Bob Forte’s Story

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The soulful groove of Bob Forte, a blend of blues, gospel, funk, country, and swing jazz, is as authentic as the journey that shaped it.

Born in Sardinia, Italy, Forte’s path to music was unconventional. During a formative year in Perryville, Missouri, he fell in love with the sound of American Folk-rock and deep-rooted blues. Although the passion was ignited there, he first built a career as a horse trainer, with music simmering in the background. Eventually, the calling became too strong to ignore, leading him to move to Sweden in 2011 to study under the acclaimed guitarist Erik Weissglas.

In 2015, Forte made the definitive leap. He left his previous career, restored a classic 1988 Lancia Prisma, and hit the road to become a full-time musician. He honed his craft on the road, taking his unique style from street corners to prestigious international stages, including the Narcao and Nureci Mama International Blues Festivals (Italy), the Sundsvall International Guitar Festival (Sweden), and Tornio Octoblues Jazz Festival (Finland).

Today, Bob Forte operates from his base in Northern Sweden, bridging the gap between Italian passion and Scandinavian sophistication. This duality is captured in his two defining projects, both realized with Executive Producer Angelo Serra.

On the album "Nureci Blues" (mixed by Fivos Ladopoulos), the inspiration was born within the quiet walls of a tiny Sardinian village, but the sound was forged on stage. Here, Forte locks in with his formidable Sardinian rhythm section Tancredi Emmi (bass) and Pietro Frongia (drums) to unleash a raw, electric energy that is undeniably gritty and soulful.

In a bold contrast, "Quarter to Midnight" (recorded by Tomas Johannesson) represents a determined leap into the world of jazz. Stepping outside his blues roots, Forte surrounded himself with the Scandinavian elite: Hans Backenroth (double bass), Erik Weissglas (guitar), and Joakim Ekberg (drums). Capturing the chemistry of the "old days," many tracks were recorded in a single magic take, documenting a bluesman finding a new home in jazz under the wing of masters.

Recently, Forte has entered the most prolific chapter of his career to date. Cementing his commitment to musical excellence, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Guitar in 2024 from Luleå University of Technology and immediately embarked on a landmark year of creative output.

The momentum continues through the end of the year with two additional releases: "Cornerstones" (mixed by Fivos Ladopoulos) and a return to traditional roots with Bob Forte & Skydog. Stripped back and vintage, Cornerstones puts aside modern production to focus on the essentials: a voice, a slide guitar, and the truth. Looking ahead, the journey expands further with an upcoming jazz vocal collaboration featuring Icelandic singer Helga Ragnarsdóttir.