MAURO was born in Milano (in 1966), but in the early seventies, he moves to Naples with his family. As a young man, he starts to sing in a punk band : Underskirt Presence. While he's still studying Arts, he discovers the Napolitan repertoire and specially the typical airs of Piedigrotta- (The Piedigrotta was a popular celebration where everybody was singing and improvising chorals in the streets. A century ago, this feast started the 7 of september... And everybody, the rich and the poor, gathered in the streets of Naples to join and be part of this pagan and delirious festival). Leafing thru' this book of spells and memories, MAURO forms his own band : Petruska, and in 1991, decides to explore exclusively the napolitan ballads from 1900 to 1950.

At first look, MAURO GIOIA seems to be the archetypal Italian crooner. He walks, behaves, smiles at you with that Caruso / Mario Lanza style so irresistible... But beware, the guy's only fooling. Eclectic, he builds up his performance like a painter juxtaposes his colours, adding here a touch of cabaret and there some references to italian movies (one can evoke Fellini for the exuberance and De Sica for the charm).

PIEDIGROTTAGIOIA is MAURO's first album... And a very brilliant debut. Recorded in The Salone Margherita (a magnificent and baroque theatre from the XIX century), this opus is an amazing collection of ancient napolitan songs. Listen to "Carcere" (a prisoner's lamentations), "Serenata' e 'na Femmena" (the story of an abused nun) or "Canzona Guappa..." (the misogynous lout) ! Immediatly, you'll take a walk in an old Naples of narrow streets, and you'll remove dust from a glorious past of songs and characters floating at the feet of the Vesuvius.
MAURO sings strongly and FABRIZIO ROMANO conducts the orchestra with consummate skill. Delivered with precision, love, humour and irony, this PIEDIGROTTAGIOIA is a breath of deep and fresh air in a world of claustrophic sounds. A latin and rainbow-coloured miracle !