The Orobians are a ska band founded during 1997 in Bergamo, Italy and still based in Bergamo.[1] They play ska and rocksteady standards (mostly instrumental) with a modern jazz twist.[2]

The Orobians
OriginBergamo, Italy
GenresSka, Rocksteady, Reggae
Years active1997 (1997)–present
LabelsGridalo Forte Records; Mad Butcher Records; Maninalto! Records
Websitewww.theorobians.com

The name comes from the Orobian Alps, a mountain range located between the provinces of Bergamo and Sondrio.

History

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From their start in 1997 the band modeled themselves on The Skatalites.[1]

They released their first album in November 2000[3] and in December 2000 they reached number one in the Popolare Network chart, the most important independent radio chart in Italy.[4]

They perform regularly in Italy, France and Eastern Europe and have opened for The Trojans, The Skatalites and Manu Chao.[4]

Their recordings have been used as theme tunes for programs on both Rai 2 and Rai 3.[4]

In 2001 they became a nonprofit cultural association whose aim is to spread Jamaican music.[4]

Personnel

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The line-up has varied over the years but is usually nine members playing five brass instruments, piano, guitar, contrabass and drums.[1][4] There is sometimes a singer.[1][4]

Roberto Ambrosioni – Keyboards
Stefano Bosio – Trumpet
Riccardo Capelli – Baritone Sax
Rudy Corbetta – Guitar
Gabriele Cortinovis – Bass
Giuseppe Generoso – Alto Sax
Stefano "Bunny" Marciali – Drums
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Ugo Crescini – Vocals

Former members

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  • On "Introducing the Orobians’ Jamaican Tunes" (2000):

Riccardo Capelli, “Tubo di stufa” – Baritone Sax
Tommaso Chiarolini - Double bass
Mirko Decaro – Piano/Organ
Arnaldo Ferrari Nasi, "Il Conte" – Guitar
Roberto Giussani - Trombone
Matteo Lucarelli – Trumpet
Stefano Marciali, "Bunny" – Drums
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Tiziano Rossi - Euphomium

  • On "9 Ska mads plus 1" (2002):

Riccardo Capelli, “Tubo di stufa” – Baritone Sax
Tommaso Chiarolini - Double bass
Ugo Crescini - Vocals
Arnaldo Ferrari Nasi, "Il Conte" – Guitar
Roberto Giussani - Trombone
Matteo Lucarelli – Trumpet
Stefano Marciali, "Bunny" – Drums
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Ennio Ravasio, "Jubba" – Organ/Piano
Tiziano Rossi - Euphomium

  • On "Jamaica-Italia Connection" (2004):

Riccardo Capelli, “Tubo di stufa” – Baritone Sax
Simone Cavalli – Guitar
Ugo Crescini - Vocals
Roberto Giussani - Trombone
Matteo Lorito - Double bass
Matteo Lucarelli – Trumpet
Stefano Marciali, "Bunny" – Drums
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Ennio Ravasio, "Jubba" – Organ/Piano
Tiziano Rossi - Euphomium

  • On "Come and party with the Orobians’ Anniversary Album" (2008):

Stefano Bosio – Trumpet
Riccardo Capelli, “Tubo di stufa” – Baritone Sax
Simone Cavalli – Guitar
Arnaldo Ferrari Nasi, "Il Conte" - Bass
Stefano Marciali, "Bunny" – Drums
Fabio Paganoni - Alto Sax
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Ennio Ravasio, "Jubba" – Organ/Piano
Tiziano Rossi - Euphomium
Luca Vezzoli - Vocals

  • On "Slave to the riddim" (2011):

Roberto Ambrosioni – Keyboards
Stefano Bosio – Trumpet
Riccardo Capelli, “Tubo di stufa” – Baritone Sax
Simone Chiarolini – Guitar
Gabriele Cortinovis - Bass
Arnaldo Ferrari Nasi, "Il Conte" - Guitar
Giuseppe Generoso - Alto Sax
Stefano Marciali, "Bunny" – Drums
Erik Peverelli – Tenor Sax
Luca Vezzoli - Vocals

