BLUES MAGAZINE
FRANCE
THE ROCKER MAGAZINE
UNITED KINGDOM
ARFM LONDON RADIO
UNITED KINGDOM
LA HISTORIA DEL BLUES review written by Diego Luis
ARGENTINA
El intérprete de armónica italiano Fabrizio Poggi, al lado de su banda Chicken Mambo, llega con un nuevo disco, “Spaghetti Juke Joint”, un tributo a los italianos que emigraron hacia Estados Unidos para trabajar en las plantaciones de algodón a finales del siglo XIX, algunos de los cuales, probablemente, fueron propietarios de juke joints, los sitios por tradición del esparcimiento de los recolectores del campo. El sonido del álbum pasa por el Delta Blues, recuerda a Sonny Boy Williamson, recoge lo mejor del blues británico y también algo del blues revival, al estilo de Canned Heat y Johnny Winter en lo que puede ser un homenaje a la historia del blues. La energía, la habilidad y la clase de Poggi para interpretar su armónica siguen intactas y no se debilitan con el tiempo. Chicken Mambo es una base sólida para el desarrollo sonoro del disco, adaptándose plenamente al mundo de blues de principios del siglo pasado. A esto se suma el acompañamiento de figuras como Ronnie Earl, Bob Margolin y Sonny Landreth, quienes ayudan a darle la mejor textura para disfrutar del spaghetti preparado por Fabrizio Poggi.
ROCKIN’ ROLL CALL review written by Bill Locey
California, USA
Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo have a new one, “Spaghetti Juke Joint’’ and it’s on Appaloosa Records. Just another 18 album overnight sensation, Poggi is a master harmonica player and has that perfect bluesman/frontman voice and an Italian back-up band that are as tight as the Roman grasp on revenge. This one is dedicated to their countrymen – those early immigrants from 125 years ago – typical men who would not ask for directions – and thus, ended up in Mississippi in the heart of cotton country, living and working next to the black people who passed on a case of the blues. Poggi got it good – and on this one the band covers a lot of blues classics but there’s also a few originals plus famous guest guitar shredders such as Ronnie Earl, Sonny Landreth and Bob Margolin but his own guy, Enrico Polverari, rocks equally. The first one, “Bye Bye Bird,’’ is a rager and could’ve been Wile E. Coyote’s theme song.
BILLTOWN BLUES NOTES review written by Bill Wilson
Pennsylvania, USA
BLUESNEWS MAGAZINE review written by Thr
GERMANY
Fabrizio Poggi beweist mit seiner Band bei der Auswahl des Albumtitels seiner neuen Cd zweifelsohne Humor. Lang liest sich die liste derer, mit denen der Sanger
und harpspieler auf der Buhne stand, ebenso lang ist die liste der alben, die er unter eigenem namen oder als sideman aufgenommen hat. Mit seiner italienischen band hat er nun ein bluesalbum eingespielt das cooverversionen recht bekannter songs von Slim Harpo (King Bee) uber Junior Parker (Mystery Train) bis Little Milton (The Blues is alright) neben einigen eigenkompositionen versammelt. Zudem hat sich Poggi mit Ronnie Earl, Sonny Landreth und Bob Margolin … drei prominente gaste eingeladen, die auf jeweils einer nummer virtuos zu werke gehen, Herausgekommen ist eine interessante bluesmishung, die zwar puristisch ist, aber trotzdem neue ideen zulasst. So bekommen die coovervesionen teilweise ein vollig anderes gewand, als es die originale hatten. Aus B B Kings “Rock me baby” wird beispielsweise eine tanzbare zydeco nummer mit groovendem rhythmus und akkordeon. Das macht freude. Auch das zusammenspiel von gitarrist Enrico Polverari mit organist Claudio Noseda ist großartig anzuhoren. Und so ist das album aus der Spaghetti kneipe eine ebenso traditionelle wie moderne scheibe geworden, die man gerade von experimenten leidgeprüften bluesfans sehr ans herz legen darf.
