On the Italian tour: Snob by Paolo Conte | La musica della mafia : Le canzoni dell’ onorata società | Lettere a Frederico Fellini by Pino D’Angiò | 1991 Concerti by Fabrizio de André | Solo dal vivo by Gianmaria Testa. Produced by Cobie Ivens.
1- Paolo Conte.
Humor remains the trademark of the grumbling language artist Paolo Conte, who lets us enjoy his beautiful-sounding songs with often nonsensical lyrics. He also takes the listener into his dreams about beautiful women and love. On this album he also outlines his memories of – or associations with – places such as Africa and Argentina.
On Snob Conte alternates quiet piano ballads with exciting instrumented songs. This way you imagine yourself in a nostalgic nightclub with long romantic melodies.
CD. Snob – Paolo Conte. LABEL: Universal Records (2014), code: 4703494. Video
2- La musica della mafia.
Dedicated to traditional Italian songs that thrive in the closed circles of organized crime in Italy. Songs that seem as peaceful as the cozy village scenes of the Italian countryside, but are about the life of a man of honor. Violent scenes such as blood feuds, the conflicts between the old and the new mafia that are resolved with the necessary violence, a prisoner who writes a letter to his wife using his own blood as ink and bomb attacks on local law enforcement officers, but also love for family and homeland is extensively sung about.
CD. La musica della mafia : Le canzoni dell’ onorata società. LABEL: Mazza Music (2005), code: 900.0024.020. Video
3-
Pino D’Angiò.
The musical genius of Pino D’Angiò shines like a twinkling star in the broad firmament of art. Born on August 14, 1952 in historic Pompeii, D’Angiò spent his life enchanting the world with his extraordinary creativity and versatility. A versatile artist, he painted the sonic universe with bold and vibrant brushstrokes, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of admirers around the world. His voice has crossed continents and united cultures with an infectious passion.
CD. Lettere a Frederico Fellini – Pino D’angiò. LABEL: Play It Again Sam (2003), code: 167.0018.023. Video
4- Fabrizio de André.
Fabrizio was known for his calm and warm voice. In his younger years he was inspired by colleagues, which is most evident in the fact that he translated songs by Georges Brassens (such as ‘Le gorille’), Leonard Cohen (Suzanne) and Bob Dylan (Desolation Row). Fabrizio himself played the acoustic guitar, the most important instrument in his oeuvre, especially in his earlier work. Later he would gather musicians around him who, among other things, brought with them Arabic influences – Arabic influences certainly play a role on his album, sung in the Genoese dialect, because of the Arabic influences that Genoa has had over the centuries.
CD. 1991 Concerti – Fabrizio de André. LABEL: BMG (2006), code: 74321 974162. Video
5- Gianmaria Testa.
Gianmaria knows how to reach Dutch listeners without media attention. However, he is particularly popular in his own Italy. There is a good chance that his Dutch fans came into contact with the music of this singer/songwriter. The farmer’s son from Piedmont initially played in local rock bands until he found his true voice in the early 1990s with intimate songs on the acoustic guitar. Gianmaria Testa’s voice is coarse-grained, it is not without reason that he has a glass of white wine and a pack of cigarettes at hand at every performance. The singer sounds like a father who half sings and half speaks his words in a reassuring tone. Gianmaria Testa passed away in 2016 at the age of 57.
CD. Solo dal vivo – Gianmaria Testa. LABEL: Le Chant du Monde (20090, code: 274.1731. Video
Producer:
Cobie Ivens
Thanks to:
