Boombastiko – Apulia Boom Beats (RedTomato Records, 2021)
“Apulia Boom Beats” is the title of the new album from Boombastiko collective, a group of Italian musicians who got together to re-imagine Italian traditional music and influences from the Balkans, the Middle East and beyond, by combining folk music with irresistible cutting edge electronic music beats and atmospheres.
This is not a studio project. Markedly, the musicians present their music live, using live electronics and synths in addition to conventional instruments such as the violin and wind instruments.
The Boombastiko musical collective was born in October 2019, during a historic mini tour of Scotland by the Apulian Municipal Balkan band. On that occasion, the group featured its own sound engineer Claudio De Leo on stage at the drum machines due to the sudden absence of their drummer. Particularly inspired, Nico Marziale and Claudio De Leo thus decided to give life to the collective Boombastiko. It is a parallel project that performs various remixes and original compositions and a rotating cast of musicians, including founding members and guests such as Francesco Fry Moneti of the Modena City Ramblers and Maestro Giampaolo Caldarola.
Boombastiko members
Claudio de Leo, musician (live electronics, synthesizers) and sound engineer in Radionorba, historical member of the Chop Chop Band, an established Apulian reality for years, dub master and arranger. He toured with DJ Jad and Articolo 31 2.0. He is a composer of theater scores (“Orion” by the ballet company of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan).
Nico Marziale (drum machine, live electronics), percussionist and producer of Municipale Balcanica, a well-known Italian band that has performed in over 100 countries, considered the best Italian Balkan music group and selected best Apulian group in 2012 at the Puglia Sounds / Repubblica XL competition.
Francesco Moneti, violinist and guitarist since 1996 with the Modena City Ramblers. He collaborated with Lella Costa, Negrita, Sonhora, Piotta, Rezophonic, Marco Cantini, Cisco, Gang, Bandabardò, P. Fariselli, C. Donà and D. Van de Sfros, Municipale Balcanica, and Boombastiko.
Giampaolo Caldarola (saxophones) completed his musical studies at the Conservatory of Music N. Piccinni in Bari, where he graduated with full marks. He collaborates with the N. Piccinni symphony orchestra, the province of Bari symphony orchestra and the I.C.O. of Magna Graecia. He has collaborated with Katia Ricciarelli, Renzo Arbore, Michael Znaniechy, Michele la Ginestra, Maurizio Billi, Pino Minafra, Michel Camilo, and Municipale Balcanica.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.