Città Frontale

Città Frontale were an Italian symphonic-rock band from Naples that released the album El Tor on Fonit in 1975.

Members: Lino Vairetti (vocals, guitar, Mellotron, Jew’s harp), Gianni Guarracino (guitar, synthesizer, vocals), Enzo Avitabile (saxophone, flute, vocals), Paolo Raffone (keyboards), Rino Zurzolo (bass), Massimo Guarino (drums, percussion, vibraphone, vocals)


Città Frontale originally formed in 1970 and included future Osanna members Danilo Rustici, Elio D’Anna, and Lello Brandi. Another early member, Gianni Leone, turned up in Il Balletto di Bronzo. The second Città Frontale was one of two bands to emerge from the initial breakup of Osanna in 1974, the other being Uno.

Città Frontale released their singular album, El Tor, in 1975 on Fonit. It features eight songs written by drummer Massimo Guarino and singer Lino Vairetti, including “Mutazione,” “La Casa del Mercante Sun,” and “Equilibrio Divino.” Production duties were handled by the pair. Each member plays an assortment of instruments. Two members are credited with Mellotron (Vairetti and keyboardist Paolo Raffone). Musically, the album crosses the hard-edged sax-rock of Osanna with elements of Mediterranean folk.

Bassist Rino Zurzolo went on to work with singer/songwriter Pino Daniele. Saxophonist Enzo Avitabile recorded as a solo artist. Guarino and Vairetti partook in the 1978 Osanna reunion that yielded the album Suddance.


Discography:

  • El Tor (1975)

Sources:

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