two more italian prog artists
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Suggest New Bands and Artists
Forum Description: Suggest, create polls, and classify new bands you would like included on Prog Archives
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17895
Printed Date: March 03 2025 at 11:54
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: two more italian prog artists
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Subject: two more italian prog artists
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 08:31
I'm sure these two names deserves their own place here on progarchives. |
Replies:
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 10:53
|
Where are you, Andrew? I need your contribution here... |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 11:25
|
The three prog releases of Alan Sorrenti (1972, 73, 74) before entering disco music (1976)!! |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 11:28
|
http://www.riccardozappa.it/ - http://www.riccardozappa.it/
official Riccardo Zappa's web site with lots of information! |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 11:30
|
Riccardo Zappa's fan page: http://digilander.libero.it/riccardozappa/Testi/menu.html - http://digilander.libero.it/riccardozappa/Testi/menu.html |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 17:24
|
anyone else who has listened to these two interesting artists? |
Posted By: horza
Date Posted: January 24 2006 at 17:40
Not yet - but I have noted their names  ------------- Originally posted by darkshade: Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot. |
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 25 2006 at 15:32
|
Here i am!!! Hi Andrea, I have the first two albums by ALAN SORRENTI ( the Italian TIM BUCKLEY), and i find them relly impressive. He's a very talented singer!!! I don't like the third release. RICCARDO ZAPPA is considered one of the best Italian acoustic guitar players. His first album, "Celestion", from 1977, is his best work, containing all instrumental tracks showing the excellent quality of Zappa's playing. Later albums changed style, going closer to new age. |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: January 25 2006 at 16:07
|
Well, i attended a concert of Riccardo Zappa in 1996 (actually, it was a clinic where he was showing a new 12 strings guitar)... I own some of his records: "Definire significa limitare" (1996 - bought at that concert) ; "Anthakarani Swami" (1990); "Fondali - Volume decimo" (1993); "Dal vivo" (1994) and "Riccardo Zappa interpreta Johann Sebastian Bach" (1997)... I'm an acoustic guitar player and I like these albums but they're more close to works of artists like Leo Kottke, Alex De Grassi, Tommy Emmanuel, Franco Morone, Peter Finger etc... I never thought to Riccardo Zappa as a "progressive-rock artist" (anyway on this site there are so many albums and artists not exactly prog that I like as, for instance, Al Di Meola...). Personally I don't care if an album or an artist "not prog" is on this site... The most important thing is to understand what kind of music you can find in an album and if it's good or not... By the way, sometimes ago I started a topic with a list (very far from complete, indeed) of Italian artists related to prog... I think it could be useful discuss their music on this site, so I post it again... Bye!
ALAN SORRENTI (Singer-songwriter): Many people think that his first album “Aria” is a masterpiece of progressive music. I do not agree, though it’s an interesting album with vocals in the style of Tim Buckley and a long suite (in the line-up there’s Jean-Luc Ponty). The following two albums “Come un vecchio incensiere all’alba in un villaggio deserto” (1973) and “Alan Sorrenti” (1974) are less interesting. The other albums, especially from 1977 are just melodic pop. ALBERTO FORTIS (Singer-songwriter): The first album “Alberto Fortis” (1979) is very interesting, in the line-up there’s all the PFM, lyrics are a mix of rage and poetry. Not bad also “Tra demonio e santità”, with Mauro Pagani in the line-up (1980), while the other albums are less interesting for prog-fans ANGELO BRANDUARDI: His albums from 1975 to 1980 should be of great interest for prog-folk lovers: “Angelo Branduardi” (1974), “Alla fiera dell’Est” (1976) “La pulce d’acqua” (1978), “Cogli la prima mela” (1979) and “Gulliver, la luna e altri disegni” (1980). If you’re not familiar with this artist I suggest you to begin with the live album “Concerto” (1980), where play the musicians of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso and where you can hear some English versions of his songs (though the Italian versions are better). EUGENIO FINARDI (Singer-songwriter): In the albums “Sugo” (1976) and “Diesel” (1977) you can hear clearly the “Area touch” in the rhythmic (Paolo Tofani, Patrizio Fariselli