Braen & Raskovich "Tempo Libero" PL 1017-Panda Records 197? Italian Library Holy Grail! The Best!

     Personal Top 5!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of the best Italian Library's and best Panda records ever to me, beautiful, beat driven, melodic and above all, heavily inspired.  No it's not a Belle & Sebastian record but the mighty, Tempo Libero.  Many of the songs here are alternate versions of the best songs from Sorgini's, "Scappo Per Cantare" on Fama, laying a bit lower or absent on the scat vocals found on Scappo.  The strange thing is songs credited here to Alessandroni are only credited to Sorgini on Scappo but you understand the strangeness of Italian library crediting by now, haha.  The collaboration between these two is incredibly top notch and beautiful, seeing that when they usually get together, it's pretty insane experimental stuff.  As Scappo is dated at 1971 I would assume this one is the same, yet no date on this Panda release.   Tempo Libero translates to "Free Time" and that's exactly what you won't have if you spent as much time recording and mastering music as these legendary dudes.  Ultimate record listen.
            This record is pretty impossible to find so, check the soundclips and I do offer my rip as a full download , enjoy! Chris Tillotson
GET IT HERE!

Ector Davis (E.Ballotta) - "Evolution Now" Bentler Records BE 8701 Italian Instrumental Jazz,Funk,Prog!

    So I know this cover is screaming late 80's but it's actually instrumental, late 70's amazing jazz, funk, prog.  A few of the songs I swear could be Rino or Luigi De Filippi behind them, namely, "Lights Of Chinatown" & "Bentler Song".  Besides, "Lights Of Chinatown" side B is where it's at here, totally killer grooves and entertaining prog outings.  "Bentler Song" in particular really stands out to me, the moment around 1:35 where those girl vox come in, so amazing!
          This record is also released as The Volvo Dynamics which is very easily obtained for nice friendly prices currently.  This version on Bentler is pretty unknown and extremely rare,  so enjoy my rip at 320K.   Chris Tillotson                                   GET IT HERE!

 

Check out my top 5 records at Krossfingers!

    Krossfingers asked me to compile a list of my top 5 records. As impossible that list is I tried my best, because as always, I take everything too serious, so if you care to know what I think are my top 5 records I own are and of course they are almost all Italian library except for one Italian soundtrack, then head over and check it, obviously check the other entry's as well, especially my man Scott's (Spaziale) entry.  Special thanks to my beautiful wife, Cristina for taking pics!                             Chris's Top 5     Scott's Top 5     Cheers, Chris Tillotson

Jacky Giordano - "Timing N.1" - Timing - 197? French Library masterpiece! MY RIP @320K

  This record is no stranger to many library collectors or just collectors in to big ass beats.  The whole side A is just killer!  "Cite" is a monster, with that classic Giordano sound, essential!  "Tablasse" is perfect, every element dialing in that perfect french funk sound.  "Jumba" takes the "Tablasse" riff and speeds it up into a much longer jam out sesh full of jazz wanderings.  "Motion" eventually works its way into undeniable funky territory full of wah wahs and jazzy trumpets.  "Alti" might be the most melodic jam here, even if it's a strange melody, haha, and incredibly funky and driving it is.
Unfortunately the first 4 songs on side B by Stephane Grappelli & Francis Personne are pretty boring jams that have nothing to do with the vibe on sibe A, which if this were different, this record would be absolutely perfect, oh well, no need to nit pick, just move on to "Cool" a pretty playful funky vibe and "Orient Express" which mixes up the time signature to give an off kilter and stony jazz funk feel.
            I said before that Timing 6 was my favorite Timing record and that is still true but that's only because I choose great melody and song structure over great big beats every time but this record is a god damn monster and a very close second in my book and definitely the hardest Timing to put your hands on, took me a bit at least.
    As the previous rip that was floating around was in mono (many computer rip software defaults to mono for some reason,) this is a nice upgrade for many I'm hoping. Ripped from my personal collection @320K stereo enjoy!   Chris Tillotson        GET IT HERE!

Palmino Pia -"Ballabili Vari" - Usignolo UST 184 Italian Scat Disco & Bossa Library

           Quite amazing Usignolo here by Palmino Pia who before this record was completely unknown to me.  The record is dated 1983 but doesn't really have any of the bothersome cheesy sounds you might expect from an 80's library aside from some slap bass and such, which actually sounds super dope here.  Side A starts out with the disco funk "Apricot Day" a very Italian Scat vocal outing.  Things get stony and mellow with "South Coast" what an amazing opening scat vocal with those chord changes,damn.  Full orchestra and brass accompany the rest of this beautiful song.  A couple more nice easy bossa, jazz songs fill out the remainder of side A.  Then the heat turns up on side B, "Atmos" is one of the best funky disco jams I've heard in a while.  Killer beat and melody right from the start.  The scat vocals here are extremely in your face, very dry and animated.  My favorite part is when the flute breaks come around, turning it into a Womens Colours type sound, incredible.  "Karma" is a nice prog disco jam with a few different movements escalating into dope scat melodies.  "Easy Disco" is pretty cheesy disco but still a nice listen full of guitar solos and orchestra.
                After doing a quick google search on Mr. Pia I found this sight with a brief history of his work, check it out HERE 
               If you are familiar with these Usignolo records then you know how confusing and lengthy the catalog is.  This one is part of the UST 100 series which starts in the 70's and rolls into the 80's, Some of the best Usignolos were recorded in this series like the Claudio Valle, Bembo, and the Giuliano Sogni one.  As more of these records are becoming more aware to the public, Usignolo Fonit is becoming one of the most mysterious and sought after Italian label there is.  While there are plenty of uninteresting records found throughout the catalog, the amount of heat pouring out of this label is quite staggering.  MP3 Trades Accepted      Enjoy the soundclips ripped from my personal collection Chris Tillotson

BAAST "Dimensions" Ubiquity Records 2014 Heru Avenger presents Kosmiche Jazz Madness!

    Alright here we have the new record from my man Heru Avenger (John Basil) and friends.  Holy shit this thing is a beast as implied, haha.  Side A consists of 3 songs full of funky free jazz and Kosmiche exploration.  First off we are offered "Terra" kicking off with heavy beats, african percussions, and vocal slurps and burps.  Throughout we have brass and keys soloing and feeling the vibes from the inspirational bass licks of Mr. Basil.  "Ascend"  kicks off with some nice jazz funk jamming propelled by drummer, Erik Jiru.  The phased out trumpets are just god damned amazing as well as sax wailing its way to Saturn.  "Suspension" gives us that stoned out loungy free jazz feel for the first 3 minutes but then disperses into outer space delays and vocal scats, unbelievable.  In true free jazz fashion the entire side B is covered by the title track, "Dimension" which is a bit of all the above and above all just a highly talented band exploring each other in funky jazzy bliss.  The lineup for this amazing record includes, R.Scott on Keyboards, John Basil on Bass, Erik Jiru on Drums,Dave Williams on Trumpet, Palo on Sax, Chris Moore,Chris Lovejoy and Brendan Dunn on Percussion and Kristina Benson on Voices.
  Mr. Basil has been killing it not only in music but also is a veteren (30 plus years) record collector of library, soundtrack, jazz, funk, psych, you name it and trust me he has one of the most insane collections I have ever seen in person.  He's a bit of a local legend around these parts and also kindly lends DJ skills to Rendezvous where our paths crossed.  He has plenty of other recordings which will get a deserved proper vinyl reissue soon, where he experiments with electro pop and jazz as well as an unreleased funk record from 1991 by the band SOL.  It would be quite difficult to meet another dude as unique as John and it is quite obvious he puts his heart and soul into his music so please feel free to buy and support Baast music.  You can buy the vinyl record from Ubiquity HERE or buy MP3 for 7.99  HERE  You won't be sorry!
   Also check these insane live youtube clips straight out of Long Beach yo!

And check out some grails I was salivating on when I took a stony journey to Basil land a while back,next stop the Marcellus Wallace Temple of Percussions, haha.  

Shobeki,Gigante,Boneschi,Mitridate,Calworth "Big Band Scene" MSE 134 Music Scene 197?

   Yes sir, here is one of the most sought after Music Scene releases and for good reason.  Side A is where it's at with this one.  Discogs lists Shobeki as an alias for Gigante which is strange that he would use his name and alias on the same record but I honestly haven't looked to verify.  Anyway the whole side A is by Shobeki/Gigante and it starts off with "Road To Frisco" a nice pupmped up jazzy big band accompaniment.  The real treat is "Lazy Night Man" which is an alternate version of Frisco but much more to my taste, slowed down to a stony speed with amazing synth over, love it.  "Native Land" is ultimate Libaek/Kirchin style exploration with a nice fat soothing synth line accompaniment.  "Waltzing Car" is another hit with its pumped up drums and dope synth.  Unfortunately for me the whole side B is generic big band stuff, played well no doubt but not unique to my ears.  I want my library music to not sound like library music, you know what I mean.  So check the couple jams I'm sharing ripped from my collection and MP3 TRADES accepted as always.Chris Tillotson