Focus Agosto

On the 5th and 6th of November 2010, a special event took place in Rome, Italy. For the first time in the history of progressive rock music, some of the best Italian bands performed during the first edition of Prog Exhibition. A selection of international musicians was invited to guest together with these bands. PFM had flautist Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) on stage and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso had asked singer-bassist John Wetton (ex- U.K, ex- King Crimson). Aldo Tagliapietra, Tony Pagliuca and Tolo Marton, former members of Le Orme, were joined by violinist David Cross (ex- King Crimson). Keyboardist Gianni Leone (Balletto Di Bronzo) played keyboards and David Jackson (ex- Van Der Graaf Generator) saxophone and flute with Osanna. Nuova Raccomandata Ricevuta Di Ritorno played together with flautist Thijs van Leer (Focus)…

Much of the solo literature for double bass requires the instrument to change its tuning from its standard orchestral arrangement, raising the pitch of each string by a whole step (if not more) in an attempt to increase its clarity, projection, nimbleness. This Neos album, Music for Double Bass with German bassist Frank Reinecke, steers away from works that employ scordatura in favor of those that use the typical orchestral tuning on the bass. The idea: to focus on and explore the depth and resonance for which the instrument was constructed.