and Ares Tavolazzi from Area are in the line-up). Lyrics are extremely “engaged” (for instance Giai Phong on the Vietnam war and Scimmia on drugs addicition on Diesel album). Intersting also “Non gettate alcun oggetto dai finestrini” (1975), “Blitz” (1978) and “Roccando Rollando” (1979). IVANO FOSSATI (Singer-songwriter): Former member of Delirium, his career, though not exactly “progressive”, has been successful and with high quality standard albums. I suggest to listen to “La pianta LUCIO BATTISTI (Singer-songwriter): One of the best known Italian singer-songwriter. Usually the lyrics of his songs are written by Mogol and are very poetic. In his early albums you can find in the line-up musicians of PFM, Area, Il volo and Formula 3. I suggest to listen to “Emozioni” (1970), “Umanamente uomo: il sogno” (1972) and “Il mio canto libero” (1972). FRANCESCO GUCCINI (Singer-songwriter): In some of his albums of the seventies you can find prog arrangements, but his works are essentially based on lyrics so, if you can’t appreciate the lyrics probably you’ll find him a little bit boring. Anyway, in the live album “Tra la via Emilia e il West” (1984), featuring, among others, Vince Tempera (Il Volo) on keyboards and Ares Tavolazzi (Area) on bass, there are interesting new arrangements of some songs and it could be a good starting point if you would check this artist. FABRIZIO DE ANDRE’ (Singer-songwriter): Probably the most influent and well known Italian singer-songwriter. His live works in 1979 with PFM, “De Andrè In concerto + PFM” Vol. 1 and 2 are two must-have. Very interesting also the eponymous album with the native American on the cover “Fabrizio De Andrè” (1981), “Creuza de mä” (1984), co-written with Mauro Pagani and sang in
RICCARDO (RICHARD) COCCIANTE (Singer-songwriter): The first album of this artist, “Mu” (1972), though very far from essential, is a progressive one based on keyboards. The other albums are just more or less successful collections of pop songs. ALBERTO CAMERINI: Singer-songwriter rock oriented that released some interesting albums in the seventies for Cramps, the same label of Area, “Cenerentola e il pane quotidiano” (1976), “Gelato metropolitano” (1977) and “Comici cosmetici” (1978). Area musicians were involved in these albums and the music and lyrics are quite good, with blended elements of prog-rock and samba. The rest of his career is just electronic pop… If interested, I suggest to listen to “Camerini metropolitano” (1998), a collection of songs from 1976 to 1978. NOMADI (melodic-rock band): Great band, well known for their live performances (usually their concerts last at least 3 hours), but not prog. Their sound is beat, post beat, melodic rock but it can hardly be defined prog, though they made some interesting songs for “prog fans” (for instance the Italian version of Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin – Ho difeso il mio amore”, or their version of some Guccini’s songs, remarkable the 1974 album “I Nomadi interpretano Guccini”). If you are interested in their music but not familiar with them, I suggest to begin with their live albums “In Concerto vol. 1 and POOH (easy-pop band): Their career began almost 40 years ago and they’re still active, but they made probably only one album interesting for prog lovers, “Parsifal” (1973). It seems that in
RONDO’ VENEZIANO (classical oriented instrumental pop?): This is a project of Giampiero Reverberi (producer of many Italian artists like, among others, Le Orme, New Trolls, Lucio Battisti) that is very difficult for me to define. They blend classical and modern instruments to play. original compositions of Reverberi in classical baroque style inspired by Vivaldi and Albinoni. I suggest to check their first eponymous album (1980).
|
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: January 25 2006 at 16:22
|
I would like to add some other artists:
To be Continued... |
Posted By: horza
Date Posted: January 26 2006 at 16:52
There is a band called 'Pooh' ? 
Maybe Anrea Cortese/ANDREW/andrea could form an Italian-prog specialists team?  ------------- Originally posted by darkshade: Calling Mike Portnoy a bad drummer is like calling Stephen Hawking an idiot. |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: January 26 2006 at 17:59
|
Riccardo Zappa... i´ve listened to one album of him, but i dont remember the name... Of course prog, and i will looking for that album to buy it... ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
Posted By: memowakeman
Date Posted: January 26 2006 at 18:01
Fabrizio De André ------------- Follow me on twitter @memowakeman |
andrea wrote:
, i love his voicePosted By: RaphaelT
Date Posted: January 27 2006 at 02:40
|
Well, italian progressive music was a revelation to me, you may add anyone, except Al Bano and Romina Power and Eros Ramazzotti. And of course not Sabrina!!
