Ivan Zagni (guitar)

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BANDS:

• The Cadillacs [1959]
• The Continentals
• The News [1966]
• Chicago Line Blues Band
• Elkie Brooks Band [1968]
• Nova [1968-Jan 69]
• Jody Grind [Jan 69-Nov 69]
• Bogomas
• Blue Whale
• Three´s Company [1977]
• Elton Dean Group [1979]
• Avantgarage [1983]
• Music On The Wall [1985]

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BIOGRAPHY:

Fantastic guitarist, it´s a pity that we can´t have many albums with his playing...

Ivan Zagni was born in Norwich, England, on October 16th, 1942. Before playing guitar, he started singing in a church choir.

First band I know about Ivan was called The Cadillacs.

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THE CADILLACS

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Band from Norwich formed in 1959 by the three brothers Zagni and a couple of friends:

THE CADILLACS #
Ivan Zagni guitar	John Zagni	Frank Zagni	Micky Woodcock	Stewy Mackintosh drums, vocals

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THE CONTINENTALS

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They were a band from Norwich, in the early 60s. They had many different lineups, but one of them included superb vocalist Mike Patto, who replaced a previous singer called Milton Ingram.

THE CONTINENTALS #?		?
Mike Patto † vocals	Ivan Zagni guitar	Harvey Platt bass	+ others unknown to me. Help!

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THE NEWS

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In 1966, The Continentals sign with Decca, changing their name to The News. Mike Patto was a member, but don´t have more details.

This was the lineup that recorded two singles:

THE NEWS #?		1966
Andy Fields vocals, keyboards	Ivan Zagni guitar	Harvey Platt bass	Denny Royal drums

The singles were: ´The entertainer´ (1966) and ´I count the tears´ (1966).

After that, Andy Fields left.

Andy Fields was replaced by Peter Miller:

THE NEWS #?		?
Peter Miller vocals	Ivan Zagni guitar	Harvey Platt bass	Denny Royal drums

But they split very soon after the new recruitment.

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CHICAGO LINE BLUES BAND

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I still need to check this info. Supposedly, Ivan was a member, along with his mates Mike Patto, Tim Hinkley and Louis Cennamo. But don´t know the exact lineup(s).

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ELKIE BROOKS BAND

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Around 1968, Elkie Brooks tried to form his own band:

ELKIE BROOKS BAND #1		1968
Elkie Brooks vocals	Ivan Zagni guitar	Tim Hinkley keyboards	Martin Harryman drums
	Novaê	Novaê	Novaê

But after a month of rehearsals, Elkie parted ways with the musicians, who remained together for a while under the new name Nova.

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NOVA

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Power trio with great musicians formed at the end of 1968, when they left Elkie Brooks:

NOVA #1	1968-Jan 69
êElkie Brooks Band	êElkie Brooks Band	êElkie Brooks Band
Ivan Zagni guitar	Tim Hinkley keyboards	Martin Harryman drums
Jody Grindê	Jody Grindê	Jody Grindê

After a while, they changed their name to Jody Grind in January 1969.

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JODY GRIND

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This was the initial lineup for Jody Grind, when they changed their name (from Nova) in January 1969:

JODY GRIND #1	Jan 69-Mar 69
êNova	êNova	êNova
Ivan Zagni guitar	Tim Hinkley keyboards	Martin Harryman drums

But Harryman left the band in March 1969.
Their new drummer was Barry Wilson, in March 1969:

JODY GRIND #2	Mar 69-Nov 69
Ivan Zagni guitar	Tim Hinkley keyboards	Barry Wilson drums
Bogomasê		Bogomasê

They recorded their first album, One step on, with help from old mate Louis Cennamo (still in Renaissance) on bass, David Palmer on arrangements and a horn section. The album was released in October 1969. But, only one month later, in November 1969, Zagni and Wilson left to form Bogomas (with Cennamo).

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BOGOMAS

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Bogomas was a trio with Zagni and Wilson (from Jody Grind) with Cennamo who had just left Renaissance:

BOGOMAS #1	?
êJody Grind	êRenaissance	êJody Grind
Ivan Zagni guitar	Louis Cennamo bass	Barry Wilson drums

They didn´t last too long together, and after six months working together and composing, they parted ways, without having played any gig. A pity.

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BLUE WHALE

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Blue Whale was a new band formed by Aynsley Dunbar in 1969, only keeping Tommy Eyre from his former band (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation):

BLUE WHALE #1			1969-?
	êBogomas		êAynsley Dunbar Retaliation	êAynsley Dunbar Retaliation
Paul Williams vocals	Ivan Zagni guitar	Roger Sutton bass	Tommy Eyre † keyboards	Aynsley Dunbar drums
				Frank Zappa Bandê

Robert Fripp (cerebrum in King Crimson) almost joined the group. They released an album, Blue whale, in a progressive style, with long jamming songs. But Aynsley dissolved the band, when he got a call from Frank Zappa to join forces. Coincidentally, the album contains a long version of Zappa's ´Willie the pimp´.

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AND THEN...

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He went back to Norwich, as the choir master for their Cathedral, and started composing classical works. He remained there from 1971 to 1977.

In 1977, he came back to London, and started working with some band, such as The Electric String Trio, but can´t find proper details about them. Help, please!

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THREE´S COMPANY

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Around 1977, Elton Dean formed this avant-garde group:

THREE´S COMPANY #?	1977
Ivan Zagni guitar	Marcio Mattos bass	Elton Dean † sax

They split soon later, but many years later, some recordings appeared in Elton Dean´s album Three´s company two´s a crowd.

