MAAD

A short-lived, Jazz-oriented combo from Milan, which comprised of Italian and Italo-American musicians, namely Pino Devita, who played electric and acoustic piano plus trombone, Attilio Zanchi on bass, guitars and bouzouki, percussionist Jonathan Scully and drummer Joe Castanuela.Despite being linked to the activities of the L'Orchestra label, their only album ''Maad'' was released in 1976 on Divergo, their style was propably too jazzy for the much more Avant/Folk-related sounds of L'Orchestra.Stormy Six'es Renato Rivolta appears on flute and saxes along with percussionist David Searcy and singer Lucinda Mirk.

''Maad'' consists of four almost all instrumental tracks of Ethnic-flavored Jazz Rock with experimental twists, which easily swirl around abstract and loose plays and fast, groovy themes with folky orientations.The album is filled with African tastes and also some essence from the Mediterrenean and Latin lands, adapted with intelligence into an amalgam of Jazz and jazzy-spiced Rock textures, each single minute features a different protagonist in here, it's either Devita and his both ethereal and fiery piano lines, Zanchi and his impressive bass work to go along with some excellent guitar moves and solos, Scully and his endless taste for ethnic sounds via the use of marimba, vibraphone, congas and percussion or Castanuela with his flawless drumming.Close to 10 or 10+ min. jazzy orgasms with some nice interplays, laid-back echoes, virtuosic isolated masturbations and even some tremendous Fusion experiments with the band in full display.While most of it passes through tropical and folky moods, there are even moments closer to Avant-Garde with a bit darker sounds on piano and some nice choirs, just to remind the great talent of this band.Really tasteful palette of sounds with a jazzy background and a certain taste for World Music.

After a 1978 single, again released on Divergo, Maad disbanded, but Devita, Scully and Zanchi remained all connected to the music industry, the latter played around the same time with the more Folk-oriented band Yu Kung.

Equal doses of Jazz and Ethnic Music in a trully interesting mixture, despite some experimental hints.You love Jazz, you'll certainly admire this underrated group from mid-70's.Mellow Records' CD resissue comes with an extra track.Recommended.