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As reviews come to hand and permission is sort, this page will be updated.
Montreal Drum Festival 2004
DONATI AND ALIANO SCORE BIG ON SATURDAY
Saturday morning, while the streets outside are filling with shoppers, inside the Pierre Mercure Hall the Fest is already buzzing.
SAM ALIANO – That New Guy From Australia Delivers the Goods
The latest drumming sensation out of Australia, Sam Aliano really likes to mix things up around the kit. With headphones on and the music rolling he kicks into a big 4/4 groove before beat displacements and some serious fills thrust him into progressive rock territory. Then he’s onto some wicked fusion. His drum solo not only demonstrates substantial technique, but also taste and an ability to make seamless rhythmic transitions. The audience loves Sam from the start. His casual manner contrasts with serious cross-handed crashing, rapid double-pedal bass drum flourishes and round-the-kit fills that earn him loud applause after each number. He’s fast, he’s furious… and the crowd shows their appreciation with a standing ovation at the end of his set. It may be the big names that attract may to festivals like this, but Sam Aliano is one of those pleasant surprises that makes this event so much fun.
 2001 release. Sam Aliano is recognized as one of Australia's foremost drumming talents. Hmmm, looks like ol' Virgil has some competition in the Outback. Joining Sam on his solo debut are members of Virgil Donati's On The Virg band as well as special guests Brett Garsed, and Frank Gambale on guitars, and Brandon Fields on sax. The group cover a diverse range of original instrumental fusion, latin, jazz, and rock. Simon Hosford, Jack Jones, Robert John Sedky, guitar; Phil Turcio, Arthur Natsis, keys; Marcel Yammouni, guitar, bass, keys; Evripides Evripidou, bass, keys; Sam Aliano, drums; Marcus Francisco, percussion. Guests: Brett Garsed (two tracks), Frank Gambale (one track), guitar; Brandon Fields, sax (one track).
You can buy Sam's CD at Audiophile Imports hereMJBrady: 04/09/2002
The onslaught of heavy fusion from Australia continues on this smoking debut cd from drummer Sam Aliano. Anyone who has had the pleasure of hearing the other more famous drummer from down under, Virgil Donati, with his efforts with Planet X, On the Virg, LooseChange will be happy to know drummer Sam Aliano has joined with ex-On the Virg members and some others to release this 10 song technical fusion masterpiece, that is very much in the same vein of OTV and Donatis' Planet X group. Aliano shows he is every bit the drumming phenomena that Virgil D is, and his playing on this cd proves it. The most impressive thing about this cd (outside the outrageous musicianship) is the quality of the songs, the writing is first rate, as each song never fails to deliver the goods. It seems as fusion goes, some assemblies of top caliber musicians can lead to over rated jam sessions, heavy noodling over mondane song structures is not very creative, but that is not the case with Emalgamation, the writing took high priority on this cd, and it is evident with every song, this is one that you will listen to start to finish, and often. I can't say enough about how well put together the music really is on this cd, never a dull moment. So for all of you fans of technically challenging fusion music, Sam Aliano's Emalgamation is a cd that can't be missed.
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