Acoustic Moods is in lockdown for a while longer. You will hear an episode of Acoustic Roots with Duo Bottasso.
This episode was already broadcast last 17 July, but because of some malfunction, part of the programme could not be heard. So, you will hear a rerun of Acoustic Roots with Duo Bottasso.
Diatonic accordion player Simone Bottasso was our guest in Acoustic Roots twice before. On 16 October 2015 he did a solo performance for Acoustic Roots in the Pieternel (chapel) of the Pieterskerk in Utrecht. He made a profound impression with his inventive and mercurial approach. If you want, you can hear this performance here.
We stayed in contact and that’s how we learned about his many new projects. When he told us about his project Neighbours, a collaboration with Reza Mirjalali, ud and tar player from Iran, we considered that good reason to invite him again. That was in 2017, when we still recorded our programmes in Kargadoor (venue) in Utrecht. The recordings are splendid: listen here.
This episode of Acoustic Roots is the first we were allowed to record in Podium Oost after the measures around Covid-19, fortunately. This time, Simone brought along his brother Nicolò. Together they have made up Duo Bottasso for years now. Nicolò plays the violin and the trumpet, en although he studied at Codarts in Rotterdam, just like his brother, Nicolò lives in Italië, while Simone has lingered in Rotterdam. The brothers travel up and down between Italy and the Netherlands, but were separated during lockdown. As soon as it was possible again, Nicolò came to the Netherlands and Duo Bottasso is complete again. And now, they are in Acoustic Roots. It is moving to watch how these brothers are of the same mind, and also together talk nineteen to the dozen to presenter Karin van den Boogaert. Not only ONE, but TWO Bottassos!
Meanwhile they have released two CDs, of which the latest, ‘Biserta e altre Storie’, was brought out in 2018, featuring the sound artist Simone Sims Longo.
The Italian brothers play their own compositions and interpretations of folk songs. The duo always is on the look out for compromises between instrumental refinement, and explosive energie and improvisation. Besides, they see it as their mission to preserve the traditional music of their country of origin.
The duo are welcome guests on music festivals; they played on, e.g.: Festival Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, Torino Settembre Musica, MITO, Europese Jazz Expo in Cagliari, Folkest, Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Trad It Festival (the Netherlands), and Sidmouth Folk Festival (UK).
Playlist:
1. Reina
2. Curenta Val Vermenagna
3. Diatofonia N.7
4. Bourrée
5. Maitia
6. Polska
7. Monkerrina
Web site: Duo Bottasso
