Based in Amsterdam, the duo present Mastizk an exploration of the consequences of colonization in the artistic and political evolution of the victims of this erasure of identity. Both lyrics and music are inspired by, integrate and reinterpret the experiences and observations of its creators, who hail from the cultures of Bolivia, Brazil and Puerto Rico.
A percussionist of renown in the jazz world, Frank Rosaly naturally brings this facet to a high level, in addition to joining forces with musicians of the same calibre for the Chicago recording, such as Matt Lux, Avreeayl Ra, Ben LaMar Gay, Daniel Villarreal and Bill MacKay. As for Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti, she embodies the identity of the project, her voice and interpretation giving it its color. Known for her career in theater and performance, Ferragutti brings this sensibility to the ensemble, which becomes a sonic journey into a complex yet enveloping universe.
The influences and influences are manifold. Latin rhythms such as bomba, plena, cumbia and Andean music meet avant-jazz, art-punk, post-rock, minimalist, electro and folk. In the service of the pieces, we never lapse into showmanship, but we appreciate the moments when the musicians’ dexterity shines through, just as we let ourselves be hypnotized by the more repetitive pieces, where we end up getting lost in our own reflections. A perfect blend of active and passive listening.
