This Is A Journey Into Sound

Penetrating that wall of sound

escribed as a musical alchemist, the Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi pretty much lives for sound.

From an early age, the Turin-born, Dublin-based musician has explored just about every genre and just about every instrument.

His explorations naturally taking him to the far-away sounds, and the likes of the lute, frame drums and even the dreaded accordion. It’s a journey that has led him to a series of acclaimed album with eclectic landlady Rhiannon Giddens – with whom Francesco won that Grammy for 2021’s They’re Calling Me Home – as well as his own solo outings.

Having brought his adventures into sound to The Whale and Andrea Splendori’s Social Fabric podcast, The Art Of Noise in October – alongside Dublin singer Tolü Makay – Francesca returns for his own headlining show on Sunday, November 30th at 5pm. Boom!

Ahead of that afternoon delight, we asked Francesco to reveal some of those musical roots, and those tracks that can still make him, hey, break down and cry…

I am musically very curious and omnivorous but usually I like pretty obscure music.

I own about 4,000 CDs and my Spotify playlists are 10,000 tracks long. You could say that I am obsessed with always discovering new music.

This is a random stream of consciousness selection of things I have loved and listened to over and over again in the past…

Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra Take The A Train
This music was on Italian TV with the carousel showcasing new films at the cinema, and it’s one of my earliest musical memories. Possibly the first time I heard jazz too…

The Doors Light My Fire
In high school I discovered The Doors. At that stage I was playing electric guitar, but as a former piano student when I discovered this organ solo, I was blown away. I memorised the whole thing and used to play it over and over again for hours. There’s so much jazz in the playing of Ray Manzarek.

John Coltrane My Favourite Things
first time i heard Coltrane was when I bought this CD. I remember in the shop someone behind me in line described this music as “cows at the slaughter”… I was intrigued. Possibly my favourite jazz musician ever.

Emerson String Quartet Ravel String Quartest M.35: II
The first time I got brought to a classical music concert, this piece was performed and I was sitting in the front row. I was so blown away by the beauty of this music and all the sounds the quartet could make, and it’s still one of my favourite pieces ever.

Brad Mehldau All The Things You Are
This live track from Brad Mehldau’s first trio at the peak of their power. Still is one of the most incredible things i’ve ever heard. As a conservatory jazz piano student, when this recording was released it nearly made me quit.

Leila Pinheiro Guinga O Coco do Coco
A singer I was working with in conservatory made me learn this song and made me fall in love with Guinga, and subsequently with all the many faces of music from Brazil.

The Secret Trio Slide Dance
I discovered this album in a shop in Istanbul and fell in love with this combination of sounds from the Mediterranean and the Levant.

Lena Chamamyan Sareri Hovin Mernem
I learned this song while working with Greek singer Savina Yannatou and this version by Syrian Armenian singer Lena Chamamyan makes me cry every single time.

You can check out Francesco Turrisi at The Whale on Sunday, November 30th here. More on Francesco website here and Substack here, and on Tolü (pic: Bobby Zithelo) on Instagram here.