From: Chris Richards <>
Subject: New DFA live album
Those who attended last year's NEARfest may recall the excellent performance
by DFA, the Italian band that played their US live debut on Saturday morning.
Well, now MoonJune records has released most of the set (they've left off the
final song that was played, presumably because of contractual reasons
regarding Gianni Leone's presence on that one). It's called Work In Progress
Live, and it's FANTASTIC!!! DFA was one of the bands that really impressed me
last year, and now here's the chance for all of us to relive the memory. It
was being sold at NEARfest this year for only $15. Go to www.moonjune.com and
order your copy TODAY!!!!!
From: "Mike Prete" <>
Subject: Re: DFA
> > anyone heard of these guys? I got their cd "work in progress live at >
> NEARfest 2000" and they sound great. > > Ron > > Then you've got their
best. The new live album has the best of their two > studio albums, of which
the first is out of print. The name means Duty Free > Area, by the way.
Here's a link to their present record company with > reviews, etc... http://www.moonjune.com/dfawork.html
> For those not familiar with them, they play mostly instrumental music-
heavy > influences are Gentle Giant and Canterbury-era jazzy prog. > -David
Eric
Actually, their name is just DFA. Duty Free Area is the name of their
second album. The first album, Lavori in Corso has been re-pressed and should
be available; I just picked it up at NEARfest. That said, the new live album
is a monster. These guys really smoke, and are at their best playing live.
There is a review of the new live album as well as Duty Free Area on my site
(see below).
From: David Eric Shur <>
Subject: Re: DFA
> anyone heard of these guys? I got their cd "work in progress live at >
NEARfest 2000" and they sound great. > Ron
Then you've got their best. The new live album has the best of their two
studio albums, of which the first is out of print. The name means Duty Free
Area, by the way. Here's a link to their present record company with reviews,
etc... http://www.moonjune.com/dfawork.html For those not familiar with them,
they play mostly instrumental music- heavy influences are Gentle Giant and
Canterbury-era jazzy prog.
From: "Andrew J. Rozsa" <>
Subject: RE: DFA
Kiwi Richard wrote: >> > Then you've got their best. The new live album
has the best of their >two studio albums .... > >And available at Cranium
Music postage free anywhere in the world)for US$14. >Prices on the site are
also listed in Canadian, English Pound, Euro, >Australian & NZ currencies. >DFA
Work In Progress Live >http://www.cranium.co.nz/catalog/A_1738.htm
After listening to the files at their homesite, I instantly sent off my
order. :-))
http://digilander.iol.it/dfa/Home.html
From: "Steve aka koolkat" <>
Subject: DFA ROCKS!
= Possibly the BEST live album ever made?
Reviewer: Steve Jordan from Buffalo NY USA
I received a promotional package of CD's from Moonjune Records, for review
and 'air time', on my two internet radio stations. Well, I opened the large
envelope and what do I find? Two of the three CD's are Italian Prog......oh
no! The last Italian Prog I listened to was Banco at Nearfest 2001, and to
tell the truth, I was not impressed, at all. So, out falls the DFA CD, Work
in Progress, recorded at Nearfest 2000....oh no! The people at Moonjune
Records were nice enough to send the CD's and info, so I had to listen. WOW!
I was blown away from the first track Escher, reaching for the CD cover and
info, I read all I could while listening to the rest of the CD. I won't even
bother to getting into the six tracks, there is no stand out, there all
GREAT! No, SPECTACULAR!!!!! This is Progressive Rock at its finest. I noticed
in the info that that some have called DFA a Fusion band. There are Jazzy
moments but, don't be turned off by this, it just adds to the complexity of
the music. These guys have the Chops to get the job done! Alone each solo
with a masters intensity, together, the word 'Tight' mean anything! This is
perhaps the finest live album I have ever heard! If not for the breaks and
applause (Serious Applause!), you can not tell its a LIVE album! Its that
Perfect! All six tracks are now into rotation on Odd Sky & Sound of Shadows
Internet Radio Broadcast.
From: David Eric Shur <>
Subject: DFA Contest!
> As you may have read earlier, as a part of a promotional package I
received a DFA cd, Work in Progress - recorded at Nearfest 2000.
Most of the people who went to NEARfest 2000 and heard DFA all agreed that
they were the highlight of the show.
Everyone on this list should buy that album- it's a great album with a
performance which left us aghast.
From: David Levkovitz <>
Subject: RE: DFA Contest!
