Italian Prog Masters Celebrate Guido Crepax’s Work

Stefano Agnini and Fabio Zuffanti - La Curva Di Lesmo (AMS Records, 2015)
Stefano Agnini and Fabio Zuffanti – La Curva Di Lesmo (AMS Records, 2015)
La Curva Di Lesmo

La Curva Di Lesmo (AMS Records, 2015)

The impressive current wave of first rate Italian progressive rock (rock progresivo italiano) continues with a new collaboration by two of the current masters, Stefano Agnini and Fabio Zuffanti. Agnini is the composer and keyboardist of the group La Coscienza Di Zeno, one of the finest acts in the current Italian scene, and Zuffanti, a musician that has been involved in numerous top tier progressive rock bands such as Finisterre, Höstsonaten, and La Maschera Di Cera.

Although Agnini and Zuffanti have known each other for years and respect each other’s work, this is the first time they release a joint project. La Curva Di Lesmo is named after the first episode of a popular Italian comic book series featuring a character named Valentina developed by famed Italian graphic artist Guido Crepax.

La Curva Di Lesmo is real ear candy for fans of symphonic progressive rock. It’s a modern masterpiece featuring elements of classic progressive rock, Italian folk and classical music elements. Agnini and Zuffanti divided the album into two sections. The first part features female vocals. This is a real treat as it’s not that common to find female voices in Italian progressive rock. The male voices take the leading role in the second part of the album.

This collaboration features three long pieces that progressive rock lovers will really enjoy (9, 17 and 26 minutes respectively). The composers utilize an arsenal of musical instruments that range from vintage keyboards to acoustic classical music instruments. In addition to the exceptionally expressive vocals, Agnini and Zuffanti have added memorable musical moments that combine virtuosity and an epic nature.

 

Stefano Agnini and Fabio Zuffanti
Stefano Agnini and Fabio Zuffanti

 

Agnini (keyboards) and Zuffanti (bass) invited an extraordinary cast of musicians including popular Italian indie-rock singer Beatrice Antolini, bassist Gabriele Guidi Colombi (La Coscienza Di Zeno), guitarist Laura Marsano (La Maschera Di Cera / Zuffanti), drummer Andrea Orlando (La Coscienza Di Zeno / Finisterre), guitarist Fabio Gremo (Il Tempio Delle Clessidre), violinist Domenico Ingenito (La Coscienza Di Zeno), percussionist Loris Lombardo, famous Genoese singer-songwriter Max Manfredi, flutist Edmondo Romano (Eris Pluvia and various projects), Genoese singer-songwriter Claudio Roncone, accordionist and arranger Luca Scherani (La Coscienza Di Zeno / Höstsonaten), vocalist Jenny Sorrenti (Saint Just), violinist Sylvia Trabucco (Höstsonaten), vocalist Matteo Merli, vocalist Claudio Milano (Nickelodeon), pianist Boris Valle (Finisterre) and Jutta Nienhaus Taylor on spoken word.

La Curva Di Lesmo is a beautifully-crafted recording that demonstrates that Italian artists are at the forefront of the current international progressive rock scene.

Purchase the digital version of La Curva Di Lesmo

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