AUTOSCHEDIASM

   Part 1  21:26

   Part 2  12:08

   Part 3   9:13

Karoline Leblanc – piano

Ernesto Rodrigues – viola

Nicolas Caloia – double bass

Title: autoschediasm

Genre: Free Improvisation

Recorded June 19 2018 at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal

Format: CD-R

Catalogue #: atrito-afeito 010

Cardboard sleeve (screen print by Karoline Leblanc)

Stamped Disc

Limited edition of 100

Release date: November 9 2018

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Revue & Corrigée (France)

Mars 2019 par Cyrille Lanoë

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

Le titre donné à l’album du trio né de rencontres entre Québec et Portugal, entre le piano de Karoline Leblanc (atrito-afeito), la contrebasse de Nicolas Caloia et le violon d’Ernesto Rodrigues (plusieurs disques chez Creative Sources), se réfère à l’improvisation et à l’intemporalité. Autoschediasm se décline en trois mouvements : un premier aux sonorités douces et rondes, un deuxième qui joue un peu plus encore que le précédent sur le minimalisme et le silence, un dernier, le plus court, qui se fait plus enjoué et ondulant. Un disque aussi frais que le blanc de sa pochette.

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The WholeNote (Canada)

January 29 2019 by Stuart Broomer

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

Autoschediasm (the term indicates something improvised, offhand or casual) presents a three-segment collective improvisation created by Montreal-based pianist Karoline Leblanc and bassist Nicolas Caloia and Portuguese violist Ernesto Rodrigues. All are accomplished improvisers, but each brings different threads: Leblanc’s background stresses the classical avant-garde; Caloia’s career emphasizes free jazz; Rodrigues, who leads several distinct improvising orchestras in Lisbon, has championed free improvisation for over 30 years, appearing on scores of CDs.

While the title suggests something casual, the music sounds appropriate to its Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal setting, the trio bringing a high modernist discipline and precision to the work. The opening movement flows with an energy that is dense and light. Sparked initially by LeBlanc’s imaginative keyboard flights, in its later stages it settles into a churning rhythmic pattern that ignites Rodrigues’ radical virtuosity, resulting in a flurry of microtonal lines that sometimes create their own counterpart. Offhand? Casual? The only thing that distinguishes it from composed music is the challenge of writing it down.

The second movement takes a contrasting approach, developing little sounds, arising discreetly, sometimes pointillist, at times muffled, at others percussive, a gently humming underbrush alive with detail. The final segment moves from delicate sonic events to a turbulent, vibrant world that recalls the opening, a formal motion that exaggerates a pattern evident since the early classical era. It’s an act of “autoschediasm” rich in taut attention to nuance and form.

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FreeForm, FreeJazz (Brazil)

January 27 2019 by Fabricio Vieira

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

O novo registro do selo canadense atrito-afeito apresenta um trio que grava junto pela primeira vez. Aos canadenses Karoline Leblanc (piano) e Nicolas Caloia (baixo) se junta o português  Ernesto Rodrigues (viola), em um encontro que aconteceu no Conservatoire de Musique de Montreal, em junho de 2018. A apresentação, de pouco mais de 40 minutos, se divide em três partes, apesar de ser uma peça só, autoschediasm, que dá título ao álbum. Aqui estamos no campo da improvisação livre coletiva, em que os três instrumentistas exploram vias que se completam em diálogos ora harmoniosos, ora conflitantes, podendo ir cada um a um canto distinto ou se unirem para formar um todo de coerência estética e discursiva. Músicos experientes, conseguem criar, no geral, uma peça de inventivas possibilidades, soando como um conjunto camerístico de linhas moderadas mas desafiadoras, com sonoridades que devem exibir seu melhor no ambiente de uma sala de concerto – isso fica ainda mais evidente na detalhista “Part 2” –, onde cada movimento gestual pode ser captado pelo público. Leblanc, uma das destacadas pianistas da cena contemporânea, mostra um pouco de seu melhor em “Part 3”, quando duela com a viola, em empolgante desfecho a partir dos cinco minutos, que faz o registro encerrar de forma vibrante. O CD sai em edição limitada de 100 cópias numeradas.

