ICTUS Records
Encyclopedia
ICTUS Records is an independent record label for avant-garde jazz artists. Andrea Centazzo
(artistic director) and Carla Lugli (producer) founded it in 1976. Centazzo is an eclectic drummer, percussionist, pioneer electronicist and composer. Due to financial problems, ICTUS collapsed in 1984. ICTUS reemerged in 2006, reissuing a major compilation and producing new recordings.
Labeled as "The creative label for creative music" ICTUS Records was one of the leading independent music labels in the late 70's. Founded by Carla Lugli, producer and Andrea Centazzo, artistic director, the company focused mainly on improvised music, contemporary music and avant-garde jazz. In 1984, due to increasing financial problems, Ictus ceased to exist.
In 2006, exactly after 30 years ICTUS was back on the marked with a special box set including brand new as well old recordings.
ICTUS Records - Andrea Centazzo Complete Music Archives series is a special endeavor to present a broad selection spanning the 30-plus years of Andrea Centazzo's artistic work.
Each CD and DVD has a specific and separate character reflecting the cultural influence of the time and the place where the music and the images were composed and recorded: many artistic souls, one artistic vision.
A vision that is on the edge of established musical and visual trends, a horizon that is Andrea Centazzo's own captivating style.
What the critic says:
"From among the archival recordings, Andrea Centazzo has once again pulled a proverbial rabbit out of a hat. His Mitteleuropa Orchestra which was only alive for a span between 1980 through to 1983 finally gets a proper CD issue. Andrea Centazzo of course composed the music, played drums and percussion and acted as the conductor. The music is an intricate study of how composed music allows improvisation to occur within certain, controlled realms. It's the communal sound that's more important in this music. Musical variety is evident from disc to disc. Centazzo likes order and when he allows direct battles to come around inside of the movements, these never last for extended periods. Even in chaos, formality and order must reign. There's lots of music on these two volumes to absorb - enough in fact to keep you busy for many weeks to come. In each set, a different musical adventure awaits. f you're ready traveler, set your course for planet Mitteleuropa without further delay.
Tom Sekowski (Gazeta Vivo, April 2007)"
“... As a whole, the ICTUS Records’ 30th Anniversary Collection is a fascinating compilation with hours of special moments.
It is an important, if not essential collection, featuring an incredible array of talent, and priced as an extraordinary value.
Reflecting the tastes and performances of Italian composer and percussionist Andrea Centazzo, the 12-CD boxed set gloriously presents an eclectic and highly individual selection of free improvisation.”
Steven Loewy (CADENCE, January 2007)
"The Heart of Wax casts the Italian free-jazz pioneer in the role of composer/conductor, demonstrating superlative mastery of orchestration... Although Centazzo incorporates lush, jazz influenced harmonies into his pieces, the emphasis is on the repetitive, minimalist blending of percussion and keyboards. What prevents the music from taking on an all-out minimalist stature; however, is the intriguing contrapuntal developments found within the melodic content of each movement.
The careful choices in timbre along with the hypnotic, ethereal effect of his rhythmic layering catapults the listener into a world of sonic serenity, enveloped in warmth. While each individual movement of The Heart of Wax stands on its own as a distinct musical statement, the resulting whole performed with seamless perfection, is a bold statement from an under appreciated visionary"
John Barron ( Allaboutjazz, September 2008)
"Every now and then a recording comes out which renews the realization of how richly creative improvised music can be.
What is intriguing is the idea of the well of introspection that must trigger the musicians’ process.
The answer to the question “What comes next?” keeps the listener glued to the music.
In the Ictus release, The Soul in the Mist, Andrea Centazzo render the anticipation of “What comes next?” easy to accept. The concept of this recording is built on the careful traveling through an alluring, appealing and mysterious atmosphere to a place of surprise....
This recording might be interpreted as metaphor for living: how we wander with our eyes open to the vastness of what is ahead until something unexpected confuses us and causes us to stop, literally eradicating our wonder."
