Biography
“Live for the day, give all I’ve got to produce good, original music, put it across and leave a mark.”
This is the leitmotiv of Christian Pescosta, known as Chris Costa.
A singer and composer on many instruments and a refined stage animal, Chris was born in Corvara, Alta Badia. A native Ladin speaker and a Londoner by adoption, he is the leader of a number of bands (ChrisAlide, Dirty Soul, Capsicum Tree), writes music and lyrics for friends, artists and performers and released his first solo CD “Caress” in 2008.
He uses an energetic mix of various styles: funk, pop, r&b, jungle, rock jazz, rap…
His live setup includes, apart from traditional instruments, his loop machine and various special effects, which together with his beat boxing allow him to improvise rhythms and grooves that catalyse the attention of the public.
Some of his projects are independent, others entrusted to such major record companies as Carosello/Warner, which brought Chris’ voice into leading radio (Deejay, RTL 102.5, 101, RAI 2-Viva Radio2-Fiorello, etc.) and television stations (RAI 2 NU Roads, RAI Telethon, to name just some).
Music theatre and more
In 2007, accompanied by his friends Fiorenzo Zeni (sax) and Franz Zanardo (guitar), Chris gave the world’s first performance of Beethoven/Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” in three languages:
Italian, German and Ladin.
He involves himself passionately in the theatrical dimension, pouring energy into his dual role as actor and musician.
He played Puck in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (perhaps because there’s a certain resemblance?).
He also had a part in “I Monti Pallidi”, an original bilingual interpretation of a Ladin legend.
Films
“Los caminos del Cajòn”, a documentary by Paolo de Gregorio. Valuable contributions from such great artists as Paco de Lucia, Omar Sosa, Richard Galliano, Steward Copeland (Police), Sheila E and Zakir Hussain and a modern cajòn-synthesizer performance by Chris and drummer Max Castlunger.
“Safari”, a DVD by Lorenzo Cherubini (Jovanotti). Chris translates phrases into Ladin (his mother tongue) before Lorenzo’s concert.
Festival
Chris organises the programme of Valbadiajazz, the jazz, funk, blues and more festival he founded in 1999.
Discography
Chris Costa “Caress” 2008
Capsicum Tree “Eternal Life” 2006 Carosello/Warner
Dirty Soul, “One of the thousand” in compilation “Galleria Illy” 2006 Lifegatemusic
Dirty Soul 2004
ChrisAlide Jazz Duo 2003
ChrisAlide “Sce la nëi tres tomass” in compilation “Temp da nadè” 2001
Chris & Friends 1998
Collaboration/Studio sessions
“Buon Sangue 2005 Extra Funk” Jovanotti (Universal)
Chris Costa- brasilian cuica, track “Cosa sarà di noi”
“Day what a day” Fabio Nobile (Dejavu) 2009
Chris Costa- piano fender, wurlitzer, music and lyrics
“Oneoneuno” Lubjan 2006
Chris Costa- piano fender and clavinet
“People do not know who rules” Sense of Akasha
Piano/keyboards/sounds on two tracks
Chris’s compositions
Chris wrote words and music for various artists including:
Fabio Nobile – “Day what a day”, “Always Love”, “Back with you”, “Fragile” from the album “Day What a day” (Dejavù) 2009 by Nobile/Pescosta
Chiara Canzian – “La gioia è” from her debut album “Prova a dire il mio nome” (Blue Notte/Universal) 2009 by C. Canzian/C. Pescosta.
Ganes – “Dorm saurì” (Lawine/ Blanko Musik/Sony BMG) ladin lullaby from their debut album 2010 by Schuen/Moling/Pescosta
Work in progress
Mood Filter: the new project with Luca Boscagin, Live Gigs and probably soon a full lenght CD!
Chris Costa & Maja Petrovna: are workin’ on a new excitin’ project, be ready for strong news!
Capsicum Tree: a new album is on its way!
Dirty Soul: workin’on the new album…will take some time…
Chris Costa: is writing every day seeking the sound for his next album…
