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Rating: I feel it is absolutely essential to highlight the release of a CD that brings together artists from the provinces of Bergamo, Brescia, Milan, and Cremona, whose sales proceeds are donated to the Association Aiutiamo Renato of Rovetta (BG). Let me explain what it's about. Renato Visinoni is a man who, at the age of 47, found himself without hands and feet due to a damn streptococcus that caused him sepsis two years ago, and since then he moves and walks thanks to the help of prostheses.
Let's hear what Bepi, who is the main creator of this beautiful CD, has to say:
"Renato's story could be that of any of us, a family member, or a friend. The bad part is what's evident to all: a man at 47 years old forced to start from scratch, without legs and arms. But there's also something positive, there's the people of his town (Rovetta, in Val Seriana) and nearby areas who come together to help him as much as possible, there's the half miracle of all those who made this CD possible (artists, technicians, and sponsors) giving us songs (many of which are unpublished and some written specifically for him or for the occasion), hours of work and money... but above all, there is the will to live and fight of this stubborn fellow citizen of mine who, less than 12 months after the terrible amputations, with the help of the prostheses, was already walking! "Io so camminare" is not by chance also the title of this work and, even though the hope is that the flow could obviously be in both directions, it is Renato's great strength that truly reaches all of us. We who struggle with our daily lives and, rightly so, find it sometimes difficult, too difficult. The comparison with a drama probably bigger than ours cannot fail to help us... because if he smiles, we can too".
Let's see who's participating in this CD because the offering is rich and tantalizing.
Leading is Cristina Donà, probably the most well-known name in the collection. She gives us a precious acoustic cover of Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren", accompanied by Davide Covelli on the other acoustic.
Despite his many commitments, Alessandro Ducoli also finds time to offer this piece in dialect gaì (for those who don't know, the language that the shepherds of Val Camonica used during the Austrian domination to prevent the rulers from understanding what they were saying). The title of the piece is "Curidùr".
Luciano Ravasio is one of the leading authors of modern Bergamasque dialect songs. Here he lets us listen to a piece freely inspired by a poem by Cristoforo Casirati known as Crica, "Purselì".
There's no need for lengthy introductions to present the Lùf, a great folk band from Camonica. The piece featured here is taken from the album "Flel" and is titled "Fùrtuna".
The Folkstone are instead a Bergamasque group whose music is a folk-rock that intersects with the sounds of bagpipes, bombards and medieval citterns, flutes, Celtic harp. They have a success that goes well beyond the regional borders and here they propose "Vortici scuri".
Then there's one of the most interesting emerging realities in the Italian scene. Intimist atmospheres and melodic rock for the Caponord and this track called "L'unico".
Stefano Galli is a guitarist who plays an entirely instrumental piece dedicated to his daughter called "Cecilia".
Then there are our mythical Pa & Ansia with a track composed specifically for Renato, "L'uomo bionico".
There's also Robi Zonca, a great bluesman from Bergamo who here presents a piece from his latest CD "So Good", titled "How Long".
Even Dr. Faust & the Coffe House Brothers come from the province of Bergamo and propose an excellent rock-blues called "Liberi".
A very curious character is Lissander Brasca who writes songs in a mixed Lombard dialect of his personal creation. Listen to "'Sa ta speravet de trovar" to believe it.
Christian Ryder has been a collaborator of Bepi in writing some dance pieces for the Prismas like "Pirlies" or "Cò de goma". In this case, he offers, together with Daniele Murgia, with whom he forms a duo called Consenso, "Rinato" (another piece obviously dedicated to Renato Visinoni).
The Italian Farmer are an extremely interesting rap duo from Brescia, with sharp lyrics and great rhythm, here accompanied by Ettore Giuradei with "Un pezzo maturo".
Fraulein Rottenmeier is another great emerging reality from Brescia in general and Val Camonica in particular, here there's a track from their album "Elettronica maccheronica", "Lacrime in tangenziale".
Even Teo & le Veline Grasse are one of the groups of the moment. Fun, even a bit of trash in their live performances, but also a lot of maturity in the lyrics as demonstrated by "Oggi va così".
There's no need to introduce Charlie Cinelli, who here revives an old folk piece of his "Come la Mèla".
Finally, the song that gives the album its title, "Io so camminare". It's performed by Bepi & the Prismas, Christian Ryder, Max Marchesi, and Renato Visinoni himself, who here kindly lends himself to singing.
Finally, let's read what Renato has to say about his story.
"Hello. My name is Renato Visinoni. I was born in Aarau, Switzerland, on May 14, 1962, and I grew up in Giubiasco (Switzerland) where I lived until I was thirty. Subsequently, I moved with my parents to Rovetta (Bergamo) where I opened a bar with my brother thirteen years ago, after holding various jobs (salesman, deli clerk, pizza maker) because I couldn't find a job as an auto electrician, the trade I learned when I was still living in Ticino. Thirty years ago, I was the victim of a very serious car accident and the doctors had to remove my spleen due to the extensive internal bleeding. I nonetheless lived peacefully until the night of December 23, 2009. I was with my partner. I remember we were making cookies in a joyful atmosphere when I felt unwell and my fever began to rise. On the morning of December 24, I called the medical guard who deemed it unnecessary to visit me. In his opinion, it was just a simple flu. Twelve hours later, I was already in a coma, intubated and at the brink of death in the hospital. Diagnosis: septic shock. A bacterium, a simple streptococcus had intruded into my body causing severe sepsis. I might have avoided it all if I had known about the existence of a preventive vaccine for people without a spleen, which reduces the possibility of being affected by these bacteria. Unfortunately, no one had ever told me about it. I fought between life and death for many days. The doctors told my loved ones I had very little chance of survival, yet I managed to overcome the very serious condition. But at a very high price: I had to consent to the amputation of hands and feet because they were necrotic. Nevertheless, I am still in the world and happy to be here despite the severe disability that will accompany me for the rest of my days. I'm happy with what I've managed to accomplish so far, but the road is still long. I have to learn to manage four prostheses... Whoever enters the prosthetic world remains there for life: prostheses require frequent revisions and replacements. All of this, of course, comes with high costs!!! My existence is completely overturned, but ironically, thanks to those around me, I consider myself fortunate to still be alive! This is my story. No one knows what life can bring, but the important thing is to always find the strength to fight for a dignified life despite the difficulties".
On the back cover of the CD there are also the bank details for those wishing to make spontaneous donations.
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