Chiswick’s Charismatic Musical Virtuoso

Antonio Forcione plays in the Purcell Rooms at Christmas

Hailed as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar’, award-winning Chiswick musician Antonio Forcione is considered one of the most charismatic and inventive performers to come out of Europe in recent years. His 13 albums have hit the top of UK and international jazz charts and he has shared the stage worldwide with some of the world’s most accomplished musicians.

Born in Italy in a small village along the Adriatic coast, Antonio first drew public attention at 13 when he toured with his own band throughout Italy as a guitarist, mandolinist and drummer. He got a diploma in art and sculpture from the Art Institute in Ancona, and studied music in Rome moving to Chiswick 1983. Unable to speak English, he initially busked in Covent Garden for which he won an award and subsequently led to an appearance on the BBC.

He has performed in festivals and theatres from as far as Australia and Indonesia to the USA, and all over Europe including Womad, Glastonbury, Edinburgh, Melbourne, Koln, Verona, Granada, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and the Machoire d’Or in Montreux amongst others

Brimming with charisma, Antonio is artistic, intense, inventive and undeniably a performer of genuine distinction, his genius is a celebration of the unexpected elements in life, a music of rare delicacy, humour and, not least, passion.

His unquestionable talent has been highly praised by the music world, but from personal encounters the one quote that, for me, faithfully summarises the Forcione experience comes from Jazz FM who say “A major international guitar virtuoso .. one of those very few entertainers who can cast a spell on almost any audience ... remarkable personal magnetism”

As a family man, Antonio has generously performed concerts to raise money for his child’s school and parish, his most recent being last week’s ‘Jonah Man Jazz’ held in Our Lady of Grace church.

Those who have not yet heard this amazing talent can purchase a copy of his latest album entitled ‘Touch Wood’ from MVC on the High Road or book tickets to hear him play in the Purcell Rooms (Royal Festival Hall) on 21st December (booking www.rsh.org.uk or 020 7960 4242).

As ‘The Stage’ accurately states, Antonio Forcione is “A performer of world class status ... forceful and with an enviable technique, he takes the guitar to new levels of expression combining its melodic powers with dramatic percussive effects. Forcione boldly goes where no guitarist has gone before and the results are quite spectacular ... miss him at your peril”.

December 15, 2003