Young Italian guitar virtuoso Matteo Mancuso believes that no one has been able to replicate the unique style of guitarist Frank Gambale.
Gambale, who began his professional music career in the 1980s, is widely regarded for elevating sweep picking and economy picking techniques. In addition to his successful solo career, he has played with renowned jazz fusion bands like Chick Corea Elektric Band and Return to Forever.
In a recent interview with Guitar World, Mancuso emphasized that Gambale is much more than just a technical shredder. Reflecting on his influences, he stated, “Frank is another player who stunned me the moment I heard him. By this point, I’d reached a certain technical level, so that stuff was less important to me and came second. What really got me hooked was his endless exchange of ideas.”
Mancuso further remarked on Gambale’s originality: “His solos are very original. I’ve never heard anyone play like Frank, to be honest. There are so many emulators of Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Eddie Van Halen, but no one has been able to play like Frank. He’s such an innovator—not just because of the sweep picking, which is often the focus.”
While technical skill is essential, Mancuso believes that Gambale’s choice of notes sets him apart. He explained, “Of course, it’s an important aspect, but it’s his vocabulary that I find truly unique. It’s all the quartal stuff and outside ideas. I also admire his compositions, as he’s influenced by one of my favorite bands, Steely Dan. You can hear it in how he explores interesting harmonies.”
Mancuso also noted Gambale’s versatility, saying, “Like Scott Henderson, he possesses a lot of sophistication and knowledge, but he can also rock and play hard.”
When it comes to albums, Mancuso highlighted one in particular: “There’s one album that I listen to a lot—’Thunder from Down Under’—which features him riding a giant kangaroo on the cover. The song ‘Leave Ozone Alone’ is one of my favorites.”
