CIOSI: THE BIG SOUND (2018)
10^th September 2018 by Gilberto Ongaro

Imagine a man with an acoustic guitar, and his plectrum. Imagine having already written countless songs, for the pure passion to write them, dedicating romantic serenades to the companion ("Silvia's eyes") closing them with a seventh major chord, and to the heroic grandfather ("My grandfather") who gave him the best teaching of the Great Generation: "Teach your children not to fight, only love with all this world around". Imagine him Italo - Argentine, then doubly Latin, who plays his life with expressiveness and credibility, which recovers fragments of life already edited in Argentina, reproposed in a new guise for a new album. Imagine it carefully choosing every detail, to reach "The Big Sound" (title of the LP that testifies the spasmodic search), and so also the right tool for each piece. As in the case of the "Dream Guitar", a Santa Cruz model 1934 D Mahogany, swinging and leaving the final to the percussion. Being a master of flatpicking and having the guitar as a protagonist, you can foresee that he will not leave the glory of the rhythm to the percussionist, also beating his guitar in "Transatlantic", the emotional and expressive peak of the album, where between accelerated and slowed down us too. Plurality is the stylistic code of "The Big Sound". Many different pieces, as well as many different recording studios distant: Brescia, Reggio Emilia, Badia Polesine (RO), London. And five revisitations of famous songs, taken from distant worlds, united in folk. As "Cooley's reel", traditional Irish whose theme for breath is taken from the guitar, giving a different effect, but maintains its "irlandesity". Or "The Cyclone of Rye Cove", or "Alabama Blues", slightly accelerated and with a mouth organ that responds to his voice. In a bluegrass classic, "Rolling in my sweet Baby's Arms", this man's guitar simulates the speed of the banjo, and with the other classic "Nashville blues", sung in a higher shade of Doc Watson, we land in the land of David Grier, mentor of flatpicking to which our friend dedicates a piece ("To David"). Imagine then this man knowing how to write simple words that touch a profound and earthly truth, between what is sought and what is found, in "Who looks for something": I was looking for a job and I found a fat man (...) I was looking for a father and I found a child ...) I was looking for friends, and I found flowers and crosses (...) I was looking for and I found my future ". And after having brought out these inner visions, our friend mentally goes to all the Mediterranean coasts to extrapolate the more or less fraternal musical styles among them, and condense them into a shell that makes them all listen: "Mediterranean's Shell". The look becomes tender, for a child who sees the snow for the first time, in "First snow". Look translated into light arpeggios like white flakes. Imagine finally leaving with a piece designed for a film noir, called precisely "Noir", only instead of representing the typical dramatic phase with a cynical and disenchanted look that you expect from the genre, here is described a moment of lucid reflection, while outside it rains and the actor looks at yellowed photos with an indefinite languor. For an elegant scene exit. Do you imagine it? This man exists, and his name is Francesco Franciosi, for his friends Ciosi. (Gilberto Ongaro) elegant scene exit. Do you imagine it? This man exists, and his name is Francesco Franciosi, for his friends Ciosi. (Gilberto Ongaro) elegant scene exit. Do you imagine it? This man exists, and his name is Francesco Franciosi, for his friends Ciosi.

Read the article

CIOSI  "The Big Sound". AZ Blues, CD. 2018
15^th September 2018 by Alessandro Nobis

In Italy, starting at least from the sixties, many guitarists approached the instrument listening to teachers such as John Fahey, Bert Jansch, Davey Graham or John Renbourn - to name only a few - who made fingerpicking "reason of life" , later developing a remarkable compositional and executive capacity; not so many were those who joined the current flatpicking, followed mostly overseas that produced masters like Don Reno, Doc Watson, Tony Rice or Norman Blake. Of "our" would quote Beppe Gambetta and Roberto Dalla Vecchia who have gradually abandoned American folk to devote themselves to Italian composition or repertoire. Here, Federico Franciosi aka "Ciosi" is part of this current and this latest work confirms its "devotion" to flatpicking; the quotes from Lester Flatt ("Rolling in my sweet baby arms") and the brothers Delmore ("Nashville Blues") and Alvin Pleasanr Carter (the narrative song "The Cyclone of Rye Cove"), but also his undoubted skill on the instrument, a credible voice and the ability to compose new material. To this is added the chosen choice of collaborators, Gianni Sabbioni on double bass, Lorenz Zadro and Christian Gallian on guitar, Pietro Marcotti on harmonica and finally Massimo Tuzza on percussion; a sound that is naturally acoustic, natural and genuine, as is the best in the tradition of acoustic guitar. Notable the refined only of "Mediterranean Shell",

Look for this record, it's worth it.

