Antonio Forcione
Encyclopedia
Antonio Forcione is an Italian
guitarist
, composer
and performer. He started recording in 1983 and has appeared on dozens of albums.
Antonio Forcione was born in a village on the Adriatic shore of Molise
. He drew first public attention at 13 when he toured Italy with his own band as a guitarist, mandolinist and drummer. A few years later he obtained a diploma in art and sculpture from the Art Institute in Ancona
where he started studying percussion. For two more years he studied harmony and mime
in Rome, before moving to London in 1983.
Unable to speak English, he initially resorted to busking in the streets of London’s Covent Garden. Within 2 months he had won an award which led to a BBC
television appearance before being whisked off to open for Barclay James Harvest
on a major European tour, culminating in a concert at Wembley Arena
.
Forcione toured and performed with comedians Boothby Graffoe
, Django Edwards, Stephen Frost, Tanderika and Ursus & Nadeschkin. Between 1992 and 1996 he performed with (and was musical director for) the musical group Olé
.
In 2001 he won the ‘Best Spirit of the Fringe Award’ at the Edinburgh Festival
with a resulting tour of Australia, doing both straight music and music-comedy.
He also regularly tours the world with a 4 piece ensemble that includes a cello, flute, double bass and percussion.
His technique is similar to that of Tommy Emmanuel
, though Forcione tends towards more jazz
(especially Spanish Gypsy style) and South American influenced styles of playing.
Forcione has performed and recorded with such artist as Eduardo Niebla
, Sabina Sciubba, Neil Stacey, Charlie Haden
, Trilok Gurtu, Bireli Lagrene
Jason Rebello
, Ronu Majumdar, Barney Kessel
, Rony Barrak
and others.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and performer. He started recording in 1983 and has appeared on dozens of albums.
Antonio Forcione was born in a village on the Adriatic shore of Molise
Molise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
. He drew first public attention at 13 when he toured Italy with his own band as a guitarist, mandolinist and drummer. A few years later he obtained a diploma in art and sculpture from the Art Institute in Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
where he started studying percussion. For two more years he studied harmony and mime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
in Rome, before moving to London in 1983.
Unable to speak English, he initially resorted to busking in the streets of London’s Covent Garden. Within 2 months he had won an award which led to a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television appearance before being whisked off to open for Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Saddleworth, Lancashire, in September 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme , and Mel Pritchard .-History:...
on a major European tour, culminating in a concert at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
.
Forcione toured and performed with comedians Boothby Graffoe
Boothby Graffoe (comedian)
Boothby Graffoe , is an English comedian, singer, songwriter and playwright. He is particularly known for his surreal sense of humour and work with Canadian band Barenaked Ladies.-Early life:...
, Django Edwards, Stephen Frost, Tanderika and Ursus & Nadeschkin. Between 1992 and 1996 he performed with (and was musical director for) the musical group Olé
Olé (group)
Olé are an international musical comedy trio, formed in 1992 by Paul Morocco, Alessandro Bernardi and Antonio Forcione. The current members are Paul Morocco, Guillermo de Endaya and Antonio Gómez. In addition to comedy and Latin guitar music, their act also includes plenty of juggling and...
.
In 2001 he won the ‘Best Spirit of the Fringe Award’ at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
with a resulting tour of Australia, doing both straight music and music-comedy.
He also regularly tours the world with a 4 piece ensemble that includes a cello, flute, double bass and percussion.
His technique is similar to that of Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel
William Thomas "Tommy" Emmanuel AM is an Australian guitarist, best known for his complex fingerpicking style, energetic performances and the use of percussive effects on the guitar. In the May 2008 and 2010 issues of Guitar Player Magazine, he was named as "Best Acoustic Guitarist" in their...
, though Forcione tends towards more jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
(especially Spanish Gypsy style) and South American influenced styles of playing.
Forcione has performed and recorded with such artist as Eduardo Niebla
Eduardo Niebla
Eduardo Niebla is a Spanish guitarist. Besides his work with jazz and Spanish flamenco guitar, he has collaborated with trance group Juno Reactor and early in his career played in Spanish progressive rock band Atila, and the Franco-British progressive rock band Mother Gong.- Solo albums and...
, Sabina Sciubba, Neil Stacey, Charlie Haden
Charlie Haden
Charles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
, Trilok Gurtu, Bireli Lagrene
Biréli Lagrène
Biréli Lagrène is a French guitarist and bassist. He came to prominence in the 1980s for his Django Reinhardt-influenced style on the classical guitar, as well as for being a jazz fusion virtuoso on the electric guitar...
Jason Rebello
Jason Rebello
Jason Rebello is a British jazz pianist, currently part of Sting's live and studio band, who has recorded a handful of albums under his own name. His debut album, A Clearer View was produced by Wayne Shorter....
, Ronu Majumdar, Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. Generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century, he was noted in particular for his vast knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies...
, Rony Barrak
Rony Barrak
Rony Barrak is a Lebanese percussionist popularly known for his skill in Darbouka performance.Rony is regarded as one of the greatest darbouka players in the world. His finger speed and rhythmic accuracy allow him to emulate even the sound of rapid snare drum rolls with his fingers alone.Rony held...
and others.
Discography
- 1984 – "Light & Shade"(Sol Records) with Eduardo NieblaEduardo NieblaEduardo Niebla is a Spanish guitarist. Besides his work with jazz and Spanish flamenco guitar, he has collaborated with trance group Juno Reactor and early in his career played in Spanish progressive rock band Atila, and the Franco-British progressive rock band Mother Gong.- Solo albums and...
- 1984 – "Eurotour 84" (Sol Records) with Eduardo Niebla
- 1987 – Celebration (Virgin Venture)
- 1992 – Poema (JazzPoint)
- 1993 – Live at Edinburgh Festival (Inspiration)
- 1993 – Acoustic Revenge (Naim)
- 1996 – Dedicato (Naim)
- 1997 – Meet Me in London (Naim) with Sabina Sciubba
- 1997 – Talking Hands (Naim) as "Acoustic Mania" with Neil Stacey
- 1998 – Ghetto Paradise (Naim)
- 2000 – Vento del Sud (Naim) with Benito Madonia
- 2000 – Live! (Naim)
- 2000 – " Live!" (Inspiration) DVD
- 2003 – Touch Wood (Naim)
- 2005 – Tears of Joy (Naim)
- 2005 – Antonio Forcione Quartet in Concert (DVD)
- 2006 – Heartplay (Naim) with Charlie HadenCharlie HadenCharles Edward Haden is an American jazz musician. He is a double bassist, probably best known for his long association with saxophonist Ornette Coleman...
- 2006 – Antonio Forcione Quartet in Concert (CD/LP)