Life is good
I arrived in time for the pre-concert hangout dinner thinking I could have the chance to meet new people and hopefully enjoy some acoustic music and guitar aficionados conversation. And so it's been, partly.
I met a couple of sailors living in houseboats. She was celebrating her birthday too and her husband invited me to join and spend some time together. They 'met' Beppe Gambetta's music only the night before on the radio programme 'RAI Radio3 Suite' and decided to come at the Arciliuto for the concert. They told me what is it like to live on houseboats after a life spent for and with the sea, him did a planet journey with a boat built by himself, great story by nice people. While talking they told to not even know what flatpicking is so tried to give them and some others that joined the conversation, an explanation on what the technique and style is of the music and player we were about to appreciate, for what I could.
The concert
Beppe opens with 'Acadian Dream' (from the 'American Album') that attracts the admired attention of the audience leaving to the music only the job of building a warm environment. It's a track I much enjoy and bring often with me, great choice from the player and by doing so he made me immediately happy and feeling home. Thank you Beppe.
As I had the privilege in other occasion this time again the player was presenting his repertoir alone, mainly from his new record 'Short Stories' and only helped by his cousin Gino, so Beppe said very funny, which is a loop pedal he uses for songs where he needed a backup guitar.
During his live performances he takes - and gives - the pleasure of having some fun and comfortable conversations rich of informations while re-tuning the guitar for the different song he's about to play, explaining choices, recordings, and telling stories about his deep gained experience from a life dedicated to the Acoustic Guitar and Music, worldwide.
The track from his new record that immediately took place in my heart is 'Benedicta 1944' played after the introdutction that such a matter deserves and telling the story of when he played it for a german audience which demonstrated a deep respect payed through attention and silence. It's a commemoration of the Benedicta massacre happened in 1944 in a monastery on the ligurian apennine by the nazifascists. It is very important during current times to keep the memory and value of the hard sacrifice the resistance made to make us all having democracy again and how violent nazifascism has been in our italian and world history and culture and he did it in such a sublime and touching way so that a listener can immediately follow. Thank you Beppe.
As usual at the end of the performance he spent time with us all and I eventually found the right determination and took the chance of speaking with him. He instantly recognized I'm a guitar player and even if I told him I'm not a professional he didn't care of that at all and made me feeling like speaking between guitar players and friends, his kind welcoming is matched only by his deep knowledge and skill.
His humbleness and kindness are real and most appreciatable is the kindness him and his wife demonstrated to all of us and while approaching them both.
Above pic I'm third most, up row, from left(shoulders to the only window).
Ciao, see you soon
I asked Beppe where I could buy the music sheet of his 'Acadian Dream', he just replied: "Send me an email and I'll send you back the PDF".
Once again: thank you Beppe, hope to see you back soon.
Edit: and as promised, this morning (2018-01-03) I received the email from Beppe's wife with Acadian Dream music sheets PDF attached.
Please note all the above videos are not from the same concert and used only as reference.