Name: Federico Casagrande - Solo Guitar
Start: 2024-10-18T18:30:00+10:00
End: 2024-10-18T20:30:00+10:00
Location: Smith's Alternative

$30/20
One of the most original voices in contemporary guitar.
Violipiano Music, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Sydney and Smith’s present Federico Casagrande in concert at McGregor Hall.
Paris based jazz guitarist Federico Casagrande started in early age the study of classical music in Italy. In 2003 he moved on a scholarship to Boston, U.s.a., where he attended the Berklee College of Music and graduated summa cum laude in 2006. In 2007 he won the first prize at the Gibson Montreux Jazz Festival Guitar Competition with George Benson president of the jury. He released 18 records as leader or co-leader and has performed in in Italy, U.S.A., Canada, Denmark, Austria, Estland, Latvia, Portugal, Switzerland, France, U.K., China, Taiwan, South Korea, Belgium, Ukraina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Germany.
Along with his live and recording activity in duo, trio or quartet (he released 10 records as leader/co-leader) Federico Casagrande has been performing solo concerts since 2006. From underground intimate venues to festival halls he has already fascinated audience of many countries.
His solo performances focus on the song form both when it is written or improvised material. Musical ideas are drawn into the guitar from all sort of styles; the counterpoint he has assimilated during years of classical training, the contemporary jazz language you can hear in his recordings, rock riffs and pop-like arpeggios are all mixed together in a performance that is at same time highly refined and filled with emotional pathos that reaches all kind of crowds.
Using digital effects and prepared guitar the variety of sounds he pulls out of the instrument add to the music an other dimension. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Federico Casagrande lives now in Paris.
He started capturing attention in 2007 when he won the Montreux Jazz Festival Guitar Competition and since then the press has been acclaiming his unique approach to jazz guitar.
This is evocative music. “Once Upon A Time” is the opening track and recollects cinema settings. “Let’s Go See Around The Corner” follows close behind and really makes you feel like peeping to see what’s happen- ing. The latest work of guitarist Federico Casagrande is an unending surprise, a journey that may lead you to a different place each time. It goes along and flirts with your current mood, diverting and involving you in unexpected digressions.
In this endeavour Casagrande conspires with Michele Rabbia on percussion and electronics, Vincent Courtois on cello and Vincent Peirani on accordion. “At The End Of The Day” is the second recording led by Casagrande to be released on CAM JAZZ, after The Ancient Battle Of The Invisible that sparked so much interest a couple of years ago. The other group members are different, the ambiance is different, but the inspiration remains unchanged and leads the guitarist to compose a recording of great depth.
Contemporary guitar music, as he puts it, of which he explores any and all expressive abilities - from the stripped down sound in “Some More, Please” to the charm of “Can You See It?” (the only piece written with Michele Rabbia) - that let the six-string instrument emerge from an intriguing, tumbling mass of sound. “Maybe Not This Time” is a wonderful haven of quietness one should listen to again and again. Both “Melan- cholia” and “It’s All So Rarified Out There” convey suspension, a kind of waiting feeling, with a slight tinge of uneasiness. In “So Clear You Speak” a captivating interaction between guitar and cello heralds the closing track, “All That’s Left Behind”, a sumptuous, fitting conclusion to this exciting, hypnotic album. Casagrande nar- rates in words, by means of a short, almost cryptic poem, that will guide you throughout your listening of “At The End Of The Day”.
“a six string poet, he has everything to become one of the singular voices of contemporary guitar” JAZZNEWS
“this music is incredibly therapeutic ” OUTUNE
“an unrestrainable talent” ENA
“astonishing guitarist, an inner music where the feelings bubble and condense in the essence of this terrestrial life itself”JAZZTIMES
“with his subdued play Casagrande proves progressive jazz guitar a great service and leaves note devouring colleagues like Montgomery, Burrell and Martino be-hind in the 20th century” MUSICAJAZZ
Violipiano Music
Violipiano is a company that works in the realm of music and arts at 360 degrees. Founded in Hong Kong in 2001 by musician and producer Luca Ciarla, it has been internationally recognized for its original productions. It presents concerts, exhibitions, multidisciplinary events, organizes international tours and festivals in Italy and abroad. Violipiano is a record label, a music publishing company, a booking & management agency and a press office, taking care of all the aspects of its productions. It has produced events and tours in more that seventy countries around the world and on every continent. Today Violipiano has its seat in Italy, just outside Rome.