Caudio Baglioni - Oltre

Following the release of his second album “Un cantastorie dei giorni nostril” in 1972, Italian singer Claudio Bablioni established himself as an international success with his worldwide hit “Questo piccolo grande amore”. His career has continued with a great deal of success but mainly contained to Europe. His albums have always been on the edge of innovation and creativity and “Oltre” is certainly one of his most amazing achievements. Baglioni’s audacity took him into releasing this project released as a double CD. On “Oltre” his raspy yet smooth and fierce voice is at its peak, his compositional skills are at their best and the production has turned this album into a remarkable work of art, mainly due to the incredible arrangements of Celso Valli. Baglioni has the ability of writing complicated yet beautiful almost operatic melodies, which start low and reach a peak of emotion that opens your heart to the greatness of his music. The list of musicians who contribute to this album is a “who is who” of the record business, yet their contributions are not merely interventions but true evocative stamps of their talents without shading Baglioni’s concept. A sample of this album’s uniqueness is the song “Tamburi Lontani” (sampled below) beautifully arranged only for drums, acoustic bass, percussion, horns and woodwinds, (there are no keyboards or guitars). Musicians: Claudio Baglioni Vocals, Producer, Celso Valli arranger, director, keyboards and programming, Simon Clark on piano, Danny Cummings, Hossam Ramzy and Frank Ricotti on percussion, Pino Daniele on guitar and vocals, Youssou N’Dour on vocals, Manu Katché, Charlie Morgan and Steve Ferrone on drums, John Giblin, Tony Levin and Pino Palladino on bass, Phil Palmer and David Rhodes on guitar, David Sancious on keyboards, Richard Galliano on accordion and fisarmonica, Didier Lochwood on violin, Paolo Gianolio on guitar and programming and Roberta Longhi, Danilo Rea and Mia Martini background vocals plus strings, orchestra and choir.

NOTE: This album is not available digitally.

Track Listing:
1. Dagli Il Via
2. Io Dal Mare
3. Naso Di Falco
4. Io Lui E la Cana Femmina
5. Stelle Di Stelle
6. Vivi
7. Le Donne Sono
8. Domani Mai
9. Acqua Dalla Luna
10. Tamburi Lontani (sampled above)

11. Noi No
12. Signora Delle Ore Scure
13. Navigando
14. Le Mani E l'Anima
15. Mille Giorni Di Te E Di Me
16. Dov'e Dov'e
17. Tieniamente
18. Qui Dio Non C'E
19. La Piana Dei Cavalli Bradi
20. Pace
Buy Oltre at Amazon

David Sancious - Forest of Feelings

David Sancious released his first LP in 1975 right after he left Bruce Springsteen’s backing group, The E-Street Band. On this revolutionary and amazing balance between jazz and rock, Sancious plays everything except drums and bass. The power trio crosses lyricism with raw power. Personnel consists of is David Sancious on piano, guitars, organ, keyboards, percussion, vocals and bells, Gerald Carboy on bass, Ernest Carter on drums and percussion. Billy Cobham produced it and played Timpani on a few tracks. Reissued in the 90’s with a *previously unreleased track but now available (2014) thanks to the iniciative and effort of Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records.

Track Listing:

1. Suite Cassandra (sampled above)

2. Come on If You Feel up to It (And Get Down)

3. East India

4. Dixie/March of the Conditioned Souls

5. Dixie/Civil War of the Soul

6. The Forest of Feelings

7. Joyce, No. 8

8. Crystal Image

9. One Time

10. Further in the Forest of Feelings

11. Promsise of Light* (Bonus Track)

Buy at Amazon (US) or Amazon (France)

David Sancious & Tone - Transformation (The Speed of Love)

Multi-instrumentalist David Sancious released his second LP in 1976. This is a timeless masterpiece where the jazz power trio concept melts into the realm of fusion and blues. It is amazing considering that Sancious recorded virtuoso basic tracks only to then over-dubb outstanding solos and textures. This is unarguably portrayed on “The Play and Display of the Heart” where he plays both piano and guitar. Personnel consists of David Sancious on piano, guitars, organ, keyboards, percussion, vocals and bells, Gerald Carboy on bass, Ernest Carter on drums and percussion plus Gayle Moran (Chick Corea’s wife) on vocal chords. Produced by David Sancious and Bruce Botnick. Reissued by Wounded Bird Records and now reissued once again on CD in 2014 by Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records.