www.a-zbues.com

Read the article

CIOSI  
22^th September 2018

The Italian-Argentine Federico Franciosi, aka Ciosi , is a singer and acoustic flatpicker guitarist with a visceral love for music. The main characteristics of Ciosi's style are his clean flat-style technique, an intense compositional soul and a strong melodic sense. Features that make his musical expression a dreamy and profound experience, able to reveal hidden islands of thought and secret emotions. Tireless worker, despite his young age, boasts a nearly twenty-year career counting today over 150 concerts a year between stages of clubs and festivals both in Italy and abroad between Europe and America both asone man band that accompanied by double bass and percussion. In short, a musician who loves to experiment with new sounds and who weaves his life, his story, his dreams into his own music, where - thanks to his charisma and his enthralling sympathy - he manages to ensure entertainment and involvement for all kinds of public. After two now unavailable Ep Far Apart (2009) and Beautiful Infinity(2011) recorded in Argentina , in 2015 he made his first concept album My First Time , where Ciosi offers eleven pieces in solitary flatpicking: nine original and two covers made in honor of two masters of the guitar: Beppe Gambetta("Slade Stomp") and Massimo Varini ("Andrà Tutto Bene"), a work that ranges from blues to jazz, from bluegrass to pop, with strong acoustic-folk influences. But it is with the latest album Into The Wild Session (2016) that Ciosi gets even more attention in the Italian and European sector that rank him among the best exponents of culture and guitarism related to the technique of Mediterranean flatpicking with obvious influences from the heritage of American Music ranging from blues , to country and bluegrass in the wake of the White Folk Masters like Doc Watson , Norman Blake ,Tony Rice and David Grier . The production of The Big Sound is in 2018 , a new album in which Ciosi has experimented with new sound paths, rediscovering new acoustic inclinations . In this new journey, flanked by the co-production of the AZ Blues agency  , new solo-flatpicking tracks have been recorded, giving new clothes to old autograph tracks, supported by Gianni Sabbioni on the  double bass and  Massimo Tuzza on percussion, with Lorenz Zadro guests (guitars), Pietro Marcotti (harmonica), Graziano "Nano" Guidetti(drums) and Cristiano Gallian(guitar). In addition to the pieces of their own writing, there are homages to the Bluegrass , Old Time , Blues and Celtic repertoire ,with the " flatpicking " technique as a common denominator. Of his conception is Acousticology a theater-musical review that involves the involvement of the major international exponents of acoustic music.

In 2018, with the support of AZ Blues, he published " The Big Sound ", a new album where Ciosi confirms his devotion to the flatpicking technique, making use of guests for an extended training, maintaining a sound naturally acoustic and genuine as it should be in the best of tradition of the acoustic guitar. In the album there are some new revisits new songs that highlight his vocal talents and the undoubted skill on the seicorde.

Read the article

10^th October 2018 di Loris Gualdi

I still remember when I heard Ciosi for the first time. I was amazed and positively impressed by two initiatory elements: the colors of a unique and recognizable timbre and an undeniable expressive talent. Today, after just over a year, I have the pleasure of (re) talking about Federico Franciosi, through the ideas of a record that, by admission of its author, plays with experiments and sound "adventures" experienced in diversified recording studios . Between the particular modus operandi and the love for his Santa Cruz 1934 Mahogany, the new album, narrated with shrewdness and emotions, opens with the traditional blues of Nashville Blues, to then advance into the songwriting areas of Who Looks for Something, acoustic ballad of real impact, in which the only flaw appears the depth of the volumes. The emotional aura, however, armed with impeccable technicality and a perfect linguistic approach, seems to overcome any kind of smearing, just as the enveloping movement of Mediterranean's shell, a visual and descriptive instrumental composition, demonstrates. The disc then continues lightly between the tones of Dream guitar up to the driving performance of Rolling In my Sweet baby's Arms, in which the bluegrass of Lester Flatt emerges, outlining a magical furrow, drawn here by the speed of Ciosi. From the CCR sound we come then to the acoustic key of My granfather and to the expressive magic of First Snow, in my opinion one of the best compositions of the new release. Finally, on the same qualitative line the dirty blues of Alabama Blues and the narrative sweetness of Sylvia’s eyes are placed. To close the (almost) flawless album we think instead of the filmic nature of Noire and The cyclone of rye cove, a magnificent cover of the homonymous piece by A.P. Carter, undisputed father of flap picking. Well ... an album that hasn't wanted to know about leaving the hi-fi for a few days.

Read the article

A record for the weekend: "The Big Sound" by Ciosi

19th October 2018 by Vanni Versini

Blues, folk, bluegrass and the like are among the genres that gave birth to "modern" rock, heavy metal and derivatives.

In these genres the use of traditional instruments such as banjo, violin, mandolin, but above all the dear old guitar is valid. Among the heirs of this type of music there are not only American, English or Irish artists, but also Italians such as the Italian Francesco Franciosi known more simply as "Ciosi".

A man and a guitar, in his specific case a splendid Santa Cruz model 1934 D Mahogany, with a great sound, but perhaps it is better to say "The Big Sound"! Let's understand why:

Nashville Blues: how can you open a blues album? Well, a good option is to fish out a bluegrass classic, made famous by the late Doc Watson, but let Ciosi's voice and guitar dictate the rules. Quick and fast, like a steam train whizzing through the American countryside, this version will take you back in time and space.

Who Looks For Something: mouth harmonica and acoustic guitar come together in a song that makes you think about what you find while you're looking for something else, "I was looking for a job and I found my guitar", but it's not always a bad thing. Vaguely melancholy and tender in the right places, "but I found you again" will remind you of the best Bob Dylan.

Mediterranean's Shell: the first instrumental track of the album that talks about the imaginary journey of a shell at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, but the real journey is the one between the sounds that Ciosi weaves with his fingers on his guitar. In fact, it passes casually from Arabic, Italian, Balkan and Mediterranean sounds to testify to how the same sea touches different and unique civilizations and cultures in their being.

Dream Guitar: what would a guitarist be without his trusty six-string partner? Here is therefore a revival of an instrumental piece, already present in the album "My First Time", dedicated to the Santa Cruz model 1934 D Mahogany by Ciosi. More than a simple song I would say that it is a sort of declaration of love in, and for, music. Gianni Sabbioni's work on the double bass is also fantastic, giving a touch of jazz that never hurts.

