Adriano Clemente / Akashmani Projects

AKASHMANi PROJECTS

Akashmani in Sanskrit means "jewel of the sky", as the expression of something radiant within the vastness of the sky, like the light of the sun. This name was given to me by my Teacher in 2011. It is a series of projects that display the universal message of melody, harmony, and rhythm in various forms of expression and through different musical languages.

I am currently working on a new project of compositions called Kaleidoscopes which I recorded in 2024, in Extrabeat Studio, Rome, with very good Italian muscians. Now I am editing the material together with Piero Lanza, and planning to do further recordings.

The COLTRANE SUITE

and OTHER IMPRESSIONS

Coltrane Suite portrays Coltrane’s spiritual awakening in 1957, a turning point that changed his life for the remaining ten years before his untimely demise and inspired his commitment to dedicate his music to promote spiritual values in human beings. The second CD, Other Impressions, contains various compositions inspired by other events and circumstances. Most of them date back to a decade ago, except Havanera, Afghan Child, and Frenzy Clouds, which were written a few days before the recording session.

The double CD is published by Dodicilune in May 2023

The Mingus Suite, Adriano Clemente, painting by M. Gil

CUBAN FIRES

Cuban Fires is an imaginary journey into the various styles and traditions of Cuban music, as a sequel of the CD “Havana Blue”. The idea is to deepening some aspects of the Cuban musical heritage and to explore different moods and sonorities

The CD is published by Dodicilune in July 2018

HAVANA BLUE

A project of compositions in latin style inspired by the music of Bebo Valdes, Mario Bauza, and other giants of the Cuban musical tradition. It was recorded in December 2015 in La Habana with top local musicians, among whom Leyanis Valdes, granddaughter of Bebo Valdes (and daughter of Chucho Valdes).

The CD Havana Blue is published by Dodicilune, February 2017.

Havana Blue, Adriano Clemente, painting by A. Iannece

THE MINGUS SUITE

A Jazz Portrait in Seven Movements inspired by the music of Charles Mingus (1922-1979), is an idea that started in 2013 after I had composed a few tunes based on the blues structure in the tradition of Ellington and Mingus for my Akashmani Jazz Ensemble.

The CD is published by Dodicilune in May 2016

AKASHMANi: Across the Sky

This project is mainly an acoustic version, performed by a septet of four horns, piano, double-bass and percussion, of some of the compositions that appeared in “Akashmani: Across the Sky”, minimalistic music in the tradition of Terry Riley and Steve Reich, at that time performed on Yamaha and Roland keyboards. The use of percussions and the new arrangements add a somewhat different flavor to the music.

This audio tape “Akashmani: Across the Sky” was published in 1996 by Amiata Records.

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Merigar 30th Anniversary, Adriano Clemente, Nina Suza Reiss, Jasna Jovicevic

THE SONG BOOK

This project includes various songs with English lyrics, some of which already performed in concerts by the Akashmani Ensemble. Several songs are based on jazz and blues harmony, while others are written for voice and harp. The lyrics express ideas and feelings from personal experience.

To be recorded in the future!

THE SONGS OF WILLIAM BLAKE

The Songs of William Blake (1757–1827), is one of my oldest projects, as I started to set Blake’s poems into music in 1974. The compositions, mostly from "The Songs of Innocence and Experience" are written in the style of English ballads, and also inspired by the music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.