Biography
Music fans and critics consider Saturnino (Ascoli
Piceno, 1969) one of the best electric bass players on the international
scene. So well respected and known is he in his native Italy that it is
sufficent to just call him “Saturnino” and everyone will know
to whom you refer.
With both a large popular following and his own loyal fans, Saturnino
made his solo debut in 1995 with Testa di basso, an album that showcases
his instrumental skills, compositional invention and eclecticism. For
Testa di basso Saturnino wrote all the tracks and played bass, drums and
guitar. The album was a success both with critics and the public, and
the historic American label Verve included him (the only Italian artist)
in their catalogue. This truly re-inforced also his reputation of being
a “musician’s musician”. That same year Verve invited
him to perform at the official presentation of the label in Italy at Propaganda,
in Milan, together with Chris Botti and Gary Thomas.
But Testa di basso was far from Saturnino’s first experience in
a recording studio. His work as bassist and co-writer with top-selling
hit Italian artists Lorenzo Jovanotti dates back to 1991. Together they
recorded eight albums, including a live two-record set.
One of the most important events in the life and career of Saturnino was
his encounter, in 1991, with Lorenzo Jovanotti. Their intense working
relationship has led to successful hits such as L’ombelico del mondo,
Io No, Penso Positivo, Salvami. The bass of Saturnino also guides the
powerful rhythm of Il mio nome è mai più, the song recorded
by Piero Pelù, Jovanotti and Ligabue in 1999 to benefit “Emergency”.
This track has sold over 600,000 copies, becoming one of the most successful
singles in Italy in the last decade.
Saturnino’s other solo CDs include: Zelig (1996), the live CD SaTOURnino
(1997), and the very forward looking Clima (2000) which he wrote in New
York and recorded in Milano. These recordings and his performances show
Saturnino as a versatile instrumentalist capable of interpreting any style.
His albums combine influences from his study of classical music (he began
studying violin at the age of five) and his passion for funk, jazz, rock
and hiphop. He makes music welcomes influences but is free of any form
of imitation. Saturnino has his own, original take on a concept of musical
nomadism, in which the artist is free to roam without a passport throughout
the musical territories already explored by others in the past. He never
merely repeats their discoveries, but creatively generates new combinations
capable of expressing innovative musical identity.
In concert he has an a vibrant energy and charisma that reaches out to
the audiences tirelessly bringing them into the action and the music