Modern Sound Quartet – Cocktail-Bar (1976, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1 Gin 2:02
A2 Chartreuse 2:20
A3 Kirsch 2:36
A4 Vodka 2:31
A5 Rum 2:16
A6 Curaçao 3:35
A7 Maraschino 2:36
B1 Whisky 2:18
B2 Pernod 2:33
B3 Kümmel 1:48
B4 Strega 2:37
B5 Bitter 2:41
B6 Genepy 2:55
B7 Vov 2:12

Musicians:
Drums – Andrea Surdi
Electric Bass – Luigi Cappellotto
Electric Guitar – Ernesto Verardi
Keyboards – Oscar Rocchi

Oscar Rocchi E Il Suo Modern Sound – Erbe Selvatiche (1977, LP, Italy)

Recorded around mid '70s, this scarce Italian Library composed by maestro Oscar Rocchi was released on the same label of the infamous Giancarlo Barigozzi's WOMAN'S COLOURS, who also played in this session. One of the finest Jazz-Funk and funky library jams with terrific themes to literally die for - some of the hottest Bboy Funk beats from Italian Library vaults with stunning drums breaks, stoned flute, fuzzy guitars and Fender Rhodes solos. Loads of exciting grooves that have chipped in to make this LP just A KILLER. Huge session and very solid album from the beginning to the end!

Armagideon Times · Oscar Rocchi E Il Suo Modern Sound - ERBE SELVATICHE

Oscar Rocchi And His Keyboards ‎– Magic Keys (1977, LP, Italy)

Oscar Rocchi and His Keyboards · Maniac

New Sound Quartet ‎– Crazy Colours (1979, LP, Italy)

A1. Babe – 4:37
A2. Confession – 4:41
A3. Good Times – 4:25
A4. Bass Construction – 4:30
B1. Colours To My Life – 5:26
B2. Dreams – 4:28
B3. Tender Melody – 3:58
B4. Like You Do – 4:48

Musicians:
Bass – Gigi Cappellotto
Drums – Andy Surdi
Guitars – Ernesto Verardi
Keyboards – Oscar Rocchi
Saxophone, Flute – Hugo Heredia

Sweet electric grooves from this obscure Italian combo – one who's actually a quintet, not a quartet – and play in all these wonderful funky jazz styles! The approach is a bit CTI/Kudu Records at times – or more instrumental club music in other moments – and the lineup includes the great Oscar Rocchi on keyboards, as well as Hugo Heredia on both saxes and flute! Most numbers seem to let the keyboards and riffing guitars take the lead – and there's also some light strings in the background, which enforces the clubbier elements of the music – warming things up nicely, but never in a too-commercial way. There's a depth to the music that goes far beyond the kind of cheesier disco tracks on Italian soundtracks of the time – and titles include "Colours To My Life", "Bass Construction", "Babe", "Confession", "Good Times", and "Like You Do". (dusty groove)

Giancarlo Barigozzi, Fabio Fabor & Oscar Rocchi – Stressorama N° 2 (1974, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:
A1. Traslucido 2:16 (Barigozzi - Fabor) spinet, 5 flutes, clarinet
A2. Super Session 2:08 (Rocchi) 5 saxes, drums, electric piano
A3. Orient Market 2:48 (Barigozzi) 3 clarinets, flute, piccolo, electric piano, alto sax
A4. Fotocellula 2:21 (Rocchi - Fabor) 3 flutes, 2 clarinets, electric piano, bongos
A5. Voli Di Sax 2:36 (Barigozzi) 2 alto saxes, 4 trombones, electric piano
A6. Assenteismo 2:04 (Rocchi - Fabor) 4 clarinets, clarone, drums, electric piano
A7. Surriscaldato 2:18 (Barigozzi - Fabor) 6 saxes, electric piano, drums
B1. Irrazionale 2:34 (Rocchi - Fabor) 4 flutes, clarinet, spinet
B2. Training 2:25 (Barigozzi) 5 clarinets, clarone, electric piano
B3. Memorizzato 2:30 (Rocchi) 2 clarinets, alto sax, tenor sax, barytone sax
B4. Nickel-Cadmio 2:21 (Barigozzi - Fabor) 2 clarinets, 2 flutes, tenor sax, drums
B5. Timer Plus 1:55 (Rocchi) 5 saxes, electric piano, bass
B6. Reflex Up 2:37 (Barigozzi - Fabor) 4 flutes, 2 clarinets, electric piano, bass
B7. Zona Alogena 2:20 (Rocchi - Fabor) 2 flutes, 3 clarinets, spinet, small cymbals (or crotales)

Fonovideo – FLP 109

An excellent music library concerning the stressful sides of modern life. 14 tunes characterized  by coincided and syncopated sonorities which give prominence to the dramatic power of the themes.

Rocchi - De Piscopo ‎– Metamorphosis (1981, LP, Italy)

Tracklist:

A1. Cyclops  (4:30)

A2. Daphne  (4:20)

A3. Perseus  (3:55)

A4. Echo  (3:23)

A5. Hercules  (3:00)

B1. Orpheus  (3:38)

B2. Icarus  (3:44)

B3. Niobe  (2:38)

B4. Glaucus  (3:58)

B5. Myrrha  (3:25)

B6. Biblis  (3:40)

Musicians:

Bass – Julius Farmer

Bugle, Trumpet – Cicci Santucci

Guitar – Sergio Farina

Keyboards – Oscar Rocchi

Percussion – Tullio De Piscopo

Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Hugo Heredia

The early Eighties marked a transition in popular music, especially for a generation of musicians (still heavily influenced by the previous decade) trying to assimilate the changes in aesthetics and technology which were occurring. Disco music is dead, so is prog, synths are still too expensive and unreliable, jazz is lost somewhere and the term fusion has become really popular. This the environment in which this album – released in 1981 by library music label Ring – was recorded by a bunch of jazz players and session men from the Milan area, led by pianist Oscar Rocchi and world famous drummer Tullio De Piscopo (respectively credited for seven and four tracks of the album). The stellar line-up features bass player Julius Farmer (from New Orleans), guitarist Sergio Farina, Argentinean sax and flute player Hugo Heredia and Cicci Santucci (trumpet and saxcorn).
Metamorphosis is not the typical fragmented collection – something pretty common in the world of library music; this is a body of heterogeneous songs with a common ground, a solid body of work (which would surely fit in De Piscopo’s and Rocchi’s personal discographies). The genre is fusion, still positively influenced by jazz-funk (no muzak effect here!) but also following the impulse to experiment typical of the most progressive jazz-rock. De Piscopo is in top shape (it’s not a coincidence that, in 1981, Vai Mo by Pino Daniele was also released), sporting a bit less exuberant style of playing compared to his jazz albums of the same period – so he sounds really effective and sharp. With Farmer (who was playing with Dr. John and Professor Longhair before moving to Italy) he makes one of the best rhythm sections of Italian music of the Seventies and Eighties (if you’re not convinced, just listen to Carta Straccia and America Good-Bye, two amazing pop albums with a funk soul).