01	Life Can Be Like Music						06:33
	02	Six Against One						06:35
	03	When We Were Young						06:00
	04	Fase						06:59
	05	I Heard A Butterfly						05:51
	06	Live Together Or Die						08:51
	07	Il Fischio Del Vapore						04:55
	08	Cono Di Gelato						04:41

Maxophone [Italy]

Maxophone (75), reissue 1994

One of the best of the 70's italian progressive re-releases, a high-energy six-piece, cohesive and forceful music with strong melodies and tight changes. Their album was released in both Italian and English versions.

Splendid Italian ensemble strongly influenced by P.F.M. and King Crimson. Their one album combines jazz, rock and classical ideas in a dazzling stylistic whirlpool where you never know what's coming next. So at one moment they're playing a gentle, romantic melody, the next they move into Dixieland jazz, then suddenly furious rock guitar comes out of nowhere. And so on. They use jazz (clarinets, saxes, trumpets) and classical (horns, flutes, strings, harp) instruments to give them a textural depth most such bands could only hope to achieve. Perhaps the best sample of their arresting style is the instrumental "Fase", which grips you immediately with the punchy Frippian guitar, then goes into some lighter classical-like moments, and not the other way around as many of the other tracks do. Nonetheless, a beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable album. -- Mike Ohman

Maxophone are another of the crop of Italian progressive rock acts, who recorded one quality release (in early 1975), and then disappeared. Their music was very much in the pastoral PFM vein, with similarities to bands such as Locanda Delle Fate, and, perhaps, Le Orme. The vocals are in Italian, and, interestingly enough, a version with English vocals was released in the US! In addition to the keyboards/guitar/drums line-up, Maxophone featured two players on wind instruments, including clarinet, flute and horns. This added a more symphonic dimension to their music, which should surely appeal to those who enjoy the bands noted in the comparisons above.

Ah yes, yet another great Italian band. The closest comparison that I can make is with Locanda delle Fate, but that doesn't quite describe Maxophone. While Locanda was a full, rich seven piece that composed some of the most beautiful multi-instrumental counterpoint I've ever heard, Maxophone uses a full, rich complex approach with a heavy guitar and some occasional harshness. Not only do they layer complex harmonies with ease, the point that pleased me the most when listening to this CD was the sudden, surprising changes of tempo and style. They switch from virtuouso classical piano melodies to mid twentieth century jazz between measures. Not only that, but with metalish guitar leads in some tracks, they move to gospel style vocal overdubs in others. This is a feast for those of you who like the 70's Italian bands or contradicting mood changes. Unfortunately, the CD was mastered off a record and loses its excellent sound quality occasionally on the high-end parts. But don't let that stop you from enjoying this masterpiece. Even at the import price, it is well worth the money. Highly recommended.
Maxophone were a top-notch Italian band playing a complex symphonic prog. The ample liner notes on the CD reissue I have are written in Korean so I can't garner much information about the band other than to guess that they were a six piece. Their style has references to PFM, Le Orme, Locanda delle Fate and Il Balletto di Bronzo. Their playing ranges from pastoral softness to searing and heavy but always lyrical and never overbearing. There are nice multi-part vocals that are never harsh. In addition to keyboards and guitar (including classical guitar passages) the band uses sax, flute, vibes and a variety of other instruments to round out their sound. Quite good!

The classic Maxophone shows Italian symphonic rock at its best, full of nuances and subtleties. The band of six offers rich instrumentation: keyboards, guitars, vocals (in Italian) bass, drums, flutes, percussions, clarinet, saxophone, trombone and horn. Guests also add harp, violin, cello and bass. The compositions show a most complete sound and take advantage of the versatility of the musicians by finding inspiration certainly in rock, but also in jazz and classical music. This energetic music is full of emotions and switches easily from one style to another within the context of the same track. An unavoidable production for fans of the style and era. -- Paul Charbonneau





MAXOPHONE



Alberto Ravasini (vocals, bass, acoustic guitar, flute)
Sergio Lattuada (keyboards, vocals)
Roberto Giuliani (guitar, piano, vocals)
Leonardo Schiavone (clarinet, flute, sax)
Maurizio Bianchini (french horn, trumpet, vibes, percussion, vocals)
Sandro Lorenzetti (drums)



Maxophone, from Milan, formed in 1973 as a six-piece with an unusual assortment of instruments, due to their past experience as music students. A band of great talents and musicianship, their only album, released in 1975, was too late to compete with the most important italian bands of the genre and went sadly unnoticed.

Maxophone, released on the Produttori Associati label (along with Duello Madre one of the few ventures in rock records by this label) is a very nice album, full of dreamy atmospheres and complex horn arrangements, with good vocal parts in a Genesis style. The opening C'e un paese al mondo was even released as a single at the time, but they didn't reach the success they'd deserve with a better production and a good label promotion.

An english version was also released both in USA and Germany, but the italian version is usually considered better.
This has been issued in Japan on King (K28P732) and Korea on Si-Wan (SRML 2012).

