The New Cd, "CANZONI DI SCHIENA" out now!
Produced By GIORGIO RAVERA with special guests such as ROY ROGERS, VITTORIO DE SCALZI (New Trolls), ALEX VALLE (F. De Gregori Band), LA ROSA TATUATA!
Born in Genova, Italy in 1960 Paolo began to play guitar in 1975 after studying music theory, harmony and piano. In 1986 attended a summer course at Barklee College of Music in Boston. Graduated in music semiotics at University of Bologna. From 1985 to 1990 he has been leading Big Fat Mama, one of the most important rock-blues bands in Italy, with whom recorded three LPs, played top clubs and festivals (opened for Johnny Winter, Pogues, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Los Lobos), appeared on several TV shows, worked with Italian (Fabio Treves) and american (Johnny Mars, Zora Young, Louisiana Red, Eddie C. Campbell) blues players. He is co-founder member of Downtown, together with living legends of the British blues such as sax player Dick Heckstall. Smith (Colosseum, Alexis Corner, John Mayall), drummer Mickey Waller (Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Rod Stewart) and bass player Bob Brunning (Savoy Brown). The band split in 1991 after touring Italy extensively and Switzerland. He is currently playing with his own band (opened for Holmes Bros., Stephen Bruton, Lucky Peterson and toured with Dirk Hamilton, Fred James and Roscoe Shelton), as a soloist (opened for John Hammond, James Cotton, Dirty Dozen Brass Band), with Red Wine (one of the most important bluegrass bands in Europe), with guitarist Beppe Gambetta and with Fabio Treves. He has been writing for Italian music magazines, publishing a country guitar methos (with Beppe Gambetta), producing Italian rock-roots bands, playing on Cds of some of the most exciting local bands in his area and he also teaching and doing workshops all over the country. In 1992 his first solo CD, 'On My Backdoor, Someday', has been released, produced by Fred James who appears as guest with his wife Mary Ann Brandon as well as Gene Parsons, formerly with the Byrds, and Fabio Treves. In March 1994 he has been playing South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Tx and after awhile another CD, 'The Cardinal Points', has been released, partially recorded in Austin with Davis McLarty (Joe Ely Band), Jimmy Pettit (Joe Ely, John Campbell), David Grissom (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp), Michael Ramos (John Mellencamp, BoDeans), David Essig, Fabio Treves, Piero Leveratto (top Italian double-bass jazz player) and, obviously, his band. At the end of 1996 the CD 'Trying To Keep The Whole Thing Rockin'' has seen the light: an accurate report of the Paolo Bonfanti Band's live act.
Paolo Bonfanti - Canzoni Di Schiena