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ELTON DEAN GROUP

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In July 1979, Elton Dean plays 1 gig with this lineup:

ELTON DEAN GROUP #?	Jul 79
Ivan Zagni guitar	Elton Dean † sax	Louis Moholo drums

In November 1979, Ivan Zagni plays another gig with Elton Dean:

ELTON DEAN GROUP #?		Nov 79
Ivan Zagni guitar	Marcio Mattos bass	Elton Dean † sax	John Stevens † drums

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AND THEN...

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In 1980, he went to live to New Zealand, and continued composing.

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AVANT GARAGE

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Avant Garage was a band from New Zealand featuring Ivan Zagni with some of his mates from Blam Blam Blam. I haven´t been able to find proper info on lineups, so this is the only info I have: Ivan Zagni, Tim Mahon and Peter Scholes were members, but don´t know if at the same time.

The band released 2 albums,Garage to gallery and Avant Garage Music, both in 1983, but couldn´t find them, so don´t know who plays there. Can someone help, please?

AVANT GARAGE #?		?
Ivan Zagni guitar	Tim Mahon	Peter Scholes	+ others unknown to me. Help!

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MUSIC ON THE WALL

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Music On The Wall was a duo comprising Ivan Zagni and Peter Scholes, formed in 1985:

MUSIC ON THE WALL #1	1985-?
Ivan Zagni guitar	Peter Scholes

But don´t have more info on them.

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AND THEN...

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In 1986, Ivan started working for orchestras, such as Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as soundtracks.

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DISCOGRAPHY: (15 albums known to me - Status: Quite advanced)

OWN ALBUMS (4 credits)

• Standards - Don McGlashan & Ivan Zagni (12/1982)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• Comments: EP with 7 tracks recorded during September and October 1982.
• Four minute exposure - Ivan Zagni / Peter Scholes (1983)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• Comments: Released in cassette.
• London ´79 - Ivan Zagni (1983)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• Comments: Released in cassette only.
• A Selection of trouble spots - Ivan Zagni / Steve Garden (1984)


• Members: Ivan Zagni

ALBUMS AS A BAND MEMBER (6 credits)

• This is the moment / Ya ya da da (SINGLE) - The News (1966)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• The Entertainer / I count the tears (SINGLE) - The News (1966)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• One step on - Jody Grind (10/1969)


• Members: Tim Hinkley, Barry Wilson, Ivan Zagni
• Guests: Louis Cennamo, David Palmer
• Producer: Hugh Murphy
• Comments: Reissued in 2007 as part of the 2CD Interaction - an anthology, including their 2 complete albums, One step on and Far canal, plus three unreleased tracks.
• Blue whale - Aynsley Dunbar (1970)


• Members: Aynsley Dunbar, Roger Sutton, Paul Williams, Ivan Zagni (RIP: Tommy Eyre)
• Guests: Norman Leppard, Ed Ray Smith
• Comments: Recorded during March and April 1970.
• Music - Avant Garage (1983)


• Members: Ivan Zagni
• Three´s company two´s a crowd - Elton Dean (1997)


• Members: Marcio Mattos, Ivan Zagni (RIP: Elton Dean)
• Guests: (RIP: Pip Pyle)
• Comments: This album was released in 1997, but it was recorded during the 70s. It comprises 4 tracks as a trio (Three´s Company, with Ivan Zagni and Marcio Mattos) and 2 tracks as a duo (with Pip Pyle).

COMPILATIONS AS A BAND MEMBER (1 credit)

• Interaction - a Jody Grind anthology - Jody Grind ( - )


• Members: Pete Gavin, Tim Hinkley, Bernie Holland, Barry Wilson, Ivan Zagni
• Guests: Louis Cennamo
• Comments: Compilation comprising their whole two albums: One step on and Far canal, plus 3 unreleased tracks.

ALBUMS WITH BANDMATES AND FRIENDS (2 credits)

• Luxury length - Blam Blam Blam (05/1982)


• Guests: Ivan Zagni
• Technical: Roy Thomas Baker
• Comments: Recorded from October 1981 to March 1982.
• Music from a lightbulb - The Moth (05/2003)


• Guests: Ivan Zagni

COMPILATIONS WITH BANDMATES AND FRIENDS (1 credit)

• The Complete Blam Blam Blam - Blam Blam Blam (1992)


• Guests: Ivan Zagni

SESSIONS (1 credit)

• That´s the short and the long of it - Tall Dwarfs (1985)


• Guests: Ivan Zagni

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QUESTIONS:

01. Does Ivan play in any album by Eric Glandy?

02. Does Ivan play in the album Garage to gallery by Avant Garage?

03. Does Ivan play in any album by Big Sideways?

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THANKS:

Special Thanks to:

Tim Jones: for info on Ivan with Blam Blam Blam.

Adam G: for extensive info on Ivan´s activities in New Zealand.

Chris Andrews: for info on Ivan´s activities in New Zealand.

David Williams: for info on Bogomas and Ivan´s early times.

Thanks to:

Alex Gitlin: for albums and scans.

Michael De Waal: for info on Blue Whale.

Steve: for telling me he had met Ivan Zagni.

David Watson: for info.

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WHAT'S NEW:

08/June/2010 - Page added to the blog.
18/August/2000 - Original page written by me (in the old site).

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RELATED MUSICIANS:

Ivan Zagni mostly worked with these musicians: (name + number of credits)
Tim Mahon (4)
Mark Bell (3)
Steve Garden (3)
Don McGlashan (3)
Peter Scholes (3)
Louis Cennamo (2)
Tim Hinkley (2)
Ben Staples (2)
Paul Streekstra (2)
Barry Wilson (2)

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Page created by Miguel Terol on: 18/August/2000 - Last modified on: 08/June/2010. If you want to contribute with info, please write to: molympus1@gmail.com

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Please, note than you can check the indexes (musicians, bands, obituaries) at the top of this page.