Rolling In My Sweet Baby's Arms: the influence of the American guitarist and mandolin player Lester Flatt, especially with Earl Scruggs in the Foggy Mountain Boys, for the bluegrass is undeniable, but above all unforgettable. It is therefore right to pay tribute to the never-forgotten Tennessee musician with this version of his historic song!

To David: a tribute to one of the greatest acoustic guitarists of recent years, David Grier, whom Ciosi describes in this way "with his unique and inimitable style makes the plectrum fly from rope to rope in an elegant and sublime way". Better than asking for more? Turn up the volume and let yourself be carried away by the notes!

My Grandfather: the wisdom and love of our grandparents have left us great teachings and beautiful indelible memories that make up the people we are today. Obviously this is also the case for Ciosi, who reminds me of the early Johnny Cash, who wants to "dedicate this song to all those belonging to that splendid generation of the time".

First Snow: delicate acoustic notes are crowded in the air like the flakes of the first snow of the title while the eyes of ourselves children sparkle with the wonder and reverberation of the light on the white surface. A pinwheel to keep notes that recall the carefree, but above all the joy of being amazed for small things, typical of childhood.

Transatlantic: another instrumental that, like the title, travels through different rhythms and sounds. If you have read Alessandro Baricco's theatrical monologue "Novecento" or you have seen the film based on it, "The legend of the pianist on the ocean", then you will perfectly understand my feelings about this unmissable piece.

Alabama Blues: it is known, America is the home of blues and bluegrass. Here the two local bluesmen, Ciosi and Lorenz Zadro, dedicate body and soul to the memory of guitarist J. B. Lenoir.

Silvia's Eyes: as the virtuous Italian-American Joe Satriani dedicates a song to his wife Rubina in every record, even our local Ciosi is no less. This spectacular piece, with a folk and Spanish flavor, fully represents all the love that the artist has for her sweetheart and for the child she gave to the couple. Simply touching.

The Cyclone Of Rye Cove: return to the "repertoire of the father of flatpicking Doc Watson that tells of the tornado that in 1928 destroyed the village of Rye Cove in Virginia". Here the voice and the guitar of the artist tinged with a shadow of melancholy and sadness, remembering all the children who lost their lives in that unfortunate day. Listening to him seems to be there, a few days of the disaster, while the news spread throughout the country by newspapers and singers in the streets.

Cooley's Reel: let's distance ourselves briefly from America to venture into the lands of green Ireland with this traditional piece of that fantastic land!

Noir: concluding piece, also this instrumental, composed by Ciosi for a friend aspiring director in Germany. In fact, the friend asked the guitarist a song to use for a film of the noir genre and, between harmonics and legacies, I would say that the company has succeeded perfectly and you?

In conclusion, what about this record? An album that will make you travel between the Italian and foreign sounds, always with the trust guitar and the voice of Ciosi in the foreground. A real acoustic pearl of the international music scene! Good listening to everyone.

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION

The flatpicking is the giutar technique, or better the whole techniques, that considere the use of the plectum, in opposition of fingerpicking that considere the exclusive use of the fingers; otherwise from the strumming, technique merely of accompaniment, the flatpicking is a technique largely employed by the soloists and it foresees the touch of a single rope for time. If in the United States these techniques are largely you employ (you are enough to think about the great bluegrass guitarists Clarence White, Norman Blake, Tony Rice, Doc Watson), in Italy they have the maximum representative in the Genoese Beppe Gambetta, now he himself from home in the USA.
Among the young people, it deserves interest and consideration the young Federico Franciosi, in art “Ciosi”, that, already titular of a beautiful entitled debut “My First Time”, entirely composed of original passages, he presents again with this “Into the Wild Session”, where it is almost entirely ventured with a repertoire composed of classical. The result is absolutely good: technique, touch and mastery of the style make some young Venetian guitarist more than a promise of the national scene of the acoustic guitar. Ciosi also shows off an interesting voice, with an absolutely believable English and a stamp suitable to the repertoire.
Interesting the fact to that these repertoires (blues, country-blues, ragtime, jazz) are normally associated technical fingerpicking, but thanks to an effective accompaniment of contrabbasso and battery or percussions and to the indisputable technique of the leader, the result is always interesting. The only flaw is the duration of the disk, just poor half an hour, that leaves some the bitterness in mouth to the listener. The CD, recorded in direct drive, it contains some rather famous passages, but always rhesuses in fresh and winning way. Among these, “Sitting on the Top of the World”, from the register of Doc Watson, “Corrina Corrina”, engraved among the others by Dylan and Blind Lemon Jefferson, the poster ragtime of Scott Joplin “Maple Leaf Rag” and the classical one of Thelonious Monk “Blue Monk”. The most beautiful tracks are however the homage to David Grier (impressive instrumentalist, already in the Psychograsses with Darol Anger and Mike Marshall) “Wheeling”, and “Cheasapeake Bay” to signature of the good Massimo Varini. Very beautiful also “Sliding Delta” of Mississipi John Hurt.
Disk to be listened, to discover a youth good instrumentalist and to listen to an approach chitarristico inusuale to the American (and not only) rural repertoire.

