Firasso - Tales (2021) [Hi-Res]

Tales is the debut album from Firasso: a trio which unites three musicians who, in normal circumstances, may never have crossed paths.

The group unites a classical clarinetist, an accordion player specialised in ‘new music’ and a jazz double bassist.

Together, they fuse a post-genre mix of music which draws on the musical vocabulary of tango, klezmer, Balkan music and French musette.

The music – all original compositions – is one of contrast: affectionate and melancholic one moment, rich, fiery and passionate the next.

The line-up may be unusual, but the instruments are joined together by their warmth: Robert Beck’s mellow, woody tone on the clarinet, the depth of Nils Imhorst’s double bass and Marko Kassl with the unmistakable sound of accordion – unique as the only polyphonic wind instrument out there.

For the musicians, the spirit of this project comes down to life: exciting, sad, angry, cheerful… sometimes even bizarre.

Each unpacks his own stories, musical or otherwise and, together, they find common ground.

Influenced by the corona times they – like everyone else – were living in, Firasso skilfully combines sadness and wit into 13 highly original songs.

Robert Beck - clarinet, bass clarinet
Marko Kassl - accordion
Nils Imhorst - bass