SOULBAG review written by Christophe Mourot
FRANCE
SOUNDGUARDIAN review written by Mladen Loncar
CROATIA
Kako vrijeme odmiče, sve više i više izvođača, promotorskih i diskografskih kuća dostavljaju svoje materijale, a sve s ciljem sve jače i bolje promocije svojih izvođača i izdanja, kako na glazbenom portalu SoundGuardian i njegovom Blues Corneru, tako i u radijskoj emisiji specijaliziranog sadržaja Blues za vas. Angela Megassini – Poggi iz susjedne nam Italije šalje novi studijski album “Spaghetti Juke Joint” odličnog blues glazbenika, skladatelja, pjevača i svirača usne harmonike Fabrizija Poggija. Album je objavljen 14. listopada prošle godine za izdavačku kuću Appaloosa Records.
Ovo je njegov 18. album po redu; Fabrizio je bez sumnje etablirani blues glazbenik, stoga nije čudo kada mu se u studiju pridružuju poznati glazbenici poput Sonnyja Landretha, Ronnieja Earla i ‘Steady Rollin’ Boba Margolina. Sve zvijezda do zvijezde! No, sam početak albuma Fabrizio odmah posvećuje velikom Riceu Milleru, odnosno, Sonnyju Boy Williamsonu II. Upravo to je samo jedan od načina da nam svima pokaže kako se može obraditi jednako tako poznata skladba “Bye Bye Bird”.
Fabrizijev bend Chicken Mambo, pak, čine: Enrico Polverari (gitara), Tino Cappelletti (bas, back vokali), Gino Carravieri (bubnjevi i udaraljke), a pridružili su im se Claudio Noseda (klavir, orgulje, harmonika), Stefano Soina (back vokal na 9, udaraljke na 10 i 11) te specijalni gosti, Sonny Landreth (slide gitara na 2), Ronnie Earl (gitara na 3), Sara Cappelletti (back vokal na 9) i Claudio Bazzari (slide gitara na 12). Svi zajedno snimili su album koji će igrati značajnu ulogu na svjetskoj blues sceni. Od 13 pjesama, od kojih je zadnja “Baby Please Don’t Go” tzv. bonus track, ne bih niti jednu izdvajao, baš namjerno!
Na albumu imamo tri Fabrizijeve autorske pjesme, a naziv “Spaghetti Juke Joint” ima svoju priču o talijanskom emigrantu, koji je u 19. stoljeću otvorio, tamo negdje pokraj polja pamuka u državi Mississippi, mali neugledni juke joint i nazvao ga upravo Spaghetti Juke Joint. Tu bi se uvečer okupljali nadničari, robovi kako bi se opustili i slavili vrlo čudnu, čak ‘vražju’ glazbu. Uz piće i duhanski dim tijela su se savijala i ‘cimala’ u zaraznom ritmu, kojeg bi proizvodio neki lokalni glazbenik. Mnogi su na to gledali kao na čista vražja posla, na nešto što bi trebalo odmah zabraniti i potjerati. No, ta glazba održala se do danas i uvijek je privlačila samo odabrane poklonike, koji su uvijek vrlo naporno i studiozno dolazili do svojih spoznaja. Što se mene osobno tiče, nakon bijelih blues glazbenika, otkrio sam stvarne autore tih pjesama i zatvorio se u taj svijet i godinama slušao samo tradicionalni blues u svim njegovim stilovima. Danas sam zapravo ponosan što sam upravo preko tih blues ‘klasičara’ spoznao blues u njegovoj ogoljeloj i iskonskoj ljepoti i bogatstvu. Svoju otvorenost prema drugim stilovima bluesa gradio sam ponovno godinama i opet se stvarala ta kritična masa, potrebna da bi se sve moglo povezati i razumijeti. Sve je to jednostavno proces, koji traje i danas. Vjerujem da je i Fabrizio Poggi na sličan način gradio svoje glazbene impresije. Danas, sve karte su na stolu i otvorene, pa se samo može uživati u njegovoj iskrenoj, realističnoj, osjećajnoj prezentaciji ovog glazbenog stila.
