ABOUT FAB — Fabrizio Grossi & Soul Garage Experience OFFICIAL

Fab's processed 2.jpg — It’ll be what it is, but it better be funky, with soul, a bit o' blues & gotta rock hard.

Photo by Karina Chiechi

Fabrizio “Fab” Grossi is an Italian/American music & video producer, a performing bass player, a writer and a music consultant. Born in Milan , Italy, he started playing as teenager with several Italian bands before moving to New York in 1990, where he formed the instrumental trio Conspiracy with guitarist Anthony Bambino and drummer John Macaluso . He also served as US representative, developer and A&R associate for a number of European and Latin American record and entertainment companies, such as East/West-Warner Italy, Self Spa, Frontiers Records , Edel, EMI Italy, Mascot Label Group etc.

Upon re-locating to Los Angeles in 1996, he joined punk icon Nina Hagen for the recording of her acclaimed album on BMG "Bee Happy", followed immediately by a studio collaboration with Grammy Winning guitarist composer Steve Vai for his SONY Records album Fire Garden. In the following years, Fabrizio produced several recording (both in studio and live) that would feature Vai’s performances. Worth nothing Vai’s performance with Russian Rockers Pushking, with Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘ Chad Smith and Glenn Hughes, for the Deep Purple mega stars tribute Machine Head , and Vai’s solo European Tour with the Evolution Tempo Orchestra (The Romanian State Radio Orchestra ) immortalized on a live DVD & album. In a loving an respectful way, Since then Fab always referred to Vai as his career true enabler & “wiser”older brother !

After the the release of Fire Garden , Fab signed a production deal with East-West Warner Italy developing upcoming artists such as Laura Smiraglia , and served as consultant executive producer for other major Italian recording artists , most notably Laura Pausini . Additional significant production collaborations include Billy F. Gibbons Leslie West , Steve Vai, Eric Gales , Steve Lukather , Glenn Hughes , Alice Cooper , George Clinton & Parliament Funkedelic, and many more.

Between 1999 and 2006, Fab was the man behind an extended list of releases for the Italian based Rock label Frontiers Rec.. Worth mentioning Mickey Thomas (Starship), House of Lords , Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather of Toto fame, Glenn Hughes, Dave Navarro, James Christian, Robin Beck etc. Proficient in different styles, he then produced live audio-video releases for Ice T - Body Count , Pat Travers-Carmine Appice & TM Stevens , & many more, for the Swedish label Escapi Music . These were the years when Fab met and worked with year another major influence of him, the man that “thought him the funk” , and that Fab’s never fail to credit as a major influence on his playing and sound : George Clinton and his Parliament Funkedelics.

In 2005 , he joined singer Tony Harnell , swedish guitarist/composer Magnus Karlsson ,and drummer John Macaluso, to form the hard rock ensemble Starbreaker , whose self titled debut album (on Frontiers Rec) was very well welcomed by fans and critics.

In 2010 he teamed up with long time friend & inspiration , multi Grammy winning guitarist/producer Steve Lukather , drumming legend Kenny Aronoff and keyboardist wizard Steve Weingart , to form the rock-fusion-funk jam band Goodfellas , for a series of European & N.American shows sponsored by a pull of music instruments manufacturers and distributors.

Fab's Credits & Collaborations

Once upon in London - Shepherd’s Bush Empire - UK 2018

Soul-Rock producer, and bass player at heart, he re-directed his interest towards American Rootsy music, and even more so towards Blues, Soul,and RnB. His passion for the great black performers of the 60’s and 70’s such as Jimi Hendrix , Sly & The Family Stone ,Curtis Mayfield , James Brown , Bobby Womack BB King , George Clinton, and power blues-rocker-jamsters Cream , Led Zeppelin, and Santana, brought him to mix those sounds with more contemporary Rock and Blues elements ,and found the super group Supersonic Blues Machine, with active membership by Kenny Aronoff and UK singer/guitarist Kris Barras, who replaced in 2018 the band’s original singer/guitarist Lance Lopez. The band 70’s style stage jams , often feature Rock & Blues personalities such as Robben Ford , Jonny Lang , Eric Gales, Doyle Bramhall II, Joe Louis Walker, Steve Lukather, Billy F Gibbons, Walter Trout etc. Their debut album “West of Flushing, South of Frisco” was an instant success .

