Pino Presti

Pino Presti (pseudonym of Giuseppe Prestipino Giarritta; born August 23, 1943) is an Italian bassist, arranger, composer, conductor, record producer, born in Milan. He is a 5th-dan black belt in Shotokan Karate.

Pino Presti was very young when he first entered the music business. He started as a bass guitar player, than gradually began an arranger, a composer, an orchestra conductor and a producer. Among his collaborations in different genres of music like jazz, pop, funk, soul, latin music, we can find great names such as: Mina (the most famous Italian pop singer), Gerry Mulligan, Astor Piazzolla, Quincy Jones, Wilson Pickett, Shirley Bassey, Franco Cerri, Maynard Ferguson, Stéphane Grappelli, Aldemaro Romero, Tullio De Piscopo and many others. He is considered one of the most important Italian arrangers/conductors.

Early life
Son of an accomplished violinist, Arturo Prestipino Giarritta, has been studying piano and music theory since the age of 6. When he was 17, he started his career performing as vocalist and bass guitarist in clubs as well as working in recording studios as an instrumentalist. Although he had a contract with Durium of Milano as a singer, he decided to concentrate only on performing music. He recorded hundreds of songs with major Italian artists such as: Mina, Giorgio Gaber, Ornella Vanoni, Gino Paoli, Bruno Lauzi, Fabrizio De André, Sergio Endrigo, Mia Martini, Franco Battiato, Adriano Celentano, Milva, Pino Donaggio, Gigliola Cinquetti, Caterina Caselli, Bobby Solo, Fausto Leali, Michele, Ivan Graziani, Loredana Berté and many others.

Musical career


After backing Mina as a bass guitarist in studio and on tour for many years, Pino Presti arranged and conduced many of her songs. He also backed her as a singer, as in "Flamingo" and other tracks. From 1971 up until her last public appearances at Bussoladomani in 1978, Presti arranged and conducted 86 of Mina's tracks, including the hits "Grande grande grande", "E penso a te", "L'importante è finire", "E poi", "Città vuota", "La pioggia di marzo", "Fiume azzurro", "Domenica sera" and others, and albums such as Mina, Cinquemilaquarantatre, Frutta e verdura, Amanti di valore, Baby Gate, La Mina, Singolare, Mina con bignè, Mina Live '78.

Presti composed four songs for Mina: "Tentiamo ancora", for the album Frutta e verdura (1973), "L'amore è un'altra cosa", for Mina® (1974), "Amante amore", for Mina con Bignè (1977), and "Bignè", for Ridi pagliaccio (1988).

On Mina’s come back at the Bussoladomani theatre in Viareggio on 24 June 1978, Nantas Salvataggio wrote an enthusiastic review of the event in the Il Giorno newspaper: « Mina was accompanied by an orchestra as that of a grand Las Vegas show.

The Italian press, as well as others, described the concert as a «triumph» and underlined the contribution of the backing orchestra (14 members and the chorus), directed by Presti.

Between the 70’s and 80’s, he collaborated on recordings and or concerts with prominent personalities of the international music scene such as: Wilson Pickett, Shirley Bassey, Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Astor Piazzolla, Maynard Ferguson, Severino Gazzelloni, Franco Cerri, Shirley Bunnie Foy, Stéphane Grappelli, Aldemaro Romero,  Tullio De Piscopo, Gianni Bedori, Eartha Kitt, Lara Saint Paul, Bruno De Filippi, George Aghedo, Enrico Intra, Angel Pocho Gatti, Caterina Valente, Bill Conti, Hugo Heredia, Maurice Vander.

He is listed under his real name, Giuseppe Prestipino, on the record: Libertango with Astor Piazzolla and in Summit (Reunión Cumbre) by Gerry Mulligan and Astor Piazzolla. He is listed under the name Giuseppe "Pino" Prestipino Giarritta on the records La Onda Máxima and Onda Nueva Instrumental by the Venezuelan pianist, composer, arranger Aldemaro Romero.

In April 1975 during the European tour with Mulligan and Piazzolla, he also played at the Olympia Theatre in Paris and at the World Music Festival in Palma, Majorca. The combo was composed by Gerry Mulligan (saxophone baritone), Astor Piazzolla (bandoneón), Tom Fay (piano), Pino Presti (electric bass), Tullio De Piscopo (drums), Waldo de los Rios (organ), Sergio Farina (electric guitar). One set was for Gerry Mulligan, the second was dedicated to Astor Piazzolla and the last one was the reunion of Astor and Gerry and the songs of this last set were those that had been issued on the LP Summit-Reunion Cumbre.

In 1976 he created and produced for Atlantic Records the first dance-funk album in Italy: 1st Round with hit songs such as Smile, Funky Bump, L’estate di Laura, Sunny.