Ovaj album pravi je dragulj kada je u pitanju prezentacijska forma koju itekako podebljavaju spomenuti gosti. Rad u studiju itekako može biti inspirativan pa se lijepo može čuti kako se razvija odlična svirka, jam session, i trenutna improvizacija, čak ako se to radi na dva kontinenta. S druge pak strane, očevidna pozitivna kretanja oko ovog mog promocijskog dijela priče se nazaustavljivo širi i zapravo je preko Amerike i Kanade, stigla do Europe i sada se ista itekako zahuktava i iz dana u dan sve više i jače dolazi do izražaja. Koliko je ovaj glazbeni portal uvažavan u svijetu, dobivamo potvrde iz dana u dan, prevode naše tekstove, a promotori, izdavačke kuće i sami glazbenici shvatili su koliko je to sve važno. Naravno, drago mi je da je to prepoznato, a tu su jednako tako i snažne i sve jače refleksije sa svih strana na radijsku emisiju. Ali, vratimo se na predmet ovog teksta… Naime, mnogi će ovih 13 pjesama doživjeti na vrlo intenzivan, dubok i dirljiv način. To, naravno, upućuje na činjenicu da albumom prevladava velika doza prihvatljivosti, usuđujem se napisati i stvarnosti, a to duboko dira našu intimu i stoga nije čudo što će ovaj album vrlo često biti rado viđen gost u mojim uređajima. Od vokalne do instrumentalne prezentacije, u svakoj pjesmi nalazimo mnoštvo izuzetnosti koje nam čine ovaj blues itekako raskošnim i zanimljivim. Uvijek se iznova čudim onima koji tradicionalni blues doživljavaju kao nešto jednolično. Bože moj, kako je to moguće, imaju li ti ljudi imaju imalo sluha? Možda je kod nas neka druga slušna, ali i emocionalna percepcija. Neki su to čak željeli i dići na neki viši nivo te priču postaviti kao da blues nije za svakoga. Ma, blues je baš za svakoga, on je realan i stvaran, on je živ i životan; nemoguće je dijeliti i razdvajati takve stvari. Album je snimljen u Milanu, ali i u SAD, u High Pointu, Lafayetteu i Portlandu, pa album ima interkontinentalni značaj, a svojim sadržajem fascinira na globalnim razmjerima. Činjenica je da, gdje god nastupali, Fabrizio i njegovi Chicken Mambo daju sve od sebe, oni su 100% u svakoj noti, u svakoj skladbi i samo traže mjesto gdje će to prezentirati. Od klubova, restorana, lokalnih radio postaja, odmarališta uz autocestu do poznatih mjesta za svirku… bez obzira gdje sviraju, ovaj bend doista izlaže sve svoje osjećaje i zdušno prezentira glazbu koju svi volimo.
PREPORUKA:
Nikako nemojte slušati album sporadično, birajući samo neke skladbe; krenite od početka i do kraja nećete ni trepnuti, a potom već ste opet na početku! Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo uz svoje goste otvorit će vam apsolutno nove i nepredvidljive plavičaste horizonte u kojima ćete itekako uživati. Jednostavno, nemojte propustiti ovu ljepotu.
ROOTSTIME review written by Eric Schuurmans
BELGIUM
“ This is an album dedicated to the ‘Delta Italians’ and tot heir pursuit of a better life and their struggle against mosquitos, flood & prejudice… “
BLUEBIRD review written by Giovanni “Gio” Pilato
Boston, USA
When a new record by Fabrizio Poggi is released, the heartbeat of every blues fan of the genre begins to pulsate faster, as the sound of Fabrizio’s harmonica.
Spaghetti Juke Joint is a tribute to those Italians who emigrated to America in search of work at the end of 1800, in the plantations of Mississippi and and that maybe, who knows, as some urban legend recalls, may have really opened a Juke Joint somewhere in-between the cotton fields. The disc itself pays homage to the genre in full 360 degrees. The sounds and rhytms that run through the record are suspended between the Delta Blues sound of Sonny Boy Williamson, the best period of the English blues masters such as Rory Gallagher and the blues rock of titans like Canned Heat and the late great Johnny Winter.
The ability and class of Poggi seems to remain intact over time and never tarnished by all those years on the road; his energy and passion to play the harmonica are truly unique and a treat to any music lover.
The Chicken Mambo constitute, as always, a solid backbone that takes the listener through a half-century history of the blues in this energetic and wonderfully crafted new record. To complete an album of great intensity and artistic stature as this, Fabrizio Poggi welcomes huge stars of the Blues firmament as Ronnie Earl, Sonny Landreth and Bob Margolin, just to name a few, as Special Guests on his new record.
One of the favorite sayings close to Fabrizio Poggi’s heart is ” Who does not love the Blues, has a hole in the soul. ” Who does not love a record like Spaghetti Juke Joint, has that hole for real.
