RUMORE ROSSO

A project started in 1977 in Turin by Arti E Mestieri guitarist Luigi Venegoni.As stated from the name, this was more of a collaboration between Venegoni and several guest members than a regular band.The first album came out in 1977 under the title ''Rumore Rosso'' on Cramps label.It features no less than 12 guest appearances, among them saxes are handled by ex-Procession Maurizio Gianotti and ex-Pangea Claudio Pascoli.

''Rumore rosso'' moves a bit away from the fiery Prog/Fusion of Arti E Mestieri to be grounded in more Ethnic/Jazz-Rock fields, always with Venegoni's guitar performance in evidence.There is a handful of interplays to be discovered in here, the electric piano and clavinet play a dominant role, the jazzy rhythm section is of first class and the arrangements are free to move from structured themes to more loose solos with some interesting sax parts.While most of the length is dedicated to a style close to Jazz/Fusion with a rockin' attitude, there are also a few pieces with an evident folky vibe.Venegoni leaves his electric guitar to dominate the scene with his acoustic offerings and he is supported by a section with strong work on percussion, sitar, flutes and vibraphones in cuts with a heavy ethnic feeling and obvious Middle-Eastern tendencies.The album is largely instrumental but at moments there are vocal appearances in a wordless, almost Zeuhlish motive, making the sound even more personal and obscure.

Fans of the jazzy side of Progressive Rock and of course all Jazz/Fusion buffs are sure to love this album, which has been already reissued in CD by Electromantic Music.Warmly recommended.

I must admit I had low expectations when I ran across an unlikely twenty dollar first pressing in a store. I knew these guys were associated with the 1979 tribute concert for Demetrio Stratos and were led by the guitarist from Arti e Mestieri in the form of a loose collective. But I expected a jazz fusion album that was a diluted form of Arti e Mestieri that would be pleasant at best and soporific at worst. What I got instead was one of my favorite Italian prog purchases of the last few months. I listened to both sides of this record for six days in a row, it was so engaging. I'd be driving home from work looking forward to throwing it on again. Instead of a uniform homogeneous fusion album, what we have is a widely varied look at prog through the eyes of a band that gets things done through subtlety instead of in your face blazing away. Rumore Rosso is a perfect mix of world music (not a negative), Italian prog and 70's fusion. Probably the quickest way to describe it is somewhere between Area and Brand X with a little tiny bit of early Phish sprinkled in a few places. Vocals are in a made up language, something that Stratos was no stranger to in his Area days. The album has a more acoustic ambience to it than the parent band, but there is a charm in the melodies that is just undeniable-this album makes you feel good, whether in the background or listened to very closely. From the lazy Return to Forever vibes of Coesioni to the final notes of Monti Di Idelogia, you are taken on an engaging ride through many varied musical styles. One of the few albums that every time I play it I'm genuinely sad that it finishes too early. If Area plus Brand X sounds good to you, go find this album immediately. Five stars.