Gianluca Dessì

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION
20th April 2017 of Fausto Meirana

”Ciosi”, pseudonym of Federico Franciosi, is an in love guitarist of the style flatpicking (that of the ‘our’ Beppe Gambetta, quoted also in the notes). Is a very intense and pleasant disk, even if of brief duration, considering that it reaches just poor half an hour; contrarily of the preceding albums of the musician veronese, is only composed of cover.
Besides handling the plectrum in exemplary way, Ciosi sings with a convincing style between blues and folk in four of the nine passages (two of these are the famous "Corrinas, Corrina" and "You are My Sunshine"). The instrumental episodes enumerate two classical well ‘referred’ as "Maple Leaf Rag" of Scott Joplin and "Blue Monk" of Thelonious Monk, further to a traditional as "Beaumont Rag" with two essays of flatpicking signed by the American David Grier and from Italian Massimo Varini. Valuable the help of some musicians thatthey furnish the bass rhythmic support (Matteo Vallicella, Pier Brigo e Larry Mancini) and percussions where it serves (Matteo Breoni e Massimo Pizzano).

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION
10th June 2017 – Katia dell’Eva

It is an album that wants honour its own musical origins and its own teachers, fourth LP of Ciosi (name of art for Federico Franciosi), "Into The Wild Session".
Nothing to do with the novel of Krakauer or with the film of Sean Penn: wild and extreme earths wouldn’t have here any connection with trips dedicated of the wild and extreme earths would not have here any connection with trips to the insignia of the unconventionality and the anti-capitalism, instead postponing at the overseas homelad of the blues, bluegrass, folk and jazz tradition, to which the author refers him, as for the uncontaminated nature, symbol for excellence of contemplation and introspection. On this basis, Ciosi made nine cover that, bending itself with respect to the original pieces, they revisit them, in a more melodic and “sentimental” key. To help the Italian guitarist in his work of personalization of the tradition, his acoustic guitar 1934D Mahogany Saint Cruz.
It opens the disk a "Sitting On The Top Of The World" that introduces its freeeer from the sonorities country, in comparison to the version of Walter Vinson from which it takes the movements, to make rather a real ballad blues, from the introspective rhythm and of great breath. With the same blues key are interpreted -among the other traces – also "Corinne Corinna" (trail between the hands of Bo Carter and Big Joe Turner), where the riff at the base of the song is dressed again of nearer colors to the world jazz, and "Wheeling" of David Grier, in which original harmony comes sacrified, freed by the tinsels more properly folk, to give her an internal and emotional cut. In consequence of this project of “repainting” blues, less original the covers of that passages already imputable to the tradition of the kind, as "Blue Monk" and "Chesapeake Bay", of which -unfortunately- Ciosi limits him to be almost a simple performer. Passage upstream, in comparison to the intentions of the album, finally results "You are My Sunshine", performed complimentary to his first country history.

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION
27th 2017 of Antonia Fabozio

Ciosi, alias Federico Franciosi, veronese of Argentinian origin, in love with the acoustic music, , excellent acoustic guitar performer stile Flatpicking, difficult executive routine to be played with the plectrum through the acrobatic ropes.
With this new album entitled “Into the wild session” he wanted to reflect the flatpicking acoustic guitar in particular sonorous spaces, inserting popular songs of blues root, bluegrass, folk, ragtime and jazz. He has divided the study recording and video job in three sessions with different musicians, recording in an alone “take” in direct taking, thanks to the great job of Codenotti Cristian and the supervision of Stefano Castagna of the famous one and believer study of incision Rhythm & Blue, situated in the hills of the lake of Garda. His beloved dream guitar 1934 D MAHOGANY SANTA CRUZ in this album has honour artists and writer as Doc Watson, Scott Joplin, David Grier, Massimo Varini and Thelonius Monk, Jimmie Davis,Walter Vinson, John Smith Hurt.
Listening the disk we discover, song after song, a many colored world of folk and roots music. But let see at the detail:
The disk opens with “Beaumont rag”, traditional passage “fiddle tune”, song made famous from innumerable flatpickers in the COUNTRY and BLUEGRASS music. Remembering the versions of Doc Watson, Brian Sutton and Hank Thompson. The artist have arranged this song with the electix double bass, plyed by Enrico “Larry” Mancini, giving a pinch of news with the sonorous interlacement between the acoustic guitar and the electric double bass.
It follows then “Wheeling” of David Grier, musician guitarist and American composer. Ciosi has wanted to honour Mr. Grier with this version, thought and arranged by “four hands” with the good electric double bass player Henry Larry Mancini.
“Maple leaf rag” OF Scott Joplin, one of thethe greatest composers and pianists of the RAGTIME style music of the end of 800. Always with the intervention of Henry “Larry” Mancini to the electric double bass, this version has made the whole musical whole as a truth “plain roll” of the epoch RAGTIME music.
The wonderful “Sitting on the top of the world” of Walter Vinson, old song of the years 30 become standard in the world of the FOLK music. Inspiring himself to the version of Doc Watson, Ciosi has amalgamated his version with the giutar in “Carter style” with the accompaniment of Pier Brigo to the electric bass and of Matteo Breoni to the drums.
It follows “Sliding delta” of John Smith HURT, known by everybody as Mississipi John Hurt, the blues man. Besides the original version, it is worth to remember teacher Doc Watson’s version in the album Down South of 1984, Ciosi makes his this version inspiring himself to the old time country, with his collaborators Pier Brigo to the bass and Matteo Breoni to the drums.
"Blue Monk" (Thelonius Monk), Standard jazz that is always liked since small to the guitarist CIOSI, that he has wanted to insert it in this project honouring this marvelous musician. He has recorded with Matteo Breoni to the drums and Pier Brigo to the bass, trying to give a soloistic style to the acoustic guitar flatpicker.
The tune “Cherapeake bay” written by the Italian teacher Massimo Varini, it’s also one of the first song that he studied on his repertoire. The song is a part of the disk “MY SIDES” of the 2009 of Massimo Varini. Ciosi has worked on the parts of guitar adding only a little bit of color with the famous help of Massimo Pizzano to the cajon and of Matteo Valicella to the bass.
With "Corrine Corrina" (traditional) song born in the world of Blues, introduced and adapted in different kind. This personal version of Ciosi is accompanied by Massimo Pizzano to the percussions and Matteo Valicella to the electic bass.
Last on the playlist is the song “You are my sunshine” (Jimmie Davis), purely country song, by now become a standard for the singers of music bluegrass, folk and pop. Ciosi has tried to introduce the track being faithful to the country kind, with flatpicking guitar parts, and always with Matteo Valicella to the bass and Massimo Pizzano to the percussions.
It’s worth to wish all good listening with the music of root flatpicking, therefore with the second acoustic job of Ciosi, to our notice a fabulous musician.

