Three generations of interpreters of the proverbial six strings come together for one of the biggest stages of the Cagliari summer: and it's Forma e Poesia nel Jazz that this Saturday will bring the great American guitarist Eric Johnson to the MusiCA Arena at the Cagliari Fair , sharing the stage with the Italian talent Matteo Mancuso and the island prodigy Gabriele Chiesa . The latter will open the concert at 8:15 pm , with entrance from Piazzale Marco Polo .
The very young Chiesa , who turns fourteen next November and has been a guitar virtuoso since childhood , will treat spectators to a short solo performance, ranging from traditional blues to rearrangements of Italian and international singer-songwriters. His musical talents will be complemented by an already solid stage presence , preceding the two headliners on the bill.
Meanwhile, the internationally renowned talent Matteo Mancuso , born in Palermo in 1996, will be on stage with his trio , completed by Riccardo Oliva on bass and Gianluca Pellerito on drums. After graduating in jazz guitar from the Conservatory of his hometown, the artist began to gain attention with the band Snips , which conquered social media with a reinterpretation of "The Chicken" that garnered millions of views. In 2019, he began collaborating with Yamaha Guitars , with whom he participated in the NAMM in Los Angeles, the Young Guitar Festival in Thailand, and several masterclasses in Russia.
The following year saw the formation of the trio with Stefano India on bass and Giuseppe Bruno on drums, within which he explored the art of composition and produced his first original songs, alongside an intense live activity between Italy and the rest of Europe. While the debut with the current trio dates back to 2023 , with the album " The Journey ", which also brought him to the States, this year's new album " Route 96 " is instead released, which boasts the extraordinary participation of Steve Vai , Antoine Boyer and Valeriy Stepanov in a fusion album marked by great technique, melodic spirit and expressive freedom.
And closing the evening will obviously be the "Texan ace" Eric Johnson , one of the greatest rock instrumentalists from overseas, also accompanied by a minimalist ensemble featuring Daniel Kimbro on bass and Tal Bergman on drums. Born in 1954, the musician already earned flattering comparisons to Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix in the early 1980s , a comparison that was later confirmed in his debut " Tones " (1986), praised by critics and nominated for a Grammy Award. But the definitive consecration came with " Ah Via Musicom " (1990), a platinum record that this time won the prestigious award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance .
From there, Johnson's career has continued unstoppably, with seventeen albums released under his own name and others in collaboration with famous colleagues , such as " Ecletic " with Mike Stern and " G3 Live " with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, also platinum. Alongside his renowned guitar playing, Johnson has also proven himself a remarkable pianist and singer, capable of combining technique, lyricism and unique sounds . Among countless awards and eight Grammy nominations, the latest " Texaphonic Tour " brought the artist back to Europe after over a decade , finally landing on the island.
