The legacy of Daniele Bianchini — founding guitarist of the seminal Italian Progressive Rock outfit Jumbo — finds a new and deeply reflective expression in “Novecento,” the latest release from TRI-ON, arriving nine months after his passing.
Far from being a mere archival publication, the album stands as the final articulation of a musical path that consistently challenged boundaries. Across decades, Bianchini carved out a distinctive voice within the Italian Progressive scene, one that moved freely between Rock, Fusion, Experimental language and increasingly introspective acoustic territories. With TRI-ON, he distilled this journey into its most essential form.
The ensemble — completed by Paul Richard Hager and Dave Vaglia, with contributions from Emanuele Scarioni — operates within a deliberately minimal yet surprisingly expansive framework. Built around two acoustic guitars and percussion, the project explores a sound world where rhythm and melody intertwine organically, often extending beyond the expected vocabulary of Progressive Rock. The result is a fluid, dynamic interplay that favours atmosphere and narrative over technical exhibition.
At the centre of “Novecento” lies a clearly defined conceptual vision. The album unfolds as a meditation on the twentieth century — not through linear storytelling, but by tracing thematic constellations that touch upon science, time, identity and historical memory. Titles such as “Via Panisperna,” inspired by the figure of physicist Ettore Majorana, point towards an underlying reflection on the ethical implications of knowledge, while other compositions widen the scope towards broader existential questions.
Rather than adhering to fixed stylistic conventions, the work mirrors Bianchini’s long-standing refusal to be confined within genre boundaries. His musical language — shaped by elements of Blues, Jazz, Classical sensibility and Mediterranean Melodic phrasing — flows naturally into a form of progressive expression that feels both personal and unforced.
The album is largely instrumental and is accompanied by a detailed listening guide, conceived not as supplementary material but as an integral part of the experience. This additional layer reinforces the project’s ambition: to establish a dialogue between past and present, inviting the listener to engage with the deeper conceptual threads underlying the music.
Significantly, Novecento is not only an artistic statement but also a gesture of continuity with Bianchini’s human and social values. The album has been released in a limited physical edition available through a donation to EMERGENCY, linking the act of listening to a tangible form of support and solidarity.
In an era often dominated by immediacy and overproduction, TRI-ON present a work that moves in the opposite direction — measured, reflective and rooted in intention. “Novecento” does not seek immediate impact; instead, it invites a slower, more attentive engagement, positioning itself as a subtle yet meaningful contribution to the evolving narrative of Italian Progressive Music.
Further details about the project can be found here: https://www.divinazionemilano.com/post/i-tri-on-celebrano-l-eredità-di-daniele-bianchini-con-la-pubblicazione-dell-album-novecento
It is also possible to support the initiative and request a physical copy of the album by making a donation at the following link: https://insieme.emergency.it/fundraisers/laura-lardera