Biography of Lupa

"Antima Abbamonte" aka Lupa, Italian-born/raised now resident in the UK, begun her artistic career at the age of three with classical piano lessons and modeling for the House Of 'Vogue Children' in Milan. She studied the Dramatic Arts in Italy (training with popular and controversial theatrical duo Franca Rame and winner of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature Dario Fo') and in England where she obtained LAMDA acting qualifications. Antima pursued the acting vocation on the British stages and screens. In 1994 she translated, adapted and performed the acclaimed Italian One Woman Show at the Carsholton Studio Theatre in south London, an 80 mins-2 acts political farce written by Franca Rame and Dario Fo'.

Her musical calling came in 1996 when, during a trip to Los Angeles, at a party held at Drejss (West Hollywood) and attended by ‘Prince’, she met Italo-American musicians Jules Buccieri and Chris Mancini (son of the composer Henry Mancini), who were to become her friends and musical mentors, and British writer Dick Hebdige (former MD at the Californian Institute of Arts now Professor of Film Studies and Art Studio Director of the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center at UCSB Santa Barbara CA) who named her Lupa, like the savage and maternal legendary she-wolf which raised the two infants Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome.

Lupa has since been writing, arranging, producing recordings, collaborating and performing with a number of local and international talents including: Pavel Jakub Ryba (CZ), Bryan Corbett (UK), Sandro & Alfonso Deidda (Italy), Roger Inniss (UK) , The Birmingham Ronnie Scott’s House Trio (UK), Tj Rehmi (UK), Dj Pippi (Ibiza/Spain), Jon Cotton (UK), Andrew Griffiths (UK), Tom Hill (UK/USA), Paul Sawtell (UK), Edgar Macias Piquero (UK/Venezuela), Alvin Davis (UK), Andy and Graham Hamilton (UK), Miles Levin (UK), Zoltan Dekany (UK/USA) Soweto Kinch (UK)...

In 2005 Lupa released a debut album 'House Of Blue', a collection of recordings of original compositions including the re-working of 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat' (a tribute to her favourite artists Charlie Mingus and Joni Mitchell) and of 'Brucia La Terra' (the love theme from the Godfather written by Nino Rota and Giuseppe Rinaldi). Lupa recorded 'Brucia La Terra' during the pre-production of Francis Ford Coppola "The Godfather 4" and then met F.F.Coppola in San Francisco to discuss the inclusion of the track in the film sound track. The film ultimately never entered production.

2005 also saw the release of Lupa's collaborations with alto saxophonist Alvin Davis on his album "Commotion" and popular trumpeter Bryan Corbett on his album "Pressure Valve" courtesy of UK indie jazz label Woodland Records.

In 2006 Lupa completed two UK tours with her band, recorded and released a live CD entitled "Lupa live at Symphony Hall" (small edition/lupamusic) and her brand new track "If U Close Yr Eyes" was released world wide on 2 compilations: a double compilation CD entitled "Ibiza Global Radio Moods vol 1" and "Drive N1" courtesy of Italian indie jazz label Irma Records.

Lupa has toured the Czech Republic guesting on CZ jazz hero (bassist) Pavel Jakub Ryba’s trio on their ‘Mind The Step’ national tour and has presented Maestro Alfonso Deidda (piano, alto sax & flute) to the British audiences during her two UK tours in 2006.

Lupa has performed in numerous venues throughout the UK, from the popular Symphony Hall in Birmingham to the stylish Pizza On The Park in London.

The band is now touring the UK with this Spring 2007 presenting new talent Simon King (piano/guitar). The tour also features Bryan Corbett, Roger Inniss, Miles Levin.