SPAGHETTI JUKE JOINT is released by Appaloosa Records and is available on www.appaloosarecords.it or www.Amazon.com.
MISSISSIPPI BLUES CLUB
Minnesota, USA
(FIVE STARS)
Blues harp played with traditional blues passion delivered with smooth transitions and soothing vocals
During his long career Fabrizio Poggi has recorded seventeen albums and has played in the US and Europe with The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garth Hudson of The Band, Eric Bibb, Charlie Musselwhite, Ronnie Earl, Kim Wilson, John Hammond, Marcia Ball, Ham Jimenez, Little Feat, Otis Taylor, Steve Cropper, Zachary Richard and many others.
In 2013, he partnered with Guy Davis on the acclaimed album “Juba Dance”. This went on to become a number one hit on the Roots Music Report, as well as a nominee for the Blues Music Awards 2014 “Acoustic Album” category.
With seventeen record albums to date, two books, numerous appearances around the globe, winner of plentiful awards and accolades —Fabrizio has earned his place alongside the blues greats; however, he remains the every-man, grounded beautifully by his own connection to the shared human conditions of struggle, darkness, and pain cloaked in redemption, overcoming, and freedom while his music soars, taking these themes to flight.
With this new cd, Fabrizio Poggi takes a snapshot of the current great line up of his Italian “historical” band, Chicken Mambo; a band that excels in energy, talent, and great experience. This work for Fabrizio Poggi is a return to his musical roots, to the music that influenced him in the early years of his musical career which began almost forty years ago. This illustrious career has led him to perform on many prestigious stages in the company of great musicians, thus becoming, without a doubt, the most well known Italian bluesman in the United States.
Featured alongside Fabrizio are three guests of outstanding caliber, each legendary in his own way: Sonny Landreth, Ronnie Earl, and Bob Margolin. The album title is a tribute to the late 19th century Italians who, chasing a tragic dream, left Italy to pick cotton alongside the blacks on Mississippi plantations as they battled together mosquitoes, floods, and racial prejudice. They were there when African slaves created the blues. Who knows… maybe, as the legend goes, an Italian immigrant really did open a juke joint somewhere among the Mississippi cotton fields and what more an appropriate name than “Spaghetti Juke Joint”?
BLUES BLAST MAGAZINE
Illinois, USA
Spaghetti Juke Joint – Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo (Appaloosa 2014)
Fabrizio Poggi has been playing the blues for many years in his native Italy as well as across Europe and the USA. In 2013 he worked with Guy Davis on his BMA nominated CD Juba Dance and over the years he has played with many leading American blues artists… “Bye Bye Bird”, a tune by Sonny Boy Williamson II … bombs along with some wild guitar from Enrico Polverari and convincing harp from Fabrizio. Slim Harpo’s “I’m A King Bee” finds Sonny Landreth adding some appropriately swampy slide to the mix and it’s arguably the strongest cut on the album. Claudio Noseda’s piano is added as well and the whole band plays a storm, inspired by a typical Landreth performance… Junior Parker’s “Mystery Train”…starts well with some nice organ supporting the rapid rhythm section. Fabrizio gets some good train sounds from his harp solo and the country hoedown feel of the track is well done, including some whooping from the leader. Tom Waits’ “Way Down In The Hole” … finds Fabrizio playing in the higher register and Sara Cappelletti singing some strong harmony vocals … The band returns to SBW II for “Checking Up On My Baby”, another frequently covered tune which swings along well, the organ again adding to the basic quartet…
Blind Lemon Jefferson’s “One Kind Favour”… has additional lyrics by Guy Davis. It is very different to some we know and love like Canned Heat, played in laid-back style with some gentle rhythm guitar and warm organ…
The traditional “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” features Sara Cappelletti … Enrico’s solo is wild and rocky. Fabrizio’s “I Want My Baby” uses a familiar blues riff … the band plays it well with guest Claudio Bazzari adding some nice slide work…
WASHINGTON BLUES SOCIETY
Washington, USA
ZICAZINE review written by Fred Delforge
FRANCE
