ANANGA RANGA

Ananga Ranga biography
ANANGA RANGA appeared in Lisbon, Portugal in 1976 playing Prog covers and were formed by Luís FIRMINO (guitar), ÁLVARO (bass), Manuel BARRETO (piano), NECAS (drums), Rui PEDROSO (organ) and PANTERA (percussion).

They released a couple of Pop singles in 1979 but on the same year they recruted Manuel GARCIA (saxophone) and released their debut, a Jazz Rock/Fusion album called Regresso às Origens. It's fully instrumental and has a very typical 70's Fusion sound with obvious influences from MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, RETURN TO FOREVER, among others. It also had Carlos ZÍNGARO (violin) as a special guest which added even more diversity to the album.

After that album, ÁLVARO was replaced by Vasco ALVES and Rui PEDROSO and PANTERA left the band. The next year the recorded their second and last album Privado, with the participation of Alfredo NASCIMENTO (cavaquinho, percussion). On this one they tried to appeal to both Pop and Jazz Rock listeners, but the result was a confusing album that didn't appeal to either.

Their output was very uneven but Regresso às Origens is an obscure gem that is highly recommended to fans of the Jazz Rock/Fusion genre.

::Meltdowner::