So right! I had both their studio CDs before NEARfest so I was
expecting them to be great. They exceeded
all expectations. If anyone on the west coast did
not se them at NEARfest, you have another chance to catch
them at BajaProg on March 8th (along with
some other great bands, I think Hamadryed is going
to be one of the highlights).
From: "moonjunerecords" <>
Subject: DFA, THE FUSION-PROGRESSIVE MASTERS FROM ITALY TO PLAY IN THE USA &
MEXICO
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DFA, the fusion-prog masters from Italy, are making their awaited
North-American come back, promoting their highly critically acclaimed USA
recording debut "WORK IN PROGRESS LIVE" on MoonJune Records.
DFA are:
ALBERTO DE GRANDIS, lead vocals, drums
ALBERTO BONOMI, keyboards
SILVIO MINELLA, guitars
LUCA BALDASSARI, bass
?????????????????????????????????????
[...]
It was said about "WORK IN PROGRESS LIVE" (MJR003 - MoonJune Records, USA,
July 2001)
***** (five stars) All About Jazz, Italy
***** (Five stars) A fabulous Dante journey to infinite. DME, Israel
Progressive rock doesn't get any better than this, and this live recording
could easily set the standards for other groups. MusicDish, USA
DFA surges onward via a modernistic approach amid polyrhythmic fury and
multihued silhouettes. Essentially, the musicians' bespeak a sense of
ownership thanks to commanding control of their instruments and a tightly
woven group sound, while incorporating jazzy riffs and cascading chord
progressions into the grand scheme of things. All Music Guide, USA
Lurking along the line between progressive precision and fusion
experimentalism, DFA are without doubt, masters of their respective
instruments; you can only sit back and admire the marvel that is masters at
work. There is a lot to admire here, and if your penchant is for extended
improvisation, then you really ought to be getting a hold of this. ZeitGeist,
Scotland
DFA's sound exists in the elusive vapor trail of fusion, that not so justly
maligned school of jazz, but don't let the "Fusion" word throw you. This is a
cogent band with more than just chops to get out of their system. Work In
Progress Live is a bold showcase for the four-member band from Verona, Italy,
giving each one a pivotal role in the structure creating a seamless blend of
progressive rock interwoven with resonating vocals and enigmatic jazz. This
Live recording is, in essence, a celebration of the soul supported by
flawless grooves improvised with exceptional freedom and fluency. Generous
rhythmic sweeps of free-flowing tandem and blistering runs ebb and flow from
beginning to end. With the inclusion of several vocal selections, the
hypnotic vitality and emotional connection with listeners is still compelling
and strong. DFA engages the listener as if under the spell of a rich box of
dark chocolates, yet never subjects the sampler to a diabetic coma. What's
most interesting here is how the music reflects the times, as jazz fusion
represents an opportunity for creativity, not just sales. Fans of the genre
will need no prodding. The Global Muse, USA
DFA specializes in a highly complex but richly melodic compound made of equal
parts symphonic progressive rock and jazz fusion. Far from being the
solo-happy wankfest it might appear to be from the description, the album is
a testament to the band's strong ensemble work. The epic compositions,
written by drummer Alberto De Grandis and keyboardist Alberto Bonomi, leave
plenty of room for improvisation, but hew closely to tuneful outlines. Bonomi
and guitarist Silvio Minella weave in and out of each other's virtuosity,
creating a lush fabric of rich musical colors that never fails to engage.
When either man solos, the break is equally impressive for its restraint as
for its skill. De Grandis keeps the rhythm at a constant boil, with his jazzy
cymbal work driving the sound as much as the kick drum; bassist Luca
Baldassari holds steady, the pole off which the flags fly. "Trip on Metro," a
piece that dates back to the group's early demos, shows a subtle Mahavishnu
Orchestra influence, while "Pantera," "Caleidoscopio" and "Ragno" perfectly
balance the blend of jazz rhythm, classical melody and rock firepower that is
the hallmark of Italian progressive rock. Equally impressive and accessible,
if this music is merely a work in progress, the final version will be
drop-dead astonishing. High Bias, USA
Kudos to Moonjune Records for releasing this magnificent live cd! Guitarist
Silvio Minella possesses a shredder's heart and a jazzman's discernment, a
precious combination. Likewise, Luca Baldassari's bass lines are solid,
complex yet unobtrusive. While the keyboards have often been relegated to a
textural position in fusion over the last decade, Alberto Bonomi isn't afraid
to let his smooth washes and jagged lines step right out and sing. He has the
good sense to choose appropriate tones and techniques that don't date the
music before the band can even get going, while the drummer Alberto De
Grandis is a fine master of surging, crashing rhythmic power. All About Jazz,
USA
On "Work In Progress Live", DFA delivers a healthy dose of synthesized
madness, completely insane time signature changes, and laser precision tested
drumming. The musical prowess displayed on this incredible live album is far
out of the reach of most popular bands nowadays, and even by progressive
standards, these guys are standout musicians. The band flows freely from
mellow vocal passages into gigantic jazz improvisational jam sessions and
back again. This is an album that can be appreciated by musicians and
non-musicians alike, but all should be prepared for something quite different
from your everyday live album. Flawless musicianship and innovative
arrangements are the rule. The degree of accuracy with which DFA plays often
makes it difficult to believe that this is a live album. DFA is truly a
musician's band. AMZ Music, USA
Not only one of the best quality live prog rock albums around, recorded at
the USA Nearfest 2000, but the finest album this, mostly instrumental,
Italian band has produced to date, the concert and the CD capturing them on
red hot form as they work their way through six long tracks and sixty-six
minutes of classic guitars-synths/keys dominated prog, and it is prog all the
way, with the musicianship and band interplay at an astoundingly high level.
