Giovanni Petrocci
Arti & Mestieri | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Turin, Italy |
| Genres | Progressive rock |
| Years active | 1970–1985, 2000-present |
| Labels | Cramps Records, Sony Music, King Records, Electromantic |
| Associated acts | Area, PFM, Gentle Giant, Osanna |
| Website | www.artiemestieri.org |
| Members | Furio Chirico Gigi Venegoni Roberto Puggioni Lautaro Acosta Piero Mortara Iano Nicolò Marco Roagna |
| Past members | Beppe Crovella Arturo Vitale Giovanni Vigliar Marco Gallesi Gian Franco Gaza Gigi Fregapane Marco Cimino Flavio Boltro Antonio Salerno Umberto Mari Luigi Tessarollo Guido Scategni Sirio Merlo |
Arti & Mestieri, most commonly known as arti&mestieri or Arti e Mestieri, is an Italian progressive rock, jazz rock, fusion band formed in 1974 by drummer Furio Chirico and guitarist Gigi Venegoni. They are considered one of the most important historical Italian bands in progressive and jazz rock of the flourishing 1970s Italian progressive rock scene, performing a unique, original, intense, and delicate sound, in which jazz, progressive rock, and Mediterranean sounds blend together to create a language of great expressiveness and communication, for which they are internationally acclaimed as one of the best historical Italian groups still active in the world.
History
Birth of the band (1973 – 1974)
The original core members of Arti & Mestieri were Gigi Venegoni (guitars), Furio Chirico (drums, percussion), Giovanni Vigliar (violin, vocals), Arturo Vitale (saxophone, flute), Marco Gallesi (bass), and Beppe Crovella (keyboards). They came together in the early seventies, while Gigi Venegoni, Giovanni Vigliar, Arturo Vitale, and Marco Gallesi were playing in a band called "Il Sogno Di Archimede", and they met Furio Chirico already playing in the Italian-English progressive rock band The Trip. At that time Chirico was already enjoying great success as a drummer for The Trip, especially with the album ‘Atlantide’ released by RCA Records.
Cramps Records’ years (1974 – 1979)
Arti & Mestieri was officially formed in Turin in 1974. The band began their career thanks to the support of two key figures of that period: Franco Mammone as manager and promoter, and Gianni Sassi (the founder of Cramps Records and record producer). In 1974, Arti & Mestieri performed at the Parco Lambro Festival in Milan in front of a 45,000-person audience, and later toured with Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) and Area. In 1974, the band also released “Tilt (immagini per un orecchio)” with Cramps Records, produced by the band's guitarist Gigi Venegoni and Paolo Tofani of Area, composed by Gigi Venegoni, Furio Chirico, and Beppe Crovella.
Jazz fusion years (1983 – 1985)
In 1983, after more than four years of silence, Arti & Mestieri reappeared in a completely revolutionary form, featuring Furio Chirico (drums and percussion), Antonino Salerno (keyboards), Umberto Mari (bass), Luigi Tessarollo (guitars), Guido Scategni (saxophone), and Sirio Merlo (saxophone), with the album *Acquario* directed by Furio Chirico. The production was entirely instrumental, fully embracing the jazz rock genre with frequent, pure jazz interplays.
First reunion (1998 – 2002)
During the 1990s, Arti & Mestieri reformed with five of the original members: Furio Chirico on drums, Gigi Venegoni on guitars, Beppe Crovella on keyboards, Marco Gallesi on bass, and Arturo Vitale on saxophone. After several concerts together, Arturo Vitale departed from the band, and a new violinist, Corrado Trabuio, took his place.
Italy and International success (2002 – 2010)
In 2002, Marco Gallesi left the band and Roberto Cassetta (who toured with Carl Palmer, Ian Pace, and worked with Don Airey and Steve Morse) joined the band on bass and vocals. Subsequently, an Italian guitarist, Slep (who worked with Mr. Heckstall Smith and De Gregori in Germany and the USA), joined the group, replacing Gigi Venegoni.
