Luciano Basso

In the second half of the the '70s, the Venetian composer/keyboardist LUCIANO BASSO recorded a series of albums, which represent an interesting mix of progressive music with classical influences and avant-garde. Trained as a pianist and composer at the music academy (Conservatorio) of his birthplace, he is currently a music teacher in the city of Padova. He has also contributed soundtracks to several documentary films produced by RAI, the Italian broadcasting company.

"Voci", the first album from 1976, is usually considered his best release, so that it was cited by "The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music" as one of the best-ever examples of classically-influenced progressive rock, comparing it to the work of such renowned bands as Focus and Curved Air. "Voci" contains five long instrumental tracks, with keyboards to the fore, backed by traditional, electric rock instrumentation. Among the guest musicians on this album, NUVOLE DI PAGLIA's bass player, Mauro Periotto.

Basso's later work has increasingly gone in the direction of contemporary classical music. He is also quite active as a concert pianist, performing both in Italy and abroad.

All the albums by Luciano Basso were issued by Ariston and are now rare. There are no foreign reissues.