The band disbanded after a final single in 1977.







LP
Maxophone Produttori Associati (PA-LP 57) 1975 gatefold cover
Akarma (AK 1029) 2001 gatefold cover - two bonus tracks
Album also reissued on CD by Mellow (MMP 308 - italian version and MMP 179 - english version) and Akarma (AK 1029)


SINGLES (with picture sleeve)
C'e un paese al mondo
Al mancato compleanno di una farfalla Produttori Associati (PA-NP 3244) 1975 both tracks from the album
Il fischio del vapore
Cono di gelato Produttori Associati (PA-NP 3267) 1977 both unreleased tracks






The italian version of this album, with gatefold cover, is rather rare and expensive, the english versions are most common. Both have the same musical parts, only the vocal parts differ.
In USA it was released on P.A. representative Pa-Usa (some copies are gatefold, a second issue is on single cover + inner), while the german issue has a gatefold glossy cover and an orange Produttori Associati label.

The recent Akarma reissue also includes tracks from the band's last single.

No counterfeits exist.





Maxophone - Maxophone

Released: 1975/2002
Label: Edizioni Muscali Wiz Music / Akarma Records
Cat. No.: AK-1029 (180-gram vinyl LP)
Total Time: 27:47 / 26:37


Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, March 2002
The best description for Maxophone I could give is that they sound like an Italian Peter Gabriel meets a classical jazz influenced progressive rock group. That sounds different now doesn't it? Well, it is very unique and refreshingly different. This self-titled LP was originally recorded in 1975 and has been reissued by the esteemed Akarma Records label in a perfected 180-gram vinyl format, complete with picturesque gatefold sleeves and black and white pictures of the group at work in the studio.

With a rich blend of every instrument imaginable in the spectrum of jazz and classical music, this group provided a progressive all encompassing musical cornucopia with dreamy Italian vocalizations. Don't worry if you cannot translate the foreign tongue, you will understand it. I wasn't at all deterred from enjoying this because of the language barrier. The music was simply wonderful. To think that this was recorded back in1975 is amazing. This group comes from a long line of progressive Italian groups that have built a stronghold that has never crumbled, and the genre has continued on strongly to present day.

It's important to know and acknowledge all the contributors that have made a difference in their chosen styles and countries. Maxophone made one classic and unforgettable album twenty seven years ago. This album offers orchestral progressive rock at its best.

More about Maxophone:

Track Listing: Side One: C'E Un Paese Al Mondo (A Country In the World) (6:38) / Fase (Phase) (7:06) / Al Mancato Compleanno Di Una Farfalla (To a Butterfly's Missed Birthday) (5:52) / Mercanti Di Pazzie-(Foolish Acts Merchants) (5:51)

Side Two: Elzeviro (A Name) (6:48) / Antiche Conclusioni Negre (Ancient Black Conclusions) (8:54) / Il Fischio Del Vapore (Steam Whistleblow) (4:54) / Cono Di Gelato (Ice-cream Cone) (4:41)

Musicians:
Sergio Lattuada - keyboards, vocals
Roberto Ginliani - piano, vocals, guitar
Leonardo Schiavone - clarinet, flute, sax
Maurizo Bianchini - percussion, vibraphone, vocals
Alberto Ravasini - bass, dolce, guitar, vocals
Sandro Lorenzetti - drums

Contact:

Discography

Maxophone (1975)




Maxophone - Maxophone (1975)

Maxophone's biggest influence is definitely PFM, but throw in some darker compositional colors akin to bands like Alusa Fallax or even those of the later Locanda Delle Fate, and you'd have a pretty good idea of what this band tries to do. Like the above greats, Maxophone has an extremely rich and full symphonic sound, replete with keys, guitar and organ, along with a heavy emphasis on horns. They are given to utterly fantastic melodies, but the band is also able to mix things up, adding some fusion and jazz-influenced sections here and there to go along with the soaring, classically-inspired passages.

The opener "C'e un Paese Al Mondo" introduces the band with a hard-edged electric guitar riff over a jumpy rhythm, after which we are treated to an awe-inspiring classical backdrop and superb, intertwined vocal melodies. The band has two singers, one with a lighter, more frail tone not unlike that of PFM's singer, and the other with a lower and meatier sound along the lines of the vocalist from Locanda Delle Fate. The contrast between the two is both interesting and eminently satisfying. Leaving the vocals behind entirely, the second track "Fase" is a blazing instrumental that introduces the jazzier side of the band. My favorite piece here is probably the gorgeous "Elzeviro", which has a slight Locanda Delle Fate feel, mixed with a Genesis-ish knack for melody, and boasts massive organ themes, beautiful classical melodies and addictive vocal parts. On the whole, Maxophone should be a thoroughly enjoyable addition to any collection of Italian symphonic rock. Indeed, it offers everything one could ask for in terms of melody, sophistication and emotional appeal. An easy recommendation for fans of this style. - Greg Northrup [March 2001]