Read the article

30th May 2017
of Loris Gualdi

Perhaps not all know what is the flatpicking.
If my posts adolescent notions don’t err, the flatpicking represents a traditional technique in which the plectrum travels among the notes reaching to modulate the sounds through single ropes (and not the fingers as in the most famous fingerpicking).
Among the modern students of such technique, today (I’m sorry… but only today) I discover the expressive art of Federico Franciosi, known to the more with the name de plume Ciosi. The musician arrives on our pages riding the expressive depths of his new acoustic album: "Into the wild session" of which I feel me (without hesitations) to have to immediately reject the choice of the title. Despite the disorientating idea to baptize the new work with a name that inevitably move to the world of Eddie Vedder and Jon Krakauer, Ciosi offers since the first listening an extraordinary trip to the roots of the blues. Roots from which grow signs bluegrass, jazz and folk.
An homage felt to the ever lost world of Thelonius Monk, Doc Watson and Scott Joplin, ready to live again through the sound of the 1934 D Mahogany Saint Cruz, dream guitar with which the musician flies pushed by an extraordinary vocal line. A ancient vocalism blues in which scratches and heat define the real extraordinariness of a true musician in degree to unite the rural blues with harmonies and stilemi jazz.
The emotional and deep voice of Ciosi begins the disk with the evocative sweetness of "Beaumon Rag", trip track, in which the tradition of the acoustic guitar is embraced to the electric double bass played by Henry “Larry” Mancini. A sonorous itinerary next to the winds and to the dusts of the Route 66, by a pleasant western sound that welcomes the expressive technique and cleaning up of the musician.
The fingers race fast on the incipit of "Wheeling", (felt homage to David Grier) able to return the ancient feeling of a small train of notes that crosses a pleasant expressive moor, amused and elegant. A succession of sounds that abandon the vocal part for then to find again in the rhythmics blues of "Maple Leaf Rag", extraordinary track in which the vocal chords give lost emotions, quotesd and linear scratches, ready to return to the listener one among the most interesting compositions.
A free and impeccable execution that bewitches and conquest us, passing through the instrumental loveliness of "Sitting On The Top Of The World" and "Sliding Delta", fun track, to the service of an observational serenity that so much remembers the expressiveness of Eric Clapton. Crossing the 50’s notes of "Blue Monk" we reach then the pulsation jazz of "Chesapeake Bay", in which the spatulas touch the mind, playing and having a good time itself to cross the sound of Massimo Varini.
The extraordinary noise of the fingers on the ropes finally seems to tell us very more of what it appears to a first approach, coming to perceive the devotion and the observance of Ciosi that, despite a perfettibile production, reaches to close the disk with the interpretative beauty of "You are My Sunshine" that, estrangingitself from the reggae of Papa Winnie, it’s worth alone the price of the ticket of a disk that, recorded in direct taking, it succeeds in giving an impeccable emotional serenity in which to lose being observed a world that is not observed anymore.

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION – SELF PRODUCTION 2017
Alberto Grollo

From the picture that it appears on the site Ciosi it seems a really young boy, but if the listens he immediately takes you for the big beautiful voice from consumed bluesman, with a repertoire that founds itself on original tracks and on the reinterpretation of the great teachers of the American folk where languages flatpicking, bluegrass, country and blues are run after.
The disk is pleasant, the nine tracks enjoy of a good sound of guitar and they are sometimes embellished of bass and drums/percussions. Same Ciosi in to define his job says: "The idea of this album is born with the purpose to insert the acoustic guitar flatpicking in particular sonorous spaces, taking back popular passages from the roots of the blues, of the bluegrass, of the folk, of the ragtime and of the jazz. These tracks are for me at the base of a musical culture that has helped me to develop my sensibility as guitarist and impassioned audiofilo. In this album, thanks to my dream guitar 1934 D MAHOGANY SANTA CRUZ I’ve homaged my favourite artists and writers".
"Sitting On The Top Of The World" is the first track, played in an easy version, Doc Watson style… Pesronally I prefera lot the masterpiece that made Howlin of it’ Wolf, but as always everything is subjective.
"Beaumon Rag" is a traditional made famous from innumerable flatpicker of the music country and bluegrass and that it receives the imprimatur from the dear old man Beppone Gambetta.
Big, dragging, "Corrina Corrina", the third track, a traditional sing with a voice that remembers a lot the first Stephen Stills. Wheeling of David Grier it’s a beautiful duet with the fretless bass of Matteo Valicella that all of a sudden ago a really interesting solo.
"Sliding Delta" of John Smith Hurt, Maple Leaf Rag of Scott Joplin, also in the memory of the great Jorma Kaukonen and Blue Monk di Thelonius Monk they bring us the good mood, while "Chesapeake Bay" of the great Massimo Varini brings us in a context of great thickness.
The all is closed with "You are My Sunshine" of Jimmie Davis, a purely country passage, made a standard by singers of music bluegrass, folk and pop.
At the end this disk results very pleasant and well balanced, supported by a good guitar technique and a really notable voice. Very beautiful book, multilingua, for a disk evidently destined to the international market.
Dear Ciosi, waits now you with something of yours.

