Band: Kaleidon
Album: Free Love
Release: 1973 (1994)
Genre: Fusion, Jazz-Rock
Country: Italy
Quality: FLAC | lossless

Despite strong differences in their musical style, these groups are often mentioned together because Kaleidon came out from the ashes of the promising Free Love after two of these band's members died in a car accident. One of the surviving members, Stefano Sabatini, formed the new group that dedicated their only album in 1973 to the old band.
Born at the end of the 60's in Rome, Free Love only released two good rock singles in their short career, one of which was used as soundtrack to a spaghetti-western film.
They seemed to have a very promising career ahead, as demonstrated by their participation to Rome Caracalla Pop festival in 1971, but two of the band's members, Gianni Caia and Steve Stogel, died in a road accident while coming back from a tour as backing band of Mia Martini.
A new line-up was assembled in 1972, and this included Stefano Sabatini, Carl Stogel, drummer Giovanni Liberti and saxophonist Stefano Cesaroni, later replaced by Massimo Balla for the Caracalla-Wembley concert in Rome in autumn 1972.
From this line-up, with newcomer bassist Franco Tallarita, derived the new group Kaleidon, whose only album in 1973 was in fact entitled Free love; totally instrumental, strongly veering toward jazz, it went unnoticed, with the band having a strong line-up change right after its release and splitting after the fourth edition of the "Festival d'Avanguardia e Nuove Tendenze" held in Rome in June 1974.
After leaving Kaleidon, bassist Franco Tallarita joined Ut. His replacement Gianni Colaiacomo later played with Banco del Mutuo Soccorso.
The last Kaleidon drummer, Francesco Froggio Francica, had previously played with Raccomandata con Ricevuta di Ritorno and shortly Procession.
Stefano Sabatini was involved in the short-lived Samadhi supergroup and later Mediterraneo (featuring some ex-Samadhi members), in 1978 he moved to Los Angeles where he played with many important jazz musicians, and after returning to Italy in 1982 he has had an intense activity in the jazz field.
An obvious reference point would be Soft Machine around 4 or 5, but without the free jazz elements present on those albums.

Tracklist:
1. Kaleidon 8:27
2. Inverno '43 6:28
3. Dopo La Festa 7:27
4. Polvere 6:35
5. Oceano 6:13
6. Free Love 4:50

Personnel:
Bass – Franco Tallarita
Drums, Percussion – Giovanni Liberti
Electric Piano, Piano [Acoustic] – Stefano Sabatini
Saxophone [Contralto], Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Massimo Balla