Live at La Sala Rossa — November 28, 2007
Ratchet Orchestra / Nicolas Caloia
This is a lovely recording of a band that have gradually expanded from a quartet to a truly orchestral sound. — Exclaim!, Canada
Lolling between the sublime and the ridiculous, the Ratchet Orchestra is a 30-head hydra which has occasionally disturbed the city of Montréal since 1994.
- Composer(s): Nicolas Caloia, Sun Ra, Carmine Lombardo
- Performer(s): Ratchet Orchestra, Gordon M Allen, Michel Bonneau, Chris Burns, Nicolas Caloia, Bruce Cawdron, Noah Countability, Ken Doolittle, Jacques Gravel, Alexandre Grogg, Gen Heistek, John Heward, Bryan Highbloom, Norsola Johnson, Robert Kraft, Gordon Krieger, Pierre Labbé, Philippe Lauzier, Anni Lawrence, Kate Lawrence, Eric Lewis, Brian Lipson, Damián Nisenson, Thea Pratt, Jean René, Sam Shalabi, Joshua Zubot
CD (CAL 2008)
- Label: [Independent]
- CAL 2008
- 2008
- Total duration: 37:38
- 137 mm × 155 mm × 4 mm
- 25 g
On the web
In the press
Review

Destination Out
This is a lovely recording of a band that have gradually expanded from a quartet to a truly orchestral sound. Several generations of Montréal musicians participate in this project, which displays a wonderful variety of approaches to improvisation, from myriad takes on noise to European classical derivations or the bluesiest of wails. These noir-ish, expansive compositions are obviously influenced by Sun Ra, but in the right ways. Ratchet master Nicolas Caloia never indulges in lame, quasi-mystic space motifs; rather he finds inspiration in the orchestral sounds of Ellington, Ra’s former boss Fletcher Henderson and occasionally, Egyptian icon Om Khalsoum. With over 27 players in the orchestra, seemingly every instrument is doubled, if not tripled up. A large contingent of strings makes for some arresting ensemble sounds, as in the beguiling Carmine and the initial part of T(h)rust. The large scale improvs (Alan Silva, etc.) of the ’60s also come to mind but this disc’s stylistic range, contemporary electric sounds and overall gusto never sound like revisionism. My big gripe is the cover art, which has feathers glued all over the spine. My allergies and my computer’s CD drive curse you for this poor design choice.
Blog
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008 / New releases
Founded in 1994, Nicolas Caloia’s Ratchet Orchestra releases its first title, recorded live at La Sala Rossa in November 2007. Featuring 30 of Montréal’s finest improvisors, including Gordon M Allen, Chris Burns, Alexandre Grogg, Pierre La… More
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Friday, November 28, 2008 / In concert
After a huge success at the Suoni Per Il Popolo festival last summer, the Ratchet Orchestra will be in concert at the Jewish General Hospital in Montréal on December 1, 2008. The orchestra, who just released its first recording, features do… More