BEPPE GAMBETTA

Beppe Gambetta is a guitarist, vocalist, researcher and composer born in Genova, Italy in 1955 who developed a style of concert presentation that brings American and European Roots to speak together with one voice. In his unique approach, Gambetta blends energetic grooves with passionate melodies,giving new life to sources from different times, periods and places. In addition, the original music he composes gives contemporary influences to traditional roots music.

Going back to the 1990s Gambetta started to tour on a regular basis with American guitar legend Dan Crary (in Europe and then in the US and Australia). Dan Crary was able to introduce him to the organizers of the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, KS, a major guitar event and home to important guitar contests. Gambetta’s performances at Winfield opened the door to him becoming a regular part of the American Festival scene. In 1993 he met and collaborated with Gene Parsons, a former member of the legendary folk-rock band, The Byrds. Parsons performed on Gambetta’s first solo American CD “Good News From Home” (1995) on the then preminent folk and Celtic label “Green Linnet”. In this album, Gambetta started to blend his love for American Roots with elements of European tradition moving away from being known strictly as a hot bluegrass picker to create his own multi-national style.From 2002 to today, Beppe Gambetta has focused his work mainly on his solo carreer, touring constantly and naturally and seamlessly joining the shores of the two continents, Europe and America, creating in spite of the interposed ocean a musical fusion where American roots music and Ligurian tradition, emigration songs and folk ballads, steel string guitars and vintage harp guitars not only co-exist but interact, weaving a deep dialogue unaware of any rigid classification. For his 14th CD (Where The Wind Blows, Borealis Records, Canada 2020) Beppe Gambetta revealed himself to be not simply a master guitarist but also a new songwriter of great feeling, wisdom and maturity. “Where The Wind Blows” is a collection of songs and tunes all written, arranged and performed by Beppe with the extraordinary collaboration of American bass player Rusty Holloway and percussionist Joe Bonadio.  The 2024 new release Terra Madre (Mother Earth) is a musical key to open a world of tales and dreams related to the motherlands of infinite possible itineraries, and to the cries of pain and hope that rise from them. The record weaves together the experience and wisdoms of a fifty-year career, and the work is further enriched by the participation of internationally-renowned guests from different musical genres. “Fathers” of acoustic music such as American mandolin icon David Grisman, acoustic guitar pioneer Dan Crary, and celebrated bluegrass and Americana singer-songwriter Tim O’Brien lend their talents to the project. Different dimensions are added by the presence of New York avant-garde drummer/percussionist Joe Bonadio, the versatile acoustic jazz harmonica player Howard Levy, and from the world of “Newgrass” Jam Bands, the hugely popular bassist, Travis Book.

https://beppegambetta.com/

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