Incontournable sur la scène blues mondiale, Fabrizio Poggi a foulé les planches du monde entier avec des grands noms comme Charlie Musselwhite, les Blind Boys Of Alabama, Zachary Richard, Eric Bibb et nombre d’autres encore et ce n’est pas par hasard qu’il s’est retrouvé nominé aux Blues Music Awards en 2014 pour son album réalisé en collaboration avec Guy Davis, « Juba Dance ». Véritable star, le chanteur et harmoniciste n’en reste pas moins modeste et particulièrement accessible et c’est un retour naturel vers ses racines qu’il nous offre avec ce nouvel album, le dix-huitième de sa colossale carrière, en revisitant à sa manière quelques classiques du blues et du blues rock. Accompagné de son groupe italien attitré, Chicken Mambo, Fabrizio Poggi n’en oublie pas pour autant d’inviter quelques-uns de ses bons amis à partager les pistes avec lui et c’est en toute simplicité que l’on croise au détour d’un titre les guitares de Sonny Landreth, de Ronnie Earl ou encore de Bob Margolin pour un album qui réussit à réunir la plaine du Po et celle du Mississippi dans une seule et même dynamique. Hommage aux esclaves africains et aux immigrés italiens qui ont pour beaucoup connu les mêmes malheurs et les mêmes injustices, « Spaghetti Juke Joint » nous reconduit vers l’œuvre de Sonny Boy Williamson 2, de Slim Harpo, de Little Milton, de B.B. King ou encore de Tom Waits et agrémente le tout de quelques pièces originales comme « Devil At The Cross Road » ou « Mojo » qui s’inscrivent très logiquement dans la continuité des covers présentes sur l’ouvrage. Au rayon craqueries, on relèvera la présence de standards comme « King Bee », « Mystery Train » et autres « Rock Me Baby » mais aussi un épatant « Baby Please Don’t Go » glissé en bonus en toute fin d’ouvrage, le tout porté par un harmonica de toute beauté mais aussi par une voix qui sait être toujours à la bonne place et enfin par un groupe où l’on sent que chacun se fait plaisir à jouer une musique riche et sincère. Enregistré entre Milan, Portland et Lafayette, ce « Spaghetti Juke Joint » n’a pas fini de réunir les amateurs de blues autour d’un artiste aussi brillant qu’attachant. A quand un live chez nous pour finir de combler les fans français de l’artiste ?
GOLDMINE review written by Mike Greenblatt
Iola, Wisconsin USA
“Spaghetti Juke Joint” (Appaloosa) by Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo is Fab’s 18th album (he’s also written two books), the follow-up to “Juba Dance” with Guy Davis in 2013. This longtime singer/songwriter/harmonicat can shout the blues with the best of ‘em. Here he rages on material by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Slim Harpo, Little Milton, Junior Parker, Tom Waits, Blind Lemon Jefferson, BB King, Big Joe Williams and his own originals with help from his new band plus super-musicians Sonny Landreth, Ronnie Earl and Bob Margolin. It ain’t nothin’ but a house party and don’t bother knockin’.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLUES SOCIETY review written by Blue Barry ~ Smoky Mountain Tennessee USA
My lands is this a great CD! Geez! I wish I had played cut #2 with Sonny Landreth the other night. These guys are killer! Everybody is a great musician! I’m really
impressed. This should do just fine.
Blue Barry ~ Smoky Mountain Blues Society
Singer, songwriter, and Hohner Award winning harmonica player Fabrizio Poggi has just finished his 18th Album! Did I mention how many? After 40 years of playing, and touring the U.S. as well as Europe, Italian Fabrizio Poggi unleashes some great blues with “Spaghetti Juke Joint.” He has toured and played with The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garth Hudson, The Band, Eric Bibb, Charlie Musselwhite, Ronnie Earl, Kim Wilson, John Hammond, Marci Ball, Flaco Jimenez, Little Feat, Otis Taylor, Steve Cropper, and the list goes on and on! Whew! Guest players on this CD include Sonny Landreth, super monster slide player. Ronnie Earl, ace superb guitar player, and Bob Margolin of Muddy Waters fame, with some wonderful slide. With three originals, some traditional pieces, and some classic blues cover Fabrizio tears it up. Remembering how hard it was in the l890’s when a lot of Italians immigrated to the Delta he pays respect to those hard times, and tough people. Enduring the same storms, floods, heat, hard work, mosquitoes, poor work and poor pay as their predecessors. With his original band “Chicken Mambo”, and the stellar musicians sitting in with him, he plays and sings some wonderful blues! As a harp player he can really blow. As a band they are tight, and unusually good. Enrico Polverari on guitar is unreal! These guys could be from Chicago if you didn’t know better. The name of the CD “Spaghetti Juke Joint” comes from wondering if at sometime some Italian didn’t open up a blues juke joint down there. These guys sure could have, and who knows……it could have happened. If they did, and played blues this good, it would still be there! Go to www.chickenmambo.com Don’t believe me, listen for yourself. Sonny Landreth is exceptional on “King Bee.” Fabrizio plays Sonny Boy Williamsons’ “Bye Bye Bird” just the way you want to hear it. With 13 cuts they stretch the limit of great playing, and I guarantee you’ll like something on here. You better give it a listen. Don’t want to miss the boat on this one.
