SUDDANCE

In 1977, after the negative experiences of Uno and Città Frontale, Osanna's founder members Lino Vairetti (vocals, guitar), Danilo Rustici (electric and acoustic guitars) and Massimo Guarino (drums, percussion, vibraphone) reformed the band with Enzo Petrone (bass) and Fabrizio D'Angelo Lancellotti (keyboards, synthesizers) and started to work on a new album. During the recording sessions they were helped by some guest musicians such as Benni Caiazzo (sax) and Antonio Spagnolo (electric violin) who contributed to enrich an overall sound going in a new musical direction by blending rock, soul and jazz with the traditions of Naples. Osanna's fifth studio album, "Suddance", closer to the style of Napoli Centrale than to the particular prog of the early albums of the band, was released on the CBS label in 1978, when the Halcyon Days of prog were coming to an end, and although it might be disappointing for old fans, in my opinion the result of the band's efforts is not bad at all. In fact, I think that the colourful art work by Guido Harari expresses all the vitality of its musical content...

The opener "Ce vulesse" (It would take) sets the atmosphere with its brilliant blend of rock and fusion. The lyrics are in the dialect of Naples like most of the pieces on this album and sound like an invocation and a complaint in the meantime. The piece deals with the feeling of eternal hope that's one of the characteristic of the people of Osanna's home town...

The following "'A zingara" (The gipsy woman) is my favourite piece on this work. It's a bitter-sweet, melancholic track featuring a mysterious mood... It tells in music and words of the desperate life of a gipsy woman with "music and hope in her heart" who is discriminated and rejected by our society... "She's a gipsy and she causes fear / That's why everybody avoids her in the street / She is so desperate to bang her head against the wall / But every time she asks for help people pretend they don't see her...".

The long, committed "'O napulitano" closes the first side of the album with a heartfelt, raging proclamation of Neapolitan pride. It's a kind of manifesto, a call to arms where the band invite their fellow citizen to fight hard against empty promises, corrupted politicians and decay, to rediscover their roots and traditions, to subvert the sense of cultural stagnation that suffocates their beloved city, to refuse the escape of emigration...

The instrumental title track, "Suddance", opens the second side of this work with its blows of fresh energy, tight rhythms and frenzied solos. According to a recent interview with Lino Vairetti (on Prog Italia magazine #38), it draws loosely inspiration from "New Country", a piece from Jean-Luc Ponty's album "New Voyage"...

Next comes the long, desperate "Chiuso qui" (Closed here), the only track sung in Italian. It starts by a melancholic sax solo passage and describes in music and words the feelings of an inmate, a patient of a mental hospital sentenced to life because of his madness. Out of reality freedom fades away on the border of a dream...

The short, dreamy instrumental "Saraceno" (Saracen) leads to "Naples In The World" that closes the album with another explosion of Neapolitan pride. It's a piece sung in English where the band express the feelings of the Neapolitan emigrants spread all around the world who are proud of their roots and bring with them the love for their city...

On the whole, although this might not be considered an essential album, at length I think it's a good work released by an excellent group of musicians who were trying to explore new musical paths to go further... It's a pity that soon after Suddance was released they had to stop for a long time!

After their first break, « Osanna » came back with a new line-up (still featuring a few founding members).

This album though has little to do with the Italian symphonic genre. Be warned: this is almost fully jazz- rock, unfortunately. Funky moods as well are present in the opening track "Ce Vulesse". The best being the excellent guitar work from veteran Danilo Rustici.

The band is also exploring some soul mood ("A Zingara"), but I have to say that I am not convinced by this type of music. Soul sung in Italian. (although, it appears from other reviews, that it is sung into the Naples dialect).

This album could have been easily catalogued into the jazz-rock genre. The longest track from this album (almost ten minutes) "O Napulitano" is another example. Still a pleasant jazz number with lots of keyboards and fine vocal parts. The great work from the rhythmic section ahs to be underlined as well.

