Heavy grief in the music world: Mauro Sabbione has died. Who was the keyboardist of Matia Bazar?
This end of 2022 brings terrible news in the face of sadness. The last one, in chronological order, unfortunately sees Mauro Sabbione as the protagonist. Former Matia Bazar and Litfiba died. Talented keyboard player, composer and pianist with a long career. If today we remember Matia Bazar with affection, it is also thanks to his musical genius. Mauro Sabbione has indeed created the Italian band’s signature electronic sound. He was a member in the 80s and later also known for his participation in Piero Pelù’s Litfiba. A real talent who died on December 21 at the age of just 65. The news was broken by Adnkronos, where Maestro Mauro Sabbione has been collaborating for the last few years. In fact, for a long time he edited the testimonies of the Sanremo Festival. However, as mentioned, his career was certainly not limited to the Matia Bazar experience, although this is the one best known to the general public.
Who was Mauro Sabbione for Maria Bazar?
Born on April 17, 1957 in Genoa, Mauro Sabbione graduated from the Niccolò Paganini Conservatory at a very young age. Matia Bazar’s entry into the formation officially took place in 1981, when he took the place that belonged to Piero Cassano. Fede debuted in electrifying fashion during a summer tour, Il tempo del Sole, and his experience was very significant considering the impact it had on the famous Italian group’s sound. At the same time, it was a relatively short collaboration, lasting from 1981 to 1984. Together with producer Roberto Colombo, he changed the course of the band’s history and gave it the electronic twist that fans value so much. We are talking in particular about the albums Berlin, Paris, London and Tango. In detail these are the songs he composed: Zeta, Astra, Palestina, Elettrochoc, Casa mia, among others.
During Mauro Sabbione’s short time with Matia Bazar, he was also able to establish himself at the Sanremo Festival and won the Critics Award with the song Vacanze Romane. It was 1983. As already mentioned, Casa mia is one of his songs and together with Antonella Ruggiero he proposed it at the MOMA in New York. The cooperation with Litfiba, on the other hand, is more permanent. From 1990 to the early 2000s he took part in Piero Pelù’s project, working as a keyboardist and contributing to the recordings of important albums such as El Diablo and Insidia. He later contributed to other groups, more or less mainstream, as an arranger, keyboardist and producer. Let’s talk about Diaframma, Melodrama, Violet Eves, Garbo, Mirage and Modà, among others. A versatile artist who also ventured into composing theater soundtracks, operas and live performances. Throughout his life he has collaborated with important artists on the local scene and undoubtedly left his mark.