AVIOLINEE UTOPIA

A very proficient Italian six-piece combo, Aviolinee Utopia delivers a jazz-oriented style in their progressively structured music which fans of fusion will surely find delightful from 'listen one'. The band consists of: Giuliano Lott on lead voice and percussion, Christian Logli on saxes, Andrea Pergher on guitars, Narcy Parillo on bass, Giuliano Plotegher on piano and keyboards, and Michele on drums and percussion. Their eponymous CD is their one and only release, so far. Aviolinee's musical direction follows the same path as other Italian jazz-oriented prog bands, e.g., Deus Ex Machina. That is, a mixture of swift and well-crafted rhythm patterns, freely developed melodies, and a ferocious, passionate singing. The key influences here are second era-Van der Graaf Generator and 80´s era-King Crimson (in their jazzier aspect), with some added Canterbury hints. Giuliano Lott's intrepid use of a wide range of vocal tones and enthusiastic humming easily remind the listener of a mixture of the legendary Demetrio Stratos with Peter Hammill, not unlike Deus Ex Machina's vocalist. Meanwhile, the five musicians' performances, specially during the many instrumental passages, display a certain degree of exhibitionism (mostly on sax and guitar) and a well-matched, fluid sense of ensemble. Though the faster numbers are predominant in this recording (e.g., 'Timone Del Cielo'. 'Marsiglia', 'Integralisti Alegrini'), there are also some notable moments full of serenity and relaxation (e.g., 'Ripetizioni'). The last track in this CD, '1 Cmq. Di Cielo', is also the longest, which gives the band enough space to exhibit their sense of diversity within one single song... though, strictly speaking, the guys of AU don't really need that mauch space to impress the listener. In conclusion, a highly recommended work from one of the most interesting current bands from Italy, a country that doesn't seem to stop generating great prog music.