A gesture of love and gratitude to Pink Floyd’s masterpiece which represented a fundamental shift in the music of ‘900. Only three instruments – mandolin mandola and mandocello – are covering the whole range of frequencies, are using up all the techniques and all the sound stratagems to make not only a mandolinistic reinterpretation of the legendary album, but above all a reworking of psychedelic progressiv mandolin’s language..
A gesture of love and gratitude, that's what the project "The Dark Side Of The Mandolin" just want to be, love and gratitude to a disc which represented a fundamental shift in the music of the '900, which does not need to be argued. Love and gratitude expressed by musicians who have elected the mandolin as their expressive medium, in an unusual and counter-trend direction. But through it they want to express their current and pressing urgency of artistic communication. The result is a paraphrase cut to the bone: only three instruments - madolin mandola and mandocello - covering the whole range of frequencies that the family of plectra offer, using up all the techniques and all the sound stratagems to make not only a mandolinistic reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s masterpiece, but above all a reworking of psychedelic and progressiv mandolin’s language.
Mandolinist Mauro Squillante is regarded as a specialist in antique plectra instruments on whose repertoire, organology and executive practice conducts constant researches. Graduated at the Pollini Conservatory of Padua, he has performed intense concert performances all over the world with internationally renowned ensembles, holds conferences and masterclasses in Italy, London and Hungary. He has worked with the most prestigious Italian Liric Institutes and has recorded albums for the most well-known labels in the world. He is president of the Neapolitan Mandolinist Academy and professor of mandolin at Bari, Salerno and Vienna.
Gaetano (Gaio) Ariani was admitted to mandolin class at the Conservatory of Bari at 11 years old, graduated with 10 and praises, then performed with the Orchestra of the Conservatory "N. Piccinni "in many national and international concerts. His career continued winning First Absolute Prize at the "IV National Contest N. Van Westerhout", then performing L'Otello of Verdi at Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari and at Teatro Verdi in Pisa and touring with the Hator Plectrum Quartet in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan as a soloist with the national youth orchestra. He teaches mandolin at the Musical High School of Monopoli (BA).
Valerio Fusillo, an eclectic mandolinist from Apulia, was passionate about this instrument as a child thanks to the teachings of a local musician. After graduating from the Conservatory of Bari, his technique and style improved with prestigious academic courses and playing in chamber music orchestras in Italy and abroad. The love for improvisation leads him to go deep into jazz studies even at the "Berklee College of Music". He has performed for artists such as Roberto De Simone and Peppe Barra and has performed radio and music recordings of popular music, chamber music and experimental jazz.