Description
Redwood Recordings presents:
COUNTRY-BLUES ROAD
An unforgettable homage into music that almost shaped our era.
The root of blues rhythms that unites this group of musicians is the common thread that has inspired the search of new and original songs united by a spirit of adventure, freedom and love towards nature. Some tracks describe typical blues themes: improvement in the quality of life, search for new paths for the realization of one’s own existence relying on one’s own strength and on those of the community to which one belongs. Prayers addressed to the divinity of the river that gives strength and continuity to the daily hard work and that alleviates the pains of existence.
Excerpts that narrate the suffering of unrequited love, low-paid and exploited jobs, harassment and oppression suffered in unbearable circumstances caused by the social condition of life lived in the suburbs and ghettos imposed by the blind cruelty of western and colonial systems, unfortunately still very present today.The intent is to build a team and a critical mass to show-case Italian artists abroad. The idea of forming and believing in a group that goes against the current, in times in which everyone tries to close themselves in their individualism, can give strength, hope and visibility to all of us.
All the artists were very enthusiastic, offering original compositions created precisely for this collection. This makes this work even more original and precious, as it leaves the routine and the already heard and finally gives voice to authentic musicians and artists who have been fighting for a long time to bring out their creations and intentions.
Many times, unfortunately, the lack of collaboration often leads to speculations and blind alleys, and is counterproductive for the community and for the artistic and individual growth; on the other hand dialogue and empathy are the basis of the expressiveness and creativity, and this is one of the messages that come out of this work.
This research and writing of new songs aims to unite the best that the Roman music scene can offer (also on a national scale ) focusing on its deep blues, earthly and mystical music quality.
The track-list focuses on a travel mode, as can also be seen from the cover prospective. It starts with a strong direct summer daylight sound that immediately makes the listener feel like he is discovering new territories and breathing fresh air. After a long, surprising and fluctuating journey, we slowly arrive at twilight and finally it becomes like a summer night, torrid and muffled but immensely dense with impenetrable feelings and magic.
Artist biographies
- Ray & the Speedsters are:
Mario (Ray) Galiano : Guitars
Alfonso D’Amora :Guitars
Frances Ascione :Voice
Stefano Corrias :Drums
Danilo Bigioni: Bass
Mario Galiano, electric and acoustic guitars, solo voice. He followed in-depth fingerpicking studies at the Jorma Kaukonen school, played with the garage band “The Flies” and performed in various acoustic and acoustic-electric ensembles, such as MG & the Gaslights and Hotz (previously Hot Tunes and Hots), founded together with Alfonso D’Amora, who saw the collaboration of the best Roman musicians in various formations, up to the quintet.
2-6) Luca Casagrande: guitars and Veronica Liberati on voice.
He has collaborated and played with many Italian and foreign artists, such as Roberto Ciotti, Herbie Goins, Chicago Beau, Harold Bradley, Works in progress, Marco Armani, Dodi Moscati, Paolo Pietrangeli, James Cotton, Jimmy Witherspoon. In addition he created with the “Jonas” 2 soundtracks for Carlo Verdone: “Cursed the day I met you” and “Let’s lose sight”. Winner of the Acoustic Festival in Paris in 2003.
Veronica Liberati sang with the most important international artists like Anastacia and where she won the critics’ prize. She sings in Italy, Canada and America and is the female lead in a new musical in Dublin.
Roberto Lanzo is a famous Italian pianist and speaker, he has participated in various shows such as “Sanremo Festival” and “Eurofestival”, but he is also active in musicals and in the international record world.
3-12) Stevie’s Blend (feat.Luca Morisco):
Stefano De Angelis – guitars
Michael Brill – bass
Piero Eugenio Pierantozzi – drums
Luca Morisco – voice
Stevie’s Blend is a musical project created by Stefano De Angelis to bring together musicians who share his passion for the Blues. “BLEND” is the spirit of the band. He is guitar player from an early age develops his knowledge of blues guitar by studying privately but above all acquires great experience from playing live in numerous concerts with various bands in and around Rome, including well known Blues artists such as Louisiana Red. He has an essential and powerful style of playing, and his truly imaginative solo work always enthralling to the audience. Instrumentation reduced to a minimum: Fender Stratocaster, tube Fender amplifier and overdrive. Along with his live performances, he also has an intense activity as a song writer, as well as teaching blues guitar privately.