Track Listing:

1. Piktor’s Metamorphosis

2. Sky Church Hymn #9

3. The Play And Display Of The Heart (sampled above)

4. Transformation (The Speed Of Love)

Buy it from Wounded Bird Records or Buy it at Amazon

Buy 2014 Version at Amazon (US) or Amazon (France)

David Sancious & Tone - Dance of the Age of Enlightement

Multi-instrumentalist David Sancious DID NOT officially release his third LP in 1976. As the story goes, on the day on the day of its release David Sancious's former label, Epic Records, sued his new label, Arista Records, to block the album from being sold in stores. Since then It has been considered the “Holy Grail” for David Sancious fans. The dispute between over ownership rights has keep this classic incredible album shelved for years. This is another amazing outing by David Sancions. Although at times the tracks seem like studio outtakes from the first two albums it is amazing that they sound better than many artists’ releases. It was then reissued on CD by an obscure Japanese label, Tachika Records. Note: Many sources on the Internet label Tachika Records as pirate bootleggers and the reissue CD by them certainly seems to be non-official, since the artwork is simply home-made. The CD round label is just a sticker and the inner artwork is just a Xerox copy of the inner sleeve of the “Transformation” inner record sleeve by the same artist so we can only assume that the personnel is the same power trio consisting of is David Sancious on piano, guitars, organ, keyboards, percussion, vocals and bells, Gerald Carboy on bass, Ernest Carter on drums and percussion plus vocals.

Track Listing:

1. Overture – Wake Up (To a Brand New Day)

2. 1st Movement (Dance of the Glory and Playfulness)

3. 2nd Movement (Dance of Purification) (sampled above)

4. The Dawn

5. 3rd Movement (Part I & II)

6. 4th Movement (Dance of Serenity and Strength)

7. Finale - Gone Is The Veil of Illusion (Part I)

8. Finale - Dance of Gratitude and Devotion (Part II)

Download

David Sancious & Tone - True Stories

Multi-instrumentalist David Sancious released his third official LP in 1978 on Arista Records. It was then reissued on CD in 2001 by One Way Records (sadly out-of-print). A spiritual album which transcends musical boundaries through its powerful compositions, virtuoso playing, spiritual themes and soulful singing. The trio format which he has been the basis of his preceding recordings remains the core of this amazing classic but there is a very strong vocal spiritual presence which makes this album unique. Personnel is David Sancious on piano, guitars, organ, keyboards, percussion, vocals and bells, Gerald Carboy on bass, Ernest Carter on drums and percussion, Alex Ligertwood (of Brian Auger's Oblivion Express and Santana fame) on lead vocals, Brenda Madison and Gail Boggs on background vocals. Produced by Eddie Offord (of Yes and ELP fame) and Sancious.

Track Listing:
1. Sound of Love
2. Move On
3. Prelude #3
4. On The Inside
5. Fade Away (sampled above)
6. Ever The Same
7. Interlude
8. Matter of Time

Download

David Sancious - Just As I Thought

Multi-instrumentalist David Sancious released this LP in 1979 on Arista Records. It was then reissued on CD in 2001 by One Way Records (sadly out-of-print). The trio format which has been the basis of his preceding recordings remains the core of this amazing fusion classic full of fierce virtuoso playing, rich textures and great compositions. David Sancious on piano, keyboards, guitar & bass, Ernest Carter on drums & percussion, T.M. Stevens and Jeff Berlin on bass, Kabir Ghani on lead vocals, Eve Otto harp, plus female choir by Brenda Madison. Produced by early Yes & ELP producer Eddy Offord along with Sancious.

Track Listing:
1. Run
2. Just As I Thought
3. Again
4. The Naked I
5. Valley Of The Shadow (sampled above)
6. Suite (For The End Of An Age)
7. Remember
8. And Then She Said
9. Again (Part II)

Download

David Sancious - The Bridge

Multi-instrumentalist David Sancious released this beautiful solo piano (with a few acoustic guitars and keyboards) album in 1983 on the Elektra Musician label. He is best know for his progressive work in the 1970’s although he was one of the early members of Bruce Springsteen’s backing group, The E Street Band. He has also done some superb session work with artists such as Stanley Clarke, Narada Michael Walden, Zucchero, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Dupree, Billy Cobham, Jack Bruce and Sting among many others. This amazing rip from the LP was generously provided by Smooth of the late blog My Jazz World.

Track Listing:

1. What If?
2. Sunday
3. Silent Scenes
4. Invisible Dance
5. Sleight Of Hand
6. The Eyes Have It
7. Morning
8. Flight Of Light
9. The Bridge (sampled above)

Download

Robbie Dupree with David Sancious

This very intimate and rare production released in 2003 features a duo between Robbie Dupree on vocals and harmonica and David Sancious on acoustic piano. They perform a collection of some of Dupree’s most memorable songs minus the hit “Steal Away”, which surprisingly does not appear on this production. These are well crafted renditions of Mr. Dupree’s repertoire simplified in instruments but enriched with re-harmonization, beautifully performed by Mr. Dupree’s silk vocals and Mr. Sancious’ smooth yet fierce playing. The mood of the whole collection makes it a pleasure to listen to even if you’re not a fan of Robbie Dupree and even if you have never heard these songs before. The is an artist exclusive release.

Track Listing:

1. Carried Away

2. Month of Sundays

3. Walls Come Down

4. This is Life

5. Return to Her

6. Wings

7. Desperation

8. Real Life (sampled above)

9. Sunny Day

CD available at Robbie Dupree's website or