Andrea Luciani

Free MySpace Layouts by Iron Spider
My friendship with Andrea Luciani goes back a long way, and came about totally unexpectedly at a legendary folk music club in Trastevere, Rome. Together with Leonardo Rossi, I ran Folkstudio Giovani, a space open to anyone who felt they had anything to say through music. The rule was simple: as long as the public showed its appreciation, an artist could come back again and again. Among the many to show up that season, there was this shy, clean-cut boy and his guitar. I said he could come back whenever he wanted, and Andrea didn’t have to be told twice. He got up on the stage at Via Sacchi and… he sang and played. I was a bit distracted, I have to admit, perhaps I was putting away that night’s meager earnings in the old cash register, but I was compelled to drop everything and go and listen. If Folkstudio Giovani can pride itself on anything, it can certainly pride itself on having “discovered” Andrea Luciani. Rarely, very rarely, have I heard a musician with such a mastery over the acoustic guitar. Andrea had distinct points of reference – Bruce Cockburn, James Taylor and an unexpected Bruce Langhorn (Bob Dylan’s companion in his first “electric adventures”), singer/songwriters who did not limit themselves to simple accompaniments but played seriously – yet he interpreted each influence in an entirely personal way. This disc is a collection of some of his best songs and, listening to them, once again I found the same melodic freshness, the same warmth and virtuosity. Another one of Andrea’s big little magic tricks. Listen to it and you’ll agree with me.Giancarlo Susanna