Art Studio

The Art Studio group was established in 1974 but its first record, simply called as the band itself, was only released in 1977 by the label DRUMS (Art Studio). This was followed by four LPs for the "Cooperativa Musica Creativa", established in 1977. Diagnosi, Paralisi, Presagio, Pensieri. Then, in 1987, there was a record with Tiziana Ghiglioni, Onde, presently inserted in the SPLASC(H) catalog, the last work before a long pause.
As you see, quite a scanty production, rationed and commercially marginal, given the uncertain distribution of the small label. Yet the presence of Art Studio on the scene of Italian Jazz was all but negligible: its incisiveness can be perceived even better today, given the happy state of present-day Italian Jazz.

When Carlo Actis Dato (sax), Claudio Lodati (guitar), Enrico Fazio (bass) and Fiorenzo Sordini (percussion) set up their Art Studio in Turin in 1974, Italian Jazz was experiencing an artistic improvement and a growing audience, chaotic as well as fruitful. A new generation of young, talented musicians was quickly making its way: the late Massimo Urbani and Marcello Melis, Bruno Tommaso, Gaetano Liguori, Eugenio Colombo and then, in the second half of decade, Giancarlo Schiaffini and Mario Schiano.
Of course music was brewing more actively in Milan and (above all) Rome, but gradually this phenomenon began to affect other towns, from Bari to Turin. In particular, the historical Swing Club of Turin saw people like Ornette Coleman, Steve Laccy, Byard Lancaster. Just there our four musicians (in 1974, when they were all 18 to 22 years old) began their cereer as the Art Studio, soon drawing the attention of critic Giancarlo Roncaglia.
So even Turin had her avant-garde band. Unlike their colleagues, Lodati and company soon took a very different direction than the prevailing one. Actually, while the Italian avant-garde was shaken by the blows of the most radical free jazz, especially with the Rome group, the Art Studio immediately choosed a more project-oriented line, where composition and a long, considered collecctive elaboration were to become the hub and the guideline of the whole group,
This explains a full three years went by after the establishment of the Art Studio band before their first record appeared, something very strange even then and absolutely exceptional if compared to the frantic production rate of today.

Of course the most typical feature of this group is the tenor sax - guitar sound relationship, exploited in all sorts of different combinations, from unison to dissonant intervals, which add an annoying roughness to the music, wickedly matching some more singable melodies. The other constantly present element is the presence of manifold themes: they are divided into several contrasting sections and developement of pieces often involves a change of ambience and different writing techniques.
Contrast may well be the leading principle of Actis Dato's and Lodati's compositions: composed themes, different rhythms, pauses, wrongfootings, repetitions.
The presence of Irene Robbins since Paralisi in 1981, with her piano and her voice, prevented the groupe from fossilizing on a formula and enabled it to attain new depths. Some quintet pieces on Paralisi and Pensieri undoubtedly rank among the best of the band's whole production.
After the meeting with Irene Robbins, Art Studio touched another important collaboration:Onde with Tiziana Ghiglioni, an artist whose qualities are indisputable.
Done this work, Art Studio melted, but only for few years, because the expressive art of this group couldn't be silent forever, so it was born the new record:Off Limits. What to say about it ? Just try to see a concert and give your opinion!

Contact for CONCERTS

1. Il Ragno
2. Diagnosi
3. La Rana
4. Fanghiglia
5. Dalle Tre alle Tre

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor sax
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions

Recorded in Turin (Format Studios), 1977; produced by DRUMS Ed. Mus.
Sound Engineer: L. Mannori.

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1. Stops
2. Scaramanzia
3. Paralisi
4. Frontespizio
5. Il Sonno
6. La Serpe
7. Dicembre 77/2

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions

Recorded in Turin, April 6,10 1978; produced by CMC-Cooperativa Musica Creativa
Sound Engineer: Beppe Sordini.

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1. Acquario
2. Ariete
3. Moscerini
4. B.C.
5. Presagio

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions
Irene Robbins: piano and voice

Recorded in Turin, December 1981; produced by CMC-Cooperativa Musica Creativa
Sound Engineer: Beppe Sordini.

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1. Sud Suite
2. AM
3. Il Vulcano
4. One Way
5. Pensieri
6. Il Gatto

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions
Irene Robbins: piano and voice

Recorded in Milan, January 4 1984; produced by CMC-Cooperativa Musica Creativa
Sound Engineer: Giancarlo Barigozzi.

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1. More Shakin' Less Fakin'
2. The Essence
3. Cobra
4. Contatti
5. Onde
6. Lacrime di Coccodrillo
7. La Corsa
8. Trebisonda

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions
Irene Robbins: piano and voice

Recorded in Milan, November 15,16 1985; produced by CMC-Cooperativa Musica Creativa
Sound Engineer: Giancarlo Barigozzi.

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1. Il Margine
2. Cheyennes
3. Odilla
4. I Saltimbanchi
5. Rosso di Sera
6. Voci
7. Alla Ricerca del Tempo Perduto
8. La Maschera
9. Tobago Gigolo'

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, marimba, percussions
Tiziana Ghiglioni: voice

Recorded at Blue Studios - Mondovi'(CN), June 21-23 1987; produced by SPLASC(H) Records a division of SENZ'H Ed. Mus.
Sound Engineer: Danilo Dalmasso
Cover by Peppo Spagnoli.

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Reissued on CD: Diagnosi - Paralisi - Presagio - Pensieri

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1. Shango
2. Pio Pio
3. My Lai
4. Melassa
5. Sturm Und Drang
6. Fidel
7. Nord Nord Est
8. Cozze di Gallipoli
9. Squeeze
10. Fuori dal Coro
11. Niokolo Koba

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor & baritone saxes and bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: acoustic & electric guitars
Enrico Fazio: bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, vibes, percussions

Recorded and mixed at Colori Studio Sound, Lessolo(TO), on December 10,11 1997.
Produced by Peppo Spagnoli for SPLASC(H) Records, a division of Senz'h Scrl
Sound Engineer: Elena Bazzano
Cover by Andrea Mazzon.

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1. Flash
2. Isole
3. Silk
4. Senza Fiato
5. Bossa Di Mafia
6. Comandante Marcos

Carlo Actis Dato: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Claudio Lodati: guitar
Enrico Fazio: double bass
Fiorenzo Sordini: drums, percussions
Silvia Pellegrino: vocals

Live recording in Torino, "Hiroshima Mon Amour" on nov. 30 and dec. 1 2004.
Produced by Peppo Spagnoli for SPLASC(H) Records, a division of Senz'h Scrl
Sound Engineer: Marco Giaccaria
Graphic design by Fabio Bobbio.

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