Frank Varano is an Italian-American civil engineer and veteran who lives in Italy writing, composing and performing all types of music for guitar.
Born in New York on 21 February 1971, Frank has an unusual path which led him to perform and write music. He began playing guitar at 15, greatly influenced by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, as well as Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles. At 16 he began listening heavily to jazz and fusion. At age 17 he discovered the power and beauty of classical music, in particular Bach. As a result of his eclectic listening habits, his musical style has always combined elements of the classical, jazz and rock realms. In addition to playing 4 hours a day and performing extensively in the New York area, he also taught guitar lessons for several years beginning in 1987.
Despite moving eleven times in 12 years years and travelling to 25 countries, it was during this period that his musical compositions started naturally developing, and he began building his private studio. He also used his engineering skills to begin designing his own electric guitars.
By 1997 he had released two solo acoustic instrumental CDs (Season's Gift and Voyages and Return), selling several thousand copies within months of their release despite the lack of a supporting record company or distributor. In 1998 he moved to Monte Grappa in northern Italy, where the space and solitude provided the perfect atmosphere for writing and recording music as well as a great Myspace nickname. It was here that he also developed an innovative website, www.teachyourselfguitar.com, which offers a complete 30 lesson interactive guitar course on-line.
In September 2002 he released his first CD with his Italian rock band, PNR (short for "Progetto Non Raggiungibile", or "the out-of-range project", due to never having cellphone coverage at home in the mountains) entitled Prova Un'Altra Volta ("Try Again"). "Ave" and "Casa di Dante" are two instrumental cuts from the album. Six years and nearly 100 concerts later, PNR is still going strong with Diego Pettena (vocals), Toni Carrara (drums) and Davide Zamberlan (bass). We're preparing new songs for our next album. Visit us at myspace.com/nonrag or www.nonrag.com.
Despite obligations with PNR, work and family life (he became a father in November 2003 and moved off of the mountain), Frank continued to compose and record music for his third solo CD. On November 26, 2003 - the day his daughter Sara was born - Dream Again was released. "Papa Gringo" is a cut from the album.
In addition to working on a new album with PNR, Frank is working on a new solo album featuring Stefano Trombin on drums. "Yakatika", "Ice and Air" and "Head in the Clouds" are a few of the new tracks on the album available here for preview. Frank plays all of the instruments except drums.
Frank is also founder of the Grappa Guitar Camp, Italy's first national guitar camp held twice a year. Hundreds of Italian guitarists have participated since the camp started in 2004. The tenth edition will be held in September 2008, location to be decided. (see myspace.com/grapperos and www.guitarcamp.it for more information).
Frank has also done session and arranging work on dozens of recordings, including L.A. Project's "Eye of the Needle" (released January 2004), Maduka Donas' upcoming album featuring Brazilian Gospel, Dante Citton's "Bepi e Altre Storie" (March 2003) and "Dal Grappa ai coi del jedol" (May 2008).
Frank also teaches electric guitar at Musiculture in Marostica, which is affiliated with the Music Academy of Bologna. He is also the singer and guitarist of a blues trio which has the bad habit of changing names at every single concert.
His compositions feature many intertwining instruments without becoming overbearing. They make you WANT to listen. His motto is "calculated passion." Coupled with a vivid and energetic live performance, there are few modern guitarists or composers like Frank.
