Sitting With Gianluca

Sitting with Gianluca is musician and museum curator Fabio Fantuzzi who has written 2 books on Bob Dylan. We discuss Bob Dylan and his connection to visual arts as well as his off-kilter humor and why Dylan can be as good a comic as a songwriter. 

Sitting with Gianluca celebrates the life of singer Terry Reid who passed away at 75. Terry Reid may have turned down being Led Zeppelin’s singer, but he suggested Plant & Bonham. He also made one of the most influential albums of the 70s. Rock photographer, former label head, tour manager and terry Reid confidant sits with Gianluca to discuss the life and work of this exceptional “artist’s artist...

Sitting with me from Radio Grenouille in Marseille is Benjamin Minimum former 80s singer and editor of music magazine Mondo Mix. We talk about the new movement of French musicians to reclaim the indigenous Provence language of the Provence region that had been outlawed since the French Revolution. You can read an article I wrote about it in The Guardian website or the "About Gianluca" section at S...

Sitting with Gianluca (in temporary - and voluntary exile in Marseille) this evening is Brazilian percussionist Sergio Bacalhau. Sergio was mentored by legendary percussionist Nana Vasconcelos and has been a professional musician since he was 15. As a bonus you can hear Gianluca’s head explode while attempting simultaneous French-English translation so be sure to wear waterproof protective gear.

Sitting with Gianluca (in exile) from Radio Grenouille in Marseille is first-call harmonica player Elie Coquard. If there is a group anywhere in the Provence region that needs a harmonica - Elie will get the call. 

To celebrate psychedelic punk revivalists The Fuzztones 45th anniversary, Deb O’Nair - co-fouder and former keyboard player, takes Gianluca through a history of the band and the New York City downtown music scene of the 70s and 80s.  

Sitting with Gianluca celebrates the life of British blues guitar player Kim Simmonds leader of Savoy Brown who, along with his contemporaries Eric Clapton & Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, turned America and the world onto blues music. Sitting with Gianluca is his former manager and producer Arnie Goodman with recollections.

If you’re a fan of Levon Helm, The Band, BB King, Bob Dylan or a myriad of other amazing American artists you won’t want to miss this sit-down with piano wizard Brian Mitchell who has been a first call ivory tickler for a few decades. 

Sitting with Gianluca celebrates iconic folk giant Dave Van Ronk, who would have been 85, together with folk singer David Massengill who toured with him for many years. Dave Van Ronk was the center for the 60s folk boom and was mentor to many fresh-faced folk-nick, including a young arrival called Bob Dylan. His knowledge and guitar arrangements of traditional music are legendary

Sitting with Gianluca celebrates the music and importance of late R&B legend Lloyd Price (RIP May 3, 2021) by airing excerpts of a sit-down from a visit to his upstate New York country mansion for MOJO Magazine (Feb ’18). Lloyd not only saw the birth of post war r&b but became a part of the birth of rock and roll when his first single, Lawdy Miss Clawdy, became a smash crossover hit in 1952 - argu...

Sitting with Gianluca is New York City acoustic blues player, recording artist, actor and author Guy Davis. After soaking up the arts as a child through his parents Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee, he has kept the family tradition alive by performing all over the world for the last four decades.

If you’re a fan of Texan songwriting icon Guy Clark, Sitting with Gianluca is Tamara Saviano, Guy’s friend, former publicist, biographer and producer of “Without Getting Killed or Caught” a documentary on the songwriter available for screening online.

"Sitting with Gianluca" will air an exclusive archive interview and radio session with late Texan songwriting legend Guy Clark. In seventies Nashville, a group of Texan songwriters that included Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle and honorary Texan Jerry Jeff Walker ushered in a grittier, road-weary type of roots music that allowed long-haired, pot-smoking hippies and the short-haired, conservative cou...

Sitting with Gianluca is New Orleans funky piano player and bandleader Jon Cleary who carries the funky gumbo-ya-ya piano stylings that the Crescent City is known for. Gianluca and Jon celebrate what would have been funkmeister and musical chameleon Johnny “Guitar” Watson’s 86th birthday with some cuts and conversation about what made Watson such a singular talent.

In honor of Justin Townes Earle, who passed away a week ago I am airing one of the conversations I had with him. I was one of the first people to ever interview Justin after his first CD and the second to interview when he came out of rehab. He lived down my street and we drunk at the same bar (before he went to rehab!). Justin was a really lovely lad - genuine, friendly and straight talking. Here...

Have you ever wondered how bands make it and keep their edge? Well it’s because publicists and record pluggers like 30 year veteran Dylan white who’s worked with everybody from Oasis and Joe strummer to U2 and Elton John. Behind every artists is a team of people that make the trains run on time with military precision. Dylan sits with Gianluca and gives him sneak peak behind the scenes of working...

Sitting with Gianluca is Italian singer-songwriter Andrea Tarquini from his apartment in Milan. Andrea speaks good English and will run down how an American artist his hometown of Rome changed Italian songwriting and also play a couple of songs. You’ll even get to hear Gianluca say things in a thick Italian accent with those amazing rolling "R"s!

In honor of what would have been David Bowie’s 73rd birthday, I listen some exclusive, never-been-told recollections from people that worked with him on his last two records along with an audio documentary on the closing Magic Shop recording studio he recorded in. I was granted complete access to the iconic studio in its final days and the documentary also includes some David Bowie recollections a...

In this episode, journeyman JP Steinberg - lifelong DJ, diehard raver, NYC promoter and event producer with an up-and-coming EDM journalism dedicated to the true school underground - will takes Gianluca deep into the heart of hip hop and electronica and turns him on to the genres through its history.

Sitting with Gianluca this evening is Sam Hariss bass player for New York City loveable rogues The Sweet Things. If you like The New York Dolls, Faces and seventies era Stones you will love them!

Sitting with Gianluca is transgender singer songwriter Mya Byrne who will also be singing a couple of songs.

Sitting with Gianluca is queer country pioneer Karen Pittelman of Karen and the Sorrows band leader and organizer of the annual Gay City Opry.

Sitting With Gianluca is Phil Buehler who’s book Wardy Forty uncovers Woody Guthrie’s last years with Huntington’s disease at Greystone Park State Hospital in New Jersey. Expect lots of unheard stories and plenty of Woody Guthrie music. 

Sitting with Gianluca is performance artist, "psychiatrist" and Radio Free Brooklyn host Dr. Lisa of Lisa Gives a Shit. Expect funny talk and songs about shrinks and nervous breakdowns.

In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day Gianluca pays tribute to First Nations musicians that formed the basis for rock and roll. Expect to be surprised who comes up.