Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music Café
Jas Morris of Firekind
Fab's Music Café: Jas Morris of Firekind.
Fab's Music Café
A coffee with Andy Martongelli
Guitarist, songwriter, guitar teacher and producer, Andy (Andrea Martongelli) belongs to the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal world since 1999, when the Metal band Arthemis starts their Music journey.
From 1999 to nowadays Andy recorded with his band ARTHEMIS and other bands (Ellefson, Power Quest, Killer Klown, The Snake...), several Metal albums, constantly touring and performing (with David Ellefson Band, Arthemis, Altitudes & Attitude, Power Quest, Kobra And The Lotus and as solo artist) at some of the greatest World Rock-Metal events, establishing himself as a Rock-Metal guitarist but also as an eclectic musician and great songwriter.
With Ellefson Band, Arthemis, and other bands previously mentioned, Andy toured Europe many times as well as United Kingdom, Japan and U.S.A. as opening act for bands like Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, Megadeth, Saxon, Dragonforce, Helloween, Adrenaline Mob, Manowar, Cradle Of Filth, Glenn Hughes and many others; performing at some of the biggest world events as Hellfest (France) Download Festival (Donington-UK), Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock Open Air UK, Hammerfest, Hard Rock Hell UK, Hammerfest UK, Gods Of Metal, Hard Rock Hell Ibiza, Japan Headlining Tours
Andy has released instructional Guitar DVDs & books (YOUNG GUITAR Metal lessons, Music-off Heavy Guitar Lessons, The Metal Injection, Suonare nello stile di Yngwie J. Malmsteen, 50 Heavy Metal Monster-Licks), as partner with many guitar magazines, recording studios (as session-guitar player, producer for Rock and Metal bands), music schools (Andy is the head of the Rock-Metal Guitar Department of "MMI Modern Music Institute" with over 50 schools in Italy). Andy is also a Guitar tutor and does guitar masterclasses and workshops around the world on a regular basis (Namm Show USA, Frankfurt Musik Messe, Musicians Institute "MI Japan", London Guitar Show, Second Hand Guitar, Music Italy Show…) and is a very productive musician, always hungry for new musical challenges day by day, carrying on his mission with new tours and creating songs that inspire thousands fans. New tour dates will be announced soon!
MMI INTERNATIONAL - ESSENTIAL ROCK/METAL GUITAR METHOD @ Modern Music Institute - MMI International)
Fab's Music Café
- A coffee with Jack J Hutchinson
Jack J Hutchinson is a London based guitarist and singer songwriter. Described by Classic Rock Magazine as “Southern-smoked blues-rock with hooks, choruses, the lot”, his most recent album ‘Who Feeds The Wolf?‘ reached #1 in the Amazon Blues Chart and the iTunes Blues Chart Top 5.
Born in Leicester, Hutchinson spent his formative years in Burnley in the north west before moving to London to be an artist and musician. To date, he has released two solo albums, including 2017’s critically acclaimed ‘Paint No Fiction'.
He has toured internationally, including shows in Brazil, Spain, Russia, France, Germany. He has also played various high profile festivals, including BluesFest at the O2 alongside Bad Company and Ramblin’ Man Fair, where he shared the bill with ZZ Top, Rival Sons and Blackberry Smoke. Support slots have included Monster Truck and Kris Barras Band.
He's currently recording his new studio album 'The Hammer Falls' at Momentum Studios in Plymouth.The 11 tracks were written during lockdown last year and the album will be released in autumn 2021 to coincide with a UK Tour.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music CaféFab's Movie Night
Fab's Music Café: Stephen Perkins
His role of founding member for the mega star outfit “Jane’s Addiction”, and beat master for other legendary bands like Infectious Grooves, Porno for Pyros, Nine Inch Nails and many more, might have given him general public stardom, but
Stephen Perkins, when it comes down to drumming, is considered one of the most creatives ones out there, and with a merit ! Raised on Rock and Metal in his pre Jane’s Addiction years, he learned how to listen and to open his intake of music influences with a 360 angle.