Additional personnel

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Discography

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  • Introducing the Orobians’ Jamaican Tunes (Gridalo Forte Records, 2000)[3]

1. Tema principale da "Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto" [Ennio Morricone]
2. Theme from "From Russia With Love" [Lionel Bart]
3. Sentenza [Kontea]
4. The Mooche [Ellington-Mills]
5. Love Theme from "The Godfather" [Nino Rota]
6. Lillah [Khaled]
7. Also Spracht Zarathustra [Richard Strauss]
8. Prelude n°4 [Frederic Chopin]
9. Chez Tante Elise [Legrand]
10. Summertime [Gershwin&Gershwin]
11. Christine Keeler [Tuker-Dorough]
12. The Chicken (La Poia) [Ellis]
13. Guaglione [Nisa-Fanciulli]

  • 9 Ska mads plus 1 (Gridalo Forte Records, 2002)[5]

1. Napoleon solo [Taitt]
2. Pugni chiusi [Beretta/Gianco]
3. Money can't buy life [Campbell]
4. Ciao amore ciao [Tenco]
5. South China Sea [Skatalites]
6. Montefiori Skank (Lazy busy) [Montefiori]

  • Jamaica - Italia Connection (Gridalo Forte, 2004)[1][2]

1. Locomotivaintro [the Orobians]
2. Bop Train (Bebop) [Dizzy Gillespie]
3. Old Rocking Chair [Jakie Opel]
4. Exotica [Richards]
5. Under My Thumb [Jagger/Richards]
6. I Remember Treviglio [The Orobians]
7. This is the Day [Matt Johnson]
8. They Call Me Mr. Tibbs [Quincy Jones]
9. Comes Love [Brown/Stept/Tobias]
10. J'irai Cracher sur vos Tombes [Alain Goraguer]
11. A mi Manera [Marcelino Guerra]
12. Somethings are better left unsaid [W.Weeks]
13. La Ragazza con la Pistola [Nino Rota]
14. Bike Baba [The Orobians]
15. Li Vidi Tornare [Luigi Tenco]

  • Orobians' Anniversary Album (Mad Butcher Records, 2008)[2]

1. Also Spracht Zarathustra [Richard Strauss]
2. Money can't buy life [Campbell]
3. Lazy busy (Montefiori Skank) [Montefiori]
4. This is the Day [Matt Johnson]
5. Napoleon solo [Taitt]
6. Somethings are better left unsaid [W.Weeks]
7. Bike Baba [The Orobians]
8. Christine Keeler [Tuker-Dorough]
9. Tema principale da "Indagine su un cittadino al di sopra di ogni sospetto" [Ennio Morricone]
10. Bop Train (Bebop) [Dizzy Gillespie]
11. A mi Manera [Marcelino Guerra ]
12. Love Theme from "The Godfather" [Nino Rota]
13. Pugni chiusi [Beretta/Gianco]
14. Chez Tante Elise [Legrand]
15. J'irai Cracher sur vos Tombes [Alain Goraguer]
16. Old Rocking Chair [Jakie Opel]
17. I Remember Treviglio [The Orobians]
18. Li Vidi Tornare [Luigi Tenco]
19.Guaglione [Nisa-Fanciulli]
20. Prelude n°4 [Frederic Chopin]

  • Slave to The Riddim (Maninalto! Record, 2011)[1][2]

Sweet dreams (are made of this) [Lennox/Stewart]
Johnny come home [Gift/Steele]
Kiss [Prince]
Smalltown boy [Somerville/Bronski/Steinbachek]
Whose side are you on? [Reilly]
Who can it be now? [Hay]
Centro di gravità permanente [Battiato]
Don't go [Moyet/Clarke]
Thriller [Temperton]
Close to me [Smith]
Di black petty booshwah [Johnson]

References

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