Beppe Gambetta

An Italian guitarist whose playing fuses the traditions of American bluegrass with European folk elements, Beppe Gambetta is widely regarded as one of the premier flatpickers on the planet. Born in Genoa in 1955, he took up classical guitar during childhood yet turned toward rock in adolescence, becoming an ardent admirer of Led Zeppelin. Drawn equally to Jimmy Page’s acoustic passages and his amplified intensity, Gambetta began incorporating blues and folk phrasing into his technique; once he encountered Doc Watson, he devoted himself fully to the idioms of American folk and bluegrass. In 1977 he co-founded Red Wine, one of Italy’s earliest bluegrass ensembles, alongside Silvio Ferretti. By 1989 he had embarked on a solo career with the release of Dialogs. Having established himself at home, Gambetta started making regular visits to the United States, performing at folk clubs and bluegrass festivals that showcased his singular approach and technical command. He also conducted frequent master classes for other players, elucidating the nuances of his flatpicking method, and authored multiple instructional volumes. During the early nineties he toured the States with Tony Trischka, and selections from those concerts appeared on the 1991 album Alone and Together. Green Linnet issued Good News from Home in 1996, an album tracked partly in Italy and partly in America; two years later Serenata emerged, a duet project with mandolin virtuoso Carlo Aonzo. Synergia followed in 2001, another collaborative outing, this time with Dan Crary. Gene Parsons of the Byrds joined Gambetta for 2003’s Blu Di Genova, while 2006’s Slade Stomp paid tribute to several of his favorite flatpickers and included a guest spot from American mandolin wizard David Grisman. Celebrated folk and jazz artist Patty Larkin lent guitar, arrangements, and engineering assistance to 2008’s Rendez-Vous. With 2013’s The American Album Gambetta honored the U.S. songs and performers who had shaped his musical outlook. He partnered with Scottish guitarist Tony McManus for the 2015 duo recording Round Trip, then returned in 2017 with Short Stories.