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Kathodik (Italy)

December 24 2018 by Marco Carcasi

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

In casa della label canadese Atrito-Afeito, azione acustica e suoi stravolgimenti sono all’ordine del giorno.
Nel caso di questo bel live, registrato al conservatorio di Montréal, l’accento vien posto maggiormente sull’acustico.
Il piano e contrabbasso dei canadesi Karoline Leblanc e Nicolas Caloia e la viola del portoghese Ernesto Rodrigues, si esibiscono lungo il corso di tre numeri che inglobano attimi di burrasca, nervosa stasi e rapida liberazione conclusiva.
Con maggior aroma black (Cecil Taylor?) in chiusura e apertura (entrambi di reattiva e sensuale contemporaneità) e un espanso passaggio esplorativo sul corpo strumento (la seconda, strabiliante parte, tra suoni parassitari e decisa, minimale performance).
I naviganti navigano, noi seguiamo il loro ottimo percorso.

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Spontaneous Music Tribune (Poland)

December 19 2018 by Andrzej Nowak

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

Kontynuujemy wątek improwizacji, tworzonej z dużą rozwagą I odpowiedzialnością za pojedynczy dźwięk. Przenosimy się do Montrealu, w scenie tamtejszego Konserwatorium Muzycznego meldują się, w roli gospodarzy – Karoline Leblanc na fortepianie, także preparowanym oraz Nicolas Caloia na kontrabasie, a w roli gościa – Ernesto Rodrigues na altówce, przy okazji wartościowy kontynuator wątku iberyjskiego dzisiejszej zbiorówki. Na płytę składają się trzy wątki – najdłuższy, krótszy i najkrótszy. Całość, zarejestrowana tego lata, trwa niespełna trzy kwadranse.

Pierwsza opowieść, stanowiąca niemal połowę nagrania, upływa nam na wyważonej, improwizowanej kameralistyce. Szumiące, chwilami wręcz taneczne pasaże na strunach altówki, kontrabas traktowany naprzemiennie pizzicato i arco, wreszcie skupiona pianistyka na klawiszach. Wszystko odbywa się w atmosferze świetnej komunikacji, jakakolwiek akcja nie pozostaje bez reakcji. Liryka i dynamika, szeroki wachlarz wrażeń estetycznych. Szczególnie urokliwe chwile, to 11-13 minuta, gdy muzycy decydują się na filigranowe rozmowy z akcentami preparacji na fortepianie i altówce, a także chamber bowed bass tuż pod nimi. Pod koniec trio dzieli się na następujące po sobie duety, które ubarwiają całą narrację. Precyzja, styl, dystynkcja, to elementy konstytuujące jakość tego nagrania.

Dwie krótsze improwizacje bardziej stawiają na sonorystykę, zmienność akcji i moc intrygujących inspiracji ze strony każdego z muzyków. W drugim fragmencie smakowity jest moment, gdy małe gierki toczą się niemal na poziomie podłogi, cisza wokół skwierczy, a muzycy stawiają na stylowe zaniechanie i przeurocze szuranie po strunach, także na dnie fortepianu. Jeszcze atrakcyjniejsza akustycznie zdaje się być finałowa opowieść. Szumiąca altówka, kontrabas, który trzeszczy niczym stara szafa w samym środku ciszy. Molekularna zabawa w wyłącznie udane koincydencje. Na ostatniej prostej muzycy czynią ciekawą pętlę narracyjną i wracają do kameralistycznej estetyki początku nagrania, czyli free chamber with meta jazz roots!

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Avant Music News (USA)

December 7 2018 by Daniel Barbiero

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

A release from the trio of pianist Karoline Leblanc and double bassist Nicolas Caloia, both of Montreal, and Portuguese violist Ernesto Rodrigues, Autoschediasm, recorded in June at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, is an example of discerningly improvised timbral polyphony. From the first instant Leblanc, Caloia and Rodrigues reveals themselves to be possessed of a fine collective chemistry based on keen listening and sensitive responsiveness. Each leaves adequate room for the others’ instruments to breathe and to sound; their music is the product of what appears to be an unforced, natural rapport. As instrumentalists, all three are primarily colorists working with the full palettes that piano, double bass and viola make possible. The group’s fluency in handling color is especially evident on the second track, an exploration of space and tone. The strings are particularly creative here, with Rodrigues spinning out a full spectrum of unpitched sounds against Caloia’s harmonics, plucked and struck notes, and pressure bowing. Leblanc’s discreet interventions serve as the keystone holding Rodrigues’s and Caloia’s centripetal forces in place. By contrast, on the first piece the trio craft a long but coherent improvisation on the basis of skillfully handled dynamics and a seamless blend of conventional and extended techniques. Leblanc is a deft player, playing inside and outside the piano as needed, and alternating lead and support–or simply staying silent–when the collective sound seems to demand it. Caloia gets a robust sound and provides a firm grounding with his powerful mid and lower registers; Rodrigues’s sense of texture comes out nicely in his use of rapidly bowed layers or plucked and tapped points of sound.

