JP Schlegelmilch: Piano, Compositions
Pascal Niggenkemper: Bass, Compositions
Carlo Costa: Drums, Compositions
Drummer Carlo Costa, bassist Pascal Niggenkemper and pianist JP Schlegelmilch formed Minerva in the Fall of 2009. The band focuses on exploring the boundaries between composition and improvisation. Minerva’s music ranges from areas of static minimalism to dense and dynamic gestures, embracing both stark dissonance as well as open-hearted lyricism.
In May 2011 Minerva released it’s debut recording on Between the Lines Records. The CD, titled “Saturnismo”, includes original compositions by all three band members as well as collective improvisations.Some of the compositions are heavily influenced by aesthetics and compositional techniques of 20th century Classical, others are closer to jazz. The collective improvisations span a wide spectrum similarly.
“The trio manages to create a wonderful synthesis of styles, grounded in jazz, but leaning towards modern classical with lots of improvisation. (…) To Costa’s credit, and also the band’s, is the great interplay and the coherent musical vision (…) this is not about fast runs on the keys or uptempo pyrotechnics, but about mature music, woven lightly but solidly out of thin sounds. Really strong. **** ” (Stef Gijssels, Free Jazz Blog )
“The music is sparse yet active and all three players use a diverse range of colors on their instruments (…) a partnership is what this trio is, much more than a piano trio or ‘chamber improvisation’.” (Clifford Allen, The New York City Jazz Record)
www.carlocostamusic.com
