This new trio returns to a concept that gives pride of place to the violin as a solo instrument, while highlighting the bass-drums rhythm section through its reduced architecture. The writing and formal concepts of the leader, as developed in larger formations, or the collective freedom experimented in his previous quartet, are concentrated here, in an immediate expression, and in a very new instrumental configuration.
The partners in this trio are figures the violinist has already come across on his European adventures : double bassist Heiri Känzig, whom he met with the Vienna Art Orchestra and who was a member of Dominique Pifarély’s first quartet, and drummer Mario Costa, a team-mate in Hugo Carvalhais’s groups.
Dominique Pifarély modernized jazz violin, combining extraordinary technical skills with an inclusive idea of music-making. He has been soon very in-demand as a straight jazz player, but was soon in some of the more adventurous groups in Europe.
In his mature style, the classical violin tradition and the swing lessons combine with a contemporary European sonic exploration ; his technical mastery and quick imagination allow him to move seamlessly between these worlds.
He regularly performs in whole Europe, and has been touring in USA, Canada, Japan, India, Middle East, Latin America or Africa.
Born in New York, bassist Heiri Känzig has been a long-term player in the international scene.Already at age 21, he accompanied the great bebop trumpeter Art Farmer and since has played with innumerable illustrious colleagues in Europe and the USA.Känzig, who studied in Graz, Vienna and Zurich, has long ranked among Europe’s best bassists.
He is a virtuoso technician whose sound comes to the fore in the widest range of contexts from jazz and improvisation to World Music. He has received international acclaim as the long-standing bassist of the Vienna Art Orchestra, with which he has played since 1978. In high demand as a freelancer, he has recorded over 180 CDs on established major labels like blue note , universal, verve, virgin a.o.
He has regularly toured worldwide with a variety of musicians and, most notably, has played with such musicians as John Scofield, Billy Cobham, Pierre Favre, Adam Nussbaum, Bob Mintzer, Charlie Mariano, Kenny Wheeler, NENA, Ralph Towner, Betty Carter, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Andreas Vollenweider, Max Lässer, Daniel Humair, Christy Doran, Dominique Pifarély, Gary Thomas, George Gruntz, Jerry Bergonzi, Mark Feldman, Didier Lockwood, Franco Ambrosetti, Glenn Ferris, Thierry Lang, Dieter Meier (Yello), David Linx, Richard Galliano und Billy Hart.
Mário Costa was born on January 7th, 1986, in Viana do Castelo, Portugal.
Started his drum lessons at the age of eight, but already gripped the sticks since he had six years old. Studied classical percussion at Viana’s Professional School of Music, where he was introduced to XX Century Contemporary Composers like John Cage, Steve Reich, Iannis Xenakis, amongst others.
In 2004 entered in higher education, beginning his career as a jazz drummer in the city of Porto. He finished his graduation in Jazz – Drums at ESMAE – School of Music and Performing Arts in 2008 with Professor Michael Lauren, moving latter to New York where he had classes with some of the most renowned musicians in the Jazz scene.
In 2010 is invited by renowned concert hall “Casa da Música” to present a project, creating his group “Mário Costa – Homo Sapiens”, where begun his relationship with saxophonist Emile Parisien.
With the recording of double bassist Hugo Carvalhais’s albums “NEBULOSA” (CleanFeed 2010) and “PARTICULA” (CleanFeed 2012) Costa is introduced to the national and international critic and has the opportunity to collaborate and perform with saxophonists Tim Berne, Emile Parisien and Liudas Mockunas, pianist Gabriel Pinto and violinist Dominique Pifarély.
In 2020 Costa joins the new quartet of acclaimed British saxophonist Andy Sheppard.