______________________________________
04) Jade & Steve are:
Piera Pizzi: voice
Stefano Nencha: guitars
Piera Pizzi (in art Jade) – Born in Rome, has featured in concerts, theatres clubs and events throughout Italy and abroad, performed in various important festivals. She has appeared as a soloist with a gospel group,and as the lead vocalist of the acid jazz Group POSITIVE POWER.She has collaborated with several important Italian artists including M. REI, G. MORANDI ,RON,L. DALLA, F. DE GREGORI, P. DANIELE,F. MANNOIA
Stefano Nencha
He began guitar studies as a self-taught and then continued at Donna Olimpia’s SPM and Testaccio SPM. Later he studied with guitarist Fabio Zeppetella and decided to examine in depth especially jazz technique and improvisation. He has taken part to several jazz improvisation seminars led by great musicians such as Peter Bernstein, Adam Rogers and Steve Grossman. He plays in Roman exclusive locations and clubs and a lot of jazz festivals with Dino Piana, Franco Piana, Massimo Pirone, Francesco Puglisi, Riccardo Fassi and others.
05) Thundermeek: Stefano Micarelli – guitars, bass, programming.
Guitarist who works in the field of jazz and music production. In addition to collaborating with prominent names of the Italian jazz scene (Massimo Urbani, Valter Martino, Massimo Manzi, Marcello Rosa, etc.) he has had frequent experiences with overseas musicians, with Mike Mainieri, George Garzone, Benny Maupin, Harvie Swartz and Eddie Henderson, with whom he also recorded CDs and participated in the biggest jazz festivals on the peninsula (Roccella Ionica, Verona Jazz), and others.
Sign the production and composition of the song “Reflejo de luna” by the artist ALACRAN contained in the soundtrack of John Turturro’s film “Fading gigolo” with Woody Allen. He is Co-leader of the Electro-Jazz group, Nujazz “Barrio Jazz Gang”.
______________________________________
07) Danilo Cartia: singer, guitars, banjo.
DaniloCartia is a singer, banjoist, guitarist, composer, guitar and 5-strings banjo teacher.Since the end of the 70s he has been devoted to traditional American music and he was one of the pioneers of Bluegrass music in Italy. He performed in USA, Mexico, Iceland, Russia and many others European countries.
He is also the creator and the organizer of the Italian Bluegrass Meeting, the only one Italian festival dedicated to this kind of music, yearly held at Cremona Mondomusica during the famous Acoustic Guitar Village.
His current musical project is mainly dedicated to the composition of original acoustic tracks influenced by Bluegrass and Blues. At the same time, what really make his musical production original and interesting are the explorations of unexpected musical territories.
8-11) Michael Westbound
guitars, bass, banjo, mandolin, voice.
Graduated in classical guitar at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, he has then dedicated himself completely to jazz by attending seminars with Jim Hall and Enrico Pieranunzi. He has been a disciple of the great guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, and has explored jazz guitar styles of the’ 20s and ’30s with groups such as the orchestra ‘The Ghosts of the Twenties’ by Red Pellini (dedicated to the repertoire of Bix Beiderbecke), the sextet ‘Chicago Rhythm Kings’ (with trumpeter Dick Sudhalter) as well as collaborations with American musicians such as the New Orleans clarinetist Evan Christopher, New York violinist Andy Stein and the leader of the ‘Quartet S.Francisco’, Jeremy Cohen. He founded with violinist Mauro Carpi the ‘Acoustic Swing Trio’ and currently performs mainly in duo or quartet with clarinetist Luca Velotti. In more than thirty years he has played in dozens of jazz festivals both in Italy (Umbria Jazz Winter, Villa Celimontana, San Marino, Cagliari, Sori, Mosciano S. Angelo, Fano, Favignana, Lake Maggiore, Teramo, Benevento Ravello, Monteroduni, Rome House of Jazz – Guitar Festival, Rimini) and abroad (Ascona, Locarno, Berlin). He has had collaborated with musicians such as Franco Cerri, Michael Supnick, Giorgio Rosciglione, Eddy Palermo. He has recorded twelve CD and composed music for theater and television.
