Antonio Forcione Quartet
@ the Pizza Express Jazz Club & Pizza On The Park
(Photography October 2009 - March 2007)

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Biography

Italian born Antonio Forcione left his small village along the Adriatic coast to tour with his own band as a guitarist, mandolinist and drummer at the tender age of 13. Such early travel and exposure to outside influences would definitely be of great benefit to the young Forcione and prepare him for what was to come.

In his continuing quest for inspiration, Forcione moved to London in 1983 after receiving a diploma in art and sculpture from the Art Institute in Ancona. He also studied music and mime.

Though Forcione was unable to speak English, he was unrelenting in his charge for recognition and greater opportunity. Forcione initially resorted to busking amongst the busy ‘talent enthused streets’ of Covent Garden. Within two months he would be plucked from relative obscurity and given the opportunity to appear on BBC television. He went on to open for the pop group Barclay James Harvest on a European tour, which concluded at The Wembley Arena.

Forcione won the ‘Best Spirit Of The Fringe Award’ at the Edinburgh Festival in 2001. He has performed in theatres and festivals worldwide, including Womad, Glastonbury, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Verona and Singapore to name but a few. He has performed with many established musicians such as Jason Rebello, John Etheridge, Tilok Gurto, Dominic Miller, Martin Taylor, Barney Kessel and Chano Dominguez. He has also opened for Phil Collins, Zucchero, Bobby Mcferrin and Jools Holland.

Review

Antonio Forcione’s presence is intriguing. He has an immediate effect on his audience. Individuals seem to raise their level of concentration in preparation of what they are about to receive, or maybe they wish to match Forcione’s own warm but direct intensity.

“Sahara Rain” is a richly layered percussive composition, which allows Adriano Adewale to demonstrate complete freedom, expressive flare and domination over the many percussive tools he has ingeniously converted for his own use. Included within the many tools of his trade was a glazed clay plant pot, but even more surprising, his plastic pipe guttering kit, cut and arranged in different lengths. He was able to produce an eclectic spectrum of percussive sounds by using a pair of old (but clean) flip-flops to strike the pipe ends.

The haunting sensuality of “Night Passage”, again blessed with much inventive percussive input from Adewale, deep rich bass lines from Nathan Thompsons upright double bass. And delicate classical innocence seeping from Jenny Adijayan’s cello. All of this entwined with the magic of Forcione’s fingers and palms caressing his now fully warmed and submissive guitar.

There is nothing conventional about Forcione’s approach to the guitar. He utilises every inch of his instrument and strings to create harmonics and textures, which resonate and tease the listener’s ear. Such qualities were utilised with great effect on the Brazilian tinged “Touch Wood”, with it’s dramatic crescendos and film score feel.

With thirteen chart topping albums to his name (to date), Forcione has a wide repertoire of compositions to choose from. You just knew which ever he did choose to play, whether it is “The Long Winter”, “The Tarantula” or “Twilight”, each composition would be in safe but kindly unpredictable hands. Forcione’s guitar exudes the many cultures, flavours and emotions he has experienced during his travels. The power and accuracy of an Italian opera, the rhythmic warmth of Brazil, the eclectic colours and heartfelt emotion of Africa & the Caribbean. All combined with Forcione’s own charm and addictive wit.

If you read an article about yourself saying you were the “Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar!” Would you feel you had something to prove every time you stood on stage?

Antonio Forcione’s presence suggests he has nothing to prove. And even if he did, his guitar will do the talking (in many languages)! An unmistakably gifted musician, composer and showman who is clearly passionate about his art. I was so taken by his performance on the first of his ten-night residency at the Pizza Express. I returned the following night for a second chance to absorb the diverse richness and abounding energy Forcione and band had to offer.

Musicians:
Antonio Forcione – gutair
Adriano Adewale – percussion
Jenny Adejayan – cello
Igor Outkine – accordion
Nathan Thompson – double bass

Robin Francis
© Michael Valentine Studio