Master tribal that he is, he can switch from a super tight funk to a Mozambico , while adding his own signature colors, and percussive sounds too.. He is one of those people who light up the room when they enter it, and so is his drumming and stage performance, no matter what “alternative” du jour tonight’s gig might call for.
Stephen Perkins has been working on a series of brand new grooves in combination with percussions and other unconventional percussion, he is about to launch his own label, and keeps himself busy with recording sessions and live performances of all kinds.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music CaféFab's Movie Night
Fab's Music Café - Bette Smith
Wild rock & soul singer Bette Smith traces elements of her life-affirming new album ‘The Good, The Bad & The Bette’ to her childhood in rough Brooklyn, NY. Musically, it connects to the gospel music she heard in church and the soul music on the corners. This injection of soul and gospel into rock & roll powered a breakout in 2017’s ‘Jetlagger,’ which received raves from NPR, Paste, American Songwriter, Billboard, MOJO, and a feature in the New York Times. Now, ‘The Good, The Bad & The Bette’ out Sept. 25, 2020 on Ruf Records, is garnering equal praise.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music CaféFab's Movie Night
Solomon Hicks
When the Cotton Club and its band are your playground and playmates both, you can be sure there’s something going on. With that kind of cred , one develops his own anesthetic against flavor of the month disposable trends in search of the real thing. Solomon Hicks in spite of his young age, has been living that experience, and thrived in it. His manners, his tone, his vocals, and his James Bondish-BB Kingish classy attire, helped set him up in a league of his own, among today’s contemporary 6 strings virtuoso. But it’s once again the Blues, whereas in the eternal lessons of King “BB”, or on the street’s gospel of Harlem , that motivated the Lil’ BB to become the take no prisoner performer of today.
Whereas on Sirius XM BB KIng’s Blues Deville or on plenty of streaming playlist, no Blues lover was able to escape this past year from the love the media and the fans are giving plenty Solomon Hicks, actually : King Solomon Hicks.
Fab's Music Café
SOUL GARAGE EXPERIENCE: "I rather be wrong"
Fabrizio Grossi & Soul Garage Experience release their next single ‘I Rather Be Wrong’ to lead the way for their forthcoming album “Counterfeited Blues!” in early 2021.
The song hears Fab sharing life’s many lessons of survival in the entertainment industry with his daughter, Andrea Grossi-Benitez (in her own right a promising young actress/ writer and singer), who’s backing vocals are on the album and also a back up vocalist for the “more famous outfit” as Fab calls, Supersonic Blues Machine.
The core musicians of the band are all Fathers, with their kids being all aspiring musicians or actors, and they are faced with all the hardship their rocking parents went through at the embarking of their careers. As Fab states, “Who better to advise the young bloods upon the potential pitfalls, yet uplifting moments of the “biz” than their thick skinned Fathers, yet also let them loose?”
Fab’s band is nothing else than the well renowned bassist/producer solo band. Well known for working with household name musicians of the community across the globe and fronts the band on lead vocals and bass guitar. The album features world class musicians - the stellar Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, American Idol finalist Diimond Meeks on lead vocal scats, the rising star Derek Day, and Fab’s family power house Francis Benitez and Andrea Sophie Grossi-Benitez on backing vocals, also working with Fab’s Supersonic Blues Machine under the moniker “Supersonnets”.
Just like for his other award winning band Supersonic Blues Machine, fronted by Kris Barras with Kenny Aronoff - the thrilling live shows of the band are heavily jam based, so to embrace the golden era of live Blues Rock & Soul: the 60’s and the 70’s! On stage, the ensemble easily moves between new crafted tunes and all time classics spanning time in Hendrix, Cream, Allman Bros, Stevie Wonder but they are a far cry from your regular covers band!