But going through the whole of this album at a stretch is too monotonous for my ears. These tracks sounds too much of the same and can't overwhelm me. Especially during a pure instrumental as "Suddance".

My favourite song is "Chiuso Qui". A sweet Italian ballad, highlighted with some very good sax work and emotive vocals. It is all sweetness (a bit languorous as well). Of course, the jazzy atmosphere is not forgotten, but in a more symphonic way this time. Rustici is again excellent.

I have rated each "Osanna" album with three stars so far. This time, I can't go over two. Maybe a good jazz album, but an average "Osanna" one IMO.

The flow that progressive various bands in Italy were gradually becoming main currents the 1970's will have been a situation to face it from time as the dawn to the time of development indeed. It is also true that the band that had drawn the flow of psychedelic and Beat Rock that was the main current till then was advancing attended with a conversion of directionality and a technical improvement.

Various bands are the movements that original pursuit and the ability of the performance pursue. And, the digestion of the part where the culture and other music were good might have been given. The work of the band in various Italy that was able to listen from a board in the 1970's might have invented a lot of masterpieces. And, the contribution to the chart was an indeed splendid situation. However, middle in the 70's might have been time when directionality had been converted through necessity for the activity of a lot of bands that joined the mainstream.

Osanna also had already established the existence as a band that always delivered originality and artistry. The perfection of the music character constructed with "Palepoli" still excites the listener and the fan as one of the masterpieces. The development of the expression with the enchantment part expressed in "Palepoli" and native might be very complete even if it considers it from an artistic viewpoint.

It is a content in "Landscape Of Life" announced in 1974 felt that an extension of width as the band and an original part are enough though music is constructed in shape to hide a native part a little. And, the situation for the activity of the band in Italy is gradually revolutionized in 1974 this.

"Landscape Of Life" is virtual the last album for Osanna at that time. The directionality of a band at that time might have requested the place of development and the activity of music further if it thought in the region of the guess. Of course, this is not true limited to Osanna. The crisis of oil that takes a hit worldwide is said that Italy of this time also attacked it. Various bands and label might have declined. Dissolution of band. Or, the citizenship of the band moves to acquisition in the sphere in English. These movements showed active movement centering on PFM. Advancement to another country by the band might have changed the market of the music of Italy a little.

It is said that Osanna that announced "Landscape Of Life" had not already carried out the function as the band. Each member dismantles it for the place of the following activity and the place of the creation. The situation of this division is a well-known fact for the fan. Opening of music character by "Uno" to which Danilo Rustici is related. And, the Rustici brother moves the place of the activity to Britain with Elio d 'Anna. The flow leads to the formation of "Nova". Massimo Guarino and Lino Vairetti have the flow that moves to "Citta Frontale". They might have been exactly aiming at the pursuit of the music character further in each standpoint. The advancement of creativity and the construction of the idea might have been cultivated enough of course.

Danilo Rustici turns back to Naples at once after it participates in the first album of "Nova". It might have been thought that the place concerning the creation of the standpoint cultivated in Naples and the music character was in the home country as a result if it guessed. Each member will begin to move to the reorganization of Osanna before long. Construction and idea of flow from "Uno" to "Nova" and new music character. And, it is partial of uniting the music character from "Citta Frontale". It is an age of 1978 and a refined part in those situations. And, the music character that each member cultivated is remarkably expressed in the content of "Suddance".

Reorganized Osanna announced this "Suddance" in 1978. Album..player..participate.It is a person that participated in the recording instead who is called Benni Caiazzo. The performance of Benni Caiazzo listens to the sound with gloss that indeed catches the age compared with the construction of the aggressive, good melody that Elio d 'Anna has. And, the participation of Antonio Spagnolo that seems that it is networks of Corrado Rustici it might be a point that should make a special mention for this album. Flow of dismantlement and restructuring exactly. And, the music caught in the music character that each member cultivated as a part where the age united completely is opened.