------------- yet you still have time! |
Posted By: paulindigo
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 15:57
We forgot about Sabrina ages ago, anyway I suspect she was really popular only in Poland... 
|
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 17:24
|
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 17 2006 at 17:25
|
|
Posted By: avestin
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 00:14
I second that I already suggested ANDREW be nominated as collaborator, but this idea is even better (some would say a progressive idea).
------------- http://hangingsounds.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow - Hanging Sounds http://www.progarchives.com/ProgRockShopping.asp" rel="nofollow - PA Index of prog music vendors |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 04:08
|
Ricardo Zappa is IMHO, fit to be in the Archives, (how about JR/F genre?
Cociante has some horrible Sorrenti: The name rings a bell (maybe read in references books), but like Branduardi and Batiatto, I was always guilty let's also avoid Zucchero ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
90's stuff (that is the one I am unfortunately familiar with
) and this means that those albums would find themselves in the Archives too, given that the entire discography must be present
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 05:29
It's difficult to settle Zappa in a cathegory...he is a mix between JR/F, Folk and symphonic (due mainly to the classicism's references on his works)... The most important thing is to have here on the archives... Alan Sorrenti's first three album deserves PA's consideration, under the RIO/Avant Prog, in my opinion... |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 05:47
|
^^^^^^^ Although I am more reserved for your lenghty lists from both Andrea I'll check in the following week or so with Zappa and Sorrenti If I find them, than one of you can write the bios and I will create the entry Andrew has done quite a fine job
____________________________________________________________ __ One question, though How do you feel (this is only a probe, not an advanced debate) about the Italian prog genre? I think we all agree that this means Italian-styled symphonic prog Discussions have arisen lately about the use of this genre, which makes for doubling up on the symphonic prog genre and create a geographical boundary not used for any other country Would it upset Italians if the category was merged in Symphonic prog? Just a probe to see how you would feel about it ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 06:42
|
There are both the (undenaiable) geographical boundary (secondary natural effect) and the argument of its own specificities... I have no problems with the genre "italian-symphonic prog", but I would like to do something to make italian bands more noticeable... I'm sure that it would be enough to change "symphonic prog" in "english symphonic prog" . That would be the most correct choice (and the most demmocratic one...
P.S. Alan Sorrenti: only his first three releases are prog (recently remastered cds!!
|
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 09:56
|
I do not think that the artists that I put in my list should be put necessarily on this site (though some of them found a place in other prog-sites)… In the early seventies almost everybody in Some days ago I attended a concert of ROBERTO VECCHIONI (singer-songwriter not supposed to be prog): in the line-up there was Patrizio Fariselli (AREA) that arranged all the songs for the show and during the show played on piano a version of “Luglio, agosto settembre (nero)!... Now, I don’t think that Vecchioni should be included on progarchives, but perhaps his last album live with Patrizio Fariselli could be of some interest for an Area fan… Other examples? MATIA BAZAR, ALUNNI DEL SOLE, CLAUDIO ROCCHI, MICHELE ZARRILLO, MARIO LAVEZZI, ALBERTO RADIUS, BERNARDO LANZETTI, IVAN GRAZIANI… Probably all these artists are not prog but all of them in their career played prog or were influenced by prog so that some of their albums (certainly not all of them) could be of some interest for a prog lover… Many one-shot Italian prog-bands did albums of less quality and interests than some of the works of the artists in my list… If FORMULA 3 albums are very similar to LUCIO BATTISTI’s (who wrote, by the way, most of the songs for Formula 3 albums) why we shouldn’t discuss about Lucio Battisti music on this site? ALAN SORRENTI is a good example: his albums of the early seventies are usually considered as prog-masterpieces, while all the rest of his career has nothing to do with prog… more or less the same could be said for FRANCO BATTIATO (though already listed in this site)… Personally I do not care too much if these artists are included in the site or not but if you include them I think you have to include all of their albums and say if the music in those albums is good or not… Dear Andrea Cortese: if you want ALAN SORRENTI to be included in the site get ready to review “Figli delle stelle” and “L.A.&N.Y.”!!!! P.S. Anyway, there are two more bands that I suggest to consider for inclusion: MOONLIGHT CIRCUS (they’re just the “evolution” of BLACK JESTER) and RADIODERVISH in the folk-prog section… Bye! |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 10:14
|
Completely agree with you, Andrea!! It would be interesting for me to review those Sorrenti's albums! BTW I'm a great fan of Lucio Battisti... who was influenced and strongly influenced the italian prog scene!! How about to review some of his albums as, for example, Amore e Non Amore or Il Nostro Caro Angelo? |
We surely would have something to say about them!!Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 12:11
|
Of course, but probably it would be better start a new thread for this... |
Posted By: ANDREW
Date Posted: February 22 2006 at 13:12
|
Even a traditional songwriter like Riccardo Cocciante has had a progressive past with his wonderful "Mu" album, released in 1972. On this record there's such an increasing use of electronic keyboards that it could turn pale all the best Italian groups. It's a pity that later on he chose different music paths, obviously more remunerative. The very nice cover artwork with various reliefs deserves to be mentioned. Trust me, you will like this album!!! http://imusic.libero.it/compilation.php?icom_id=2245 - http://imusic.libero.it/compilation.php?icom_id=2245 for more informations; you can also listen to some MP3. |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 26 2006 at 05:02
It would be very interesting to check the albums of many italian pop artists from that mythic era 1972-1973-1974...I agree with you: I would surely find many many surprises!!!
