I first saw Antonio Forcione at a recording for Boothby Graffoe’s radio programme, In No Particular Order, for BBC Radio 4 in February 2004. (For those who don’t know, Boothby is a pretty funny comedian, whom I first saw at The Comedy Store before that.) I remembered Antonio from that night for his outstanding performance, both solo and as a duo with Boothby.
It was by chance that when booking for Judy Lewis a couple of weeks ago that I spotted Antonio’s residency at the Pizza Express Jazz Club and not surprisingly, I just had to go and drag a few friends along too.
This time, though, it was a very different set to before. Still with his trademark beret, he was this time together with his hugely talented band. A percussionist in a groove with his toys, a double bassist with the low tones, a cellist playing tunes in a way my mate Ramin never recognised before (for a cello), and a Russian accordion player who would tease the nimble-fingered guitarist in several pieces. Music varied from the frantic, where Antonio and his band demonstrated his pure skill and talent, to beautiful mellow grooves, where you’d be surprised how well a five-piece band of eclectic instruments can mix in so well.
Antonio grew up in Italy playing the guitar and move to London more than 20 years ago where within a couple of months, he was spotted performing in Covent Garden and promptly won an award from the BBC a couple of months later. He isn’t just a musician. His association with Boothby Graffoe might give a hint that he has a comedic side to him as well, and he has toured comedy circuits and performed at the Edinburgh Festival. And not surprisingly, there are parts of his set that incorporate his humour and demonstrate unconventional parts of the guitar that few people knew could be played.
Antonio Forcione is a talent and that also goes for his band. If you get the chance, go see him. In fact, if you’re reading this post before Wednesday 20th April, go see him this week at the Pizza Express Jazz Club. Trust me. He’s brilliant.
Links:
Antonio Forcione
Pizza Express Jazz Club
Tagged: Random London
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One Comment
I have just been to a Forcione Concert in Southwell Minster (29 July 2005) and he is a genius, there can be no argument about this. the most impressive is when he played an entire piece solo at hypersonic speed without using his plucking hand over the opening of the guitar – both hands played at the neck or over the frets. sounded like a 4 piece band as he supplied his own percussion by slapping the guitar body.
==dnc