Read the article

CIOSI INTO THE WILD SESSION
2th May 2017

Toward the beginnings of April I receive a strange email, to say the truth was not even addressed to me, arrived for mistake to me, but it’s so written in non conventional way that immediately attracts my attention, introduces an album of new publication and he asks if I am, not me the other guy, party to listen to it for eventually to review it…. dang but I am really interested to listen to it and so I decide to answer.
I immediately clarify that I am not the guy, guitarblog.it is not the noble heading, but I would like to listen to the album, and so Ciosi, name of art of Federico Franciosi, sends me the high resolution files FLAC of its last job. I immediately premise that this doesn’t want to be a critique, I am not anybody to review really a beautiful nothing, but for an accidental case comes upon me in an Italian artist that deserves to be known and this small article on this Blog is also able to contribute to give some more of visibility at this valuable record job.
We start to say that it’s an album of acoustic guitar flatpiking, played with the plectrum, but not composed alone from instrumental, Ciosi also sings and sings very well also, its voice has a warm stamp and in perfect harmony with the kind, and a big appreciation to the care also of the correct accent and pronunciation of the texts in English, this is often the aching note when Italian artists sing in English, the album earns of it immensely in authenticity. We have said guitar, but not only, in some albums Ciosi is accompanied from bass, drums or percussions and also this ago him that the result is extremely various and godibile.
This is not an alone album for experts or impassioned of guitar flatpicking, it is an album for everybody, the listening it’s always vary and pleasant, the technique never end to herself and always to the service of the passage and the choice of the passages themselves creates a continuous variety that maintains alive the interest of the listener for all the nine traces drawing from the tradition of various kind, from the blues, to the bluegrass, to the Jazz.
On the Ciosi’s web site it’s possible to access the links to purchase the album on line and also to read a small introduction for every track that allows better than contextualize what he is listened.
For me it has been very beautiful to find among the nine tracks of the album a piece of Massimo Varini, that I admire and I followi for so many years, Ciosi faithfully proposes him but the addition of bass and percussions give new energy to the piece.
In an age in which the return of an investment in record field is uncertain and limited, when by now the recordings come always done more often sacrificing the quality to contain the costs, the quality audio of this album must absolutely be mentioned, an impeccable job both to level of resumption and of mixing that of mastering, that underlines even more the extraordinary reached executive level recording in an alone take in direct taking.
In these weeks I have listened the album in various contexts, on the car while I was going to the job, in gym, and in the calm of my house for a more careful listening, I have allowed to spend some time and I have revealed to return to not only listen toit to write this article but also only for the pleasure to listen to the beautiful music, thanks Ciosi to have sent me a mail not addressed to me and to have given me way to know your music and your job!!

Read the article

The man with his plectrum – Ciosi

One thinks of a Italian man, on acoustic guitar and Flatpicking, inevitably appears a name: Beppe Gambetta. Guitarist genovese is considered the renewer of Italian music of the guitar, because he mixes music with Mediterranean traditions of American roots music with ease to a repertoire. A wonder that has captivated a young guitarist of the province of Verona, a city located in Northern Italy.
“Beppe is one of the best in the world for Flatpicker I learned this technique from him. I attended his workshops, I played his music and studied his books”. Since she was eight years Federico Franciosi plays guitar, since everybody calls him only Ciosi. Her mother, a piano teacher, taught theory and knowledge bases. Then he had several music teachers, including two saxophonists “showed me how you should experiment with the music”.
Then follows the Italian guitar master, Massimo Varini –also Studio– and live guitarist for Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini and Eros Ramazzotti. In two years, he attended the school of Varini, learn “percussion guitar, double notes and some fantastic Licks”.
With "My First Time" Ciosi now presents her debut album: eleven instrumental pieces with Neo-Country and American tunes, a version of "Andrà tutto bene" by Massimo Varini and "Slade Stomp" by Beppe Gambetta. And with its "Steve White Blues" bows to the GrooveMeister. “I was lucky enough to see Steve live a few times. His technique is amazing, playing guitar and at the same time playing with foot percussion, blow a harmonica and also sing, really struck “. Ciosi, declaring Tony Rice, Norman Blake and Clarence White as other influences, is presented as an expert musician, with a continuous stroke technique, with excellent arrangements, melodic lines and tones.
Ciosi plays a Martin D-18 that would never quit. Except for his “dream guitar” – which he dedicated a piece – a Santa Cruz 1934 D Mahogany. He recorded “My First Time” with his D-18 on Garda Lake in the Ritmo & Blue Studio, with two Neumann KM 184 on a solid State Logic Preamp and a Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb, “should be as real as possible to play guitar.” And of course, that greater attention is the choice of work equipment. Ciosi sounds with the BlueChip, more specifically the TD 50 with a significant thickness of 1.25 mm. “I tried different shapes and materials,” says the musician, “but since I use this I have a BlueChip big, round sound and you can get a Crosspickings extremely fluid.” Also the strumming is net and clear. “I know these are expensive Pleks – the only thing that I can recommend: If you don’t lose them is better!”.
By the way: last December, a dream came true for Ciosi. On the occasion of the theatrical production “Acousticology” in VILLA BARTOLOMEA VR, could share the stage with Beppe Gambetta. In conclusion Ciosi says: “he’s a poet, an adventurer and an incomparable guitarist!”