"Ce Vulesse" starts by the progress of complete Chord. Anacatesthesia and transparent feeling. And, the sound in which elements of a few Fusion/Crossover are taken is constructed. The flow from native till then is completely refined and expressed. The age might have exactly supported it. Sound of Rhodes that produces Groove. Sound of guitar that produces atmosphere by effect of Chorus. Complex melody and rhythm that develops one after another. Theme with tension. Development advanced as the element of Jazz Rock is taken might be splendid. The tune is completely refined.

"'A Zingara" starts by a beautiful guitar and piano arpeggio. The melody of complete expression of feelings and the song produces the highest ballade. The point that should make a special mention might be height of power of expression by the song of Lino Vairetti. It puts on the melody of Lino Variretti earnestly sung and the obbligati of the piano and the keyboard shines. Contribution with percussion instrument. Flow of piano freely expressed. It listens to an overwhelming expression as a ballade that doesn't stay in a simple composition. It is their eminent exactly ballade.

"'O Napulitano" starts by the melody of the guitar and Sax with a transparent feeling. The rhythm of six rhythms is reminiscent of the flow of the waltz. Groove and the transparent feeling that the band makes in union might be splendid. Their cultures and the cultivated music characters are reflected well in the age. Melody of song and transparent feeling of guitar. And, Chord that goes up in the sky progresses. The sense of relief rises. The obbligati of the guitar and the keyboard contributes to the tune while continuing Groove. Composition completely calculated while following idea to listen by "Landscape Of Life". The part where good development of Solo and Fusion by Rhodes was taken has succeeded splendidly.

"Suddance" shifts to the part of the dash feeling attended with the guitar that runs in piano Chord and the space that produces a complete anacatesthesia. It advances attended with good development of Jazz/Fusion. Sound of keyboard and guitar that creates space. It is a tune with a considerably technical element. Melody of guitar that puts on rhythm of 16 notes and flits. Repeated piano transparent feeling. The tune continues the form of almost technical Jazz Rock. However, the idea and the originality of Osanna might be included as a result as for the general feel.

"Chiuso Qui" starts by Sax completely refined and piano melody. The construction of perfect expression of feelings that bases their ages is splendid. Part of ensemble of band in close relation to part where complete melody is sung. Height of power of expression of keyboard and guitar that expresses sensual melody. Part of obbligati of Solo of Bass in close relation to space that flows slowly and Sax. The tune increases the dash feeling in the part of Solo of the guitar. The part of the unison that each member draws out in union will call impression. It consistently has the flow with a good Sax and piano that continues atmosphere, too.

"Saraceno" makes the part of the connection act in the flow of this album. Melody of glossy, acoustic guitar. The sound of the decoration with a transparent feeling shines. One space and space might be produced. The sound of the keyboard is also effective.

The melody with a progressive sound in Solo of glossy Sax twines round "Naples In The World". The music character of Area and Colosseum 2 will be reminiscent. The sound of the song and Rhodes with a bright melody in the rhythm to emphasize Groove twines well. The development of a few Funk and Fusion expands width as an impression of the album. The tune willingly receives the end while intermittently constructing the melody.

It is exactly an album in each member's technology that completely unites the idea and the age. The flow constructed as the taste of Jazz Rock/Fusion twining round the whole might be splendid. The listener feels the sound in 1978. And, I will feel the sky in Naples.

In mid-70's occured what was appearing in the horizon, Osanna disbanded for the first time.Rustici and D'Anna went to the UK to form Uno, while Vairetti and Guarino revived their old group Città Frontale.Later Rustici and D'Anna joined Danilo's brother Corrado in the Jazz Rock act Nova that had a good yet short career.Back in Italy Rustici, Vairetti and Guarino made an attempt to reform Osanna with newcomers bassist Enzo Petrone (ex-Moby Dick) and keyboardist Fabrizio D'Angelo, an effort finally resulting to a new studio album in 1978, entitled ''Suddance'' and release on CBS.

