Fabio Treves
Encyclopedia
Fabio Treves is an Italian
blues
musician. Treves's nickname
is "il Puma di Lambrate" (Lambrate's Cougar), mimicking the British bluesman John Mayall
, known as the "Manchester's Lion". Lambrate
is the quarter of Milan where Treves grew up.
, Fabio Treves became interested in music at a young age, helped by the father's passion for a variety of musical genres, including classical music
, jazz
, blues
, and Portuguese Fado
. Treves' interest in music led him to study a wide range of musical instrument
s, including bass
, organ
, trumpet
, and alto sax. During the 1960s he began playing what would become his signature instrument, the harmonica
.
He settled near Milan as a blues harmonica player, inspired by Sonny Terry
, Little Walter
, Paul Butterfield
, Alan Wilson
, and Sonny Boy Williamson II
.
In 1967, he played with his first band, the Friday Blues Group. He later joined the Simonluca e l'Enorme Maria band, which performed at the Festival di Sanremo in 1972. The following year, he again took part in the Festival, this time as a chorister for Fausto Leali
, in the song "La Bandiera di Sole."
In 1974, Treves founded the first Italian blues band, the Treves Blues Band. Soon after, he met the Texan guitarist and harmonicist Cooper Terry after Terry's move to Italy, and the two began a long musical collaboration. During his career, Treves has played with Dave Kelly
, Sunnyland Slim
, Johnny Shines
, Homesick James
, Willie Mabon
, Billy Branch
, Dave Kelly
, Paul Jones
, Alexis Korner
, Bob Margolin
, Sam Lay
, Louisiana Red
, Gordon Smith
, Son Seals
, and Eddie Boyd
. He met Frank Zappa
during his Italian visit and remains the only Italian musician to have played with Zappa on stage.
Treves has participated in many music festival
s in Italy and around the world. He continues to publish blues music in Italy, having released more than ten album
s to date.
His collaborations have reached many levels of Italian music, having has worked with artists including Angelo Branduardi
, Pierangelo Bertoli
, Eugenio Finardi
, Riccardo Cocciante
, Mina
, and Ivan Graziani
, as well as some non-blues collaborations with Articolo 31
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
musician. Treves's nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
is "il Puma di Lambrate" (Lambrate's Cougar), mimicking the British bluesman John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
, known as the "Manchester's Lion". Lambrate
Lambrate
Lambrate is a district of Milan, Italy, located within the Zone 3 administrative division, 6 km north-east of the city centre. It owes its name to the Lambro river that traverses the area. Lambrate houses one the major railway station of north-eastern Milan, the Stazione di Milano Lambrate...
is the quarter of Milan where Treves grew up.
Life and career
Born and raised in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Fabio Treves became interested in music at a young age, helped by the father's passion for a variety of musical genres, including classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, 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...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, and Portuguese Fado
Fado
Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar, Rui Vieira Nery, states that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best...
. Treves' interest in music led him to study a wide range of musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
s, including bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and alto sax. During the 1960s he began playing what would become his signature instrument, the harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
.
He settled near Milan as a blues harmonica player, inspired by Sonny Terry
Sonny Terry
Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry was a blind American Piedmont blues musician. He was widely known for his energetic blues harmonica style, which frequently included vocal whoops and hollers, and imitations of trains and fox hunts.-Career:Terry was born in Greensboro, Georgia...
, Little Walter
Little Walter
Little Walter, born Marion Walter Jacobs , was an American blues harmonica player, whose revolutionary approach to his instrument has earned him comparisons to Charlie Parker and Jimi Hendrix, for innovation and impact on succeeding generations...
, Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield
Paul Butterfield was an American blues vocalist and harmonica player, who founded the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early 1960s and performed at the original Woodstock Festival...
, Alan Wilson
Alan Wilson (musician)
Alan "Blind Owl" Christie Wilson was the leader, singer, and primary composer in the American blues band Canned Heat. He played guitar and harmonica, and wrote most of the songs for the band.-Early years:...
, and Sonny Boy Williamson II
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
.
In 1967, he played with his first band, the Friday Blues Group. He later joined the Simonluca e l'Enorme Maria band, which performed at the Festival di Sanremo in 1972. The following year, he again took part in the Festival, this time as a chorister for Fausto Leali
Fausto Leali
Fausto Leali is an Italian singer, famous for his rough and aggressive voice, in sharp contrast with Italian melody conventions. Due to his voice, he is nicknamed "The black white" .-Beginnings:...
, in the song "La Bandiera di Sole."
In 1974, Treves founded the first Italian blues band, the Treves Blues Band. Soon after, he met the Texan guitarist and harmonicist Cooper Terry after Terry's move to Italy, and the two began a long musical collaboration. During his career, Treves has played with Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly may refer to:*Dave Kelly , Canadian TV host and voice actor*Dave Kelly , guitarist, vocalist, and member of the Blues Band*Dave Kelly , songwriter, musician, engineer, producer, and owner of Madhouse Records in Jamaica...
, Sunnyland Slim
Sunnyland Slim
Albert "Sunnyland Slim" Luandrew was an American blues pianist, who was born in the Mississippi Delta, and later moved to Chicago, Illinois, to contribute to that city's post-war scene as a center for blues music...
, Johnny Shines
Johnny Shines
Johnny Shines was an American blues singer and guitarist. According to the music journalist Tony Russell, "Shines was that rare being, a blues artist who overcame age and rustiness to make music that stood up beside the work of his youth...
, Homesick James
Homesick James
Homesick James was an American blues musician. He most notably played slide guitar, and recorded covers of "Stones In My Passway" and "Homesick"...
, Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon
Willie Mabon was an American R&B singer, songwriter and pianist.-Career:Born Willie James Mabon, and brought up in Hollywood, Memphis, Tennessee, he had become known as a singer and pianist by the time he moved to Chicago in 1942. He formed a group, the Blues Rockers, and in 1949 began recording...
, Billy Branch
Billy Branch
Billy Branch is an American blues harmonica player and singer of Chicago blues and harmonica blues.-Career:...
, Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly
Dave Kelly may refer to:*Dave Kelly , Canadian TV host and voice actor*Dave Kelly , guitarist, vocalist, and member of the Blues Band*Dave Kelly , songwriter, musician, engineer, producer, and owner of Madhouse Records in Jamaica...
, Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
, Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner
Alexis Korner was a blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a Founding Father of British Blues"...
, Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
, Sam Lay
Sam Lay
Sam Lay is an American drummer and vocalist, who has been performing since the late 1950s.-Life and career:...
, Louisiana Red
Louisiana Red
Louisiana Red is an African American blues guitarist, harmonica player, and singer, who has recorded more than 50 albums...
, Gordon Smith
Gordon Smith
Gordon Harold Smith is a former United States Senator and businessman from the state of Oregon. A Republican, he served two terms in the Senate. Born in Eastern Oregon, Smith was raised there and in Maryland before attending Brigham Young University and Southwestern University School of Law. Prior...
, Son Seals
Son Seals
Frank "Son" Seals was an American electric blues guitarist and singer.-Career:He was born in Osceola, Arkansas where his father, Jim "Son" Seals, owned a small juke joint. He began performing professionally by the age of 13, first as a drummer with Robert Nighthawk, and later as a guitarist...
, and Eddie Boyd
Eddie Boyd
Edward Riley Boyd known as Eddie Boyd was an American blues piano player, born on Stovall's Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States.-Life and career:...
. He met Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
during his Italian visit and remains the only Italian musician to have played with Zappa on stage.
Treves has participated in many music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
s in Italy and around the world. He continues to publish blues music in Italy, having released more than ten album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s to date.
His collaborations have reached many levels of Italian music, having has worked with artists including Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi
Angelo Branduardi , is an Italian folk singer and composer who scored relevant success in Italy and European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.- Biography :...
, Pierangelo Bertoli
Pierangelo Bertoli
Pierangelo Bertoli was an Italian singer-songwriter and poet. Close to libertarian communist issues his works told mainly about environment, laïcité, antimilitarism and social issues regarding marginalized and rebellious people.-Biography:Born in Sassuolo, in the Province of Modena and belonging...
, Eugenio Finardi
Eugenio Finardi
Eugenio Finardi is an Italian singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.-Life:Eugenio Finardi was born in Milan, Italy, on July 16, 1952, in a musical family: his father was an Italian music sound engineer and his mother an American opera singer; at age six Finardi made his first record,...
, Riccardo Cocciante
Riccardo Cocciante
Riccardo Cocciante, also known in French-speaking countries as Richard Cocciante , is an Italian singer-songwriter and actor. His oeuvre includes recordings in Italian, French, and Spanish; he has recorded some of his songs in all three languages.He was born in Saigon, French Indochina, now Ho Chi...
, Mina
Mina (singer)
Anna Maria Quaini, Grand Officer , known as Mina, is an Italian pop singer. She was a staple of Italian television variety shows and a dominant figure in Italian pop music from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s known for her three-octave vocal range, the agility of her soprano voice, and her image as an...
, and Ivan Graziani
Ivan Graziani
Ivan Graziani was an Italian singer-songwriter and guitarist.-Biography:Graziani was born at Teramo, Abruzzo....
, as well as some non-blues collaborations with Articolo 31
Articolo 31
Articolo 31 is a popular band from Milan, Italy, melding hip hop, funk, pop and traditional Italian musical forms. They are one of the most popular Italian rock/hip hop groups.-Band history:...
.
Treves Blues Band
- 1975: 'Treves Blues Band (Red Record)
- 1980: Treves Blues Band & Mike Bloomfield Live (Mama Barley Records, MB 0001)
- 1980: Treves Blues Band 2 (Young Records)
- 1985: Treves Blues Band 3 (Buscemi Records)
- 1996: Treves Blues Band Live! (Red & Black)
- 1999: Jeepster (Red & Black)
- 2001: Blues Again (Red & Black)
- 2004: Bluesfriends (Red & Black)
- 2006: Blues Notes (Red & Black)
- 2008: Live 2008 (Red & Black)
- 2011: "Hey Me Hey Mama" (single) (Red & Black)
Solo
- 1978: The Country In The City (Red Record)
- 1988: Sunday's Blues (CGD)
- 1991: Fabio Treves & Cooper Terry, "Live" (Red & Black)
- 1992: Jumpin (DDD)
Collaborations
- 1979: Blues, Rock & Country Things (Spaghetti RecordsSpaghetti RecordsSpaghetti Records is a record label launched in September 1991 by Pet Shop Boys.The first single to be released on Spaghetti was by a 21-year-old Scottish singer, synthesizer player and songwriter called David Cicero. The single was called "Heaven Must Have Sent You Back to Me"...
, ZPLSR 34057) - 1987: Acoustic in Italy (Hi, Folks Records)
- 1997: Blues Collection (Verve)
- 1998: 2120 "Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Italia" (Il Manifesto)
- 2002: Simply the Blues (Zomba Records)
- 2002: Blues Express (EdelEdel- People :* Abraham Edel , North American philosopher and ethicist* Alfred William Edel , American television news presenter* Apoula Edel , Cameroonian-Armenian footballer...
)