Fabio Treves

Fabio Treves

Fabio Treves (November 27, 1949) is an Italian blues musician.

Life and career

Born and raised in Milan, Fabio Treves got in touch with music when he was very young, helped by the father's passion for every kind of music: he listnened to several old recordings on 78 rpm discs and rare EPs of classical music, jazz, blues and Portuguese Fado. His passion for music grows more and more and he began studying many musical instruments as bass, organ, trumpet and alto sax. During the 60s he found the passion for the instrument that he'll use for all his following life: the harmonica.

He asserted in the zone near Milan and Lombardy as a blues harmonica player, inspired by famous american musicists as Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, Alan Wilson, Sonny Boy Williamson.
In 1967 he played with his first band, the "Friday Blues Group". He increased his experience little by little and he entered in the "Simonluca e l'Enorme Maria" band, and with this one he took part in "Festival di Sanremo" in 1972. The following year, he took part another time in the Festival, as chorister for Fausto Leali, in the song "La Bandiera di Sole". In 1974 Fabio grew the thought of the formation of a Blues Band, taking example by his american heroes.

He founded the "Treves Blues Band", considered the first blues band of italian music. In those years he met the texan guitarist and harmonicist Cooper Terry, after he moved in Italy, and which whom he began a long musical experience. Treves continues to publish blues music in Italy and during his career he got in touch with many talents as Dave Kelly, Pik Withers, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Shines, Homesick James, Willie Mabon, Billy Branch, Dave Kelly, Paul Jones, Alexis Korner, Bob Margolin, Sam Lay, Louisiana Red, Pat Grover, Gordon Smith, Son Seals, Eddie Boyd.
He took part in many festivals in Italy and all over the world, reaching a high prestige and consideration level that brings him to produce over 10 albums.
He met Frank Zappa during his Italian visit and works with the "Baltimora Genius", and he's the only italian musician ever played with him on the stage. His collaborations reaches many level of italian music, and he works with:Angelo Branduardi, Pierangelo Bertoli, Gianluca Grignani, Eugenio Finardi, Gatto Panceri, Shel Shapiro, Francesco Baccini, Marco Ferradini, Riccardo Cocciante, with the famous italian singer Mina and the famous guitarist Ivan Graziani, and also with some kind of music very different from blues with Articolo 31.
His nickname is "il Puma di Lambrate" (Lambrate's Cougar), following the famous british bluesman John Mayall, known as the "Manchester's Lion" by his fans. Lambrate is the quarter of Milan, where Fabio grew up.

Discography

• 1975 TREVES BLUES BAND (Red Record)
• 1978 FABIO TREVES, "The Country In The City'' (Red Record)
• 1979 AA.VV., "Blues, Rock & Country Things" (Spaghetti Records, ZPLSR 34057)
• 1980 TREVES BLUES BAND & MIKE BLOOMFIELD "live" (Mama Barley Records, MB 0001)
• 1980 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Two" (Young Record)
• 1985 TREVES BLUES BAND, "3" (Buscemi Records)
• 1987 AA.VV., "Acoustic in Italy" (Hi, Folks Records)
• 1988 FABIO TREVES, "Sunday's Blues" (CGD)
• 1991 FABIO TREVES & COOPER TERRY, "Live" (Red & Black)
• 1992 FABIO TREVES, "Jumpin'" (DDD)
• 1996 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Live!" (Red & Black)
• 1997 AA.VV., "Blues Collection" (Verve)
• 1998 AA.VV., 2120 "Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Italia" (Il Manifesto)
• 1999 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Jeepster" (Red & Black)
• 2001 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Blues Again" (Red & Black)
• 2002 AA.VV., "Simply the Blues" (Zomba Records)
• 2002 AA.VV., "Blues Express" (Edel)
• 2004 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Bluesfriends" (Red & Black)
• 2006 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Blues Notes" (Red & Black)
• 2008 TREVES BLUES BAND, "Live 2008" (Red & Black)

Sources

• Blues Summit
• Radio RockFM
• LifeGate Radio
• Sito internet della RockFaMily nato in seguito all'uscita da Radio RockFM di tutti i dj il 31 maggio 2008
• Intervista al "Puma di Lambrate"