Review appeared on Don and Sheryl BluesBlog written by Sheryl and Don Crow Nashville, Tennessee USA.
Fabrizio Poggi and Chicken Mambo review January 17, 2015
FABRIZIO POGGI AND CHICKEN MAMBO -SPAGHETTI JUKE JOINT
BYE BYE BIRD–KING BEE–THE BLUES IS ALRIGHT-DEVIL AT THE CROSS ROAD–MYSTERY TRAIN WAY DOWN IN THE HOLE–CHECKIN’ UP ON MY BABY–ONE KIND FAVOR–MOJO–ROCK ME BABY NOBODY–WANT MY BABY–BABY PLEASE DON’T GO (BONUS TRACK)
Fabrizio Poggi has been hailed as the best-known Italian bluesman in the United States today, and his skills as a vocalist and harpman certainly add to his well-deserved reputation. His international career has spanned some forty years, and his current release is entitled “Spaghetti Juke Joint,” and has Fabrizio and his high-octane band, Chicken Mambo, blast thru three originals and ten covers with the aid of a few special friends along the way.
The title is a historical reference of sorts, dealing with the number of Italian immigrants who left their homeland in the late 19th century and migrated to the Mississippi Delta to pick cotton alongside the black slaves. They all suffered the same misfortunes, from floods, malaria, and unscrupulous plantation bosses. They all shared the same passions for making music, and Fabrizio has effectively “carried this bidness on.”
He shows off his Hohner skills on the opening “Bye Bye Bird,” and Sonny Landreth adds some serious slide to “I’m A King Bee.” A slightly-different version of “The Blues Is Alright” has more fantastic guitar from Ronnie Earl. Another song re-vamped by Fabrizio for this set is “Mojo,” with its ultra-funky groove and killer slide from Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin.
We had three favorites, too. The fellows knock “Checkin’ Up On My Baby” out of the park, and remind us all to “keep the Devil Way Down In The Hole” on a killer version of this Tom Waits tune. “Devil At The Cross Road” is a cool original cut, with its eternal message of hellhounds, deals goin’ down, and the voice of the Devil calling for retribution in the form of your soul.
Fabrizio Poggi has been a student of the blues for many years now, and has eighteen albums and some serious world-wide credentials. As a harp player he can rock with the greats, and he and Chicken Mambo really strut their considerable stuff on “Spaghetti Juke Joint.” Until next time…
Review appeared on “Midwest Records”
Chicago, Illinois – USA
FABRIZIO POGGI & Chicken Mambo/Spaghetti Juke Joint APPALOOSA:
Too honkingly beautiful to be believed!
There seems to be a growing cadre of Euro musos that have a killer knack for serving up Americana just right. Poggi, an award winner that has had no problem with jumping in with both feet with a lot of the Woodstock brigade of Americana, gives up amped up traditional blues with his hometown paisanni and the results are immaculate and soulful. Giving the whole thing a proper kick in the pants so everyone can join in on his version of Little Milton’s ‘The Blues is Alright‘, there just has to be something wrong with you if you pass up an invitation to this party. Killer stuff throughout.