Article of June – © Akustik Gitarre – All rights reserved

of Piergiuseppe Lippolis

A disc, eleven tracks acoustic guitar-only. Is the debut of Ciosi, entitled “My First Time”, which contains nine new songs and two covers (“Slade Stomp” by Beppe Gambetta and “Andrà Tutto Bene” by Massimo Varini). It is a disc very intimate, where the plots woven by Ciosi are each dedicated to an episode of life, a moment, a place or a person dear to the guitarist.
Great variety of pieces offered, starting with the crosspicking of opener “To My Son” (dedicated precisely to the early years of her son’s life), passing by instability and the melancholy of “Nature’s Mood”, with whose notes Ciosi does describe the complex relationship that exists between us and nature. To follow there is “Transatlantic”, maybe the best piece of the lot with its evocative atmospheres and with his lighthearted sound that evokes the sea, before of a finale more cheerful and excitedly what do you symbolize hope for those who had to flee their homeland for the war, seeking a future elsewhere. Then a tribute to folk-blues pioneer Steve White with “Steve White Blues”, and yet a piece of love devoted to the guitar (“Dream Guitar”), a dedication by the sound warm and snug in Mar del Plata in Argentina, “Argentina’s coastal city”, before the first cover and linear and romantic “She”, a tribute to all the women. “Back To My Shoulder” is the bravest of the lot that, with its frequent changes of rhythm patterns, an attention that still persist and a very high standard from start to finish, anticipates the second cover and almost cinematic “Samuel Or Virginia”.
“My First Time” is a disc of pure aestheticism, art for art’s sake, in which message, atmospheres and personal satisfaction counts a lot more usability, which is the only thing poor work, being of a job for fine tastes.

Read article»

CIOSI “MY FIRST TIME”
of Maurizio Faulisi Dr Feelgood

A long time has passed since that “Dialogs” by Beppe Gambetta that, at the end of the 80’s, started a production company dedicated to acoustic guitar flatpicking. Today we can begin to feel considerable, certainly more in terms of quality and quantity.
The local flatpicker in years past have managed to gain national notoriety not only as Gambetta and Roberto Dalla Vecchia, you add Federico Franciosi, a young guitarist formed by listening to blues and folk music, bluegrass, pop and jazz. A good work first showing remarkable technique, taste but above all an opening that allows our to range freely with the sole aim of giving a sound, acoustic guitar, and emotions and moods.
Good Ciosi.

CIOSI “MY FIRST TIME”
of Fabrizio Dadò

Federico “Ciosi” Franziosi is a young guitar player, he is 30 years old, who trained since childhood by listening to pop, bluegrass, folk and jazz. In 2010 he debuted as a soloist with Far Apart, followed two years later by Beautiful Infinity, both CD with five tracks only in the lineup.
With "My First Time" Ciosi makes it big, proposing eleven solo pieces flat-picking: nine originals and two covers are dedicated to artistic references: guitarist Beppe Gambetta ("Slade Stomp") and Massimo Varini ("Everything’s fine"). The main features of the style of Ciosi are clean and relaxed flat-style technique, and a soul pop and intimate, often with decisive strokes compositional themes simple ("She" or "Steve White Blues"), sometimes reinforced by the bluesy flavor ("Nature’s Mood" or "Dream Guitar") and percussive effects ("Transatlantic"), while in the opener "To My Son" echoes the good old country. Curious quotation of a famous song by Gino Paoli in final theme "Samuel Or Virginia".
Ultimately a dreamy and mature disc, recommended to those who love the cooler aspects and melodic acoustic guitar.

Read article»

DREAMY AND DEEP EXPERIENCE, ABLE TO REVEAL HIDDEN ISLANDS OF THOUGHT AND SECRET EMOTIONS
of Editorial Staff-Art Vibes

Federico Franciosi, aka Ciosi, is a flatpicker acoustic guitarrist with an innate love for music. The main features of Ciosi’s style are his clear flat-style technique, an intensive compositive soul and a pronounced melodic sense. Those features make his musical expression a dreamy and deep experience, able to reveal hidden islands of thought and secret emotions.
He served a long apprenticeship as a one man band playing in festivals in Europe and America. As a musician, he loves experimenting with new sounds and connecting his life, story and dreams with his music. Ciosi, with "My First Time", his latest album, offers eleven tracks in solitary flatpicking: nine of them are original while the rest are covers made to honor of two guitar teachers: Beppe Gambetta (“Slade Stomp”) and Massimo Varini (“Andrà tutto bene”). The album ranges from blues to jazz, from bluegrass to pop, with strong acoustic-folk influences. The listener can taste different ramification of flatpicking’s style, immerse into a landscape of “acoustic world”, originated from different ways to use the plectrum through the six string and determined by a language of elegant ornaments, like crosspicking, pull off, hammer on, cascadè scale, double notes, improvisation’s scales, masters’ licks e percussion’s groove.
A disk for true lovers of the milder aspects of intimate acoustic guitar.

