Antonio Dayyani: ‘Organisme’

Stepping out from behind the drums, Antonio Dayyani once more adds composition and vocals to his growing credibility as a bandleader - ‘Organisme’ is the third album from Dayyani’s sextet, reflecting the ensemble’s development across months of performing.

Organisme begins with En lykkelig organisme (A Happy Organism) and Dayyani’s vocals set the tone for the collection of his innovative jazz that explore the sense of us as organisms relying on each other for existence and happiness.

Each tune fosters collaboration and connection, both musically and philosophically with a combination of composition and improvisation.

Organisme emerges from three different sessions, resulting in a variety of tones and expression. Dayyani (drums, composition and vocals) is joined across different tracks by Harald Hagelskjaær (bass), Andrea Maagaard (piano), Cahlo Heyman Krill (acoustic guitar and electric guitar), Magnus Munk Tækker (pedal steel guitar), Jon Askjær (trumpet and flugelhorn), Malina Midera (piano), Kristoffer Jessen (vocals), Samira Dayyani (cello) and Tue Lautrup (violin).

The lyrical Roots removed, replaced, brings melody to the fore. Similarly, on the ballad Alt og intet (All or Nothing), with Danish vocals that are melodically sumptuous, with added flugelhorn and strings. Although Dayyani thrives in the contemporary jazz formats, he nevertheless doesn’t stray far from the melody in his compositions.

In combination with innovative music, there is a sense of humour, as in the title of Are you confused, Monsieur Gustave. Recorded live, I suspect that the title refers to Wes Anderson's film The Grand Budapest Hotel - Dayyani’s influences seem to come from a variety of sources that all bring us back to humans (organisms) making connections with each other.

Antonio Dayyani’s ‘Organisme’ is released on 9 October on April Records