Just Us Folk

The job of an artist is to reveal an insight into what we know to be true, to ask the difficult questions of life and to dream of a better world in hard times. As Italian flat-pick guitarist Beppe Gambetta began working on his latest album, Terra Madre, its main theme slowly emerged.

“So many of the songs are related to all the shadows we have these days that wouldn’t have been written ten years ago.” As Beppe sees it, politicians haven’t been able to resolve the issues of the day. So it’s up to philosophers, historians and artists to come up with ideas. “If we look back at history, sometimes if you keep on dreaming they eventually become true. Like when Pete Seeger went on TV to advocate for an end to the Vietnam War.”

While not a political activist, Beppe feels now is the time to say something. The release of Terra Madre is also an important milestone in his career. This 15th album is self-produced and self-released after three albums on the Canadian label Borealis Records. “When you self-produce you need to put in more love, more energy, more passion…and a lot more work.”

So it was up to Beppe and his wife Federica to maintain the quality his albums have been known for. With Terra Madre, Beppe used all of his guitars, in various configurations to create a distinctive “carpet of sound” for each song. The songs touch on subjects ranging from the dreams of refugees, the dream of peace, the dream that the power of music will keep us together and with the plight of Indigenous people and minorities. He even resurrected a 14th Century ballad written in Medieval French Provençal which is spoken by only 35 people in the Alps. The glowing response so far to Terra Madre has been very heartening.

“It proves that American Folk DJs are totally independent. They don’t care about whose label it is, they just care about beauty. This gives me great joy.” The single, ‘Sit And Pick With You’ featuring Tim O’Brien, David Grisman and Dan Crary, quickly made it to number one on the Folk DJ chart this year with the album itself reaching number two. “The song is a symbol of the joy of being together in the beauty of the music.” The genesis for the song came from a string of performances where one night David Grisman sat in with Beppe, followed the next night by Dan Crary and later on with Peter Rowan. “Sitting with these fathers of the music is such a strong emotion. The people who invent a new music have something special they keep for their whole lives. They may play a little slower but the light of what they invented is still there.”

Even at the age of 69, Beppe Gambetta is still as excited as a teenager with the release of each new album. Good thing too, as he doesn’t have a pension plan back in Italy. “I was travelling so much it would be impossible to retire. But it’s great. I have to continue to play music and it better be good!”

Finding the precise musical framework for his songs is something Beppe is always working on. It once took him a year to discover the right tuning for a song on one of his previous albums. But he looks to artists like Joni Mitchell who has always searched for that magical tuning. “I’m happy I’m not the only crazy person that’s looking for different guitars, keys and tunings so that every song is special.”

In 2019 Beppe was awarded the title of “Genoa Ambassador To The World” by the city’s mayor for “building bridges between Genoa and the Americas”. A big part of that recognition comes from his annual “Acoustic Night” concerts which he’s hosted for 24 years at the 1,000-seat Teatro Ivo Chiesa. For three nights in May an all-star line-up of musicians from around the world gather to collaborate and share their music. This year’s edition was dedicated to women with Suzie Vinnick, Abbie Gardner and Giovanna Famulari. “It’s not a festival per se, but it has the spirit of a festival. Everybody in Italy loved Suzie Vinnick. She will have to come back.”

2025 will be the year Beppe turns 70 years of age and the plan is to have a big celebration. He’s also hoping to spend less time on the road and more time at home writing music for television documentaries. “265 days a year on the road means 265 different pillows!”

Beppe will also continue to encourage young performers to pursue their musical dreams, because you never know where they will lead. Years ago a young child came to one of his concerts and afterwards Beppe gave the boy his guitar pick. “I told him the pick was magic. I said he had to be careful because all the notes were kept inside and it will make him play beautifully.” It seems the pick was magic because that young boy, Nick Mantoan, is now a member of Beppe’s Italian trio! “One of the joys of my life is to involve the young generation.”

For more on Beppe Gambetta and Terra Madre, go to https://beppegambetta.com.