Reforge (2011 – present)
In 2011, Gigi Venegoni permanently returned to the band, as well as Marco Roagna on guitars. Arti & Mestieri made their second visit to Japan on November 5th for their live performance at the "Italian Progressive Rock Festival Vol.I," performing live at the historic ClubCitta’ concert hall in Kawasaki.
Members
Current members
- Furio Chirico – Drums, Percussion, Gong (1974–present)
- Gigi Venegoni – Electric Guitar (1974–1979, 2000–2002, 2004, 2011–present)
- Roberto Puggioni – Bass (2006–present)
- Lautaro Acosta – Violin (2005–present)
- Piero Mortara – Keyboards, Accordion (2014–present)
- Marco Roagna – Guitars (2004 – present)
- Iano Nicolò – Vocals (2005–present)
Former members
- Beppe Crovella – Keyboards, Hammond Organ, Mellotron (1974 – 1975, 2000 – 2013)
- Arturo Vitale – Saxophone, Flute, Clarinets, Vibraphone (1974 – 1979, 2002, 2015)
- Giovanni Vigliar – Violin, Vocals (1974 – 1975)
- Marco Gallesi – Bass (1974 – 1979, 2000 - 2002)
- Gian Franco Gaza – Vocals (1975, died 1984)
- Marco Cimino – Piano, Synthesizers (1979, 2000 - 2002)
- Gino Torni – Backing Vocals (1979)
- Gigi Fregapane (1979)
- Claudio Montafia – Guitar, Flute, Vocals (1975)
- Rudi Passuello – Vocals, Bassoon (1975)
- Flavio Boltro – Trumpet (1979, 1985)
- Antonio Salerno – Keyboards (1983 - 1985)
- Umberto Mari – Bass (1983 - 1985)
- Guido Scategni – Saxophone (1983)
- Willy Fugazza – Guitar (1983)
- Guido Scategni – Saxophone (1983)
- Sirio Merlo – Saxophone (1985)
- Mario Petracca – Guitars (1985)
- Claudio Bonade – Saxophone (1985)
- Gigi Mucciolo – Trumpet, Cornet (1985)
- Johnny Capriuolo – Trombone (1985)
- Tony Palmieri – Congas (1985)
- Roberto Cassetta – Bass (2003 – 2006)
- Corrado Trabuio – Violin (2000 - 2002)
- Slep – Guitars, Vocals (2003)
- Alfredo Ponissi – Saxophone (2005 – 2006, 2015, 2018)
Collaborators
- Franco Mammone – Manager, Promoter (1972 – 1979; died 1998)
- Gianni Sassi – Producer, Art Director, Lyricist (1972 – 1977; died 1993)
- Raffaello Palma – Sound Engineer, Graphic Designer (1972 – 1975)
- Amy Ida – Producer, Manager (2011 – present)
- Mel Collins – Saxophone, Flute (Live and album guest 2011 – present)
- David Cross – Violin (Live and album guest 2011 – 2012)
- Mattia Garimanno – Sound Engineer (2010 – present)
- Lino Vairetti – Vocals (Live and album guest 2015 – 2016)
- Marco Zatterin – Journalist (2009 – present)
Discography
Studio albums
- Tilt - immagini per un orecchio (1974)
- Giro di Valzer per Domani (1975)
- Quinto Stato (1979)
- Acquario (1983)
- Children's Blues (1985)
- Murales (2000)
- Universi Paralleli (2015)
Live albums
- Live 1974/2000 (2003)
- Prog Day (2003)
- First Live in Japan (2006)
Compilations
- Articollezione (2002)
- Estrazioni (2004)
Singles
- Trema (2012)
EP
- Il Grande Belzoni (2009)
Boxsets
- 33 (2008)
- The Live (2013)
- Live in Japan – THE BEST OF ITALIAN ROCK (2017)
Reissued
- Tilt - immagini per un orecchio (2014)
- Giro Di Valzer Per Domani (2014)
- Quinto Stato (2014)
See also
External links
References
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