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Francesco Lo Castro

Born in Salerno, Italy in 1974, guitarist and composer Francesco Lo Castro started studying guitar late in life, aged 25. He developed his guitar styles and technique under the tutoring of the great south Italian maestro Gianni Cataleta. He quit his Economic Studies (and a full time job in marketing) to fully focus on music in 2004. Two years after, he graduated with honors in music performance from a BMus at Thames Valley University (London). In the same year, he won the Best Guitarist Award at the Guitar Institute in London where he attended tutoring classes by Shaun Baxter and Iain Scott, among others. He then earned a scholarship for MMus, completed in 2008, by winning the Vice Chancellor's Award at TVU. In the same period, he learned his craft by performing an average of 130-160 gigs per year in clubs, pubs, and theatres all around the world playing with jazz, funk, pop and rock artists. In 2009, he was offered to teach Guitar Technique on the Degree Course held by the Academy of Music and Sound (Wolverhampton University). He has collaborated with legends such as Jim Mullen (Morrisey-Mullen), recorded for Geoff Wilkinson (Us3), and performed with contemporary musicians such Francesco Mendolia (Incognito), Richard Sadler (Neil Cowley Trio), Damien Nolan (VV Brown), Roberto Manzin (James Brown) among others. He is also mostly known and recognised for his association with young italian multi-platinum recording artist and entertainer Patrizio Buanne. With him, he has recorded, written songs and toured regulary Australia, Europe, USA, and Asia since 2010. Francesco Lo Castro has performed in his career in some of the most renown and prestigious venues such as the Hamer Hall (Melbourne), the State Theatre (Sydney), The Concert Hall (New York), the Expo Centre (Singapore), the Berklee Performance Centre (Boston), the Benedum (Pittsburgh), Barbican (London), and Palatrussardi (Milan).

The guitar style and composing techniques of his solo works and with his quintet IMPROFIVES suggest an intriguing combination of melodic Italian tradition, visual sound-scapes, modern jazz, and soundtracks writing, both in his acoustic and electric set-ups.

Awards

"Best Guitarist Award" - Guitar Institute, London (2006)


Tags

8
Album Review

Francesco Lo Castro: Chasing Beauty

Read "Chasing Beauty" reviewed by Jeffrey Uhrich


Positive energy flows and pleasing melodies abound in Chasing Beauty by guitarist and composer Francesco Lo Castro, the fifth album released on his own label. Using an array of outstanding musicians, voice and instrumentation, Lo Castro creates a sonic canvass that's reminiscent of artists Pat Metheny and Mike Stern. Throughout the disc, Lo Castro displays an innate skill and sensibility in relation to his supporting musicians, instinctively knowing when to hold back and also when to unleash their joyful vigor. ...

5
Take Five With...

Take Five With Francesco Lo Castro

Read "Take Five With Francesco Lo Castro" reviewed by Francesco Lo Castro


Meet Francesco Lo Castro: Italian born Francesco Lo Castro is a UK-based jazz guitarist and composer known for his personal and melodic approach to improvisation. Style well showcased in his latest album, Songs for Duke.Instrument(s): Guitar.Teachers and/or influences? Gianni Cataleta. He has been my teacher not only with regards to theory and technical things but, more important, he prepared me for the road life, shaping my personality and pushing me ...

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7

Recording

European And American Jazz Meets In DLC Project "Into The Unknown"

European And American Jazz Meets In DLC Project  "Into The Unknown"

Source: DLC Project

The title of the latest album by DLC Project, Into the Unknown, could easily have been called “Nothing ventured, nothing gained". The driving concept behind this collection of compositions is one of exploration and the imagining of possibilities - the taking of risks, and the anticipation that goes hand-in-hand with the redefining of parameters. Into the Unknown is a collection of highly original and dynamic compositions that explores many different aspects of group interaction. While reaffirming the group's commitment to ...

4

Recording

Francesco Lo Castro Creates A Masterpiece While "Chasing Beauty"

Francesco Lo Castro Creates A Masterpiece While "Chasing Beauty"

Source: Francesco Lo Castro

"This is a beautiful album, with a range of stunningly cinematic compositions exquisitely arranged and performed" —John Wheatcroft, Guitar Techniques Magazine and Head of Guitar at Tech Music School, London Italian guitarist and composer Francesco Lo Castro released his forth studio album in October 2013. Entitled Chasing Beauty, the album has a European and cinematic jazz quality to it that sits halfway between the works of authors such as Pat Metheny and Ennio Morricone. Each piece is a canvas of ...

1

Recording

Lo Castro, Defade, Depaolis Release New Album - While We Hope And Dream

Lo Castro, Defade, Depaolis Release New Album - While We Hope And Dream

Source: Francesco Lo Castro

While We Hope and Dream is the stunning new release from Francesco Lo Castro , Tony Depaolis and Eric DeFade. This inviting collection of lyrically thoughtful compositions offers a crystalline acoustic quality that transports the listener. From romantic and reflective to spirited and inventive, 'While We Hope and Dream' is an emotional and provocative musical escape. While We Hope and Dream is the result of a collaborative effort by the accomplished trio of Lo Castro, Depaolis, and DeFade. The fluidly ...

1

Recording

Bruno d’Ambra and Francesco Lo Castro Release "Songs For Duke"

Bruno d’Ambra and Francesco Lo Castro Release "Songs For Duke"

Source: Francesco Lo Castro

"For a duo, Bruno and Francesco produce a big warm sound on this delightful set of original compositions inspired by Duke Ellington. Highly recommended!" Jim Mullen The album Songs for Duke comes from a musical collaboration that started over two years ago at the Archduke jazz Club in London’s South Bank between pianist Bruno d’Ambra and guitarist Francesco Lo Castro. The pair wanted to pay homage to the harmonic style and melodic clarity of Duke Ellington’s jazz pieces as well ...

“This ('Chasing Beauty') is a beautiful album, with a range of stunningly cinematic compositions exquisitely arranged and performed.”

- John Wheatcroft, Guitar Techniques Magazine; Head of Guitar at Tech Music School, London

“The guitarist and composer Francesco Lo Castro has surrounded himself with some very fine musicians on Chasing Beauty....The title refers to the worthwhile activity of seeking beauty in the mundane as well as the perfect....It is not introspective, it demonstrates an attractive openness. It is a perfect album for relaxation, calming and gentle. I can easily imagine it being played in cafes in Europe....There is no doubting Francesco’s prowess on both acoustic and electric guitar, the subtle shades and tempos are memorable.” - Mary James, OnlyJazzBlog.com (Sep 24, 2013)

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Chasing Beauty

Flocastro Records
2014

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Dresden

From: Chasing Beauty
By Francesco Lo Castro

Videos

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