Beppe Gambetta
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| Beppe Gambetta | |
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 Performing live in 2008. |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1955 |
| Origin | Genoa, Italy |
| Genres | Folk, Bluegrass |
| Occupations | Musician, Singer-Songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1989 - Present |
| Labels | Gadfly Records |
| Associated acts | Men of Steel with Dan Crary Tony McManus Don Ross |
| Website | Official site |
Beppe Gambetta is an Italian musician born in Genoa in 1955. An acoustic guitar flatpicker and singer, Beppe has been called a "virtual United Nations of influences: Italian, Ukrainian, Appalachian, Sardinisn, Celtic".[1] He is a composer, teacher, and researcher of traditional music and instruments.
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[edit] Roots
With the horizon's line as a challenge and attraction, Beppe is continually composing his personal mosaic of sounds and flavours. From his unique background as an Italian musician in love with both American roots music as well as the music of his native country, Beppe has travelled the world and even crossed the “Iron Curtain” to dazzle and charm music enthusiasts everywhere. After eleven CDs, DVDs, teaching books and collaborations with many other top-flight musicians, Gambetta is increasingly known as one of the true live master innovators of the acoustic guitar.
[edit] North America
While Beppe still lives in his native Genova, he travels to North America at least four times a year. He has performed in prestigious festivals in the U.S. and Canada such as Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, Merlefest in North Carolina, the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas and those in Winnipeg and Edmonton. He's appeared on such radio shows as All Things Considered and E-Town.
[edit] Performance
Beppe has performed in prestigious rooms like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In his career he has performed with some great heroes of the folk scene, such as David Grisman, Gene Parsons, Doc Watson, Norman Blake and with the band Men Of Steel: an international guitar summit (Dan Crary, Tony McManus and Don Ross) of different guitar schools with complex musical interactions. A tour with banjo player Tony Trischka resulted in his 1991 live album Alone and Together.[2]
[edit] Style and sound
With America in his heart and his roots in the sun and the olive trees of the Mediterranean sea, he naturally and seamlessly bridges the shores of the two continents, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical "koiné" (fusion) where country music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, mandolins and harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialog unaware of any rigid classification.
Gambetta's playing and singing stand out for their intimate emotions, communication, research in tone, sobriety and humor. An inspired music that modestly avoids relying solely on his high level of technical excellence, but also reveals the innermost feelings of a brilliant, playful mind that is always firmly exploring and innovating while staying firmly routed in tradition.
"Beppe's compositions and arrangements reflect a colorful mosaic of musical influences . . from his native Genova, Italy to American flatpicking; Celtic, central European, and Mediterranean dance tunes; classical fingerstyle; and more."—Thunderation Music, Men of Steel
Gambetta's technique, which echoes both Doc Watson and the Moravian folk music he loves, is characterized by flashy licks, intricate cross-picking patterns, open tunings, and fluid slides up and down the neck of the guitar.[3]
[edit] Discography
- Dialogs (Brambus Records, 1989)
- Alone & Together (with Tony Trischka) (Brambus Records, 1992)
- Good News from Home (Green Linnet, 1995)
- Serenata (Acoustic Music Records, 1997)
- Synergia (Thunderation Music, 2000)
- Traversata (Acoustic Disc, 2001)
- Blu di Genova (Gadfly Records, 2003)
- Live - Men Of Steel (CandyRat Records, 2003)
- Slade Stomp (Gadfly Records, 2006)
- Four Way Mirror - Men of Steel (CandyRat Records, 2006)
- Rendez-vous (Gadfly Records, 2008)
[edit] References
- ^ Pattison, Kermit B. "Italian Spices: Beppe Gambetta Adds New Flavors to American Flatpicking". Acoustic Guitar. November 1997, p. 74.
- ^ Pattison, Kermit B. "Italian Spices: Beppe Gambetta Adds New Flavors to American Flatpicking". Acoustic Guitar, November 1997, p 74.
- ^ Pattison, Kermit B., p. 68.
[edit] External links
- Official site
- MySpace
- Men of Steel: Beppe Gambetta, Dan Crary, Tony McManus, Don Ross
