Riccardo Testore – a brief biography

Riccardo Testore has spent a lot of his life in the South Pacific settlement he refers to as Nuova Lazio. In this little settlement the Italian ways are celebrated many miles from home. Nuova Lazio also has a strong English presence, the early settlers in this area, before the Italian presence arrived, were stockmen and timber millers. As a boy Riccardo’s parents insisted that he learn to speak English,

although Italian is the language he is passionate about.

The climate of Nuova Lazio suits the growing of olive trees

and grapes,

which seem to grow everywhere.

Riccardo studied the violin and became interested in a brand of gypsy music that seemed to always be in his house. The music traced its roots back to American jazz tunes and Neapolitan songs. Riccardo played an important part in mixing the two styles and adding jazz influences to Neapolitan music. He also studied the double bass and likes to use this big violin to play some tunes in his trio.

The formation of his trio has taken many years and this particular blend of two quite different styles has had a slow merging over about twenty years. Riccardo is passionate about the style of music that his trio plays. 

Riccardo also likes to play a bit of guitar.

Band Uniform.

What is the best way for a band to dress?

Okay, you'll remember our publicity shot:

I'm going to share a little secret - in these photos each guy is wearing the same shirt.

My plan was to have more shirts with the characteristic green, white and red insignia on them made, but I have run into problems.

I've struggled to find the coloured ribbon and suitable black shirts. 

One member suggested that the most important thing for an Italian band is to look stylish and that black is not the most visible colour for a band.

After a lot of thought I think he is right.

That means what we will wear is still a work in progress.

Maybe it's not necessary to have a matching shirt?

I played in a band in the 80s that had matching shirts and we looked a bit silly.

You've got to be careful with matching shirts. That's for damn sure.

Testore practising hard.

There is no rest for Riccardo Testore as the trio redies itself to shake the world. 

"I'm doing a lot of work on tone and vibrato." says Testore.

The trio is hotting up!

Siamo un trio composto da un violinista, un chitarrista e un contrabbasista, suoniamo musica italiana e Jazz. Le nostre canzoni sono tutte strumentali e sono perfette per ristoranti, feste e concerti. Noi suoniamo con amore e passione.

Repertorio:

L’Addio A Napoli	Autumn Leaves
La Spagnola	Black Orpheus
Love Theme – Godfather	Bye Bye Blackbird
Maria, Mari	Fly Me To The Moon
Oje Caruli	Somewhere Over The Rainbow
O Mio Babbino Caro	Sweet Georgia Brown
O Sole Mio	Take the ‘A’ Train
Santa Lucia	This Masquerade
Torna A Surriento	My Gentle Giant
Vieni Sul Mar	Nefanie
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square	Romance
All Of Me	The Immigrants

Tone is everything!

Well, not everything, but very important.
A big vibrato helps too.