiainen: violin

“Violin duos are certainly a rarity and this one sounds unlike anything I’ve heard, since both men have their own distinctive sound. On “Simmering Telluric Current”, one violin sounds harsh, brittle and intense while the other creates a slightly less twisted drone. For “Cosmic Steam”, it sounds as if both spirits are dancing around a flame, bending their notes around a disturbing melody that is hard to not be fascinated by. Sometimes two different ideas are explored simultaneously so that we hear strange harmonies. From time to time, Stefano adds bits of synth swirls to good effect, like a shadow or shade that add some dark depth. This duo is most often intense and powerful in their explorations. This is not music for the timid. An amazing adventure through old and new terrain.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

All the tracks are free improvisations by Stefano Pastor & Ari Poutiainen
Recorded by Stefano Pastor in Genoa, Italy, 8th October, 2008
Mixed and mastered by Stefano Pastor

SLAM CATALOGUE