TOTEMGAMI

Emilio Galante, flute/live electronics Tonino Miano, piano/synths Contact: toninomiano@hotmail.com; emilio@emiliogalante.com

Questo progetto è nato in una giornata di registrazione in studio. I due musicisti, senza mai avere suonato prima assieme, senza nessuna preliminare comunicazione verbale ne scritta, hanno condotto il loro percorso in un processo di totale improvvisazione e interplay.Il percorso sonoro è caratterizzato da un’apertura a panorami linguistici molteplici, dove le possibilità offerte dell’elettronica si intrecciano ai dialoghi puramente acustici, offrendo così un’ampia gamma narrativa che si rivela essere uno dei tratti più significativi di questo duo.

 

This project was born during a studio recording session. The two musicians, having never played together before, and without any prior verbal or written communication, embarked on their journey through a process of total improvisation and interplay. The sonic journey is marked by an openness to multiple linguistic landscapes, where the possibilities offered by electronics intertwine with purely acoustic dialogues, thus providing a broad narrative range that proves to be one of the most distinctive features of this duo.

Reviews

  • L’album TOTEMGAMI enregistré en juin 2025 révèle son avant-gardisme. L’association avec le claviériste Tonino Miano se révèle fructueuse. Ce duo prolifique part à la recherche de sonorités inédites, et les expose dans « Aria percossa », litanie de sept minutes qui s’assimile à une déambulation en apesanteur. Cet exercice musical sur un fil d’équilibriste révèle la complémentarité des deux instrumentistes qui ne cessent d’innover. Ce constat prévaut avec « Dialogue avec lui-même », en un jeu de questions-réponses haletantes. 
    « Interlud II » souligne la densité du jeu pianistique, à l’opposé du climat proche d’Erik Satie dans « Interlud I ». Les investigations menées par Emilio Galante atteignent leur apogée dans « Come pietra pensante », proche du minimalisme. La puissance émotionnelle se manifeste jusque dans les interstices de « Il dubbio e la danza » et « Nuvole d’ombra », où les musiciens semblent se faufiler entre des gouttes d’eau. 
    C’est une bibliothèque sonore inédite que nous ouvre TOTEMGAMI par ces interactions saisissantes entre Emilio Galante et Tonino Miano. En parallèle, l’équilibre musical entre les parties acoustiques et les effets électroniques procure un plaisir d’écoute immédiat. - Mario Borroni, April 26 - https://www.citizenjazz.com/Emilio-Galante-sur-tous-les-fronts.html

 

  • The twelve short pieces sound like thoughtful, cerebral conversations—sometimes even arguments (but always respectful and polite ones)—between two experienced musicians who share insights, test hypotheses, and articulate possible aesthetics. They dare to experiment more with abstract sounds as this session progresses.  - Percorsi Musicali October 2025 - https://www.percorsimusicali.eu/2025/10/11/emilio-galante-tonino-miano-totemgami/

 

  • There’s exceptional instrumental musicianship from flutist Galante and pianist Miano, and this is a scintillating and rare example of truly non-idiomatic improvisation. - George Grella, Killyridols. BEST RECORDINGS ON BANDCAMP 2025 - https://killyridols.substack.com/p/best-recordings-on-bandcamp-2025

Emilio Galante was born in Bologna, Italy. He pursued studies in composition and flute at the Conservatorio di Bologna and obtained a degree in Philosophy from the University of Bologna. Furthering his education, he earned a Masterclass Diploma from the Musikhochschule in Munich, Germany.

Mr. Galante has performed extensively across Europe, as well as in the United States, Russia, and Turkey. His career includes solo appearances at esteemed venues such as La Scala in Milan and La Fenice in Venice.

In 1998, he established Sonata Islands, a chamber ensemble dedicated to the performance of contemporary music. In 1999, the ensemble recorded Sciare di Fuoco under the BMG-Ricordi label. Mr. Galante also organizes its own festival, held annually in Milan and Trento. Among his recent recordings are Torre Aquila (2010), featuring Markus Stockhausen; Sonata Islands Meets Mahler (2013); Soul Doctrine (Innova); as well as Zeuhl Jazz and QBB, two avant-garde rock works released by the American label Chant Records. He has held a teaching position at the Conservatory of Music in Trento.

Mr. Galante is co-author, alongside Gianni Lazzari, of the book Il Flauto Traverso, published by EDT in 2003.

where he is currently active as a performer, educator, and researcher.Tonino Miano is a pianist, composer, educator, author, and visual artist. He holds a Classical Piano degree from the V. Bellini Conservatory in Caltanissetta, a B.A. in Musicology from the University of Bologna, and a B.S. in Physics from the City College of New York. 

From 2006 to 2013, he ran his own record label, Impressus Records, and co-curated (with Frantz Loriot) Avant Post, a monthly new music and improvisation series at Temple M in New York City. He has led or co-led numerous recordings, the latest of which are Human Pieces (with F. Cusa, R. Grosso, and B. Groder - Leo Records) and Luminary (with A. Melani and R. Grosso).

He is also the author of the highly praised Non-Tonal Technical Studies for Piano.

After spending half of his life in New York City, he has now relocated to Catania where he is currently active as a performer, educator, and researcher.