Roberto Vitelli & Ellesmere
Ellesmere is the brainchild of Roberto Vitelli
already known as the bass and guitar player with Taproban. Roberto is a talented and prolific composer: his multiform musical visions will be reflected in a series of releases that will have Ellesmere as their evocative trade mark.
The first project, that have seen the light in September 2015, is the 40 minutes acoustic suite “Les Chateaux de la Loire”, featuring the talents of John Hackett (Steve Hackett, JHBand) on flute, Luciano Regoli (RRR, Samadhi) vocals and paintings, Anthony Phillips (Genesis) narration, Daniele Pomo (RanestRane) drums and percussions.
Two bonus tracks on CD version.
In 2016 Ellesmere & Pericle Sponzilli (RAM) play the song “Sull’Orlo Dello Spago” (P. Sponzilli) , on the Colossus project “Decameron pt. III”, with Luciano Regoli (RRR, Samadhi), Fabio Liberatori (Stadio), Andy Bartolucci, Yorgos Pentzikis and M.D.G.
The second Ellesmere album “Ellesmere II – From Sea and Beyond” was out on November 2018 on the AMS RECORDS/BTF label on CD/LP format and Digital Download. The album is again the brainchild of the Italian multi instrumentalist Roberto Vitelli, who wrote the music and the lyrics of every song, as well as taking care of most of the bass and keyboards parts on the seven tracks that are part of the concept. This time to give life to his writing, Vitelli asked some outstanding musicians to join him on his journey: Robert Berry (3, Keith Emerson) on vocals; Trey Gunn (King Crimson, David Sylvian, UKZ, Security Project) at the Warr Guitar; David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator, Osanna) on saxophones; Alan Benjamin (Advent, Mirthrandir), Brett Kull (Echolyn), Davy O’List (The Nice, Roxy Music) and Keith More (Arena, John Wetton) on guitars; Marco Bernard (The Samurai of Prog) on bass; Daniele Pomo (RanestRane) on drums.
End 2020 the third one (Wyrd) is out. A fantastic power trio with Mattias Olsson (Änglagård) on drums and percussion plus other special guests such as David Cross (King Crimson) violins; John Hackett (Steve Hackett, JHBand) flute; Tony Paglica (Le Orme), Tomas Bodin (The Flower Kings) and Fabio Liberatori (Stadio, RAM) keys; David Jackson (VDGG, Osanna) saxes; Luciano Regoli (RRR, Samadhi) voice, etc.
Wyrd now in vinyl too!
On June 24, 2022, in double CD papersleeve edition, “Livesmere” is out! A double live album! Here the first two albums are played almost entirely, thus comparing the two main souls of the project: the pastoral, acoustic and folk and the rock one. Two unreleased songs, “Rain To Come” and “Nightfall”, enhance the whole, the latter further enhanced by the presence of John Hackett on flute (Steve Hackett, JHBand) flute and Fabio Liberatori on keys (Stadio, RAM).
And now Stranger Skies is the fourth discographic chapter, musically and visually strongly linked to the previous Wyrd released in 2021: from an iconographic point of view, in fact, the collaboration with the famous illustrator Rodney Matthews, creator of a marvellous cover painting depicting two opposing worlds, one ‘cold’ - linked to the first four songs of the album - and one ‘warm’ connected to the two long closing compositions - is here renewed. Stranger Skies thus once again deals with the theme of travelling and discovering new, unexplored worlds, the real trait d’union of all Ellesmere’s records.
He has been involved in many musical projects, playing with great artists such as Anthony Phillips, John Hackett, David Jackson, Clive Nolan, Robert Berry, David Cross, Graeme Taylor, Davy O’List, Keith More, Trey Gunn, Brett Kull, Mattias Olsson, Tomas Bodin, Alan Benjamin, Marco Bernard, Kimmo Pörsti, Steve Unruh, John Wilkinson, Steve Hackett, Oliver Wakeman, Bob Catley, Tony Clarkin, Bob Hodges, Tony Pagliuca, Bernardo Lanzetti, Maurizio Guarini, Antonio Marangolo, Luciano Regoli, Fabio Liberatori, Pericle Sponzilli, Daniele Pomo, Giacomo Anselmi, Riccardo Romano, etc. Roberto also performed with David O’List (The Nice) & “The Attack” in the famous HRH Prog Festival in North Wales and with David Jackson (VDGG) and Maurizio Guarini (Goblin) Live at Prog and Frogs 2024 Fest.
Roberto/Ellesmere will once again play at next year's Fusion 6 Prog Festival in the UK.
Gear: Rickenbacker 4003 Jetglo & “Geddy Lee” Fender Jazz Bass, Gibson Gold Top, Eko Ranger 12 strings, Fender Stratocaster U.S.A., Takamine 6 strings classic, E-Bow, Moog Taurus I & III Bass Pedals Synthesizer, Trace Elliot & Marshall Amps, Effects (MXR: Phase 90, etc.).
Ellesmere 2019
