S-Tone Inc.

S-Tone Inc. is the main musical project of Stefano Tirone, a musician from Milan, Italy, who has been working in the world of music for over twenty years. The first song under this name was released in 1992 during the acid jazz era, which represented for him the perfect combination among soul, jazz and latin influences which were those who mostly interested him. His first approach to music not as a listener but as a player was in the early 80’s during the new wave period. Graduated in architecture at the Polytechnic of Milan he has alternated for some years the two actvities of architect and musician, giving priority to the latter in more recent times. He has studied guitar and later piano for a certain period with Sonny Taylor (Mayafra Combo) and Antonio Zambrini, two pianists who have opened his mind towards new harmonic horizons. The activity as a producer starts in 1990 together with the dj Valenti with whom he has released the track "What's up" under the name Baby Doll House with the label Irma. From 1992 to 1994 he has collaborated with dj Don Carlos with whom he has created two projects, Montego Bay and Antigua Managua , which were based on 70’s disco samples with a house feel. In 1993 he participates to the compilation "Totally Wired Italia" released by the english label Acid Jazz with a track under the name Square Circle. Since 1994 he works for the labels of Luciano Cantone and Davide Rosa, the founders of Schema records, first with Milano 2000 and then with Schema from 2001. The first S-Tone Inc. album was released in 1996 with the name "Love unlimited" and it contains in particular the track "Ainda sonhar" which has been chosen for dozens of compilations all over the world. In 1997 with the name Cosmorama he releases a monothematic album inspired by drum&bass, yet jazzy and soulful. In 1999 he releases the second S-Tone Inc. album, "Free spirit". But it's with the album "Sobrenatural" released in 2002 that Stefano Tirone proves to have established his own style, made of various influences that go from brazilian music, to jazz, funky and soul, without forgetting his experience in house music. In 2003 he produces a 12” with Stefano Ghittoni, of The Dining Rooms , under the name Vuca . One of these tracks, “Bossafrica”, has been later re-recorded during the sessions of the fourth S-Tone Inc. album. In 2004 he has produced the album “Instalaçao do samba” for the brazilian songwriter Tomaz Di Cunto who has chosen the name Toco for his project. During 2003 and 2004 he has written and produced the tracks of his fourth album "Luz y Sombra", that has a more acoustic vein and features many musicians from the Milan jazz scene, plus five brazilians. In particular the vocal guests are Laura Fedele, Toco, Manuela Ravaglioli, Adi Souza, Angie Brown and Luciana Cury from Sao Paulo. Also it features a string quartet in two tracks. In november 2005 he has produced in Rio de Janeiro the second album of Toco titled ”Outro lugar”, with the participation of Roberto Menescal (bossa nova pioneer with Jobim and Gilberto) on guitar and some of the best brazilian sidemen. The recordings have been completed in Milan during spring/summer 2006 and it will be released on Schema records in february 2007. Occasionally S-Tone Inc. have played live with various guests. He also has selected records in radio programs and clubs.