Unknown (or little known) musicians worth listening to

**frabarmus** · 06-05-2026, 09:19 AM

You may post here whatever you think fits with the thread-title.

This is a mid-eighties record by a quartet made of Tuscan musicians who are friends of mine. When I lived in Tuscany I had the pleasure of playing, time and again, with the bassist and drummer of this group.

Stefano Cantini: Saxophones
Riccardo Bianchi: Guitar
Lello Pareti: Bass
Piero Borri: Drums

T

(I guess you can tell this is the mid- eighties also by the ECM vibe, appearing here and there)

**kris** · 06-05-2026, 09:29 AM

**frabarmus** · 06-05-2026, 09:37 AM

**frabarmus** · 06-05-2026, 09:42 AM

**frabarmus** · 06-05-2026, 10:27 AM

Some Fusion won't hurt (Played by Jazz musicians, anyway)...

Patrizio Fariselli was the keyboards player in the 1970s Italian Jazzrock group AREA

**kris** · 06-07-2026, 01:02 AM

There are a lot of excellent musicians from Italy.

**frabarmus** · 06-07-2026, 02:55 AM

Originally Posted by kris

There are a lot of excellent musicians from Italy.

Unfortunately some of these talented musicians were unlucky, they died in the 1990's, Massimo Urbani (alto sax) died when he was only 36, Luca Flores (piano) was just 39 and Maurizio Caldura (tenor sax) was also 39. Massimo Urbani died of overdose, Luca Flores was bipolar and committed suicide, Maurizio Caldura also committed suicide.
That's extremely sad. They were my friends. Musicians are often fragile and sensitive people.

**kris** · 06-07-2026, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by frabarmus

Unfortunately some of these talented musicians were unlucky, they died in the 1990's, Massimo Urbani (alto sax) died when he was only 36, Luca Flores (piano) was just 39 and Maurizio Caldura (tenor sax) was also 39. Massimo Urbani died of overdose, Luca Flores was bipolar and committed suicide, Maurizio Caldura also committed suicide.
That's extremely sad. They were my friends. Musicians are often fragile and sensitive people.

It's sad. They were really young people.

**frabarmus** · 06-07-2026, 03:02 AM

The piano solo (by Luca Flores) in this piece is amazing (worth transcribing) I think.

**frabarmus** · 06-07-2026, 03:16 AM

Here Luca Flores with David Murray as guest. David Murray wanted Luca to join his quartet in New York and offered to pay the rent for him but Luca was already very ill with manic depression, so he couldn't do that.

**frabarmus** · 06-07-2026, 01:53 PM

**rictroll** · 06-09-2026, 10:24 PM

Ian Coury

Bruce Dunlap

Tim Collins & Peter O'Mara

**Jimmy blue note** · 06-10-2026, 04:09 AM

There are so many treasures that I now consider mainstays to my listening but still come as "unknowns" to many.
Among my favourites are
Linc Chamberland who I believe has a style uniquely self taught.

Harry Lahey who I know did study with Johnny Smith

Billy Bean, an amazing Philly player who was derailed way too soon. This Rhythm changes contrafact is quite nice.

Oscar Aleman was an Argentine steel resonator player I really like

George Barnes is a really original player that history seems to have left in the shadows. Shame.

Billy Bauer is another forgotten player who worked with Lennie Tristano

When it comes to modern players, there are SO many amazing players that are quite unknown outside of narrow circles. Max Light is one of my favourites.

Eleonora Strino is also not a household name

Too many modern players are emerging,
I'll just mention Susanna/Loke Risberg in closing. One I'm watching closely

**djg** · 06-11-2026, 07:28 AM

wim overgaauw, milan novak, vinnie corrao, adrien moingard, mayo hubert, lorenzo petrocca, wesley g

**frabarmus** · 06-13-2026, 05:14 AM

**Bob_Ross** · 06-14-2026, 07:43 AM

I studied with Richie Hart for ~18 months back in the late 1970s, and I'm just gobsmacked that he wasn't -- and still isn't -- better known. I believe he's on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music these days, but he still seems to have a very low profile, almost no internet presence.

**frabarmus** · 06-14-2026, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Bob_Ross

I studied with Richie Hart for ~18 months back in the late 1970s, and I'm just gobsmacked that he wasn't -- and still isn't -- better known. I believe he's on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music these days, but he still seems to have a very low profile, almost no internet presence.

Very nice playing. His right hand posture/thumb-technique looks the same as Jim Mullen's...

**frabarmus** · 06-14-2026, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Bob_Ross

I believe he's on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music these days

Two more low profile (yet extremely good) guitarists on the faculty at Berklee (at least, they were once upon a time... not sure if they're still there these days)