Nova (Italian band)
Encyclopedia
Nova was an Italian progressive rock
/jazz fusion
band that was formed in 1975 from members of the bands Osanna
and Cervello
. Based in London for most of their career, they released four albums that are influenced by the 1970s jazz fusion styles of bands such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report
and Return to Forever
.
, Elio D'Anna (saxophone and flute) and Danilo Rustici (guitar) were joined by Danilos’ 17-year-old brother, Corrado Rustici (guitar and vocals) from Cervello
. They were joined by Luciano Milanese (bass) and Dede Lo Previte (drums) from Circus 2000. Their first album, Blink was released in 1976 and has a strong English progressive rock influence. It became the only recording by the band to be released in Italy.
keyboardist, Renato Rosset. Having started out with a strong progressive influence, the band now started to move towards a jazz-fusion sound. The second album, Vimana, was recorded with a number of distinguished guest musicians; including Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer, Narada Michael Walden
, Genesis
/Brand X
drummer, Phil Collins
and Brand X bass player, Percy Jones
.
and Ibis drummer, Ric Parnell
. They went on to record Wings of Love
in 1977. The album demonstrates Rustici's evolving fusion guitar style, which is influenced by players such as John McLaughlin
, Carlos Santana
and Allan Holdsworth
.
and Whitney Houston
. Johnson went on to join Lenny White
's group Twennynine, while Parnell would go on to feature in the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap
.
Italian progressive rock
The Italian progressive rock scene was born in the early 70s, mostly inspired by the progressive movement in Britain, but with certain features of its own that makes some sources mention it as a separate musical genre....
/jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
band that was formed in 1975 from members of the bands Osanna
Osanna
Osanna are an Italian psychedelic rock/progressive rock band.The group originated in the Vomero neighborhood of Naples with the union of Lino Vairetti , Danilo Rustici , Massimo Guarino , Lello Brandi , from the first line-up of the band Città Frontale, and Elio D'Anna , former member of the Showmen...
and Cervello
Cervello
Its also a swedish band with the name Cervello.Cervello is the name of an Italian rock band of the early 1970s.Cervello was formed by musician from Naples...
. Based in London for most of their career, they released four albums that are influenced by the 1970s jazz fusion styles of bands such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
and Return to Forever
Return to Forever
Return to Forever is a jazz fusion group founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Through its existence, the band has cycled through a number of different members, with the only consistent band mate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke...
.
Blink (1976)
The band was formed when the founder members of OsannaOsanna
Osanna are an Italian psychedelic rock/progressive rock band.The group originated in the Vomero neighborhood of Naples with the union of Lino Vairetti , Danilo Rustici , Massimo Guarino , Lello Brandi , from the first line-up of the band Città Frontale, and Elio D'Anna , former member of the Showmen...
, Elio D'Anna (saxophone and flute) and Danilo Rustici (guitar) were joined by Danilos’ 17-year-old brother, Corrado Rustici (guitar and vocals) from Cervello
Cervello
Its also a swedish band with the name Cervello.Cervello is the name of an Italian rock band of the early 1970s.Cervello was formed by musician from Naples...
. They were joined by Luciano Milanese (bass) and Dede Lo Previte (drums) from Circus 2000. Their first album, Blink was released in 1976 and has a strong English progressive rock influence. It became the only recording by the band to be released in Italy.
Vimana (1976)
Following the departure and return to Italy of three band members, D'Anna and Corrado formed a new line-up with New Trolls Atomic SystemNew Trolls Atomic System
New Trolls Atomic System were an Italian progressive rock band which released one record in the early 1970s, New Trolls Atomic System. The album spawned a single, "Una notte sul Monte Calvo", a symphonic rock cover of Modest Mussorgsky's A Night on Bare Mountain.They were an offshoot from the band...
keyboardist, Renato Rosset. Having started out with a strong progressive influence, the band now started to move towards a jazz-fusion sound. The second album, Vimana, was recorded with a number of distinguished guest musicians; including Mahavishnu Orchestra drummer, Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden
Narada Michael Walden is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards...
, Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
/Brand X
Brand X
Brand X was a jazz fusion band active between 1975–1980 and 1992-1999. Noted members included Phil Collins , Percy Jones , John Goodsall and Robin Lumley ....
drummer, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
and Brand X bass player, Percy Jones
Percy Jones (musician)
Percy Jones is a Welsh bass guitarist, and was a member of jazz fusion band Brand X, from 1974 to 1980, and a reformed version which lasted from 1992 to 1997...
.
Wings of Love (1977)
The band completed their line-up with two new members; Barry Johnson on bass and vocals and former Atomic RoosterAtomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
and Ibis drummer, Ric Parnell
Ric Parnell
Richard "Ric" J. Parnell is an English rock drummer. Although notable for his work in the band Atomic Rooster, he probably best known for his role as the ill-fated drummer Mick Shrimpton in the film This is Spinal Tap....
. They went on to record Wings of Love
Wings of Love (Nova album)
Wings of Love is the third album by the Italian progressive rock/jazz fusion band Nova. It was released on the Arista label in 1977.The album features a mixture of instrumentals and songs, with lead vocals shared between Corrado Rustici and Barry Johnson...
in 1977. The album demonstrates Rustici's evolving fusion guitar style, which is influenced by players such as John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
, Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
and Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
.
Sun City (1978)
The band moved to the USA for their final album Sun City, which was released in 1978. Following this recording, D'Anna returned to Italy where he became a producer. Rustici also went on to a successful career as a musician and producer, collaborating with many famous artists such as ZuccheroZucchero
Adelmo Fornaciari, Commander , more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero Fornaciari or simply Zucchero /ˈtsukkero/, is an Italian rock singer. His music is largely inspired by gospel, blues and rock music, and alternates between ballads and more rhythmic boogie-like pieces.Zucchero is the...
and Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
. Johnson went on to join Lenny White
Lenny White
Leonard White III, better known as Lenny White is an American jazz fusion drummer, who is best known for playing in Chick Corea's Return to Forever.-Biography:...
's group Twennynine, while Parnell would go on to feature in the 1984 film This is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap
This Is Spinal Tap is an American 1984 rock musical mockumentary directed by Rob Reiner about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap...
.
Discography
- Blink (1976)
- Vimana (1976)
- Wings of LoveWings of Love (Nova album)Wings of Love is the third album by the Italian progressive rock/jazz fusion band Nova. It was released on the Arista label in 1977.The album features a mixture of instrumentals and songs, with lead vocals shared between Corrado Rustici and Barry Johnson...
(1977) - Sun City (1978)