Read article»

CIOSI – MY FIRST TIME
of Daniele Cestellini

The guitarist and composer Federico Franciosi, aka Ciosi, with “My First Time”, He calls us to cross a delicate area, defined by a limpid guitar and a calm writing, designed even when relies on breath extemporary, or some more open technique. The album is considered a little jewel, a happiness album, with sparkling melodies that follow each other (“Steve White blues”) and alternate with rhythmic solutions, connecting the whole production to a larger scenario. Made of adhesions to some executive traditions and exceptional guitarists. Steve White is one of the master that Ciosi recognizes on its way, for its composite style and oriented from a extraordinary project, where they found space articulate sound and not at all obvious. Ciosi recognizes research timbre, of White, as well as the complexity of its musical program, directed by the blues tradition and American folk. But reinterprets the intimate vision and futuristic acoustic guitar with few limits, that fits to perfection not only in the epic of the “one man band”, but especially in the development of a more advanced, less repeated and circular lyrics. And this can serve as a paradigm of production of guitarist Ciosi, even when lingersin a clearest narrative (“Dream guitar”), which overlooks a writing more melodic and straightforward. “My First Time” fits in the discography of Ciosi as a mostly original album, which leads for the new course of his production, which has always been inclined towards the use of guitars, but now it seems less exclusive. The most characteristic element of the project is the flatpicking. It marks a neat sound and focuses all the listener’s attentions. This neat sound is the exact opposite of the virtuous international approach, which indicates a dirty track, scratched by the fingers finding new and incoherent movements on the strings. Ciosi’s sound stands inbetween like a vertical blade on the keyboards and leaves only precise, polished melodies, thet organically fit into the setlist. Among the most interesting tracks stands “She”, a reflection that absorbs all the silence around the strings, its melody attached to an intense arpeggio, and delivers, towards the last part, a strong and unexpected rhythm, sustained by a concrete disillusion. “Back to my shoulders” is the next track, is more melodically and rhythmically ambiguous.The melodic line is complex and broke with coherence, mirroring a more immediate execution. Two great italian guitarists stand out from the tracklist: Giuseppe Gambetta and Massimo Varini, whose two tracks are interpreted by Ciosi: “Slade Stomp” and “Andrà tutto bene”. But the most interisting moments are the most personal ones and from those comes the idea of a work opened to the most diverse suggestions. This album can be comprehended only as an impressionist painting by a soloist. And this is true not only for the way the tracks are played but also for their organization during the writing phase or the production. It’s a personal approach, which is not exclusive or closed in itself, but based on the reciprocity between a musician and his instrument. The sound reaching usi s no longer linked to an execution, but is more fittingly around the execution itself. It’s something like the push of some kind of perception, a balance that somehow got encoded and transformed. “My first time” is an example of this, expecially after some listening, when tracks like “Nature’s Mood”, “To my son” and mostly “Samuel or Virginia” could be seen as breaks, wide spaces where we can stop and let us immerse ourselves in the stream of sound and silences, from the touch and the plectrum scratching the strings.

Read article»

CIOSI – MY FIRST TIME
n° 508 July August 2016
of Paolo Corciulo

An entire album with only flatpicking guitar can be repetitive, for the powerful characterization (the result of the constraints imposed by the instrument and technique ) that acoustic guitar requires. But Federico Franciosi, aka Ciosi thanks to the enthusiasm of the debut on album (two EPS previously) he kept up the pathos along the entire work that flips, in the eleven songs (nine originals and tributes to Beppe Gambetta and Massimo Varini, compasses from the artistic point of view of Ciosi’s work), between genre.
The underlying theme is that of a intimate dimension, sometimes lyric, in which the artistmanages to bring together the veins inevitably blues and country (but can be perceived under a classical preparation) typical of the instrument and the style used (sometimes with percussive effects) and the fact that Ciosi play guitar “left-handed”; Don’t miss the ability of the artist, endowed with enviable technique, to decline here romantic and dreamy music, to enslave them in a mature project and enjoyable, just because this thread is then declined with capabilities in various genres.
For lovers of “musical quotes” to signal the presence in the final track of quote froma song by Gino Paoli, confirming the eye with which Ch (which en passant also has a great voice) analyzes the musical palette that surrounds it.

CIOSI – MY FIRST TIME
06th August 2016
of Jacopo Giovannercole

Ethereal and welcoming the new instrumental work of Ciosi presents eleven pieces for flat-picking acoustic guitar, played with taste and skill.
One of the highlights of this extremely talented musician is the clarity with which relates to his musical world: beginning with the artwork and the explanatory booklet Ciosi transports us to this tree of life with plucked leaves with a kindness out of the ordinary. Inside the booklet each song is commented by the author himself in threelanguages, including English and German, thus creating the right feeling with the listener.
The climate is made for welcoming from the beautiful “To My Son” dedicated to small Ettore who seems to want to open himself the front door to let us know the world so softly drawn up of the parent. In “Transatlantic”, jazz-flavored gem, shines through the artist’s sensibility to the contemporary world of all those passengers who after the war have crossed the ocean to the Americas towards a better future “. The ending of this theme, just when the passengers saw the land, is made to perfection by a liberating guitar strumming load of expectations. Among tributes to musician Steve White, declarations of love to his strument and dedications to the female universe Ciosi puts an old-time song entitled “Slade Stomp” composed by Beppe Gambetta, appreciated acoustic guitarist and promulgator, in Italy and not only, of the word folk from overseas with other masters of the genre as banjoist and Roman musician Mariano De Simone. At ease in beating as percussion instruments his guitar (“Back to my shoulders”) Ciosi also shows its most avant garde addition to refined preserver of timeless music. The finale, again a tribute to the world of family and fatherhood, closes this beautiful collection of music for all seasons.
Dedicated to those who know how to “leave behind” the daily tedium to plunge into a musical world refined and massive shade of color. You can follow the live activity of the artist following the site www.ciosi.it.
It will be a good listen guys.

Read article»