"TOO BLUES TO SUCCEED" 

 

For the longest time now I have been very aware of the popularity of American Blues Music in other parts of the world.  Many touring blues artist have done much better for themselves overseas than they have right here in the states.  On the other hand, I've never given much thought to what, if any, the "local blues scene" would be like in these far away places.  However, since being involved with www.Mary4Music.com for the last seven years, access from and to these places has changed all that.  I now know, from the discs I receive from countries I'll probably never visit, that just as in the states, there are many good local bands in many different cites, in many different countries, all over the world.  That my friends, makes me feel great.  The blues is being kept alive all over the world.

 

    One of the places that seems to have an abundance of good local blues bands is the home of my forefathers - albeit they were not blues fans - and that's Italy.    BLACK CAT BONE is the latest of many Italian Blues Bands that I've had the pleasure to listen to.  The band consists of GENNARO CARRILLO on vocals, harmonica and rub board, GIANNI DI RUVO on guitars, NUNZIO DRAGONETTI on keyboards, CLAUDIO DE PALO on bass, and MIRCO DAL BARCO on drums.  Special guests are the DADAMA HORNS featuring DAVIDE SPARANZA on trumpet, DANIELE BRUSETTI on tenor sax and MARIO VALENTE on alto sax with a choir consisting of ADELE URPI, VANDA MAZZERELLI, PAOLO CORDIO, CLAUDIO DE PALO, GIANNI DE RUVO, NUNZIO DRAGONETTI, and MIRCO DAL BARCO, and PAOLA IMPOSIMATO on background vocals.

 

    "TOO BLUES TO SUCCEED" consists of a dozen very well done tracks of which about half are BLACK CAT BONE originals and, quite interestingly, a few of those are done in their native tongue.  The disc opens with the band taking a safe and sure way of introducing themselves to the listener - covering two classics, "CORINA, CORINA" and "GIVE ME BACK MY WIG" - and doing a great job on each.  On both of these tracks the vocals, the harp blowing, the guitar solos and the piano playing are all top notch.  The rhythm section, not to be outdone, adds a very dominant bass to "CORINA, CORINA" with the drummer taking charge on "GIVE ME BACK MY WIG".

 

    On an original titled "I'M 45", GENNARO sings about his characteristics at what I guess is his age.  Some of those are he's too old to be sexy and too young to die.  Now, before I go any further, let me set this young man straight....."Hey GENNARO, us Italians are sexy at any age".   He then goes on to sing about things that happened to him at various ages of his life -  all of which seem to have made him very happy.  The song is very interesting with great piano background and a very good guitar solo right at the end.    

 

    "UN PICCOLO BLUES", is a real slow and very sultry song featuring lots a serious harp riffs, and it's sung in Italian.  No matter what the language, it's very clear GENNARO'S got the blues on this one.  MARIO'S amazing sax work makes this one of the discs highlights.

 

    "CRAZY, WRONG AND CONFUSED" is a hot original.  NUNZIO and GIANNI tear it up on organ and guitar, and GENNARO blows some of the best chromatic harp (which I'm generally not a fan of) I've ever heard. 

 

     "THERE'S A WOMAN" is a great original blues ballad.  And on it, there's a woman - PAOLA - who adds a lot to the track with some absolutely beautiful backup vocals.  Maybe next time around the guys will put her on a few more tracks, hint, hint, hint.  Great guitar work once again by GIANNI.

 

    The disc closes with yet another original, a red hot, jamming instrumental called "RED ONIONS".  Move your speakers away from the smoke alarms and turn up the volume on this one. 

 

    Other tracks featured on "TOO BLUES TO SUCCEED" are "PERFECT LOVE", "WATCH ME MOVE", "DON'T LET IT GO", "SO EXCITED" and "SABATO SERA".

 

    Now that you're aware of the fact that not all Italians are actors on the Sopranos, and that some of them are actually out here making some very good blues music, why don't you contact the guys and tell them that the Blewzzman said "la vostra musica è molto buona e dovrei averlo nella mia accumulazione".  You can do that by going to  http://www.blackcatbone.it/