Roberto Dalla Vecchia refers to himself as a “crazy flatpicker from Vicenza, Italy.” He’s “crazy” because he’s the only flatpicking guitarist in his country except for his mentor, Taylor clinician Beppe Gambetta. Based on his impressive new CD, Sit Back, the ranks of Italian flatpickers should swell in record time.
Winner of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s “2003 Homegrown CD Award”, Dalla Vecchia proves himself to be a talented composer as well as a virtuoso guitarist. His highly melodic compositions have a vocal quality and phrasing, fitting for a musician who was born and bred in a land where opera and great singing are as ubiquitous as pasta.
Many of the compositions on Sit Back incorporate alternate tunings, harmonics, and innovative fingerpicking, as well as flatpicking techniques. The exciting romp, “Trust Your Instincts”, has a refreshing modal quality with pristine harmonies and an irrepressible groove. With flawless technique at his command, Roberto composed this tour de force in a “few minutes,” letting his “fingers move freely over the fretboard.” The title comes from his desire to trust his own instincts more often. With instincts like these, what’s not to trust?
Roberto wrote “Two Lovers In the Snow” after a walk with his girlfriend. As he describes it, “Imagine, it has just snowed, roads were completely white, we were young!” The song features beautiful modulations and effective use of “choked” staccato picking technique.
The song, “Cascade”, was unfinished for many years. Nothing seemed to work until the day before the recording session, when the song suddenly revealed itself to its creator in its finished form. The final result has a banjo feel with a bluesy, ever-shifting chord progression. This calls to mind Plato’s dictum that “artists are idiots who take dictation from God.” Roberto is certainly no idiot, but the divine dictation part might not be far off the mark.
“Duck Dance” also sprang from a flash of inspiration. After seeing Peppino D’Agostino use an unusual open tuning, Roberto decided to give it a try. Almost instantly, this sprightly jig popped out of his guitar. (Don’t try this at home! Sprightly jigs, especially those with catchy ostenatos like this one, have been known to wreak havoc on unsuspecting players.)
Roberto always has loved to arrange traditional songs. He used to play “Fisher’s Hornpipe” on the banjo and “Scotland” on the guitar, and then one day he decided to link them together. His use of chromaticism and altered chords provides a creative coloration to this medley of classic melodies.
Next to guitar, cello is Roberto’s favorite instrument, and two of the standout cuts on the album are duets for guitar and cello on which he plays a guitar he built himself. “Whispering Grove,” inspired by British Columbia’s spectacular Cathedral Grove, has a haunting melody and a hypnotic pulse. “Sultry Day” is a gorgeous ballad with ethereal voicings, its mood as languid as a gently flowing stream.
“Sultry Night” reminds Roberto of the hot, humid summer nights he’s often experienced in Italy. Close your eyes and smell the Fettuccini Alfredo wafting in the air. This tune is passionate Italian jazz/blues at its best. “Fly High,” the only song on the album with overdubbed guitars, is a tango with a sensuous Mediterranean groove.
The final piece, “Alison”, is a lovely solo guitar composition with classical influences and effective use of picking techniques. It’s a fitting close to an outstanding album. We’ll be hearing a lot more from this promising player/composer in the future.
— Anthony Adams
Roberto Dalla Vecchia refers to himself as a “crazy flatpicker from Vicenza, Italy.” He’s “crazy” because he’s the only flatpicking guitarist in his country except for his mentor, Taylor clinician Beppe Gambetta. Based on his impressive new CD, Sit Back, the ranks of Italian flatpickers should swell in record time.