Fab & BFG in Notoddon - NORWAY 2016

With Supersonic Blues Machine, Fabrizio Grossi has headlined numerous Blues-Rock Festivals worldwide, most notably Notodden Blues Festival (Norway), Mahindra Blues Festival (Mumbay,India) , Holland International Blues Festival (Holland) , Rambling Man Fair(UK) etc. Both band’s studio album hit the International charts.Their second one “ Californisoul” , debuted at #7 of the Billboard Top 10 Blues charts. They released their first live album “Road Chronicles LIVE” in 2019. , The band is now working on its 3rd studio album, once again with Fab as producer. Supersonic Blues Machine headlined the Kalamazoo Blues Festival in 2017 , with Jane’s Addiction’s Stephen Perkins on drums ,subbing for Kenny Aronoff . Following that night’s success, Fab and Perkins founded Drop The Needle , a LA sidemen ensemble inspired by the 60’s California jam movement , with tribal funk jazz grooves tones. Also part of the group are Music Director royalty keyboardist Alex Alessandroni Jr, Brazilian born guitarist Rafael Moreira, & Seattle powerhouse indie singer Garrett Holbrock.

Fab is currently developing, recording and performing with his own solo project Fab’s Soul Garage Experience alongside Stephen Perkins ,and several other LA’s music treasures such as soul prince Diimon Meeks & guitar sensation Derek Day , while keeping busy producing blues-rock-soul & alternative projects like Eric Gales feat. Gary Clark Jr , Aaron Keylock, Susan Santos, Matt Pascale, Lift, and many other indipendent artists.

Supersonic Blues Machine with some of their best buds Billy F Gibbons, Joe Louis Walker & Eric Gales, in Megeve , FRANCE 2019

Gary Clark Jr , Fab & Eric Gales , N.Hollywood, 2017

Fab was co-executive producer (and music composer) of the 2017 critically acclaimed award winning movie-documentary "Sidemen: Long Road to Glory" (Abramorama Distribution), in which the heartfelt and unknown to most history of three very fundamental blues musicians is narrated by Marc Maron ,and a large cast of colleague musicians pays tribute to their idols. He was also writer/producer for the music of the WWF Women of Wrestling TV show (FOX, UPN 13 , USA syndicated). He also featured his own music compositions on the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen TV show “:Two of a kind" (ABC) [38], on Las Vegas (NBC) , and on the Sony Pictures “Stealth” featuring Jamie Foxx, where he teamed up with Glenn Hughes, Chad Smith & John Frusciante for a stunning rendition of the Moody Blues “Knights in white satin”.

Personal Life

In 2001 he married the Venezuelan born singer Francis Benitez , to whom he’s still married today. The couple have a daughter Andrea Sophie, and a son, Oscar Alberto, from Francis previous marriage. Both Francis Benitez and Andrea Grossi are official backing vocalists of Supersonic Blues Machine, under the moniker Supersonnets.

Additional Interests

A self-taught musician himself , and not by choice, Fab has always been a supporter of Music education, and has collaborated with several music institutions around the world from Mexico (Academia de Musica Fermatta-Mexico) to Italy (MMI). His involvement in music education is focued to Music production and music business rudiments for students. He’s be hosting his own workshops ,and panels , personally over-viewing programs and organizing full immersion sessions featuring countless famed colleagues, managers, label executives, agents, and artists , more noticeably Esperanza Spalding & Jack White. Fab is also dedicating part of his time to the organization of special music events, & charities. He is the CEO of his own charity organization Give Back Through Music , for which he produces live events & rescue campaigns. He often engages in charitable live performances with his various music outfits. He is an official ambassador of the non profit organization Guitars 4 Vets .

Collaborations

Soul Garage Experience & friends ”Life & Larry Brown” feat. Ty Taylor, Bette Smith, King Solomon Hicks, Stephen Perkins, Derek Day, Diamond Meeks, Vernon Reid etc. (USA)

Supersonic Blues Machine (USA) feat. Billy F.Gibbons, Eric Gales, Steve Lukather, Walter Trout, Chris Duarte, Robben Ford.

Alice Cooper (USA)

Eric Gales feat . Gary Clark Jr (USA)

Joe Bonamassa (USA)

Steve Vai (USA)

Billy F. Gibbons (USA)

Leslie West feat: Z.Wylde, J.Bonamassa, B.F.Gibbons, Slash, S.Lukather (USA)

Tommy Bolin 2011 anniversary (Posthumous interaction featuring Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Peter Frampton, Steve Morse, Nils Cline, Steve Lukather, John Scofield, Oz Noi etc.) (USA)

George Clinton & P-Funk (USA)

Glenn Hughes feat: Dave Navarro, Chad Smith & John Frusciante (USA)

Elan feat Slash (USA-Mexico)

Hangarvain (Italy)