Nicola Lori – Around the Earth (2026)

"Around the Earth" is the second solo studio album by Italian guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Nicola Lori, released in November 2026. Nicola Lori is best known as a co-founder of the progressive rock project Fjieri and a frequent collaborator of Stefano Panunzi.

"Around the Earth" serves as a logical continuation of his previous solo work, "Urban Vision." The tracks on the record flow into one another seamlessly, offering the listener the experience of a cohesive, cinematic journey. Conceptually, the album reflects the chaos of the modern world, alternating between dynamic progressive rock structures and meditative passages.
For this album, Lori assembled an impressive lineup of stars from the European progressive and jazz scenes:
• John Mitchell (Arena, Frost, Lonely Robot) — provided vocals on five of the album's tracks.
• Craig Blundell (Steven Wilson, Steve Hackett) — performed the drum parts.
• Colin Edwin (formerly of Porcupine Tree) — handled the bass guitar.
• Michael Bearpark (No-Man) — contributed guitar parts.
• The recording also features renowned Italian trumpeter Paolo Fresu, along with Luca Calabrese, Nicola Alesini, Danilo Cerni, and Fabio Anile.