REFLECTIONS IN BLUE article by Bill Wilson
Pennsylvania, USA
Whether a great story or the God’s honest truth, story has it that in 1895, looking for a better life for themselves, a group of Italians landed in Mississippi. Many ended up near Greenville, MS, on the Sunnyside Plantation. Many lured here with the promise of a better life found themselves essentially in the same position as the African-American slaves. Arriving at the end of the Civil War, when slaves, free, if in word only, began to migrate north, leaving plantation owners in a bad situation. The Italians, a hard working people suffered alongside those slaves still present, suffering, if possible, even greater oppression than the blacks…not to deter from the plight of the slaves who were already present. Legend has it that an Italian opened a Juke Joint, which, for lack of a better name was appropriately called the Spaghetti Juke Joint. Whether the story of the Juke is truth or just a great story passed through the generations, it makes for a great title for this disc and the immigration of the Italians is documented. Fabrizio & Chicken Mambo are a solid blues band based in Italy. Fabrizio has worked considerably in the States and has a total of 18 CDs under his belt. A superb harp player, songwriter and very soulful vocalist, he has worked with an astounding number, far too great to list here, of all-time greats from America and around the world. Spaghetti Juke Joint has Poggi and the band accompanied by Sonny Landreth, Ronnie Earl and Bob Margolin among others. Though there are only three original tunes on the album, they show a deep understanding and love for the American music that has taken on a universal appeal. This is as solid a blues album as I have heard anywhere and is most assuredly the real deal. They say that the digital age has made the world a much smaller placer. While I have to agree with that statement, I must add that even before that, the music was doing more than its fair share to bring our world together. Blues is truly a universal language. Regardless of their origin, Fabrizio Poggi and Chicken Mambo are a first-rate blues band…with or without the aid of their American special guests. Musically flawless and dripping with emotional power, Spaghetti Juke Joint is as good as it gets.
SMOKY MOUNTAIN BLUES SOCIETY article by Blue Barry ~ Smoky Mountain, Tennessee USA
Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo
CD Review – “Spaghetti Juke Joint”
My lands is this a great CD! Geez! I wish I had played cut #2 with Sonny Landreth the other night. These guys are killer! Everybody is a great musician! I’m really
impressed. This should do just fine.
Blue Barry ~ Smoky Mountain Blues Society
Singer, songwriter, and Hohner Award winning harmonica player Fabrizio Poggi has just finished his 18th Album! Did I mention how many? After 40 years of playing, and touring the U.S. as well as Europe, Italian Fabrizio Poggi unleashes some great blues with “Spaghetti Juke Joint.” He has toured and played with The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garth Hudson, The Band, Eric Bibb, Charlie Musselwhite, Ronnie Earl, Kim Wilson, John Hammond, Marci Ball, Flaco Jimenez, Little Feat, Otis Taylor, Steve Cropper, and the list goes on and on! Whew! Guest players on this CD include Sonny Landreth, super monster slide player. Ronnie Earl, ace superb guitar player, and Bob Margolin of Muddy Waters fame, with some wonderful slide. With three originals, some traditional pieces, and some classic blues cover Fabrizio tears it up. Remembering how hard it was in the l890’s when a lot of Italians immigrated to the Delta he pays respect to those hard times, and tough people. Enduring the same storms, floods, heat, hard work, mosquitoes, poor work and poor pay as their predecessors. With his original band “Chicken Mambo”, and the stellar musicians sitting in with him, he plays and sings some wonderful blues! As a harp player he can really blow. As a band they are tight, and unusually good. Enrico Polverari on guitar is unreal! These guys could be from Chicago if you didn’t know better. The name of the CD “Spaghetti Juke Joint” comes from wondering if at sometime some Italian didn’t open up a blues juke joint down there. These guys sure could have, and who knows……it could have happened. If they did, and played blues this good, it would still be there! Go to www.chickenmambo.com Don’t believe me, listen for yourself. Sonny Landreth is exceptional on “King Bee.” Fabrizio plays Sonny Boy Williamsons’ “Bye Bye Bird” just the way you want to hear it. With 13 cuts they stretch the limit of great playing, and I guarantee you’ll like something on here. You better give it a listen. Don’t want to miss the boat on this one. One Love, blue barry ~ smoky mountain blues society ~tennessee.