As most of the previous acts of the old Osanna members had a more jazzy sound, the new Osanna formation had reasonably enough Jazz and Fusion influences to be regarded as a totally different band.Additionally the new album is almost entirely sung in the Neapolitan dialect.Musically ''Suddance'' swirls around the Jazz Rock and Prog/Fusion realms with keyboards in evidence and little connections with the classic style of the group.Actually Osanna resemble more to bands such as BRAND X than any Classic Italian Prog group.Plenty of synthesizer flights and naughty electric piano passages define the new style of the group.The tracks are also characterized by some nice grooves, fiery interplays and a competitive rhythm section, as a whole the group reminds also a bit of GENTLE GIANT later days.Even Rustici's guitars are delivered either in a jazzy enviroment or in a pure JOHN MCLAUGHLIN more virtuosic style.The later parts of the album contain also some more commercial vibes.Half about of the long ''Chiuso qui'' sounds like Lounge Jazz, while the closing and dreadful ''Naples in the World'', the only track sung in English, sounds like the poorest version of GENTLE GIANT.

This short-lived version of the Italian legends wasn't meant to be and after the new split Danilo Rustici formed the commercial Rock group Luna.Several attempts to revive the group appeared over the years, mainly led by Lino Vairetti, and the albums released contain mostly old reworkings of compositions of the group from the old repertoire.

''Suddance'' is a nice album along the lines of the more Jazz-oriented Prog categories.Demanding, attractive, at moments quirky, but also having a few flaws as a typical product of its release's age.Nevertheless, recommended.

OSANNA are considered one of the best bands to emerge from the fertile Italian prog scene of the 1970s known not only for their excellent blend of various musical genres but equally for the live performances that made them stand out from the pack from the getgo. This band from Napoli formed all the way back in 1970 and was known for changing things up radically on each album with the 1973 magnum opus "Palepoli" still considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the entire progressive rock world however when it came to the followup "Landscape Of Life," the band was riddled with tensions and basically disintegrated in the midst of the recording sessions.

It probably should have been the end of the band for good but after a reconciliation, the majority of members decided to give it another shot and recorded the band's fifth album SUDDANCE only with long time keyboardist Elio D'Anna having been replaced by Fabrizio D'Angelo and bassist Enzo Petrone taking the place of Lello Brandi. SUDDANCE was a commercial flop although the music critics did seem to show some love for it. The album is very much like its predecessor in that it basically meanders all over the place only more so without any particularly memorable tracks. The opening "Ce Vulesse" immediately sets the album apart from any previous works as a pure jazz-fusion piece more in the vein of bands like Brand X than anything from the Italian scene.

While OSANNA had always incorporated jazz into its works, the saxophone squawks and fusion chord progression became even more pronounced on SUDDANCE although the folky Mediterranean flavors still seeped into the works. The album is noticeable less rooted in hard rock with less guitar heft thus making it the mellowest overall album in the band's 70s run. Despite the excellent instrumental performances of the band rounded off with Lino Vairetti's instantly recognizable vocal style, SUDDANCE does sound a bit more on the commercial side with less progressive meanderings and more focused tight-knit jazz-rock composiitons. The album is laced with funk grooves, clean guitar riffs and jazzy drum rolls with only the slower folky pastoral tracks deviating from the pattern. Some rock still emerges from time to time but only for fleeting moments.

Add to that the album's longest track "O Napulitano" which is just shy of 10 minutes doesn't quite have the music mojo to really justify its length which is pretty much the problem with the album as a whole. In comparison to the band's first three albums this one is quite dull indeed but if evaluated on its own terms it's not all that bad however there is no doubt indeed that OSANNA had fallen from grace and had become mediocre rather than top world quality of the Italian prog scene. For true fans such as myself, you will inevitably get to this album as it does represent the last leg of the band's original journey before all those rather lackluster reunion albums that would follow in the 21st century but as an OSANNA fanboy i do have to say that this is indeed the weakest of their original 70s run and i'm quite thankful that they realized that the magic was gone and time to move on.