Fantomatik Orchestra is a musical project born in Tuscany in 1993 as a funky, soul and rhythm’n’blues band, with ethno, pop and dance influences; the first album (“Cover machine”) is released in 1996, and in 2001 the band undertakes a breakthrough turn: from stage performance to marching band, along the lines of the big American street bands, such as Dirty Dozen.
The repertoire is as such rearranged and adapted to this new ensemble formed by 14 elements: 3 percussions, 4 trumpets, 4 saxophones, 1 sousaphone, 1 trombone, 1 guitar. The new arrangement finds immediate response and stands out amongst audiences, thank to a growing number of concerts (over 400) in all the Italian squares and numerous national and European festivals. During the last seven years Fantomatik Orchestra performed in Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence, Turin, Genoa, Bari, Siena, Perugia, Arezzo, Viareggio, Rimini, Pisa, Alessandria, Brindisi, Assisi, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Treviso, Taranto, Caserta, Bergamo, Sanremo, Montpellier, Bessines, Linz; it played as a support band for international artists such as Genesis, Earth Wind & Fire and George Clinton; Fantomatik took part in TV programmes (“Assolutamente” on Raiuno, a Ballandi production), and theatre and cinematographic events.

The founder and leader of Fantomatik Orchestra is Stefano Scalzi, trombonist and arranger with extensive live and studio jazz, pop and funky experience. Over the years, Fantomatik Orchestra has maintained and strengthened a growing image and credibility, also thank to the addition of new valid musicians and its high-level organic, formed exclusively by professionals; it has created a new “trend” in the music industry, which has inspired other recent amateur marching bands, that are trying to follow the Fantomatik’s path. Since the marching band version, two CDs have been released (“Zerowatt” in 2001 and “Pirati” in 2004), which contain original tracks and covers from key authors such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Henry Mancini, Bob Marley, James Brown; the two albums sold about 10,000 copies, solely during the concerts.

The third album, which has been released, contains both original tracks and covers, with particular emphasis on the “ethnic” aspect. The new CD is named “Experience”; starting from the musical experiences acquired in the last few years, it will go through the five continents on an imaginary journey, with an accent on the primordial “beat” that originates from Africa, has travelled for centuries in the world influencing all the contemporary styles.

Fantomatik Orchestra: Stefano Scalzi arranger, trombone. Trumpets: Luca Marianini, Massimo Trimboli, Nicola Cellai, Stefano Masoni, Matteo Spolveri. Saxophones: Marco Caponi, Giacomo Petrucci, Claudio Ingletti, Riccardo Zini. Percussions: Riccardo Butelli, Matteo Breschi. Guitar: Jacopo Castrucci. Sousaphones: Simon Chiappelli, Massimiliano Santella, Loris Di Leo.

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