jazz and improvised music
and
Feya Faku, trumpet, fluegelhorn
Mthunzi Mvubu, altosaxophone, flute
Sisonke Xonti, tenorsaxophone
Raffaele Bossard, upright bass
Dominic Egli, drums
live videos
PLURISM live at Jacques Pelzer Jazzclub, Belgium, may24
A POCKET FULL OF CHERRIES FOR MONGEZI live at Bird's Eye Jazzclub, may23
TRUMPETS FOR CAPTAIN RACKETE live at Bird's Eye Jazzclub, may23
In Concert
Records and Projects
UMHLANGANO
After four album releases - UNTITLED YET, FUFU TRYOUT, MORE FUFU! and AZANIA IN MIND - the latest iteration of PLURISM, "UMHLANGANO", sees drummer and band leader, Dominic Egli's insatiable searching call on a group of musicians who are all great fans of each other. Still anchored in Egli's very intentional curiosity about the many colours of African rhythm, melodies and grooves, the project is also a story of friends with deep respect for each other breaking bread and sharing ideas.
In addition to Egli's nostalgic sensitivity and Raffaele Bossard's (b) grounded vibrance, this PLURISM gathering digs into three generations of South African jazz in the form of the esteemed Feya Faku's uncanny temperament on trumpet, Mthunzi Mvubu's (as) prolific vocabulary and Sisonke Xonti's (ts) audacious-yet-vulnerable painting. And this time around, each member brings his own composition to the collective - in a different way PLURISM remains complex-yet-simple, explosive-yet-tender, down to earth and otherworldly, asking more of each other and the audience.
PLURISM would like to thank:
The NGOs Sea Watch and SOS Méditerranée for saving the lives that Europe deliberately lets drown in the Mediterranean (reference to these NGO's actions lies in the audio file on "Trumpets for Captain Rackete", in which the captain of the Sea Watch 3 is heard radioing the Lampedusa authorities to announce her unauthorised docking in port, after being blocked at sea by the Italian government and EU policy for more than two weeks in 2019, with 41 shipwrecked people on board);
Sibongakonke Mama for the poem on which iBabathane was composed; the children of Chad for the inspiration of "Children Song" and Liyana Hlela Xonti for her contribution; Peter Frei for his teachings; Don Cherry and Mongezi Feza for the music;
the team of La Maison Matrice for the hospitality; Noé for recording and editing; Antoine for mixing and mastering; Eva for the graphic design, Paul for the photos;
Raffaele for his assistance; Veit for his help; Beatrice for the support; Unit Records for the continuous collaboration;
our friends and families for being our friends and families;
and of course all of our musical ancestors, who created this playground that we love to swing on so much.
Recorded april 28th and 29th 2023 at Maison Matrice
Recorded and edited by Noé Franklé
Mixed and mastered by Antoine Etter at Studio Phonotope, Renens
Produced by Dominic Egli
Graphic Design by Eva Mercurio
Photos by Paul Argast
This record was made possible through the kind support of the SWISS ARTS COUNCIL - PRO HELVETIA
Bandcamp, Unit Records
Listen:
| Trumpets For Captain Rackete |
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Documentary :
Dominic Egli's PLURISM with Feya Faku
CONGO (digital single) is inspired by Congolese rhythms and melodies. By integrating excerpts of Patrice Emery Lumumba’s iconic speech on june 30 1960, CONGO commemorates the victims of the country’s violent oppression, it is a reminder of the ongoing exploitation and a call for change.
Release on june 30, 2019 on Bandcamp
Feya Faku, trumpet
Ganesh Geymeier, tenorsaxophone
Raffaele Bossard, double bass
Dominic Egli, drums & cymbals
Patrice Emery Lumumba, words
Recorded september 22nd and 23rd 2018 at Jazzcampus Basel, Switzerland.
Sounddirector, Sound, Mixing & Mastering: Daniel Dettwiler
Recorded september 22nd and 23rd 2018 at Jazzcampus Basel
Mixed and mastered at Idee und Klang Studio, Basel.
Tracking and 2nd Mixengineer: Leandro Gianini.
