December 10, 2017

I.P. Son Group ‎– I.P. Son Group (1975, LP, Italy)

Appeared in 1975 on the legendary Ultima Spiaggia label during the mature stage of the Italian underground scene, the only album of the milanese band led by guitarist Marco Rossi looks like a experiment rather atypical of that period. The typical jazz sound of formations such Perigeo or Napoli Centrale, leave here considerable field for improvisation on suggestions of extra-eurepean ethnic flavor, enhanced by the masterful rhythmic section (without drums) curated by the African percussionists Nick Eyok and Mohammed El Targhi. The result was a complex work and full of nuances, in which the spirit of the free-jam is excellent for synthesis of influences and visions. Refined guitar riffs reveals strong blues roots that can blend with the elements and moods of the most markedly spiritual and exotic free-jazz (Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane or Shepp), while when the winds are perfumed of the Middle East flow as distant echoes with ideas of tribal rhythmic that seems to draw both from the rhythms of the northern Sahara as from more Afro-beat rituals of Yoruba ancestry. In the background so persist a poetic of intercultural exchange that approaches the I.P. Son Group to parallels projects such as those made by Aktuala, Arica or John Berberian.

Side A
A1 Raggio di Sole (03:56)
A2 A 'Ny (04:10)
A3 Al Sabri (01:35)
A4 Sahara (08:00)
A5 Flauti Al Circo (02:52)
Side B
B1 Fatimah (04:49)
B2 I Sing The Dawn (07:20)
B3 La Gazzella (01:13)
B4 Zighiny (05:38)

Musicians:
Mohammed El Targhi - Congas, Goblet Drum [Darbuka], Bells, Tambourine
Alberto Tenconi - Electric Bass
Marco Rossi - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Flute [Wood Flute], Percussion, Cover
Marco Merilli - Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Nick Eyok - Vocals, Percussion

Note: Recorded at Studio Ricordi May 14-15-16 / 1975