This quirky little reissue from the Sublime Label of the 1977 release of Italian keyboardist/composer Roberto Colombo is a fine mix of Italian prog, jazz-rock, and Frank Zappa influenced big-band jazz with a touch of humor. Appearing on Botte Da Orbi are more than 30 musicians, including a few members of the famed prog legends PFM, a band that Colombo worked with briefly.
The album is made up of two sides of long instrumental suites, interspersed with male and female Italian vocals. Horns and woodwinds play a predominant role here, as well as the booming and gymnastic bass stylings of Stefano Cerri. I hear lots of similarities to the Frank Zappa album The Grand Wazoo throughout, especially with the dueling horns and woodwinds, violins, and synths. Colombo shows how adept he is at the piano on the lovely track "Dai Non Fare Il Romantico", complemented by some neat acoustic guitar work that is reminiscant of Al DiMeola from the Return to Forever years. For a more bombastic and symphonic tone there is "Alegher Alegher", an uptempo tune featuring ripping violin from PFM's Lucio Fabbri and lots of cool rock and jazz arrangements.
For an important historical account of 70's progressive jazz-fusion, this is a must listen. In addition, any true Zappa fan will get a thrill out of the jazzy big-band arrangements that Colombo created here.
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