Zic quartet is formed in Rome in 1995 by four musicians coming from very different experiences. Their common interest is to begin a new project moving on the border zone between composition and improvisation. Zic is composed by Graziano Lella (prepared bass, sax, amplified objects), Francesco Bianchi (piano), Massimo Lella (guitars) and Riccardo Spezia (violin).

After a first period mainly addressed to composition, the quartet’s next choises is directed to extemporary execution both free and structures based, through a sort of “open forms” in which density, timbre and dynamics are some of structural elements of the improvisations. Zic’s music is characterized by the construction of materic textures made by a superimposition of multi-form musical materials. The research of unusual instrumental techniques, together with the use of tapes, radio, amplified objects and live sampling, fixes the balance between musical materials and the presence of noise elements.

The idea of giving a sound colour to emotions, visions and creative cues from extra-musical languages move the quartet to explore the interaction/contrast between the instantaneous character of improvisation and visual perception. So, Zic realize some works for silent movie images such as Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari (R. Wiene) and Scherben (Lupu-Pick).

After a period of studies and research, the quartet begin live activities in 1996. In 1999 they take part in the Controindicazioni continuano improvised music festival (Rome) with other groups and musicians such as Die Klangraumer, Wolfgang Fuchs and Carlo Actis Dato. In 1999 Zic also play at the Sotto il sole di Roma festival (Rome) in which take part groups like Ossatura & Chris Cutler, Metaxu, Brutopop e Zu. At the same time Zic began to work for theatre and in 2000 they realized and played live the musics for Il processo a Franz Kafka (directed by Igor Grcko) performed at Teatro Furio Camillo in Rome.


Main concerts and festivals:
Il processo a Franz Kafka - Teatro Furio Camillo - Roma - march 2000
Sotto il sole di Roma - Brancaleone - Roma - april 1999
Casale Garibaldi - Roma - april 1999
Controindicazioni continuano - Teatro Colosseo - Roma - march 1999
Cantiere Gustavo Modena - Roma - may 1997
Zona Rischio - Roma - april 1997
Laurentinokkupato - Roma - march 1997
Auro e Marco - Roma - december 1996
Casale Garibaldi - Roma - may 1996
Decima - Roma - january 1996


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