In 1977 he signed a contract with RAI2 as arranger, conductor and composer of original music for the noted TV show, Auditorio A, directed by Stefano De Stefani. On that occasion, he was the conductor of a big band composed of 56 musicians with star names like: Gino Paoli, Sergio Endrigo, Milva, Pino Daniele, Maynard Ferguson, Angelo Branduardi, Rino Gaetano, Fausto Leali, Giorgio Baiocco, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso. Other top shows were : C’era due volte, directed by Enzo Trapani (1980) and Il cappello sulle ventitré, directed by Fernanda Turvani (1983).

Besides composing music for TV series since the ‘80’s, Pino Presti has been creating and producing albums under various pseudonims for renowned labels such as: Polydor, Baby Records, Barclay, Edizioni Curci, Durium, Dischi Ricordi, Joker, as well as independent ones: Emergency Records, Soul Xpression, Level One, Self.

He has been living in France since 2004 and in 2009 created and produced the album, A La Costa Sud (La Musique De La Côte D'Azur) with 28 vocalists and / or instrumentalists who are from various continents and nations but who regularly perform in theaters and clubs in the French Riviera.

In 2011, he composed a five hours soundtrack comprising  music of different genres for Grand Heritage Hotel Group (and for its related media). These genres range from classic jazz, to  nu jazz,  bossanova,  world music, and  ambient music.

TV Shows

 * 1964 : Questo & Quello (Rai Uno) - Bassist, Singer (Hosted by Giorgio Gaber)
 * 1965/1966 : Le Nostre Serate (Rai Due) - Bassist, Singer (Hosted by Giorgio Gaber)
 * 1969 : Sanremo Festival (Rai Uno) - Bassist with Wilson Pickett
 * 1977 : Auditorio A (Rai Due) - Composer, Arranger, Conductor  (Guest appearance by Maynard Ferguson)
 * 1980 : C'era due volte (Rai Due) - Composer, Arranger, Conductor (Guest appearances by Peter Tosh)
 * 1983 : l Cappello sulle ventitré (Rai Due) - Composer, Arranger, Conductor (Hosted by Gino Paoli)

Albums

 * 1st Round -  Atlantic Records (1976)   1st Round - Cover photo.jpg
 * Maja Andina - Saar Records (1990)
 * A La Costa Sud - Edizioni Curci (2009)
 * Café Ipanema 2011 - Rambling Records (2011)

Singles

 * "Rimani ancora/Oh! Jenny" - Durium (1964)
 * "In un posto fuori dal mondo/Messaggio d'amore" - Belldisc (1969)
 * "Karin/No sabe" - Dischi Ricordi (1970)
 * "Smile/L'estate di Laura" - Atlantic Records (1975)
 * "Funky Bump/C.so Buenos Ayres" - Atlantic Records (1976)
 * "Shitân Disco Shitân" - Barclay (1977)
 * "Sundown" - Durium (1978)
 * "You Know The Way part I/You Know The Way part II" - Baby Records (1979)
 * "You Know The Way" - Vinyl 12" 33 ⅓ RPM - Emergency Records (1980)
 * "Money (That What I Want)" - Vinyl 12" 33 ⅓ RPM - Baby Records (1980)
 * "To Miami/Mama's Away" - Cetra Records (1980)
 * "Dancing Nights/And I Love Her" - Polydor Records (1983)
 * "Ya No Puedo Vivir (The Bush Remixes)" - Vinyl 12" 33 ⅓ RPM - Blow Up Disco (1991)
 * "Once Again Now" - Vinyl 12" 33 ⅓ RPM - Soul Xpression (1992)
 * "Divine" - Vinyl 12" 33 ⅓ RPM - Level One (2001)
 * "Feel Like a Woman" - CD Single - Self (2005)

As performer, arranger, conductor on other artists' albums

 * Mina - Artist: Mina - PDU (1971)
 * Cinquemilaquarantatre - Artist: Mina - PDU (1972)
 * Altro - Artist: Mina - PDU (1972)
 * Del mio meglio n. 2 - Artist: Mina - PDU (1973)
 * Frutta e verdura - Artist: Mina- PDU (1973)
 * Amanti di valore - Artist: Mina - PDU (1973)
 * Mina (1974 album) - Artist: Mina - PDU (1974)
 * Baby Gate (album) - Artist: Mina - PDU (1974)
 * Aulehla & Zappa - Artist: Aulehla & Zappa - PDU (1974)
 * Del mio meglio n. 3 - Artist:  Mina - PDU (1975)
 * La Mina - Artist: Mina - PDU (1975)
 * Singolare - Artist: Mina - PDU (1976)
 * Del mio meglio n. 4 - Artist: Mina - PDU (1977)
 * Mina con Bignè - Artist: Mina - PDU (1977)
 * Minantologia - Artist: Mina - PDU (1977)
 * You Know Why - Artist: Roxy Robinson - OUT (1977)
 * Di tanto in tanto - Artist: Mina - PDU (1978)
 * Mina Live '78 - Artist: Mina - PDU (1978)
 * In Due - Artist: Wess and Dori Ghezzi - Durium (1979)
 * Filipponio - Artist: Filipponio - Cetra Records (1980)
 * Del mio meglio n. 6 Live - Artist: Mina - PDU (1981)
 * Il Flauto d' oro - Artist: Severino Gazzelloni - PDU (1983)
 * All'arrembaggio - Artist: Filipponio - Spice7 (1984)
 * Del mio meglio n. 8 - Artist: Mina - PDU (1985)
 * Del mio meglio n. 9 - Artist: Mina - PDU (1987)
 * Oggi ti amo di più - Artist: Mina - PDU (1988)
 * Ridi pagliaccio - Artist: Mina - PDU (1988)
 * Mazzini canta Battisti - Artist: Mina - PDU (1994)
 * Mina Studio Collection - Artist: Mina - PDU (1998)
 * Mina Love Collection - Artist: Mina - PDU (2000)
 * Colección Latina - Artist: Mina - PDU (2001)
 * The Platinum Collection - Artist: Mina - PDU (2004)
 * Platinum Collection 2 - Artist: Mina - PDU (2006)
 * Je suis Mina - Artist: Mina - EMI Records (2011)
 * Yo soy Mina - Artist: Mina - EMI Records (2011)
 * I am Mina - Artist: Mina - EMI Records (2011)

