A little known group, I Leoni, from Tortona (Piemonte, north-west Italy), had a short career that has just left us two singles and an album, all produced between 1970 and 1971. They were a trio, led by keyboardist/singer Carlo Riccardi, but all their compositions were by another Riccardi, Enrico, that was not a member of the group and was later an important producer (with popular italian artists like Patty Pravo and Loredana Bertè). Despite being mostly in the melodic prog field
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A little known group, I Leoni, from Tortona (Piemonte, north-west Italy), had a short career that has just left us two singles and an album, all produced between 1970 and 1971. They were a trio, led by keyboardist/singer Carlo Riccardi, but all their compositions were by another Riccardi, Enrico, that was not a member of the group and was later an important producer (with popular italian artists like Patty Pravo and Loredana Bertè). Despite being mostly in the melodic prog field, the ten-track album includes some good instrumental breaks, like in the hypnotic Lo Stregone (with organ, percussion and latin-sung vocals in a Jacula style) and interesting progressive arrangements like in Jena Ridens or the closing Il Tramonto. After the release of the album and the second single, the group brought its line-up to a four-piece with guitarist Paolo Stella, until they broke up at the beginning of 1973.
