Flatpicking Guitar Magazine
Sit Back
Reviewed by Chris Thiessen
Okay, I'm a stupid American who thought that only Americans flatpicked guitar. But then this guy from Italy-Beppe Gambetta- shows up. Okay. "A fluke" I thought. Uh, that would be wrong. Roberto Dalla Vecchia is another monster talent from Italy. I was stunned the first time I listened to his CD, Sit Back. It's aptly named: I just sat back. I have never heard 36 minutes of music go by so quickly!
First, Dalla Vecchia has a mastery over tone and grasp for sound quality that is positively awesome. And coming from across the pond, he's not bound by the strictures we on this side sometimes place on ourselves. Many of his tunes are alternate tunings (detailed in the liner notes), and on two tunes ("Whispering Grove" and "Sultry Day") he's got a cello accompanist, and on two others ("Sultry Night" and "Fly High") he's got a bassist playing with him. There is some serious musical artistry going on here, but artistry that is immensely listenable.
Of course, not all his tunes are "familiar favorites." There's a good reason for that, as well. With the exception of a delicious slow version of "Fisher's Hornpipe/Scotland," 9 of the 10 cuts on his CD are Dalla Vecchia originals.
No, this is not a "flatpicking bluegrass guitar" CD. It's acoustic guitar music-and superb
acoustic guitar music at that, with the same jaw-dropping sheer artistic expertise that the
Grisman Quintet or Leo Kottke exhibited when they first appeared. And this is Roberto Dalla
Vecchia's second CD.
Finally, for the sake of my ego as a flatpicker, I hope there are only two of these guys.
These Italian flatpickers are just scary! This CD-if you can find it-is an absolute must buy!