Ed è un ricordo del compianto Simon H. Fell (1959-2020) l'album 3+3+2 che Confront Recordings ha tratto dalla prima serata dei concerti in suo omaggio tenuti al londinese Cafe Oto lo scorso febbraio, una riuscita - e toccante - interazione dal vivo di Rhodri Davies e Mark Wastell con due precedenti registrazioni del trio IST.
IST was formed by Simon Fell in September 1995. In so doing, he brought together the then unknown talents of Welsh harpist Rhodri Davies and London based cellist Mark Wastell. The trio rehearsed frequently throughout the remainder of the year and early the next, finally making their public debut at Club Orange, London on 23 April 1996. Simon revelled in the unusual chamber-styled instrumental lineup of the group and the fact that it threw up stark contrast to his other regular trio of the period, the powerful Hession Wilkinson Fell. From is roots in the London club scene the trio went on to perform on stages across the globe, made a couple of TV appearances, released numerous albums and formed a long standing performing relationship with Derek Bailey. At the time of Simon’s death, IST were making plans to mark their 25th anniversary with a series of concerts. In 2021, Mark Wastell’s Confront Recordings label released a 5 CD box set which showcased archive recordings of the trio’s early years covering the period 1996-2000.
3+3+2 was premiered on Night One of Simon H. Fell: A Celebration at Cafe OTO, London. The piece uses two previous IST concert recordings (3+3), one from London and the other from Berlin, as a backing track. Rhodri and Mark (+2) improvise and interact with the track to create a deeply interwoven acoustic string soundscape.