JP was born in Ceprano, Italy to a musical family who encouraged and nurtured his interest in music. At the age of 12 years old, JP began playing keyboard for a Top 40 band. However, after listening to other bands play rock; he switched his interest to the guitar teaching himself how to play. Being influenced at the time with groups like Led Zeppelin, Cream, the Beatles and his greatest musical inspiration Jimi Hendrix, led him to continue his musical studies after high school by attending the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. Not long afterward he began performing with several rock bands in town.
JP first met Buddy Miles backstage after one of his concerts. Buddy was so impressed with the young upstart and that he played the guitar left-hand-backward like himself, JP was invited to jam with him the following night. As they say, the rest is history! Eventually, JP was privileged to replace his greatest musical inspiration, Jimi Hendrix, in the Buddy Miles Band.
Since that momentous encounter, JP has busied himself performing, touring, producing, writing and recording with some of the greatest rock, blues, Latin and jazz musicians in the music industry.
His latest CD project entitled “JP Cervoni Blues & Beyond Band” includes an array of All-Star guest musicians such as: Guitars: Scott Henderson, Michael Thompson, Carl Verheyen, Drums: Tony Brock (The Babies, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck), Vinnie Colaiuta ( Frank Zappa, Sting) Kirk Covington, Simon Phillips ( The Who, Jeff Beck ), Buddy Miles, Bernie Galaine, Cristiano Micalizzi. Bass: Kevin Brandon (Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige), Lynn Woolever, Keyboards: Vittorio Iue. Vox: Belinda Skinner, Carmen Grillo (Tower of Power), Arnold McCuller (James Taylor, Phil Collins).

www.cervoniband.com

In this conversation, David Bryan speaks with Ericka Verba, a professor and musician, about her biography of Violeta Parra, a significant Chilean artist and folk singer. They discuss Ericka’s personal journey of discovering Violeta’s music, the impact of the military dictatorship in Chile on artists, and Violeta’s legacy in protest music. The conversation also delves into Violeta’s early life, her influences, and the challenges she faced as a woman artist in a male-dominated society. Ericka shares insights into the process of writing the biography and the surprises she encountered along the way. In this conversation, Ericka Verba discusses the life and impact of Violeta Parra, a significant Chilean artist and musician. The dialogue explores the contradictions in Parra’s life, her journey to recognition, and her cultural contributions, particularly through her music that addresses social issues. Verba emphasizes Parra’s unique identity, her determination to succeed in the art world, and the enduring relevance of her songs in contemporary social movements.

Chilean musician and artist Violeta Parra (1917–1967) is an inspiration to generations of artists and activists across the globe. Her music is synonymous with resistance, and it animated both the Chilean folk revival and the protest music movement Nueva Cancion (New Song). Her renowned song “Gracias a la vida” has been covered countless times, including by Joan Baez, Mercedes Sosa, and Kacey Musgraves. A self-taught visual artist, Parra was the first Latin American to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in the Louvre. In this remarkable biography, Ericka Verba traces Parra’s radical life and multifaceted artistic trajectory across Latin America and Europe and on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Drawing on decades of research, Verba paints a vivid and nuanced picture of Parra’s life. From her modest beginnings in southern Chile to her untimely death, Parra was an exceptionally complex and talented woman who exposed social injustice in Latin America to the world through her powerful and poignant songwriting. This examination of her creative, political, and personal life illuminates the depth and agency of Parra’s journey as she invented and reinvented herself in her struggle to be recognized as an artist on her own terms.

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