Proteus – Infinite Change (1981, LP, Usa)

Tracklist:
A1 Mandala 4:24
A2 Dance Of The Moonchildren 5:46
A3 Afternoon Affirmation 6:16
B1 Steppin Out 5:07
B2 Inner City 8:10
B3 Song For Dave 5:05

Musicians:
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Ellis (B3)
Bass – Grant Austin
Congas – Kewu Oya (A2)
Drums – Sergio Nespola
Guitar – Ole Riise
Keyboards – Brian Zercher
Rhythm Guitar – Herb Walker (B1)
Saxophone – Terry Ogolini (B1)
Trombone – Mike Fello (B1)
Trumpet – Mark Ohlsen (B1)

All started after the break-up of a band named "TREEBORN" in Chicago in 1978. Drummer SERGIO NESPOLA and Bass Player GRANT AUSTIN decided to stick together to form a new and more advanced Rock-Jazz-Fusion Group.

After auditioning several musicians finally they ran into BRYAN ZERCHER (The Keyboard man with the basement full of musical toys), and also Bryan introduced Guitarist OLE RIISE to the group. So that was it, the original special quartet was formed and that's when the beginning of directions and music trend was finally analyzed and put through the test, and also the promise by SERGIO NESPOLA to the rest of the group that ,"I ' ve been there before and I'm going to take you all back there with me", it started the long and well accomplished dedication of practicing in the making of PROTEUS / INFINITE CHANGE Album .

The style was a well blended recipe that reminds a simplified RETURN TO FOREVER, MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA, type of format with a European accent and lots of personalized chops and colors.

While the compositions were getting finalized and polished up, Proteus was engaged by JAM Productions to their first live appearance in concert opening for STANLEY TURRENTINE at THE PARK WEST sponsored by WGCI RADIO 107.5 FM in CHICAGO. The audience response was acclaiming and very much impressed to see it coming from an opening act band . That show gave the motivation to play the non finished record tapes on air at WXFM 106FM CHICAGO. Dave Freeman was getting many requests to hear Proteus music on that Jazz Radio Station that he started to play it more and more and then one day he decided to become their executive producer. While the album was getting recorded at STUDIO WEST recording studio downtown in Chicago, some problems started to arise (a better bass solo on “Dance of the Moon Children”) so the Buddha of Bass, Bill Dickens, was called in to execute the task under specific order given by Dave Freeman, the executive producer. That’s when the Proteus sound started to accomplish its climax.

Finally in 1980 the Album was out in the stores in the Chicagoland area and it was getting a respectful airplay in many radio stations including a special WXRT live in concert, the WDCB Radio (Mark Ruffin),and WNUR Radio (Tish Mercer) interviews to the group, was giving the impression that Proteus was going to brake the barrier and proceed to a great upcoming future.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.....

A controversial situation started to appear dismantling the original quartet, first one to leave the band was Grant Austin (the bass player) and then followed by Ole Riise (the guitarist) and one year later even Bryan Zercher (the keyboardist) decided to pursue for a medical school , leaving the music and and the band. Was then that Sergio Nespola took the decision to keep Proteus alive and reforming it for five times with top Chicago musicians like Rob Wlilliams on guitar, Tim Tobias on keyboards, Bill Dickens on bass until the last live appearance at the Chicago Fest 1985 . The album Infinite Change by Proteus now days is a collection item, due to the fact that was only 1000 copies pressed of that record, and it was sold out in a short time and never more reprinted , there for some very few copies are available in the market ,,,, and is good music to remember. (sergionespola)