The moods cover the range from string-synth moments of warmth through
intricate time signatures to supercharged duelling and soloing from the two
lead instrumentalists. Overall, an astoundingly good CD, the few Italian
vocals not at all detracting from the enjoyment of the album as a whole. CD
Services, Scotland
The DFA's compositions have a strong bass groove and bounce keeping a jazzy
prog feel. Guitar work is solid but without flash or highly technical
pyrotechnics. In fact, it is a sort of relaxed axe jam that overlays and
augments the keyboard superstructure. Drums are just right and never detract
nor jump out at you. Italian lyrics and vox adds an early PFM aura but with a
softer, romanticism, or soft prog essence. DFA are hard to pin down and say,
"like this group or that". DFA is just DFA. EER-MUSIC, USA
DFA is an impressive band both technically and musically, and they steer
through breakneck passages without losing the flow. The intricate,
through-and-through arranged compositions demand an enormous skill and
concentration, and the musicians are filled with enthusiasm and sheer joy of
playing. At the same time, they are sufficiently relaxed not to make the
quieter parts too convulsive, something that happens too easily when the
energy level is high. There are not many of today's bands who match DFA on
technique and energy, and Work In Progress Live is sheer live fireworks.
Tarkus Magazine, Norway
Breathtaking progressive rock fusion of the highest caliber with an original
and inventive approach to music. The Lighthouse Keeper, Scotland
DFA swings, crackles and bumps, demonstrating that they can handle live music
just as well as in studio. DFA preys on energy, with mostly instrumental
album-length epic songs that roll on and on, ever heavenly upward, proving
once again that all the really GOOD prog is European flavored. The synth/key
work is especially vivacious with killer guitars and the brilliant,
continuous bass/percussion rhythm that outlines entire songs, taking you back
sometimes to the Yes' "Tales from the Topographic Ocean". A flawless
performances pretty star struck, pretty amazing. The audience is up on their
feet at the end of every sparkling track. This is the sort of cd that never
dates itself. Listening to it over and over again and you're going to find
new tunes, original subtle details that escaped your ears the first time.
Muse's Muse, USA
Damn good music, brilliantly executed! Roxy, Italy
? Fuera de lo com?! Extraordinary! Escena Rock, Spain
What's even better?the sound of the album is impressively solid and huge, and
the drummer Alberto De Grandis' razor-sharp talent sends the band into a
spiraling attack just as quickly as into a jazzy improvisation, while his
band mates challenge each other in a frenzied flurry of notes that spell
"quality" at every step. Those who were at NEARFest that day better be
grateful; they got to see and hear something that most people spend their
entire lives waiting for. ProgFreaks, Mexico
What a brilliant album! Epic and sophisticated. With their complex
progressive rock DFA unite old schooled 70's bands with modern sounds and
jazz influences to a very own sound. Progressive Rock Pages, Germany
DFA is a cumulus of intricate sonorities, sometimes complex and sometimes
fluidly melodic, bordering spheres of progressive jazz-rock/fusion and
symphonic rock. "Work In Progress Live" is an amazing mosaic of elegant
harmonies and emotions. Revista Rock Progresivo, Chile
We are completely drawn away from the fact that this is a live performance!
When we remember that, we get stupefied! A memorable show and a highly
recommended CD to all progressive fans in the vein of Gentle Giant who don't
mind the inclusion of some jazzy and trippy elements. Prog-PT, Portugal
Astonishingly high level music! RealMusic, Germany