FORCIONE UK TOUR DATES

The Stables is a fine and intimate venue..

So intimate in fact that Eric Bibb managed to score a direct hit with a bead of sweat from his forehead directly into my drink the last time I was there (I'm not kidding! and no I didn't drink it - it was nearly finished).

Intimate venue. Fabulous acoustics. Should be good. Touchwood.

Cheers

P

PS is the new one on vinyl? I like Antonio.

Hi Paul,

It's a very good news! I saw the same threads previously, but couldn't make it. I am definitely going this time. Where can I get the tickets, by the way?

cheers
Martin

Is 'Touchwood' going to be a CD only release, or are you going to press some on vinyl?

P do you mean the old or new stables.......

Both are/were good but for intimact prefer the old, saw him at Bowen West last time, probably go to both this....mind you there's always Windsor

Good news that he is coming to Bristol again. The gig he did at the 'Albert' with Neil Stacey was awesome. Forwarding the info now!

Regards
Geoff

Damn! Did we piss him off in Reading last time he was here?

Incidentally, I've only heard it once and then in background, but 'Touch Wood' seemed really good.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.

Antonio in Scotland!!

The Herald 13/8/03
ROB ADAMS and ROWENA SMITH
Musicianship with an exaggerated face
Antonio Forcione Quartet
St George's West
* * * *
Guitarist Antonio Forcione's annual appearances in Edinburgh in August over the past 10 years have built a following which, like some of his frothier excesses, hasn't always translated beyond the Fringe. The quartet he's working with here and which features on his splendid new album, Touch Wood, would surely be welcome in the city at any time on the calendar, however.
The Italian doesn't entirely forsake showmanship; it is, after all, part of his natural make-up and appeal. But the danger areas at the heart of this set, the solo Acoustic Revenge and Touch Wood itself and his guitar-tambourine duet with Brazilian percussionist Adriano Pinto, captured just the right blend, favouring musicianship but keeping the humour through wittily executed pat-a-cake exchanges with Pinto and impersonating a typewriter, complete with carriage return, on Acoustic Revenge.
The essence of all of this music is conversation: Forcione with himself on Touch Wood, although it sounded like several guitarists, and with the other instruments on pieces such as Astor Piazzolla's Tango Suite where Forcione acted as a musical clearing house for strummed and drummed call and response passages between percussion and his own and Giorgio Serci's guitars and the radiant Jenny Adejayan's cello.
Ultimately, though, it's communication with the audience that matters and Forcione has this down pat, pulling exaggerated faces, sure, throwing physical shapes, and twanging Strangers in the Night out of a detuned bass string, but also showing leadership of a beautifully arranged group on the revamped and indelibly groovy Alhambra.
RA

The Antonio Forcione Quartet

Jan Fairley
THe New Scotsman


ST GEORGES WEST CHURCH (VENUE 157 )

FORCIONE returns to the Fringe after a gap of a year to bring his most stimulating, mature music and most emotional playing ever. He’s come a long way since he was juggling ping-pong balls by mouth while playing guitar in Olé, via Acoustic Revenge with Neil Stacey, when humour was again as integral as the music, not forgetting his comedic scurries with Boothby Graffoe.

Although this set also has witty exchanges, notably his duo with Brazilian percussionist Adriano Pinto, and the mutually affectionate Slap and Tickle finale with Sardinia’s Giorgio Serci, it’s obvious that composing and arranging for a quartet has enabled Forcione to liberate a more intense, inner world.

Subtle slide-guitar and other motifs reveal the opening piece, Gigolo, to be inspired by early hearing of Cuba’s Buena Vista Social Club, setting a warm ambience for Serci’s ingenious arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s Tango Suite. Serci reminds us not merely that tango was originally played on guitar but that the soul of both tango and Piazzolla himself are deeply Italian. For Forcione’s two keystone compositions, Alhambra and Tarantella, the earthy colours of Nigerian Jenny Adejayan’s cello play a key part.

Forcione has always defined his own music, avoiding easy categorisation. While jazz, classical, contemporary, hot-club and a myriad of other influences all play their part it is only now, with new pieces such as the stunning Touch Wood that it suddenly becomes clear that his music is quite simply autobiographical. Not only is Touch Wood a self-portrait, in his case man as extension of guitar rather than vice-versa, but the intimacy of the relationship shows how moves inward now fuse with his outward journey.

The improvisational core of everything gives the whole concert an "anything-can-happen" thrill. Despite the riskiness of such an approach, there’s absolutely no temptation to "touch wood" for luck. World class is no exaggeration.



This article:

http://www.news.scotsman.com/archive.cfm?id=904992003

The Stables - excellent performance last night thought a little subdued at times. The new line up is good and The Gigilo (on new CD inspired by the Buena Vista) stands out.

Even the idoits behind us who chose to eat crisps and talk throughout could not spoil it.

West End Centre Aldershot next... go and see him

MisTer Silver nice to see you here...

I/We are looking forward to the Bristol gig on Wednesday, being particularly interested in hearing the new cuts live.

Regards
Geoff

Antonio's return to Bristol was as jaw-dropping as I expected. The 'group' worked superbly well, with the use of cello, percussion and second guitarist creating a dynamic (dynaimic!) blend. There was so much to enjoy, personally I liked the Touch Wood solo best, but the group versions of Alhambra and Tarantella were also awesome. The Brazilian percussionist must of studied under Paulino Da Costa he was that good!
The celloist and second guitarist were also exceptionally talented.

Anyone who wants to see a World Class Guitarist who is more than a World Class Guitarist should get to see The Antonio Forcione Quartet.

Regards
Geoff