The original brain child of the writer Rina Durante, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is the foremost and longest standing traditional music band from Salento, in Puglia, coming together in 1975.
In 2007 the lead passed from the original founder of the band, Daniele Durante, to his son Mauro (already a highly regarded frame drums player and violinist who has played with numerous artists, such as Ludovico Einaudi, Piers Faccini, Ballake Sissoko, Ibrahim Maalouf, Stewart Copeland and La Notte della Taranta). At the age of 26, Mauro Durante is the musical assistant of Ludovico Einaudi and works with him in the creation and artistic production of the spectacular performance La Notte della Taranta.

With a range from the energetic dance ‘pizzica’ to the tenderness of love songs, from the exuberant party of a local band to an ironic glance towards modernity, Canzoniere provide an intense and feeling show. With the obsessive rhythms and music of ‘pizzica’ Canzoniere made the history of the Italian world music.

With 16 albums and numerous performances in Europe, in the Middle East and in the USA, Canzoniere have always evoked an enthusiastic response from audiences and sensitively admiring reviews from the music press.
In 2011 Canzoniere has received the mention as Best Italian World Music Band (Festival Babel Med).