GIRO DI VALZER PER DOMANI

After producing one of the best proggy instrumental Jazz-Rock Fusion albums of all-time in Tilt, they decide to add vocals and try more melodic, and more funky tune constructions along with their usual Mahavishnu-like Power Fusion.

1. "Valzer Per Domani" (2:12) swinging a bit like some hap-sappy melody-laden Broadway overture (sounding a bit like a variation on "My Favorite Things"). It's pretty and very catchy but something feels a bit off: as if the band is a bit off, a bit out of sync (especially the drummer) and as if they're having to dig into other people's ideas and melodies for material. (4.375/5)

2. "Mirafiori" (5:55) the drummer is way too busy: as if he's either coked up or really feeling Ego-full of himself. Nice to hear that Gigi Venegoni and Giovanni Vigliar are still very much in sync with one another (on guitar and violin, respectively). Giovanni impresses in the second and third minutes while Furio Chirico's frantic KEITH MOON-like busy- ness almost fits in! Gigi Venegoni's following John McLAUGHLIN-like solo is also impressive. The ensuing section with its rather crazy effected-soprano sax solo makes the band sound like the upcoming NOVA albums with Corrado Rustici and Elio D'Anna. Obviously Mahavishnu Orchestra is the inspiration for both bands, so no use arguing about which came first. (8.875/10)

3. "Saper Sentire" (4:40) another really odd mélange of seemingly disparate styles (and sounds)--with vocals! Singer Gianfranco Gaza sounds like a 1970s version of LA COSCIENZO DI ZENO/NOT A GOOD SIGN lead singer Alessio Calendriello. (8.6667/10)

4. "Nove Lune Prima" (0:55) with this and the next three songs the band seem to be trying to reach back to a couple of years into the history of power Jazz-Rock Fusion. (4.5/5) 5. "Mescal" (5:16) as if right from The Inner Mounting Flame, we get to see/hear this band return to the realm of serious Jazz-Rock Fusion--with drummer Furio Chirico finally feeling as if he is in his comfort zone: channeling his inner Billy Cobham. (9.333/10) 6. "Mescalero" (0:35) a pretty, poignant bridge between "Mescal" and "Nove Lune Dopo". (4.75/5) 7. "Nove Lune Dopo" (2:39) great J-R Fusion using Jean-Luc Ponty-like melodies over Mahavishnu-like fire. Great drumming and bass play. (9.25/10) 8. "Dimensione Terra" (1:30) What sounds like the completion to the Mahavishnu-like suite of "Nove Lune Prima" through "Nove Lune Dopo". (4.5/5)

9. "Aria Pesante" (3:53) a vocal-centric song that has components that remind me of Wayne Shorter-led Weather Report as well as Broadway stage hippie music (the bouncing piano chord progressions). The instrumentalists on top are still performing as if they're a jazz rock ensemble--though here more in the Jean-Luc Ponty vein than the earlier Mahavishnu styles. (8.875/10)

10. "Consapevolezza Parte 1a" (3:22) more melodic JEAN-LUC PONTY-like Jazz-Rock Fusion; very high quality but also very melodic. Furio Chirico is a madman! (9.3333/10)

11. "Sagra" (3:06) this one sounds like a jazzified variation on the orchestral part of "MacArthur Park" or Caravan's "L'auberge du Sanglier/A hunting we shall go/Pengola/Backwards/A hunting we shall go (reprise)". Towards the end of the song, Luigi "Gigi" Venegoni goes JAN AKKERMAN/TODD RUNDGREN bat shit-crazy: spitting watermelon seeds from his machine gun axe over the high-speed race of the band beneath him. Impressive if a little odd and disjointed in its mix and stylistic commitments. (9.125/10)

12. "Consapevolezza Parte 2a" (1:12) drums, bass, and vibraphone make a light, airy little ditty that guitar, keys, and violin join. Beautiful! (5/5)

13. "Rinuncia" (2:48) another pop-oriented tune that sounds quite Americanophilic, even crossing over into Southern Rock (and pop RPI)-like territory with the second half. Odd assortment of vocal performances scattered throughout. Nice bouncy bass and clavinet work supporting the Southern-Rock guitar soloing. (9.25/10)

14. "Marilyn" (2:40) contemplative piano play that sounds as if Beppe Crovella is just playing around are eventually give way to frenetic drums, smooth clavinet chord play, and jazzy-Elio D'Anna/Jan Garbarek-like soprano sax play. An interesting étude-like mélange. I really like Beppe's piano instincts. (4.5/5)

15. "Terminal" (2:20) sustained vibraphone chords joined by bass and drums before Mahavishnu-like guitar and violin burst in with piano chord support. The two motifs alternate three times before the engineer executes the big fade. (4.625/5)

Total time 38:16

This album is so scattered--and it panders more to the pop/radio friendly world than the previous album but the ideas, sounds, performances, and experiments are all top notch/of the highest quality.

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of more broad-spectrum pop-considerate Jazz-Rock Fusion. Not as good as Tilt but nothing to be ashamed of.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to BrufordFreak
• Report this review (#3183872)
• Buy ARTI E MESTIERI music online with PA partners
• Show all ARTI E MESTIERI MP3/Stream
• Go to ARTI E MESTIERI page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Giro Di Valzer Per Domani page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for ARTI E MESTIERI related discussions