Matteo Mancuso

Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer [NL]
Friday, 7th March 2025

Fame had already preceded Matteo, even though his discography is limited to just a single album, The Journey released in 2023. Playing the guitar from a very young age, coached by his father Vincenco, an accomplished guitarist himself, Matteo started performing on stage from the age of 11. A true Italian prodigy who is hailed as the future of the (jazz) guitar by numerous great guitarists across the world. Lots of pressure then on the slender shoulders of Matteo Mancuso, who by now is ‘world famous’ for his performances with notable greats and his YouTube videos. An announced show at the Zoetermeer rock temple Boerderij was therefore anticipated with great excitement and interest. And I wasn’t the only one, the venue was pleasantly crowded, not completely sold out but the atmosphere was great right from the start. With undoubtedly a large contingent of (aspiring) guitarists, curious about the first concert in the Netherlands of this phenomenon.

A performance that starts promptly at half past eight with opening number Silkroad, a hard-hitting opener, without any form of announcement. Then follows Fred, a tribute to the late English guitarist Allan Holdsworth, also the composer, interspersed with improvisations of his own. The first spoken words of Mancuso follow around the third track, Open Fields. With all three musicians coming from Sicily, the composition is an ode to the island. Lots of emotion and melody at the start but ending much heavier, a kind of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde on six strings.

There’s a leading role for drummer ‘animal’ Gianluca Pellerito, a cross between Billy Cobham and Ginger Baker, in the lightning-fast performance of Falcon Flight, followed by Havona, a cover of a Weather Report song, written by Jaco Pastorius. Mancuso calls him understatedly ‘a famous bassist’. Samba Party apparently has nothing to do with Samba nor Carlos Santana, but everything with the melodious instrumental jazz rock music that Matteo has patented.

Now, Jeff Beck’s Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers is one of my all-time favourites. Alas, the inevitable happens: after playing about three phrases Mancuso breaks a string, he’s human after all. Without batting an eye and with a warm smile to the acknowledging audience, the guitarist straps on his other guitar and, in a mist blue smoke and right in the middle of the spotlights, continues to play as if nothing had happened, kudos.

Blues for John is a Chet Atkins-esque jazzy tune performed with a bite, which in turn is followed by a cover of Spain, written by Chick Corea, another sadly missed jazz artist. The title track from Matteo Mancuso’s The Journey is acoustic on the album, here in an electric version, is a true highlight and resting point, an extremely melodic duet for guitar and bass. The harmonious playing on the latter instrument is a top-notch performance by Riccardo Oliva.

Followed by a number from the much-lamented Paganini of the bass guitar, Jaco Pastorius, called The Chicken, but then 100 times faster, as Mancuso expresses graphically. It’s the last tack of the main setlist; Mancuso apologizes extensively to the enthusiastic audience, it’s his first tour and songs are scarce, with only his debut album The Journey under his belt. After briefly leaving the stage, Drop D offers a hard rocking end to the evening, a suitable end to an hour and a half of sublime playing by the trio.

An ecstatic audience rewards the band with an ovation. Over 600 strong, connoisseurs too, they watch the lightning-fast antics on six strings with a mixture of interest and admiration. And there’s applause at precisely the right moment for yet another special demonstration of skills by one of the musicians. Three young musicians from Sicily who have apparently been playing together for a long time, with much mutual fun and respect, making music together. Without exception virtuoso; from the subtle to hard hitting drummer Gianluca Pellerito, to the melodic playing of six-string bassist Riccardo Oliva and the absolute master of the guitar, Matteo. Dressed in a simple stage outfit, sweaters and jeans, they look like students, sophomore at most, if you ask me. But don’t let their youthful, casual appearance fool you, there’s pros at work here.

The leading role is of course for the prodigy from Palermo. Praised as the future of the guitar by Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa and Al Di Meola, to name but a few. And he fully lives up to said reputation this evening. Rarely will a debut album and first tour have caused such a stir as this time, the fans really loved it. Playing a few songs on a light blue Pacifica and the rest on his trusted Custom Revstar, both from Yamaha brand that has supported him for years. Easily switching between feather-light fusion and big bold and especially heavy jazz rock. Above all, that extremely pure tone and phrasing. Compliments also for the sound, as well as the lighting in the hands of an Italian crew, although the lighting was a little over the top at times, somewhat reminiscent of a hard rock show from the early 80s… 😉

Finally, back to Matteo Mancuso. From whisper-soft to screeching solos, lightning-fast fingers dance on the neck of his guitar, with that characteristic finger-style technique – quasi Flamenco/Classical. Smooth, without any visible form of effort or stress, as if he has been performing for since a young age in theatres around the world. Only 28 years old, where will this end. An excellent debut on the Dutch stages of this former prodigy, hopefully indeed the beginning of a new era.

[Photographs used with the kind permission of Richard Winkel (Poppodium Boerderij)]

SETLIST
Silkroad
Fred
Open Fields
Falcon Flight
Havona
Samba Party
Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers
Blues For John
Spain
The Journey
The Chicken
~ Encore:
Drop D

MUSICIANS
Matteo Mancuso – Guitar
Riccardo Oliva – Bass
Gianluca Pellerito – Drums

LINKS
Matteo Mancuso – Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram