Orkestra Eustoria
‘HyperGiant
Hi-Fi’
Self-released
When
you first encounter the impressive debut of Orkestra Eustoria, the ensemble’s name
and album title, “HyperGiant Hi-Fi,” seem to perfectly fit the otherworldly
sound. But the key to the band’s success lies in the expansive musical scope of
this world. Founded by saxophonist Peter Sparacino in the ethnically diverse New
York City borough of Queens, Orkestra Eustoria includes musicians with an
international array of roots: guitarist Aki Ishiguro, keyboardist Isamu
McGregor, bassist Panagiotis Andreou, and drummer Engin Gunaydin. Producer David Binney plays synthesizers and Sarpay
Ozcagatay plays flute on one track.
Sparacino,
who wrote all the tunes except the short “Intro”, moved to New York from San
Francisco in 2008. Since then he’s played and toured with a variety of bands
when he’s not doubling in pit orchestras. In terms of time signatures, voicings
and sonic textures, compositions like “InterDweller” and “Le Bumpier”
beautifully reflect the myriad genres Sparacino has been exposed to in his
musical journey.
This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2019.