Lyn Horton (www.jazzreview.com, July 2007)
Andrea Centazzo
Andrea Centazzo is an Italian-born American percussionist and composer of minimal music. He acquired U.S. citizenship in 2000 and lives in Los Angeles, California....
(artistic director) and Carla Lugli (producer) founded it in 1976. Centazzo is an eclectic drummer, percussionist, pioneer electronicist and composer. Due to financial problems, ICTUS collapsed in 1984. ICTUS reemerged in 2006, reissuing a major compilation and producing new recordings.
Labeled as "The creative label for creative music" ICTUS Records was one of the leading independent music labels in the late 70's. Founded by Carla Lugli, producer and Andrea Centazzo, artistic director, the company focused mainly on improvised music, contemporary music and avant-garde jazz. In 1984, due to increasing financial problems, Ictus ceased to exist.
In 2006, exactly after 30 years ICTUS was back on the marked with a special box set including brand new as well old recordings.
ICTUS Records - Andrea Centazzo Complete Music Archives series is a special endeavor to present a broad selection spanning the 30-plus years of Andrea Centazzo's artistic work.
Each CD and DVD has a specific and separate character reflecting the cultural influence of the time and the place where the music and the images were composed and recorded: many artistic souls, one artistic vision.
A vision that is on the edge of established musical and visual trends, a horizon that is Andrea Centazzo's own captivating style.
What the critic says:
"From among the archival recordings, Andrea Centazzo has once again pulled a proverbial rabbit out of a hat. His Mitteleuropa Orchestra which was only alive for a span between 1980 through to 1983 finally gets a proper CD issue. Andrea Centazzo of course composed the music, played drums and percussion and acted as the conductor. The music is an intricate study of how composed music allows improvisation to occur within certain, controlled realms. It's the communal sound that's more important in this music. Musical variety is evident from disc to disc. Centazzo likes order and when he allows direct battles to come around inside of the movements, these never last for extended periods. Even in chaos, formality and order must reign. There's lots of music on these two volumes to absorb - enough in fact to keep you busy for many weeks to come. In each set, a different musical adventure awaits. f you're ready traveler, set your course for planet Mitteleuropa without further delay.
Tom Sekowski (Gazeta Vivo, April 2007)"
“... As a whole, the ICTUS Records’ 30th Anniversary Collection is a fascinating compilation with hours of special moments.
It is an important, if not essential collection, featuring an incredible array of talent, and priced as an extraordinary value.
Reflecting the tastes and performances of Italian composer and percussionist Andrea Centazzo, the 12-CD boxed set gloriously presents an eclectic and highly individual selection of free improvisation.”
Steven Loewy (CADENCE, January 2007)
"The Heart of Wax casts the Italian free-jazz pioneer in the role of composer/conductor, demonstrating superlative mastery of orchestration... Although Centazzo incorporates lush, jazz influenced harmonies into his pieces, the emphasis is on the repetitive, minimalist blending of percussion and keyboards. What prevents the music from taking on an all-out minimalist stature; however, is the intriguing contrapuntal developments found within the melodic content of each movement.
The careful choices in timbre along with the hypnotic, ethereal effect of his rhythmic layering catapults the listener into a world of sonic serenity, enveloped in warmth. While each individual movement of The Heart of Wax stands on its own as a distinct musical statement, the resulting whole performed with seamless perfection, is a bold statement from an under appreciated visionary"
John Barron ( Allaboutjazz, September 2008)
"Every now and then a recording comes out which renews the realization of how richly creative improvised music can be.
What is intriguing is the idea of the well of introspection that must trigger the musicians’ process.
The answer to the question “What comes next?” keeps the listener glued to the music.
In the Ictus release, The Soul in the Mist, Andrea Centazzo render the anticipation of “What comes next?” easy to accept. The concept of this recording is built on the careful traveling through an alluring, appealing and mysterious atmosphere to a place of surprise....
This recording might be interpreted as metaphor for living: how we wander with our eyes open to the vastness of what is ahead until something unexpected confuses us and causes us to stop, literally eradicating our wonder."
Lyn Horton (www.jazzreview.com, July 2007)