The group QUARTAUMENTATA was founded in 1998 in Calabria, the most southern region of Italy.In the first album A notti e’ fatta dinnu (1999) it is already possible to
identify the main themes of their cultural/musical project: to transform the Calabrian ethnic musical heritage into a lively
entity and maintain traditional roots while bringing this musical message to younger generations. The striving for balance
between keeping the past alive and searching for new musical expressions is even more tangible in the second CD Navigando
published in 2002. Already in the first
year the group appeared in many important festivals and venues such as the WOMAD world music festival in
Palermo-Sicily, “La vita in diretta” on Italian national public TV channel RAI 2 and “Notturno
Italiano” on Italian Public Radio. In
2005 the group released the third CD, Abballamu cu ventu. The most fascinating characteristics that
capture the audience are the upbeat rhythm and the magical atmosphere of the lyrics. The songs represent an ironic narration
of today’s issues and problems that mysteriously coexist and blend together in a hidden corner of the world. [Calabria]2005 was the turning
point for the group thanks to a very important collaboration with Italian music icon Jovanotti. Quartaumentata was chosen
to represent the musical heritage from Calabria during a superb new-year’s eve concert “La
vertigine non è paura di cadere ma voglia di volare”. The results were extraordinary!
The audience was literally astonished by the “funky Tarantella” that emerged from the group’s melodies and
rhythms with the ever original and fresh interpretations of Lorenzo Cherubini [a.k.a. Jovanotti].More important venues followed in 2005: the Mantova Music Festival,
one of the most important indie music events in Italy, the Faenza MEI
FEST and the concert for Handicap Day in the historic Piazza del Popolo in Rome.Guest artists and
collaborators enriched the 2006 tour. Among them a concert with Italian songwriter Niccolo’ Fabi
during the ethnic music Festival “Ai Confini del sud.
Musica etnica e dintorni” In 2007 the group released their latest recording effort:
U mundu balla. In this CD there are more collaborators such as singer Francesca Toure’
and covers of other artists rearranged with pop, rap, tango and funk influences. The unique blend of these
rhythms with the traditional idioms creates the unmistakable “made in Calabria” sound of Quartaumentata.U mundu balla was also the title of the 2007 tour; one of the longest for the group that also included concerts overseas at the
Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Italian Fest; one of the biggest events
in the United States dedicated to Italian culture.In 2008 the group participated at “Rassegna della canzone d’autore” in
Sanremo organized by the renowned “Club Tenco” honoring the late Sergio Bardotti, one
of the most productive artists/producers/authors in Italy. During this event the Calabrian
group presented La casa in riva al
mare, previously brought to fame by Lucio Dalla. Their version of the song is now included
in the double CD “Bardocì. Inediti e rarità di Sergio Bardotti”
that includes the late author’s hits revisited by famous Italian and international stars including Ornella
Vanoni, Massimo Ranieri, Chico Buarque de Hollanda, Sergio Cammariere,
Teresa De Sio, Stefano Bollani and many more. In November 2008, the group was invited by the Italian General Consulate of Boston to perform during the ethnic music festival “Respiro della Terra”.
The group presented songs from their 2008 “Ostinatamente Tour” and ended their
USA commitment with a concert in New York City in November
21, 2008.
On July 31st 2009 the group released the last album
dedicated to Fabrizio de Andre and titled Dai Diamanti Non Nasce niente (nothing comes out
of diamonds). To preview the release of the CD, on June 20th 2009, the group was invited at Premio De Andre’ and perform
2 of the songwriter’s songs. This last work proves the group’s desire to explore always different languages, styles
and themes. By combining the sound of the Calabrian dialect with Fabrizio de Andre’s music, re-arranging his unforgettable
poetry with traditional instruments, Quartaumentata imagine a narration of South Italy’s contradictions through the
sound and voice of one great artist that dedicated most of his artistic career to diversity.