On the track the young singer Elena Ariodante is backing her father’s voice.
______________________________________9) Thunderstones:
Vincenzo Grieco: guitars
Andrea Lulli: guitars
Vincenzo Grieco is a guitar player, musician, composer and music teacher from Rome, Italy. In his more-than-20-year carrier he’s been playing almost any kind of music, but his very own sound it’s a mixture of hard rock, blues and funk.He’s currently performing live with his self named band “Vincenzo Grieco and T.H.E. Rome Blues Authority” and the double Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute “Little Wings”. He’s also very well known as guitar teacher (private lessons, video-trainings and masterclasses) and he’s been working as a background music composer for several Italian broadcasting stations.
Andrea Lulli: chitarre
Musician and Author. Present as a guitarist in the Roman music scene for over 20 years in live activity in the main clubs of the capital. He has experiences in TV, Radio and recording studios. He devoted himself to creating original pieces of various kinds for soundtracks of images and environments. He founded the duo Luovodifaberge with whom he made a series of electronic and ambient music singles on all the major online platforms.
10) Evan & Frank:
Giancarlo Evangelisti: guitars
Francesco Tattara: guitars
Giancarlo Evangelisti born Rome graduated in jazz and modern guitar at the popular School of Music in Testaccio. In 1985 form, together with Mario di Marco and Piero Quarta Zapotec, a group that plays original music with which in 1986 wins the St Louis prize as the best emerging Italian group. He plays with many groups in the Roman area and participates in the seminars of the Berkelee Music School of Boston from 1986 to 1988 (stage with Pat Metheny, Jim Hall, Mick Goodrick).Play with all the strings you are Trio with F. Tattara and F.Puglisi.
Francesco Tattara:
The career debut of Francesco Tattara dates back to the early 70 when, still very young, is already the protagonist of record productions in the area of Milan. After graduating in political science he obtained the diploma with honorary in classical guitar at the Conservatory of Padua, in the years ‘ 80 participates in several television broadcasts collaborating with arrangers such as Morricone, Savina, Campfora, Biriaco, Hammers. He is a member of several jazz groups, including the trio with Paolo Fresu with whom he publishes the album “Opale” for BMG. In the context of contemporary music he collaborates with the Ensemble “900” and, in the years ‘ 90 participates in the Opera “Paz Music” by Battistelli with the Gulbenkian orchestra at the Festival 18’Os of Lisbon. ______________________________________
13) Piero Masciarelli: guitars, voice.
Guitar player, producer and composer, is one of the leading “voices” of Italian Jazz-Funk, with his own recognizable sound. He is also known for his work as producer and guitarist in the 1990s acid jazz group named “Babyra Soul”. He also played live in Italy and in Europe with Gabin, Martha High, Jovanotti, Romina Johnson, Orlando Johnson, Jimmy Z and many others. He recorded and produced the first record of the
Funk Jazz trio Soul Jazz unit and his first cd under his name called Bebop Dance for Irma records.
______________________________________14) Wooden City:
Sebastiano Forte: guitars, voice, programming
Chiara Calderale -Voices
______________________________________15) Orange8:
Sergio Ferrari: guitars
Valentina Criscimanni: Voice
Orange8 are born in Rome in 2010, with an Ep “Turtle Bubble”, an itinerant Lp “Let the Forest Sing” and the forthcoming Lp “Leafolution”. In these years they have played on stages throughout Italy and Europe, Rome Psych Fest, Reset, Mandrea Music Fest, Sajeta (Slo). ORANGE8 sound is pure psych folk, lysergic music that comes from the desire to travel, learn new worlds and get in touch with new cultures and moods.
