Matia Bazar

Matia Bazar originated in Genoa during 1975 after the dissolution of the progressive outfit Jet, which had issued its lone LP Fede Speranza Carità in 1972. The initial roster consisted of keyboardist Piero Cassano, bassist Aldo Stellita, guitarist Carlo "Bimbo" Marrale, drummer Giancarlo Golzi, and vocalist Antonella Ruggiero. Every early release—the singles “Stasera Che Sera,” “Cavallo Bianco,” “Per un’Ora d’Amore,” “Solo Tu,” and “Mister Mandarino,” together with the albums Matia Bazar (1976), Gran Bazar (1977), and the anthology L’Oro dei Matia Bazar—displayed the group’s skill at constructing polished, richly textured pop pieces whose signature quality derived from the exceptional range and adaptability of Ruggiero’s vocals. The track “… E Dirsi Ciao,” drawn from the album Semplicità, secured first place at the 1978 Sanremo Music Festival. Subsequent releases comprised the 1979 live set Tournée and the 1980 studio effort Il Tempo del Sole.

The 1981 album Berlino, Parigi, Londra marked the introduction of pronounced electronic textures into Matia Bazar’s sonic palette. Cassano departed immediately afterward to begin work as a producer, later collaborating with Eros Ramazzotti, and Mauro Sabbione took his place. Tango, released in 1983, contained the major hit “Vacanze Romane,” while Aristocratica followed in 1984 and introduced the new keyboardist Sergio Cossu. Matia Bazar attained its final summit on the Italian charts in 1985 with “Ti Sento” (issued in English as “I Feel You”), extracted from Melanchòlia—the first project recorded after the band parted company with producer Roberto Colombo. Following the appearance of Melò in 1987 and Red Corner in 1989, Ruggiero exited to launch a solo career and was succeeded by Laura Valente, who performed on Anime Pigre (1991), Dove le Canzoni Si Averanno (1993, featuring the single “Dedicato a Te”), Radiomatia (1995, comprising newly recorded versions of earlier material), and Benvenuti a Sausalito (1997). Marrale had also left by this period. Founding member Aldo Stellita succumbed to cancer in 1998.

A reconstituted lineup comprising Golzi, the returning Cassano, keyboardist Fabio Perversi, and vocalist Silvia Mezzanotte made its debut with Brivido Caldo in 2000. Dolce Canto appeared in 2001, followed in 2002 by the live album Messagi dal Vivo, which contained “Messaggi d’Amore,” the song that earned Matia Bazar victory at that year’s Sanremo Music Festival. With Roberta Faccani now handling vocals, the band issued Profili Svelati in 2005 and the 2007 collection One1 Two2 Three3 Four4, devoted to reinterpretations of Italian hits spanning the 1960s onward. Keyboardist Mauro Sabbione passed away on December 21, 2022, at the age of 65.