|
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 03:35
|
Regarding the additions of artistes: Unfortunately mailto:M@X - M@X has been adament to have their full discographies in the Archives You can imagine how much of a draw back it can be for artistes who have just one or two prog albums. If that was not such a problem, I would've introduced Santana a long time ago and limited it to the 70's albums So Foir Cocciante and Sorrenti..... Rather difficult
So Apparently there are three Andreas around You guys are making things simple
Anymore thoughts about why Italian groups have that unfair advantage of their own category? And why this should remain? ------------- let's just stay above the moral melee prefer the sink to the gutter keep our sand-castle virtues content to be a doer as well as a thinker, prefer lifting our pen rather than un-sheath our sword |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 06:47
|
You have to consider that Alan Sorrenti's career is a UNICUM in the italian prog scene of the seventies! His progressive works (first three albums, 1972, 1973, 1974) are miliar stones of the genre in the development of the genre in Italy! His works are definable "RIO / Avant Prog" and are so strongly progressive as so strongly pop are the next albums he released after a two years break from 1976! Here we are not speaking about a pop artist who made also (and curiously) a progressive album, but about a PROGRESSIVE ARTIST who, surprisingly, changed his musical behaviour after he reached so high goals (I'm not speak of sellings, obviously!). For the right development of this site, I ask you and Max to re-consider this unjust choice!
P.S. and what about Riccardo Zappa? Have you heard Celestion or Chatka? Let me know about. |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 15:02
Actually, I do not mind too much but... "Italian-progressive" has always been considered a sub-genre here in Italy too... "Italian-progressive" not "Italian-symphonic-progressive": for me it's difficult understand why Area and Arti & Mestieri are in another section... Well, it's difficult to define the genres, you know... |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: February 27 2006 at 15:10
ALAN SORRENTI is not my favourite artist but I have to agree... The early works of Sorrenti were very inluential, he took part to many prog-festivals... He was part of the Italian-prog scene... Differently from Battiato the rest of his career is absolutely to forget... Fortunately he wasn't so prolific!
|
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: February 28 2006 at 04:08
|
...continue from my previous post: I've seen there are other bands included on the archives with only their unique (or few) progressive effort!! As, for example, I Dik Dik, Equipe 84 and I Giganti!!!! So, it is, at least, curious to deny the inclusion to other prog artists as Sorrenti and Zappa (Riccardo)!! |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: March 10 2006 at 06:15
|
Brand new reissue in papersleeve CD edition for Riccardo Zappa's debut album from 1977! Euro 15,00!! http://www.btf.it/ - http://www.btf.it/ |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 16:11
This could be an useful link... http://digilander.libero.it/gianni61dgl/alansorrenti.htm - http://digilander.libero.it/gianni61dgl/alansorrenti.htm
|
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: March 17 2006 at 09:32
|
Thanks andrea for supporting all the great italian stuff!! But it's absolutely natural, since you're italian too!!! |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: April 17 2006 at 13:54
|
Just heard Ricardo Zappa's Celestion album ... definitely worth an addition under Prog-Folk, IMO!