As performer

 * 12 Bacchette per una chitarra - Artist: Franco Cerri - gta (1966)
 * Dedicato a mio padre - Artist: Mina - PDU (1967)
 * This Is My Life (La vita) - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * Mina alla Bussola dal vivo - Artist: Mina - PDU (1968)
 * Love and more Love - Artist: Puccio Roelens - Vedette Records (1969)
 * L'orchestra di Augusto Martelli dal vivo - Artist: Augusto Martelli - PDU (1970)
 * Del mio meglio - Artist: Mina - PDU (1971)
 * La Onda Máxima  - Artist: Aldemaro Romero - Antor (1972)
 * Black Sound From White People - Artist: Augusto Martelli -  Fontana Records (1972)
 * Fratelli La Bionda s.r.l. - Artist: La Bionda - Dischi Ricordi (1972)
 * Metti una sera Cerri - Artist: Franco Cerri - Jazz Italiano-Music (1973)
 * Dal mio lontano - Artist: Renato Pareti - Ducale (1973)
 * Libertango - Artist: Astor Piazzolla - Carosello (1974)
 * Summit (Reunión Cumbre) - Artist: Gerry Mulligan, Astor Piazzolla - erre-t-v (1974)
 * Gerry Mulligan meets Enrico Intra - Artist: Gerry Mulligan, Enrico Intra - Produttori Associati (1976)
 * Onda Nueva Instrumental - Artist: Aldemaro Romero - Velvet Música (1976)
 * Silence and Other Sounds - Artist: Roxy Robinson - ONE (1977)
 * Dissonanza-Consonanza - Artist: Enrico Intra - Musica Jazz (1999)

As performer, arranger, conductor on other artists' singles

 * "Grande grande grande" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1971)
 * "Domenica sera" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1973)
 * "E poi" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1973)
 * "Lamento d'amore" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1973)
 * "La scala buia" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1974)
 * "L'importante è finire" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1975)
 * "Nuda" - Artist: Mina - PDU  (1976)
 * "Città Vuota (It's a Lonely Town)" - Artist: Mina - PDU (1978)
 * "Dentro" - Artist: Beba Loncar - CBS Records (1978)
 * "Momento" - Artist: Wess & Dori Ghezzi - Durium (1979)
 * "Pazzo non amore mio/L'Unica" - Artist: Filipponio - Cetra Records (1979)
 * "Regina del futuro/Noia" - Artist: Marisa Sacchetto - F1 Team (1981)
 * "Quale appuntamento" - Artist: Eleonora Giorgi - Dischi Ricordi (1981)

As performer

 * "Cara Fatina/Lettera a Pinocchio" - Artist: Tony Renis, arranger-conductor Quincy Jones - Philips Records (1964)
 * "Che vale per me/Eccomi" - Artist: Eartha Kitt - RCA (1968)
 * "La vita/Without A Word" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "Domani domani/Pronto sono io" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "Yes/To Give" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "E' giorno/If You Go Away" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "Chi si vuole bene come noi/Epirops" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "Com'è piccolo il mondo/Manchi solo tu" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1968)
 * "Concerto d'autunno/You Are My Way Of Life" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1969)
 * "Ora che sei qui/Something" - Artist: Shirley Bassey - United Artists (1970)
 * "Non preoccuparti/Adesso ricomincerei" - Artist: Lara Saint Paul, arranger-conductor Quincy Jones - Polydor (1973)
 * "Cara Fatina" (re-edit) - His Master's Voice (1983)

Martial Arts
Presti has trained in Shotokan karate and Goshindo under master Hiroshi Shirai from 1967 to 1985. He has also trainded on several occasions under other famous Japanese masters such as Taiji Kase, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Keinosuke Enoeda, Takeshi Naito, Hideo Ochi. Presti holds a fifth degree black belt obtained in Rome, in 1987.