Freedom to Music
Posts tagged Bambi Fossati
Bambibanda E Melodie – Bambibanda E Melodie (1974) (@256)
22 Apr 2010
(Review from alexgitlin.com)
After the breakup of Garybaldi, Bambi Fossati decided to form a group together with musicians from Genoa, with whom he had jammed in 1974. The group was composed of, besides Fossati, another ex-Garybaldi member Maurizio Cassinelli, bass player Roberto Ricci and Indian percussionist Ramasandiran Somusundaram (also a featured session man with French prog band Magma on several of their singles). At the end of 1974, this quartet recorded an album called “Bambibanda E Melodie” for Fonit Cetra.
The principal instrument here is obviously the guitar, but the great “vibes” happening between the two percussionists are also making a distinction. This album is distinguished by a very rhythmic rock orientation; the lyrics are reduced to a minimum, while the music flows fast and direct due to the overall spontaneity of the concept. Not typical Italian symphonic rock of the era, mainly jazz/fusion oriented.
Bambibanda continued their live activity for several years, however, without producing any more recordings.
Line-up:
- Bambi Fossati / guitar, vocals
- Maurizio Cassinelli / drums
- Ramasandiran Somusundaram / percussion
- Roberto Ricci / bass
Track List:
01. Pian Della Tortilla – 15:14
02. Libera E Felice – 6:48
03. Calabuig! – 6:34
04. Piccolo Gitano – 4:13
05. Mare Delle Terre Medie – 7:17
06. Canto Del Sole – 2:08
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Garybaldi – Astrolabio (1973) (@256)
03 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
With their second album, Garybaldi confirm the direction they had taken with the sidelong suite from their debut album. A very short track list as only two of them lasting each their own vinyl side.
Mother Of Lost Causes starts off as a very spacey-sounding exploration, but soon develops superbly what they had promised with the Moretto Da Brescia pinnacle of Nuda. Simply superb double-tracked guitar wailing somehow reminding more of Robin Trower (another Hendrix-ey connection) and very abruptly ended by an almost sonar- echoed repeating key that is reminiscent of a great Argent track.
The second track is recorded live and is kick-arse rock’n roll (sometimes sounding a bit like Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile played by Trower) and some wild KB-guitars (Purple-like) call and response. This track is not quite as progressive as the previous one, but shows another facet (improvising) of the group.
A great album, this lengthy solo feast is never over-indulgent or gratuitous heroics and in its genre is a textbook example of its own.
Line-up:
- Bambi Fossatti / guitars, vocals
- Angelo Traverso / bass
- Maurizio Cassinelli / drums, vocals
- Lio Marchi / keyboards
Track List:
01. Madre di cose Perdute – 20:28
02. Sette? – 21:25
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Garybaldi – Nuda (1972) (@256)
02 Oct 2008
(Review from progarchives.com)
Italian quartet Garybaldi’s first album opens with a track close to Hendrix’s fire track with the exception of keyboard work. Similarly the second track lays heavily in its introduction to “And The Gods Made Love” and veering towards the psychedelic “Mermaid I Shall Be” track both from Electric Ladyland.
With the February 26, 1700 track, we now enter the world of Garybaldi and a definitely more Italian feel to it even if the afore-mentioned influences (“The Wind Cries Mary”) are still present, this is really one of their artistic peak, with all the drama a proghead could wish for and superb piano/organ duo to go along.
The sidelong suite of the second side is clearly the highlight of the album, with lengthy instrumental guitar passages but perfectly supported by Traverso’s bass, and the regularly changes in keyboards from Marchi. Here again the Hendrix influences are present but very much more discreet and the group approaches perfection mixing classical prog and fuzzy and Wah-Wah guitars. If one the first vinyl side, the vocals (sung in Italian) had Hendrixy tinges, with this track, they take on a much more Italian delivery and this is what they do best.
Also notable is the astounding and complex artwork by future Italian comix superstar Guido Crepax.
Line-up:
- Bambi Fossatti / guitars, vocals
- Angelo Traverso / bass
- Maurizio Cassinelli / drums, vocals
- Lio Marchi / keyboards
Track List:
01. Maya Desnuda – 6:08
02. Decomposizione,Preludio e Pace – 1:55
03. 26 Febbraio 1700 – 7:17
04. L’ultima Graziosa – 5:19
05. Moretto da Brescia-Goffredo – 6:15
06. Il Giardino del Re – 9:16
07. Dolce come sei tu – 5:19
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