Peppino D’Agostino is a Renaissance man. This is not just because he was born in Italy. Everything about the longtime California resident and his art -- virtuoso acoustic guitarist, composer, singer, teacher and all-around entertainer -- is rooted in his heritage. It’s fitting then that his new, self-released CD is titled ‘Made in Italy.’ It’s his first CD release since 2005’s ‘Bayshore Road,’ a collaboration with electric guitarist Stef Burns, his friend and studio partner.

“This CD is like a little portrait of Italy,” said D’Agostino. “It’s my thoughts and personal impressions of my native country. This music is for people who really want to sit down and listen.”

D'Agostino has had a long and distinguished career filled with highlights.  His most recent accolade came from Guitar Player magazine when he was named Best Acoustic Guitarist by its readers in the Reader’s Choice Awards in the May 2007 issue.

‘Made in Italy’ continues D'Agostino's 2007 hot streak. It’s been in the making for two years, and it’s a CD that’s very close to his heart, especially because half of its 16 songs feature his singing. D’Agostino has included a vocal song on his CDs in the past, but ‘Made in Italy’ truly opens the door to a future of singing as one more color on his musical palette.

“I like the challenge of doing new things. That’s one of the reasons why I did ‘Made in Italy’ at this point in my career. I like to sing. Specifically, I like to sing meaningful songs about life, love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness,” said D’Agostino. “Also, there’s a nostalgic element. Some of those songs I grew up with. I listened to those songs when I was a little kid. I decided to create my own arrangements.”

The material focuses on Italian folk songs and pop songs from the past few decades as well as works by classical composer Gioachino Rossini and legendary film score composer Ennio Morricone, D’Agostino’s musical hero. D'Agostino put his personal stamp on these songs, capturing the spirit and sound of the standards he rearranged while keeping his acoustic guitar work at the forefront. Guest musicians add extra textures on many of the compositions by playing traditional Italian instruments like the organetto and the launeddas. Despite his passion for this project and introducing this music to a new audience, he was also nagged by doubt.

“I had a little bit of hesitation about this CD. I thought, ‘Why am I doing this? An Italian CD in America?’ I could not find an answer until just awhile ago. I thought, ‘In America, there’s this stereotype of Italian songs that are maybe tied to Dean Martin or Elvis Presley singing his arrangement of ‘O Sole Mio’ (as ‘It’s Now or Never’). People don’t know about composers and singer/songwriters such as Gino Paoli or Sergio Endrigo or Fabrizio De André,” said D’Agostino. “That’s why I translated those lyrics, just to show that Italian music is not just about pizza, amore, and pasta. It goes far beyond. Italian culture is misinterpreted by the media and by tourists. There’s a bunch of stereotypes. I get tired of that. Italy is like any other country. If you say America is New York or Los Angeles, that’s untrue. There’s so many nuances. There’s Milwaukee, New Orleans, Boston, Kansas City and Nashville.”

2008 and beyond will find D’Agostino digging deeper into the various kinds of music he’s been making in recent years. He’s never at a loss for inspiration to trigger exploration.

For more, visit : www.peppinodagostino.com