Biografia
 Biography


Eventi

Trascrizioni
Transcriptions


 Discografia
Discography

Acquisti
 Purchases

Stefano at Campagnano, Ischia, 1997

Stefano Russo


was born in Naples (Italy) on 1st  January 1961.
He is interested in music as a guitarist, singer, arranger and composer since the age of 15.
After a self-learning period in which he has been playing Country-West Coast and Bossa Nova music, he begins to study classical guitar in Naples with Raimondo Di Sandro; besides, he studies jazz harmony with Pierre Cullaz (in Paris, from 1987 to 1989) and singing with Michael Aspinall (in Naples).

He takes his diploma at Benevento Conservatoire in 1991.

From 1992 to 1998 he's been writing for the Italian specialized reviews GUITAR CLUB and TUTTO CHITARRA, in which he deals with Brazilian guitar music.

After a period of intensive activity - both as a soloist and as a band leader - in many clubs and theatres of Campania, in 1993 he meets, at Ischia, the great singer and composer Ugo Calise who introduces him to Neapolitan songs, seeing in him a potential artistic heir.

On 6th September 1994 , after Calise death, Stefano appears at the commemorative concert OMAGGIO AD UGO CALISE with Cicci Santucci, Romano Mussolini, Peppino Di Capri and  Fausto Cigliano. 

In 1995 he plays in Naples at "Innamorarsi A Napoli", "Galassia Gutenberg" and "Premio Utopia", both as a classical and as a "folk" guitarist.

Everybody considers him as an adept at Bossa Nova, but he also studies other forms of Brazilian music, for instance the guitar style of  BADEN POWELL who showed him gratefulness and regard in 1995.

On 28th June he is invited at Fregene (Rome) with some of the most famous Italian jazz players as Carlo Loffredo, Romano Mussolini, Lino Patruno, Cicci Santucci; the relevant live recording - published on One Man In Jazz (Ed. Erreffe) c.d. - represents his recording debut.		 Ugo Calise dedication to Stefano (Esteban...) Roma 1994




Stefano Russo Trio with Cicci Santucci

Always in 1995, he collaborates  with the famous Italian singer Fred Bongusto.

On 26th November, the news paper "Il Golfo" awards to him the "PREMIO NAZIONALE UGO CALISE" as "best Neapolitan singer/guitarist of the 1995" (after Lina Sastri, winner of the 1994).

He takes part - on 21st June 1996 - to the television broadcast Rai 1 Mattina during the European event "Festa della Musica"; some images of his performance are broadcasted on the national evening  news.

The guidebook "ISCHIA. L' ISOLA PER TUTTI. GUIDA PER I VIAGGIATORI CONTEMPORANEI" (Progetto Impresa, 1996) includes him into a biography.

On 26th June 1997 he appears - into the Grenoble French Institute of Naples - at the presentation of NUN È PECCATO - a  musical anthology about Ugo Calise (Ed. Electa Napoli) - in the presence of the mayor and all Neapolitan press. 

In 1998 he records his first c.d. NAPOLI SLOW including 12 Neapolitan songs singed and played with Ugo Calise (in "virtual" presence), Fausto Cigliano, Peppino Di Capri, Armando Romeo and Cicci Santucci.

In 2001 he realizes his second c.d. Ugo!, also containing rare or unpublished compositions of Calise, presented on 15th February 2007 at La Feltrinelli in Naples.

In 2002 he records - with the Brazilian percussionist Robertinho Bastos - Primeiro Amor another c.d. including 12 representative pieces of XXth century Brazilian guitar music.

On November, he takes part to Teatro Nel Piatto a show at the Sannazzaro theatre in Naples during which he sustains, only by his classical guitar, the performance of the Margherita Veneruso modern dance troupe.

On 27th, 28th, and 30th January 2003, he plays in the Sacro E Pagano show at the Filangieri theatre in Naples producing, with Marcello Colasurdo, a special version of the traditional Neapolitan song La Palummella .

He gives a successful concert on 7th August at Oratino - the native country of Ugo Calise - for paying homage to his master.

 He takes part, as special guest, on 27th September in Ischia, at the literary award Premio Domenico Rea.
Guitar and cats!
In 2004 he records two compact discs: Around Brazil (all based on personal compositions, with Robertinho Bastos,  Marco De Tilla, Cicci Santucci, Nando Trapani,  Marco Zurzolo and Napoli Saudade (contains thirteen modern, new arranged, Neapolitan songs).

On 16th August 2006 Stefano participates in Oratino, with the Ciro Giorgio's company, to Sera d'Ammore, a musical show dedicated to Ugo Calise.

On 14th January 2007, Sera D'Ammore is reproposed, short version, at the C.T.S theatre of Caserta.

On 15 February, Ugo! is finally introduced to the public. His presentation happens at "La Feltrinelli" (Naples) in front of numerous onlookers and fans with the participation of the journalists Pietro Gargano (Il Mattino) and Stefano De Stefano (Il Corriere Del Mezzogiorno) coordinated by Lello Savonardo; the musical critic Federico Vacalebre will publish about it a flattering review on "Il Mattino".

Federico Vacalebre and Paquito Del Bosco (the R.A.I. musical archive director) on 21st April invite him at the radio transmission "Canta Napoli" to speak about its new disc and its professional and human experience with Ugo Calise

On 5th september plays with his quartet to the musical review "Settembre Sul Sagrato" in Ischia.

In 2008 he realizes a new compact disc, Alô Baden, dedicated to Baden Powell.

On 25 February 2009, at "La Feltrinelli" library of Naples, Stefano introduces to the public Primeiro Amor with Pietro Gargano (Il Mattino) and Stefano De Stefano (Il Corriere Del Mezzogiorno) coordinated by Lello Savonardo.