Giovanni Lombardi a.k.a. Gio Lombardi of Los Angeles, California, is a musician, performer, composer, international seminarist, music educational columnist, music educator. Born in Pescara Italy, raised in the coastal city of Bari, picked up his first guitar at the age of 10 and he has not stopped playing music ever since.
"I was about 10 when I fell in love with music. A guitar was available at home and my father knew how to play few songs. Later on my sister took a few guitar lessons, but somehow the guitar ended up in my hands and the love story that changed my life began."
Giovanni’s love for music and his natural inclination toward education, has started him very young as both performer and teacher. He has played and taught extensively throughout South America, U.S.A and Europe, where he periodically returns to teach clinics.
Gio Lombardi is an eclectic artist and not confined to any one genre. He represents the modern view of the musical world without forgetting its roots. Gio’s guitar style has been described as "No Barriers", his writing and playing style is a journey through groovy rhythm sections, Jazz-influenced harmonies, spicy flavors, rock edge, soulful solos with a touch of flashy virtuoso & sentimental ballads. His latest album release “Scripta Manent” has been labeled as a “prominent work” of this decade in the West coast Acid Jazz movement.
Gio’s services cover a broad array: performing, teaching, composing, track productions and more.
Describe your rig or instrument of choice: These are the guitars I mostly use according to the gigs, a customized Fernandes solid body, Gibson 345 ESTD, Takamine TC122SC. As far as the amps, I normally use a customized Peavey Valve King head or a Mesaboogie head. I normally alternate between a 2x12 Mesaboogie single Cabs, one slant close back, and one straight open back or a customized 2x12 Seismic single cab with E.V. speakers. The pedalboard I use the most is the Nova System bt TC. Electronics alone with an Ernie Ball Volume pedal and a Jim Dunlop Wah
How did you discover Nordstrand? The search for the perfect pickup has started a long time ago, a few years ago I’ve seen Michael (Thompson) live at Musicians Institute, I was captured by the sound of his pickups, then I met Maurilio Mina who mentioned Nordstrand. I put the two things together and told Mo’ “I must try them”…the rest is history!
What Nordstrand products do you use and what do you like about them? I use two Shush Puppy (neck position and middle position) and an NVH vintage humbucker in the bridge position. The tone definition of each of them is spectacular and in the style of music I play every nuance needs to be heard! The Shush Puppy has a particular sweetness and roundness to their tone. I’m madly in love with them! The NVH, on the other end, delivers the perfect balance and tone definition, especially with distortion.
Artists whom with you are currently working:Julio Andrade (m.d. for the U.S.) and under my own artist name: Gìo Lombardi
Other artists of note whom with you have worked: Miki Howard, Alex Alessandroni Jr. Ruben Valtierra
For more on Gio, visit:
www.giolombardi.com
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