Gianluca Tramontana
Blues Skies for B.B. King
It’s good to be the King — B.B. King, to be specific. In the last month, the legendary bluesman saw his collaboration with Eric Clapton, Riding with the King, debut at No. 3 on the nation’s album chart and his classy B.B. King Blues Club & Grill open in the tourist hotbed of New York’s Times Square. Of course, as…
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AC/DC Rock London
Veteran rockers AC/DC played a high-octane performance in front of 5,000 ticket-holders in London to celebrate the opening of the Hammersmith Apollo, formerly known as the Hammersmith Odeon. The band had not played the venue in twenty-one years, and, in recognition, tickets were sold at 1982 prices: ten pounds ($16.00). The tickets were sold, however, using modern…
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MC5 Come Together in London
“We are not the MC5,” announced founding MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer during a Thursday press conference at London’s 100 Club. “This is not an MC5 show. This is not an MC5 reunion. It’s a celebration of the music of the MC5.” At the club that night, the band’s surviving members — Kramer, bassist Michael Davis and drummer…
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After Twenty-Year Layoff, Meters Don’t Miss a Beat
When, on the verge of a huge commercial breakthrough, a group fizzles out amid such business and financial chaos, allegations, accusations and still unresolved wrangling over publishing as the Meters did, it would normally take an act of Congress to get all the original members on stage performing together. But it being all too obvious…
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Sitting with Bob Dylan Special
Sitting with Gianluca is musician and museum curator Fabio Fantuzzi who has written 2 books on Bob Dylan. We discuss Bob Dylan and his connection to visual arts as well as his off-kilter humor and why Dylan can be as good a comic as a songwriter.
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SWG Terry Reid Tribute
Sitting with Gianluca celebrates the life of singer Terry Reid who passed away at 75. Terry Reid may have turned down being Led Zeppelin’s singer, but he suggested Plant & Bonham. He also made one of the most influential albums of the 70s. Rock photographer, former label head, tour manager and terry Reid confidant sits…
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Sitting with Benjamin Minimum & French Roots Music
Sitting with me from Radio Grenouille in Marseille is Benjamin Minimum former 80s singer and editor of music magazine Mondo Mix. We talk about the new movement of French musicians to reclaim the indigenous Provence language of the Provence region that had been outlawed since the French Revolution. You can read an article I wrote about…
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Another Side of Woody Guthrie: Recently Discovered Collection Captures the Sounds of ‘Woody At Home’
Woody Guthrie was named after progressive president Woodrow Wilson, who advanced policies on government regulation and social welfare. He was also born on Bastille Day, a turning point of the French Revolution that ended the monarchy. These were two auspicious signs for a folksinger who made a life of fighting for justice and speaking truth…
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Sitting with Sergio Bacalhau
Sitting with Gianluca (in temporary – and voluntary exile in Marseille) this evening is Brazilian percussionist Sergio Bacalhau. Sergio was mentored by legendary percussionist Nana Vasconcelos and has been a professional musician since he was 15. As a bonus you can hear Gianluca’s head explode while attempting simultaneous French-English translation so be sure to wear…
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Sitting with Harmonica Elie Coquard
Sitting with Gianluca (in exile) from Radio Grenouille in Marseille is first-call harmonica player Elie Coquard. If there is a group anywhere in the Provence region that needs a harmonica – Elie will get the call.
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