Calcagno was born in Tramontana (Archdiocese of Genoa, the province of Alessandria) in 1943.
The Montgrí Massif stretches from east to west north of the town of Torroella de Montgrí, sheltering it from the Tramontana northern wind.
A member of the Italian Instabile Orchestra, Tramontana has also recorded with such musical artists as Jeb Bishop, Joëlle Léandre, Mario Schiano, and Carlos Zingaro.