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Orynx (Belgique)

5 décembre 2018 par Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

Pour ceux qui suivent le violoniste alto Ernesto Rodrigues, c’est l’occasion de l’écouter dans une dimension esthétique  différente par rapport à ses enregistrements « lower case / réductionnistes » publiés sur son label Creative Sources : sa remarquable maîtrise sotto voce est illustrée ici dans le cadre d’une musique libre jouée avec plus de possibilités sonores, vitesse, énergie, etc… Au piano, la remarquable pianiste canadienne Karoline Leblanc qui dirige aussi le label atrito – afeito et à la contrebasse Nicolas Caloia, lui aussi canadien et membre insigne du trio In the Sea avec Tristan Honsinger et Josh Zubot. Commençant en puissance, la première improvisation (Part 1 21 :26) évolue vers un jeu raffiné, la pianiste intervenant dans la table d’harmonie et le contrebassiste ponctuant le trilogue d’une main sûre. Le violon alto étire les sonorités en faisant miroiter les timbres de ses frottements délicats dans un tournoiement énergique aux cadences renouvelées. Vers la quatorzième minute, le clavier se soulève et emporte les cordistes dans une sarabande animée, orchestrale qui culmine dans des grondements dans les graves. Le contrebassiste pousse le trio avec ses doigts puissants et des vibrations (charlie) hadeniennes. Un bel enchaînement. La Part 2 s’entame dans le questionnement de la matière sonore, les vibrations des cordes du piano actionnées (frappes, frottements furtifs, frictions éthérées) dans la table d’harmonie auquelles répondent les timbres délicats de l’alto (viola) traité de manière ingénieuse et originale. D’un état d’apesanteur attentiste, s’échafaude une construction sonore sombre basée sur un dialogue sensible d’effets sonores maîtrisés dont les affects convergent avec une belle finesse. Par la suite, on découvre un bruitisme minimaliste et expressif (Part 3  9 :13), avec une conclusion enlevée qui renvoie à l’atmosphère animée de la Part 1. Cette expressivité est due au talent des improvisateurs qui savent faire « parler » leurs instruments dans une démarche presque « réductionniste ». À noter la maîtrise du toucher de la pianiste dans les cadences qui clôturent l’album. C’est en tout point remarquable et les trois Parties offrent un panorama de plusieurs  états de l’improvisation libre avec une grande cohérence. Le contrebassiste Nicolas Caloia s’intègre parfaitement dans l’ensemble avec une belle sensibilité et un goût du détail, chose essentielle dans la pratique d’Ernesto Rodrigues. De la vraie musique improvisée aboutie, assumée qui rassemble trois sensibilités – expériences différentes pour célébrer l’écoute mutuelle active. Une belle production de Karoline Leblanc, une artiste à suivre à la trace..

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Badd Press (Canada)

December 4 2018 by Kevin Press

Karoline Leblanc / Ernesto Rodrigues / Nicolas Caloia – Autoschediasm

This powerful new disc from Karoline LeBlanc, Ernesto Rodrigues and Nicolas Caloia is true to its title. Autoschediasm isn’t just a synonym for improv. According to Oxford, its use suggests “something done on the spur of the moment or without preparation; a hasty improvisation.”

It is certainly all of that. This is Cecil Taylor-level intense. Times three.

The album feature Karoline Leblanc on piano, Ernesto Rodrigues on viola and Nicolas Caloia on double bass. Leblanc and Caloia are both Canadians. Rodrigues, who brings the most extensive discography to the project, was born in Lisbon, Portugal.

Leblanc earned a reputation for herself as a concert pianist in the 1990s, premiering a number of Canadian composers’ work. As the decade wore on, she found herself drawn to less structured music. Since 1998, Leblanc has been best known for her complex improv style.

In addition to being a respected double bassist, Caloia is a composer, band leader and artistic director of the Montreal production company Musique rayonnante. He composes and performs with both chamber ensembles and orchestras.

While Rodrigues is clearly gracious enough to place himself second on this album’s bill, he is the group’s main attraction.

His 40-year career has earned him a following that includes lovers of contemporary, free jazz and other improvisational music. An accomplished violinist and violist, Rodrigues says electronic music was a major inspiration early in his career. He’s known to leverage instrument preparations and micro-tuning in his work.

All of the performers shine on this exhilarating three-part disc. Its range extends from quiet intensity to hang-on-to-your-hat. Remarkably though, it never overwhelms. The performances are entirely complementary to one another.autoschediasm is the kind of recording that makes us optimistic about the future of classical music.

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