------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 06:18
|
Great to know you also have listened to Zappa (Riccardo). Prog-folk? Yes, this is what I also think, even if his music is not "folkish" at all! This is the main problem with Zappa. BTW the great role for acoustic instruments (guitars mainly but also mandolin and from the second album percussions) moves me to cathegorize his works under the sub-genre Prog-Folk. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 07:27
|
No, please, not Zucchero.... BTW, I saw the above list, and being familiar with all of those names I must say I have my doubts about most of them. I agree on Alan Sorrenti's first two albums being prog - I used to like them quite a lot when they came out (I was not even a teenager, but I already listened to a lot of prog) - but then you would have to include the rest of his production... "Tu sei l'unica donna per me" on PA? God forbid!!! Branduardi, on the other hand, is quite good... but prog? I'm not sure about that. As to the funnily-named band Pooh (which was actually named after Winnie the Pooh), I can only comment with a |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 09:43
By the way... Do you know that Corrado Rustici (Cervello, Nova) produced and arranged some of the best known Zucchero's album like "Blue's" and "Oro incenso e birra"? ... so also Zucchero is in a certain way "prog-related"... My list was made just to underline the influence of prog in Italian music, I don't think that all this artists should be included in PA, but it could be interesting discuss them in the forum... In 1971-1973 almost everybody in Italy was playing prog: prog was "in fashion" and plenty of prog albums were released... more than the market could absorbe! So many groups disbanded while other bands changed and tried new ways more rentables, like Pooh or Jet/Museo Rosenbach that formed Matia Bazar, or the former guitarist and singer of Semiramis Michele Zarrillo... Personally I don't like Pooh but if they had relesed only "Parsifal" they woud have been in PA... Alan Sorrenti was tightly bound to prog mouvement at the beginning of his career ... So his early albums were definitely prog... I can't see what's the problem if also the other ones are included in PA: all we have to do is simply tell that they're awful!!! (like some albums of the eighties of PFM, BMS, New Trolls or Genesis, Yes, etc...) |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 11:20
|
Well, I see your point, but I don't really think any albums by Yes or even Genesis are as awful as most of Pooh's career (or '80s New Trolls, for that matter....). I know very well that everyone was more or less influenced by prog in the '70s, as I was there at the time, though still rather young. Anyway, as a collaborator of this site, I think we should avoid including musicians who only made one or two prog albums in their whole career and then started doing something completely different - not even rock (as in the case of Deep Purple or Queen), but straightforward, slushy, commercial pop! Just my 2 cents, obviously... |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 11:56
|
How about I Dik Dik? They are on this site only with the album "Suite per una Donna Assolutamente Relativa" (1972). My opinion is that we have to include to this site all the prog stuff. Even the "Parsifal" album. Since the band is clearly only a "slushy, commercial pop" band (thanks for using your own words As for example I Dik Dik their one studio album here. http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAND.asp?band_id=1796 - http://www.progarchives.com/Progressive_rock_discography_BAN D.asp?band_id=1796 This is what to do with Sorrenti & co. and that's my humble opinion. The fact of the popish records from Yes and Genesis during the 80s (the most clear example), this is an irrilevant matter because these bands are undoubtetly "PROG BANDS". |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 12:58
|
Well, I remember that in my wasted youth BTW, I think we should discuss the matter in the Collaborators section too, as it is there that band additions are decided. If you need any help with an "Italian-prog" team, I would be glad to help - though I've always been keener on foreign music, I remember quite a few of the things I used to listen to when I was younger. |
Posted By: anael
Date Posted: April 18 2006 at 16:44
|
I will add some more: Fabio, Hunka and Luciano are in the vein of Alan Sorrenti, Quel Giorno has a very good album, quite similar to Pholas Dactylus and Forum Livii with some singles, but Space Dilemma: Wow! what a song! I can't figure it out why they've never recorded a long play? 
Andrew or Andrea Cortese or Andrea do you guys know this ones? ------------- 
|
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: April 19 2006 at 05:19
Never heard to none of them! Thanks for the recommendations. I'll check'em out! |
Posted By: andrea
Date Posted: April 19 2006 at 09:06
|
In the seventies there were a lot of prog artists in Italy... Some of them are almost completely unknown and their albums are quite difficult to find... So, no wonder if nobody knows them! Anyway, this is a good site where you can find a lot of info about the Italian prog artists of the seventies... http://www.italianprog.com/ - http://www.italianprog.com/ |
Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: April 21 2006 at 13:09
| Yes, http://www.italianprog.it - www.italianprog.it is actually the most complete source for italian prog. |
Posted By: pierreolivier
Date Posted: April 21 2006 at 13:52
I totally agreed with you guys,
 italianprog.it is a wonderful site,full of informations and I consult it regurally.
|