Italian guitarist Davide Picci Records at GSI

GSI recently welcomed Davide Picci to its showroom for a recording session featuring works by Astor Piazzolla, Mathias Duplessy, and Dusan Bogdanović. The program reflected a wide range of influences, from Argentine tango to contemporary guitar writing, highlighting Picci’s versatility as a performer.

Davide's first video featrures his performance of Campero by Astor Piazzolla, a piece that combines elements of traditional Argentine music with the composer’s distinctive harmonic language. Though less frequently heard than some of Piazzolla’s concert works, Campero blends rhythmic and melodic character that define much of his music. Picci interpreted its contrasting sections maintaining a strong narrative sense. He recorded this performance on a 1966 Hernandez y Aguado guitar.

Davide also played Cavalcade by Mathias Duplessy. Known for drawing inspiration from musical traditions around the world, Duplessy often blends folk influences with contemporary guitar techniques. Cavalcade reflects this approach, featuring driving rhythms and recurring melodic ideas that create a sense of momentum throughout the piece. He played this piece on a 2026 Brian Itzkin “635” .

Returning to Piazzolla, Picci performed Romántico, one of the movements from the composer’s Tango Suite. In contrast to the more rhythmic side of Piazzolla’s writing, Romántico focuses on long melodic lines and expressive harmonies. Picci allowed the melody to remain at the forefront, bringing out the lyrical qualities of the music. He recorded this piece on a 2007 Jose Ramirez “Elite” guitar.

The program concluded with the second movement of Dusan Bogdanović’s Sonata No. 4. Bogdanović’s music is known for combining classical forms with influences from jazz, Balkan traditions, and improvisation. The movement explores a variety of colors and harmonic ideas maintaining its dreamy, romantic mood. Picci approached the work with control and attention to detail, allowing its distinctive musical language to come through clearly. For this piece he used a 1981 Jose Romanillos guitar.