Assistant Mix Engineer: Virgile Rosselet
Composed by Dominic Egli
Producer: Dominic Egli
Graphic Design: Dominic Egli
Photo: Sheldon Sutter
Listen:
| CONGO (teaser) |
|
Documentary :
Dominic Egli's PLURISM with Feya Faku and special guest Siya Makuzeni
Following FUFU TRYOUT and MORE FUFU!, two releases that pay homage to the great masters of African music, the agile collective PLURISM around the tireless drummer and collector of sounds, Dominic Egli, presents its latest album, AZANIA IN MIND that resonates with stories from the African universe. Known for his raw sensuality, explosive coolness and down-to-earth playfulness, Dominic Egli has again gathered around him his dream line-up Ganesh Geymeier (ts), Raffaele Bossard (b) and the renowned South African trumpet player Feya Faku, with the expressive South African singer Siya Makuzeni joining the group on three tracks to create song-like melodies, complex and driving grooves and erruptive solos. PLURISM blends elements of African music cultures, collective improvisation and individual musical statements into a coherent sound and a colourful call for a decolonised encounter with the African continent, its people and its cultures.
„The name 'Azania' has a dense history in Africa. The contemporary understanding of the word stems from the liberation movement of South Africa. Freedom fighters in the pan-Africanist tradition have repeatedly called for the country to be renamed Azania - the land of the blacks. Dominic Egli’s PLURISM with Feya Faku and special guest Siya Makuzeni: AZANIA IN MIND is laced with a rootedness in history. From the dexterous vocals by the multi-talented singer and trombonist, Siya Makuzeni, to the hauntingly rich trumpet playing by Feya Faku. As the leader of the band, Dominic Egli is both thoughtful and carefree, grounded and uncontained, colorful and expressive. Egli's Azania In Mind has an envious cohesion. It has a sound booming with heritage, vigour and love. It carries the weight of the name 'Azania' in its liberated exploration of sounds and voices of the land of blacks.“
Zimasa Mpemnyama, Cape Town
Release december 21st 2018 on www.unitrecords.com, webrelease january 4th 2019. Recorded at Jazzcampus Basel, september 22nd and 23rd 2018. Sounddirector, Sound, Mixing & Mastering: Daniel Dettwiler. Mixed and mastered at Idee und Klang Studio, Basel, www.ideeundklang.com. Tracking and 2nd Mixengineer: Leandro Gianini. Assistant Mix Engineer: Virgile Rosselet
Graphic Design: Regula Meier, www.regulameier.ch
Coverphotography „City in Transition“: Andrew Tshabangu, www.facebook.com/andrew.tshabangu
Listen:
| Assiko/Begena Meditation/Lettre à Fatou Diome/An African Elegy |
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Documentary :
Dominic Egli’s PLURISM with Feya Faku „MORE FUFU!“
After their two releases, “Untitled Yet” and “FUFU TRYOUT”, the resourceful and many-sided collective PLURISM around the tireless drummer and collector of sounds, Dominic Egli, presents its third album: MORE FUFU! is a colourful declaration of love to the African continent, its dishes and its dazzling music. Sometimes more, sometimes less close to the original influences, PLURISM transcends the realm of an imaginary African folklore and puts it in the context of the contemporary jazz idiom. With his dream line-up Donat Fisch (as/ts), Raffaele Bossard (b) and the featured legendary South African trumpet player Feya Faku, Dominic Egli works with raw sensuality, explosive coolness and earthy playfulness to create song-like melodies, complex and driving grooves and eruptive solos.
“Bold artistic palate, well drummers have always been leaders, from Art Blakey to Elvin Jones the legacy prevails, and you Dominic, are the rightful heir together will all the other great jazz musicians of your generation, your wide musical canvas celebrating Africa stretches from Cape Town Goema to Malian Chants, Congo down to Madagascar and back to Feya Faku’s all encampasing musical sensibilties. Talking about the canvas: I was remained of Zakes Mda’s novel „Cion“; where he talks about quilt designs that africans made as slaves in the american south. Designs of rivers, mountains, landscapes imagined beyond servitude, freedom sign posts that the brave could use to emancipate themselves from oppression and spirtual demise. You my friend have done that with this offering, ewe bolero!” Andile Yenana, january 2015
Recorded, mixed and mastered in june 2016 at studio Idee & Klang, Basel, by Daniel Dettwiler and his crew; released march 2017 on www.unitrecords.com
Listen:
| Mali Must Be Beautiful |
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| Ewe Bolero |
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| Newborn (1960) |
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Documentary :
Dominic Egli's PLURISM with Feya Faku
FUFU* TRYOUT is a colourful declaration of love to the African continent, its dishes and its dazzling music. Sometimes more, sometimes less close to the original influences, PLURISM transcends the realm of an imaginary African folklore and puts it in the context of the contemporary jazz idiom. With his dream line-up Donat Fisch (as/ts), Raffaele Bossard (b) and the legendary South African trumpet player Feya Faku, Dominic Egli works with raw sensuality, explosive coolness and earthy playfulness to create song-like melodies, complex and driving grooves and eruptive solos.
Fufu* (variants of the name include foofoo, foufou, fufuo) is a staple food of the Asante, the Akyem, Bono and Fante peoples of the Akan ethnic group of Ghana and is eaten in Guinea (Guinean cuisine). It is made by boiling starchy food crops like cassava, yams or plantains and then pounding them into a dough-like consistency. Fufu is eaten by taking a small ball of it in one's fingers and then dipping into an accompanying soup or sauce. Foods made in this manner are known by different names in different places. However, fufu (the Akan name given to this kind of food) stands out beyond Akan communities especially in Ghana and in West Africa in general. (wikipedia)
„The complex but driving rhythms on FUFU TRYOUT are wrapped in beautiful melodies, I feel like humming along. This record with it’s highly expressive but soulfull solos touches my heart, I smell the earth and the warm sun of Africa.“ Obroni Kofi
recorded september 2013 at hardstudio winterthur by andy neresheimer, released december 2014 on www.unitrecords.com
Listen:
| Transkei Stars |
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| Mango Rain |
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| Interlude (Lullaby for Joli-Nez) |
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Documentary :
Dominic Egli's PLURISM
A busily active drummer and collector of sounds, Dominic Egli has formed his new trio PLURISM with his partners of choice Donat Fisch (as/ts) and Raffaele Bossard (b). With raw sensuality, explosive coolness and earthy playfulness, the agile collective breathes life into Egli s cunning, song-like compositional codes.
Their debut album “Untitled Yet” fuses jazz, improvised music and imaginary African folklore into bubbling magma that flows with apparent calmness like an unstoppable stream of lava only to explode in eruptions of sounds.
Tempi at breakneck speed, dense trance-like ritual grooves, ecstatic sound clouds, abstracted blues forms and bitter-sweet ballads engulf the listener like dazzling, fiery acoustic rain.
"ce disque est une douceur d automne
dominic egli, raffaele bossard et donat fisch nous entrainent dans une suite de promenades,
sur des sentiers forestiers, des chemins de traverse,
sans jamais cesser d exprimer leur infinie tendresse pour le monde."
malcolm braff
Recorded, mixed and mastered in july 2011 at studio Idee & Klang, Basel, by Daniel Dettwiler and his crew; released march 2017 on www.unitrecords.com (www.unitrecords.com); released march 2017 on www.unitrecords.com (www.unitrecords.com)
Listen:
| C'est fou |
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| Oumou et Malcolm se rencontre au bord de la mer |
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| Untitled yet |
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Documentary :
Press
“The whole CD is dazzlingly beautiful, four musicians grooving, in perfect harmony with each other, thirteen songs that sweep us off our feet.” Jazz’n’more 2015
“Egli’s compositions are precise musical abstractions woven into his pieces like the stylised ornaments in African fabrics or in the murals and sculptures of the Ndbele from Zimbabwe.” Schwäbische Zeitung 2015
“Egli’s quartet successfully creates an imaginary Afro jazz that vibrates with sensuousness. The concise melodies together with impressive solos of the band members are a fine example of musical mimicry.” Jazzthing 2015
“PLURISM creates its own folklore imaginaire: absolutely relaxed and laid-back (…). Egli and Co’s intention is to transform African impressions (…) A beautiful, warm, ¬cool jazz CD. With respect and without any attempt to curry favour.”” Weltwoche, Peter Rüedi 2016
“dominic egli’s plurism, an adventurous but accessible trio effort with donat fisch (tenor/altosax) and raffaele bossard (bass), features the leader’s originals, mostly long-form modal melodies, fleshed out with ardent esprit de corps. fisch’s sax, casually urgent, has a sleeper effect: initially understated, it gently weaves in and out of tonality, building subtle tension to arrive at vital musical moments, evident in his outro blowing over “flames” and fine work on the final four cuts. egli sets up two tracks with toy piano ostinatos, later plying a kalimba (thumb piano) and delivers a short but dynamic solo on “AFAP”, demonstrating throughout his empathetic and highly supportive commitment to group playing.” (tg, new york city jazz record, 3.2012)
Downloads
PLURISM with Feya Faku & special guest Siya Makuzeni