80 years and still swingin'

Mr. Campesi, affectionately known as “Campy.” was born in Jamestown, New York. Campesi grew up during the 1920’s where jazz was the language of the age. He was introduced to the instrument at an early age, 4 to be exact (his father and three uncles were professional musicians). He began playing live on the radio when he was 8. By the time he was 17, Mr. Campesi had taken his violin on the road.

In 1955, Mr. Campesi landed in San Antonio, Tn Antonio, Texas where he played violin with the San Antonio Symphony for two decades. It was also in San Antonio that Campy started another career, that of an educator, he was the principal in the Edgewood School District.

“Jazz was my first love,” Campy said, “the symphony was a steady gig. I go for steady over spectacular.” His enjoyment is pure enough, on From the Heart, a CD released in December 1998. 

Retha Oliver cleverly states the feeling Campy delivers: “The violin sings like a four-stringed diva, carrying melody lines with a ragged edge. Piano, bass, and guitar lay down a soft harmonic blanket that Campesi’s violin sails across like a sea plane on water; it’s capable of floating, but what it's meant to do is fly.” 

When you listen to Sebastian Campesi play, you’re struck not by how many notes the man can cram into a bar of music but by the fact that every time he plays swing, and swing with impeccable time, tone and tuning.

He’s steady all right, but he’s also spectacular in his love for his music. When Sebastian Campesi plays, he plays with elegance, dignity and class, but his music, and his approach to playing that music, are marked by one other important element-the desire to have fun. 

(Source info.: Jim Beal Jr., San Antonio Express-News and Retha Oliver, San Antonio Current)