SARASTRO BLAKE - "New Progmantics"
Sarastro Blake is the new project of Paolo Pigni (Mogador, Celtic Harp Orchestra), produced by Luca Briccola (Mogador, Trewa, Celtic Harp Orchestra), featuring Rick Wakeman (Yes), Richard Sinclair (Caravan), David Paton (Alan Parson Project, Camel, Fish), Dave Lawson (Greenslade), Nick Magnus (Steve Hackett), Amanda Lehmann (Steve Hackett) and Billy Sherwood (Yes, Toto, Circa). "I learnt to play the guitar back in 1974. I took my first lessons from a professional teacher who was involved with the successful Italian band New Trolls. After discovering Yes, I moved to bass guitar and began playing in my first band called Black Out. In the mid 80's I began recording demos of my songs. I released my first solo album (produced by Tiziano Cantatore) entitled Lonely Days, it featured guitarist Riccardo Zappa and session men like Mark Harris (of Fabrizio De Andrè, Pino Daniele and Al Jarreau fame) plus several members of the Eros Ramazzotti's band. In the early 90's I released a solo album called The Barrett of The Drake where I played all the instruments. In the 2000's I started playing bass with the Celtic Harp Orchestra. We were mainly a live act but whilst in the orchestra we recorded and released an album. It was there that I met first and played with Luca Briccola. In January 2012 - actually the night the Costa Concordia cruise ship sank in the Mediterranean Sea - I started recording the first tracks on an acoustic guitar, followed by the other instruments. I had 'Odessa' by the Bee Gees in mind at the time, thinking back! Soon after, I started thinking about the idea of "special guest" musicians more seriously. For me it was very important to have the right special guest each song. In this way I hoped that each artist would have the right feel for the music and bring something of their own to my songs. In the end I managed to invite a longish list of guests who brought their talents to the tracks, interpreting the songs in their own ways. If you would like to know the background behind the writing and making of each individual song, then please go to the following link and you will found out more in "The Making Of The Album" section of the website".
Track List:
- The Lady Of Shalott
- Clare's Song
- Scotland The Place
- Sonnet 116
- Stanzas For Music
- Prelude To The Highlands
- My Heart's In The Highlands
- Remember
- Flaming June
- Beyond
- Solitary Bench
Tot 56:15
Produced, recorded and mixed at the Mentalchemy Dungeon Studio in 2012 by Luca Briccola.
Graphic Design by Luca Briccola
Front cover photo courtesy of © Iconic-images (Christopher Colquhoun)
Homage to the painting 'Flaming June' by Lord Frederick Leighton, model Ivory Flame
Line-up:
- Paolo Pigni (Acoustic & Electric Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Nylon String Guitar, Piano on 'Flaming June', Vocals)
- Luca Briccola (Guitars, Bass on 'The Lady Of Shalott', Keyboards, Percussion, Orchestration, Flutes & Backing Vocals)
- Mirko Soncini (Drums)
- Richard Allen (Additional Vocals)
- Serena Bossi (Additional Vocals)
- Marco Carenzio (Additional Vocals)
Guest:
- Nick Magnus (Keyboards on "The Lady Of Shalott")
- Filippo Pedretti (Violin on "The Lady Of Shalott")
- Dave Lawson (Electric Piano on "Scotland The Place")
- Serena Bossi (Vocals on "Sonnet 116")
- Rick Wakeman (Piano on "Stanzas For Music")
- David Paton (Vocals on "Stanzas For Music")
- Amanda Lehmann (Vocals on "My Heart's In The Highlands")
- Richard Sinclair (Vocals and Bass on "Remember")
- Billy Sherwood (Keyboards and Guitars on "Flaming June")
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