Nova (Italian band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Albums: Blink, Vimana, Wings of Love, Sun City |
Nova was an Italian progressive rock ensemble established in 1975, originating from members of Osanna and Cervello. Primarily based out of London, the group produced four albums that drew heavily from the 1970s jazz fusion genre, inspired by acts such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, and Return to Forever.
History
The band’s inception involved Elio D'Anna (saxophone, flute) and Danilo Rustici (guitar), both formerly of Osanna, who were joined by Danilo’s younger brother, 17-year-old Corrado Rustici (guitar, vocals) from Cervello. Completing the lineup were Luciano Milanese on bass and Dede Lo Previte on drums, both previously with Circus 2000.
Their first record, Blink (1976), reflected a strong influence from English progressive rock and remained their sole album released in Italy. Following the departure of three members, D'Anna and Corrado reassembled the band with keyboardist Renato Rosset of New Trolls Atomic System. This new formation marked a shift toward jazz fusion, exemplified in their second album, Vimana, which featured contributions from prominent artists such as Narada Michael Walden, Phil Collins, and Percy Jones.
The group further expanded by adding Barry Johnson (bass, vocals) and Ric Parnell, formerly of Atomic Rooster, on drums. With this lineup, they recorded Wings of Love in 1977. Their last album, Sun City (1978), was produced following their relocation to the United States. After disbanding, Elio D'Anna pursued a career as a producer in Italy, while Corrado Rustici achieved success working with artists like Zucchero and Whitney Houston. Barry Johnson became a member of Lenny White’s Twennynine, and Ric Parnell gained recognition for his role in the film This is Spinal Tap.
Discography
- Blink (1976)
- Vimana (1976)
- Wings of Love (1977)
- Sun City (1978)
See also
- Il Balletto di Bronzo
- Il Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
- La Locanda delle Fate
- Le Orme
- La Premiata Forneria Marconi
- Il Rovescio della Medaglia