BMAN’S BLUES REPORT article by Bman
Phoenix, Arizona USA
Appaloosa Records artist: Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo – Spaghetti Juke Joint – New Release review
I just received the newest release, Spaghetti Juke Joint from Fabrizio Poggi & Chicken Mambo and it’s a blast! Opening with Sonny Boy Williamson’s Bye Bye Bird, Poggi on harp and lead vocals has the joint hopping already. Guitar riff master Enrico Polverari really drives the boogie and with reckless abandon… Boogie! Up next is Slim Harpo’s King Bee with a New Orleans feel set up by the drum march styling of Gino Carravieri. Claudio Noseda lays down a really nice piano base and guitar slide king Sonny Landreth trades terrific riffs with Poggi. Excellent! Another boogie track, Little Milton’s The Blues Is Alright is a special track being one of the best versions of this track that I have heard. Featuring the smooth guitar flair of Ronnie Earl, driving bass lines of Tino Cappelletti and strong back beat of Caravieri this track is cool! Original track, Devil At The Cross Road, has a real nice gait and stinging guitar riffs from Polverari. Excellent! On Junior Parker’s Mystery Train, Noseda lays down some soft organ work and Poggi really lays on the harp. This is Chicago blues as it was when it was. Polverari shows he really knows how to grind the fretboard. Very cool! Tom Waits’ Way Down In The Hole has a bit of a Latin feel and nice backing vocals. Poggi squeezes the harp with a seasoned hand, making it cry the blues. Again Polverari steps up and blows the doors open with his hot guitar riffs. Smooth. Sonny Boy’s Checkin’ Up On My Baby is a straight up 12 bar with a nice groove. Polverari takes full command with great blues riff prowess. Poggi lays back in the groove and rides the wave. Excellent! Blind Lemon Jefferson’s One Kind Favor takes a Tex/Latin rhythm with strong blues overtones. Poggi handles vocals nicely and trades really slick riffs with Polverari making this one of the coolest tracks on the release. Bob Margolin feeds a hungry slide guitar on Mojo, a funky blues track backed by Noseda on organ. With excellent riffs from Margolin, Polverari and Poggi’s classic harp styling, this track rocks! Even BB King’s Rock Me Baby gets a taste of Latin. Noseda adds some New Orleans flavor with accordion and does a really nice job with a funky piano solo as well. Poggi and Polverari both take their turn on solo and never waste a note. Very nice! Nobody takes a very basic blues feel and builds it with rolling harp riffs from Poggi and additional lead vocals from Sara Cappelletti who really adds some spice. Polverari is hot on the frets with stinging lead guitar work and Tino C has the bass hopping. Another excellent track! I Want My Baby has strong New Orleans style rhythms reinforced by Stefano Spina on percussion and Claudio Bazzari on slide guitar. It needs to be pointed out that there is quite a bit of nice slide work on this release by a number of different players. Carravieri gets a chance to open up his drum kit for a tight solo… love it! Wrapping the release is Big Joe William’s Baby Please Don’t Go, in fairly traditional style but with back beat drumming by Carravieri. Poggi leads the way out on harp. This is quite an excellent release and one that I highly recommend.
If you support live Blues acts, up and coming Blues talents and want to learn more about Blues news and Fathers of the Blues, Like —Bman’s Blues Report— Facebook Page! I’m looking for great talent and trying to grow the audience for your favorites band! – ”LIKE”
WORLD OF HARMONICA article by Shaun Monument May
Difficult to Imagine a bad release from this World Class Harmonica Player from Italy. What you have here is no exception to the rule. Incredible Musicianship throughout, topped off with incredible harmonica playing.
Superb!
Rob Paparozzi (The Original Blues Brothers Band, Blood Sweat & Tears)
I’m really enjoying your latest project what a terrific concept. I never knew about the Italian Slaves, fascinating piece of history.
Your new band sounds SO good on these classic Blues Standards and you sound at home with the Vocals and Harpwork…Bravo!
Also, you couldn’t have picked more PERFECT special guests: Sonny, Ronnie, Bob along w/ Sara & Claudio really make for a special recording w/ a whole lotta SOUL…..
Thanks for sharing it with me and congrats on an amazing year you had with everything including the hit with Guy Davis!
Rob
Charlie Musselwhite and Spaghetti Juke Joint
Howdy Y’all,
Just finished listening to Spaghetti Juke Joint and it was a mighty fun listen. Must’ve been fun to record. Congratulations on a fine bunch of blues! Yahoo! Bravo! It¹s all GOOOOOOD!!!
Charlie
Sonny Landreth and Spaghetti Juke Joint
King Bee came out great! As did all of Spaghetti Juke Joint, really nice work. I found your story of the Italians in the Delta fascinating as I’d never really heard about that before. I wish you much success!
Sonny