Gegè Telesforo
Foggia-born jazz and funk vocalist and scat-singing pioneer whose 2024 album "Big Mama Legacy" pays explicit tribute to blues and Rome's historic Big Mama club.
Musical Influence
As one of the most internationally connected Italian jazz vocalists of his generation — having recorded and performed alongside Ben Sidran, Jon Hendricks, Dizzy Gillespie and Dee Dee Bridgewater — Telesforo is widely credited as a leading contemporary practitioner and innovator of scat singing, and his 2024 blues-tribute album "Big Mama Legacy" has introduced his scat-and-groove vocal style to a new blues-listening audience (Source: Wikipedia; Rockol; Musicletter.it).
Formative experiences
- •1961: Born 14 October in Foggia, Italy (Source: Wikipedia).
- •1977: Begins his artistic career (Source: Wikipedia).
- •1985: Discovered by broadcaster Renzo Arbore; appears on the TV programme "Quelli della notte" (Source: Wikipedia).
- •1990: Releases his self-titled debut album on Gala Records/Ricordi (Source: Wikipedia).
- •1996: Records "Gegè & the Mother Tongue" for Go Jazz, produced by Ben Sidran (Source: Wikipedia).
- •1997: Becomes a regular guest of Renzo Arbore's L'Orchestra Italiana (Source: Wikipedia).
- •2012: Releases the studio album "Nu Joy" (Source: Wikipedia).
- •2020: Releases "Il Mondo In Testa"; performs at the Delta Blues festival in Rovigo (Source: Wikipedia; Polesine24).
- •2023: Becomes official spokesperson for the charity City Angels (Source: Wikipedia).
- •2024: Releases the blues-tribute album "Big Mama Legacy" on Ropeadope/Groove Master Edition (Source: Musicletter.it; Musica Jazz).
Instruments & Equipment
Stories & Anecdotes
"Telesforo is recognised internationally as both a pioneer of scat singing and an early Italian practitioner of vocal beatboxing (Source: All About Jazz)."
"His 2024 album title, "Big Mama Legacy," is a direct tribute to Rome's Big Mama blues club, one of Italy's most storied live-music venues, active from 1984 until closing during the COVID-19 pandemic (Source: Musicletter.it)."
Collaborators
American pianist, singer and producer; produced Telesforo's 1996 album "Gegè & the Mother Tongue" for Go Jazz (Source: Wikipedia).
American jazz vocalist and scat pioneer; performed alongside Telesforo (Source: Rockol).
Italian broadcaster who discovered Telesforo; Telesforo has been a regular guest of Arbore's L'Orchestra Italiana since 1997 (Source: Wikipedia).
Watch & Listen
Gegé Telesforo Big Mama Legacy HD Audio Live @Chiavari in Jazz 23.08.2024
Live performance from the Big Mama Legacy tour, Chiavari in Jazz festival, August 2024.
YouTube
"GEGE' TELESFORO" live a Civita Jazz - Big Mama Legacy
Gegè Telesforo Big Mama Legacy live Perc Fest 2023
Gegè Telesforo - Big Mama Legacy, Blue Note di Milano
Gegè Telesforo - Scat - Live 2011
Gegè Telesforo & Lucio Dalla — live scat, D.O.C. Club 1989
Gegè Telesforo BEAT BOX SOLO (E. Telesforo)
Intervista a Gegè Telesforo: "Impossible Tour Live" e un nuovo...
Watch & Listen
Discography
| Year | Title | Producer | Studio | Label | Chart | Sales | Musicians | YouTube | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Gegè Telesforo | — | — | — | — | — | — | Self-titled debut album, released on Gala Records with Ricordi distribution (Source: Wikipedia). | |
| 1996 | Gegè & the Mother Tongue | — | — | — | — | — | — | Produced by Ben Sidran for the New York label Go Jazz (Source: Wikipedia). | |
| 2012 | Nu Joy | — | — | — | — | — | — | Studio album (Source: Wikipedia). | |
| 2020 | Il Mondo In Testa | — | — | — | — | — | — | Studio album (Source: Wikipedia). | |
| 2024 | Big Mama Legacy | — | — | — | — | — | — | Fifteenth studio album; explicit blues tribute dedicated to Rome's Big Mama club, released on Ropeadope/Groove Master Edition, featuring guest pianist Danilo Rea (Source: Musicletter.it; Musica Jazz). |
Famous songs
External links
Booking / Contact
Booking og forlagsvirksomhet via plateselskapet Groove Master Edition, som Telesforo også er A&R-ansvarlig for (gege@groovemasteredition.com).
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