Calibro 35 is a worldwide touring instrumental crime funk project out from Italy.
The band started back in 2007 when producer Tommaso Colliva invited the best musicians from the contemporary alternative/indie scene to record some golden age soundtracks by Maestros such as Morricone, Bacalov, Micalizzi and Trovajoli, trying to resuscitate the funk side of Italian film music so loved by directors Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderberg amongst others.
The band’s members include: Massimo Martellotta on guitars and lapsteels, Enrico Gabrielli on keyboards and brass, Fabio Rondanini on drums and Luca Cavina on bass. All musicans were (and still are) amongst the most sought after Italian alternative session players with collaborations ranging from Mike Patton to Damo Suzuki (from CAN) to Stewart Copeland to John Parish and many others.
From 2008 Calibro 35 has released three full length albums that has been distributed worldwide giving good press exposure to the band on both side of the ocean. Band has been described as "Italian soundtrack funk that sounds like Goblin recording at Stax!" (Waxpoetics Mag) while Alarm Press wrote “Formed to recreate the funky and creepy Italian soundtracks of the 1970s, Milan’s Calibro 35 has evolved into something much more, creating original pieces that rival some of their inspirations in range and “jam kicking”. Songs taken from albums have been included in numerous soundtracks including Hollywood blockbuster “RED” starring John Malkovich, Bruce Willis and Hellen Mirren and Italian productions “Gli Angeli Del Male” (directed by Michele Placido), “i 2 Soliti Idioti” and “La Banda Del Brasiliano”. Calibro 35 also recorded full soundtrack for italo-spanish feature film “Said” directed by Joseph Lefevre and for American documentary “Eurocrime” directed by Mike Malloy.
On the concerts side what was initially meant to be a one off studio projects became a critically acclaimed live band winning MEI/PIMI award as Best Italian Tour 2008 and Keep On Award as Best Italian Live Band 2009. So far the band played concerts in US, UK, Brazil, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia, Portugal, Austria, Slovenia and Kosovo.
Live highlights include participation to many festivals (Nova Rock Festival in Austria, CMJ in New York, Eurosonic in Groningen, SXSW in Austin Texas, Venice Film Festival, Miami Festival in Milan, Hitweek Festival in Los Angeles, MiTo in Turin), extensive club touring in Italy (more than 300 gigs across the country, many sold out venues), live soundtrack shows for Italian classic movie “Milano Odia” (Umberto Lenzi 1974) and American silent movie “The Racket” (Lewis Milestone 1928) and opening for international acts such as Muse, Sharon Jones, Afghan Whigs and Jet.
As for albums Calibro 35 live set includes original compositions as well as classic gems from Italian soundtrack repertoire, perfectly balancing funk drums and bass grooves, distorted guitars and organs and psychedelic flutes and saxophone.