Their sound can be easily associated with contemporary Rock-Blues and Neo-Soul artists such as Vintage Trouble, Gary Clark Jr, The Black Keys, Fantastic Negrito & thanks to the musicians’ own backgrounds, history and their endless love for Cream, Hendrix and Curtis Mayfield alike, the resulting music experience offered by the band is an infectious groove laden combination of old and new school, with a music prowess & ownership that turns heads and instigates curiosity. Fab is excited to bring his music to all, to excite, thrill, enlighten and raise awareness of how we can all come together in the most difficult and not only the best of times.
click the INFO button for more.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music Café: Fab's exclusive interview with keyboard wizard, Ed Roth.
Ed Roth is known not only for his ridiculous vintage keyboards arsenal, but mainly for how he can use it. Whereas backing Glenn Hughes , Tom Morello/Nightwatch man, Annie Lennox, Ronnie Montrose or his own Meatballs Bats , Ed Roth has been an LA staple in the session and live circuit. He’s now telling us how he did it and keep on doing it.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music Café
Fab's exclusive, in-depth, interview with guitar powerhouse, David Grissom.
David Grissom has toured and recorded with artists such as Buddy Guy, John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, Storyville, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dixie Chicks, Chris Isaak, Robben Ford, John Mayall, and Ringo Starr. His songs have been recorded by John Mayall, Rita Coolidge, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, and Storyville among others.
David moved to Austin in 1983 and quickly became a stalwart on the vibrant local scene. He joined Texas legend Joe Ely’s band in 1985 and toured and recorded nonstop until 1991 when he joined John Mellencamp’s band. David made 3 records with John and toured extensively from 1991 through 1993. After, Mellencamp, David went back to Texas to form Storyville, the band that included the Double Trouble rhythm section of Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon, and powerhouse vocalist Malford Milligan. Since 2000, David has divided his time between recording sessions, including four Buddy Guy records, and scores of Americana releases, along with touring with the Dixie Chicks from 2003-2007, and playing hundreds of live gigs, designing signature guitars and amps with PRS Guitars, and producing his solo CD’s. He just released his 5th solo CD Trio Live 2020.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music café: Michael Manring
In the bass players world, pretty much everyone knows of Michael Manring.
Which is per se a very peculiar reality, considering that Michael Manring doesn’t have anything in common with the traditional bass player community, other than love and respect for the same instrument : the bass ! Michael has been a pioneer from the very beginning of his extended career of uncompromising and unbiased search for “orginalism” and his own “own” sound. He doesn’t play like anybody else, nor he sounds like anybody else, and that’s his winning MO at work !
Check out how candidly he shares with Fab his humble appreciation of the fans love and the opportunity of keep on doing , successfully, what he loves.
and, don't miss Michael's unaccompanied bass recording featuring unique instruments, techniques and methodologies, "Small Moments.”
Bandcamp link page...click the INFO button for the link.
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Music CaféFab's Movie Night
Fab's Music Café: An interview with Jazz Photographer, Adriana Mateo.
Here's Adriana's Bio.
"I am born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
At an early age I began taking photographs with a still camera, following the family steps of my father, the award-winning Director of Photography Roberto Mateo.
At 23, I began working on feature films and advertising commercials as an Art Director for Phillip Morris on the Marlboro campaigns around South America. By 1992, my passion for camera work and film led her to move to New York City. After completing my degree in Film at the New York University Film School in 1996 y continued my studies in Lighting with Directors of Photography Andrew Laszlo and Rob Draper (ACS) at the International Feature Film & Television Workshops in Maine.
I had a passion for music, particularly Jazz, Opera and classic Rock my whole Life. However, my full attention and interest towards only Jazz developed in the year 1989 after meeting Roy Hargrove ( October 16, 1969-November 16, 2018) with whom I became very close friends until the day of his death.
Approximately by 2005 I began photographing for the Hot House Magazine for the Zinc Bar until 2016, that gave me the great opportunity to immortalize all generations during those ten years.I also expanded my photography for major independent CD covers , music labels and portfolios. Between the years 2003- 20120 I had photographed most American and International renowned Jazz musicians many whom had passed lately including Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Frank Wess, Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Lee Konitz, Mulgrew Miller, Branford Marsalis, Jeff Tain, Christian Mc Bride, Benny Green, Roy Hargrove, Wallace Rooney, Marcus Belgrave, Lew Sollof, Dwayne Burno, Randy Weston, Ellis Marsalis, Harold Mabern ,Jonathan Batiste, Chick Corea, Brian Blade, Esperanza Spalding, Wynton Marsalis ,Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, and many , many others from the fourth young generation
My work is part of the collection of the Museo Palazzo della Penna (2017 & 2018) Perugia, Italy; at the Comune di Padova, Padova, Italy (2016); in Munich, Germany (2018) and , in my beloved New York in galleries and throughout traveling exhibitions in Europe (2018 and 2019).
My first photography book, “AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens”, with five thousand copies released and published in Europe in 2016. And three thousand five hundred copies (3500 were released in the United States by 2017. The book is sold out as of 2020
I have been awarded for Best Photographer of the Year 2019 by the Jazz Journalist Association for the last photograph taken of Roy Hargrove at Umbria Jazz festival, Perugia Italy. And, finalist for best photo at Jazz World Photo (Europe)
Over my career, besides photography, I have produced countless of HD professional videos. In 2010 a short video sponsored by Powell and Sonare Flutes. In 2014 I earned a nomination by the Jazz Journalist Association as a finalist for best short Jazz video. I had as well produced 35mm and 16mm Private Service Announcements.
I have a passion for was is called “The Geometry Of God” which led me to create images in Fine Art with Hasselblad medium format of gigantic stone and iron structures such as the iconic Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Statue of Liberty and Tour Eiffel. Some of them with International nominations . This Art Photography can be found in the best Art Galleries in NYC and Paris.
I currently reside in Manhattan, New York and I work as a freelance professional Photographer and Cinematographer."
EXHIBITIONS:
2015 - PALAZZO MORONI, COMUNE DI PADOVA , PADOVA, ITALY "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" book release and exhibition.
2016- THE JAZZ GALLERY, NEW YORK , USA "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" book release and exhibition.
2017- WBGO Jazz Public Radio from the Jazz Capital of the World, New York City "AM JAZZ Three Generations Under The Lens" exhibition.
2017- MUSEUM PALAZZO DELLA PENNA, PERUGIA, ITALY "L'Imagine del Suono" exhibition.
2018- MUSEO di PALAZZO della PENNA, PERUGIA UMBRIA, ITALY solo exhibition July 12th -september 15th
2018- BAYERISCHEN-HOF HOTEL, Munich, Germany solo exhibition July 21st-July 28th
AWARDS
2019 BEST PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR JAZZ JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION
2019 FINALIST WORLD JAZZ PHOTO, PRAGUE, CHECK REPUBLIC
Fab's Music Café
Fab's Movie Night Exclusive Interviews: The Wrecking Crew director, Denny Tedesco
Fab's special guest in this episode is The Wrecking Crew director, Denny Tedesco. This interview is free for all registered users. If you are not yet registered, register now, it's completely free and unlocks more exclusive content.
Music lovers will be astonished at the influence The Wrecking Crew wielded over rock and pop music in the 1960s and early 1970s. These unsung instrumentalists were the de-facto backing band on hit records by The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Elvis, The Monkees and many more. These dedicated musicians brought the flair and musicianship that made the American “West Coast Sound” a dominant cultural force around the world. Starring: Brian Wilson, Cher, Dick Clark, Glen Campbell, Lou Adler, Nancy Sinatra.
directed by: Denny Tedesco. documentary: PG. 2015.