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Bella Blues: Italy Invades Memphis How do today’s younger musicians pay homage to those who came before them? Some of them cover their hero’s songs. Some of them make music in the same vein as the masters. Others put together cheesy tribute bands. Some musicians copy a style or a song but add their own twist, making it a palatable offering to the musical shrines they have sought through their efforts. Such is the case of Marco Pandolfi and The Jacknives, a humble bunch of young men from northern Italy who recently represented the Associazione Roots & Blues in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. We caught the Jacknives first round in the competition at the Rum Boogie Café on Beale Street and were blown away by their sound. The Jacknives did an admirable job of covering some great blues tunes, marking the sound and feel of the originals but filling the music with their own emotions. Marco Pandolfi and The Jacknives are Marco Pandolfi covering vocals, harp and some guitar; Marco Gisfredi taking care of the guitar work; Federico Patarnello keeping the beat on drums; and Luca Bernard handling duties on bass. We caught the guys after their first set and chatted with them about their influences, the Beale Street experience, blues in Italy and grits. Sitting in on the interview was Tony Negri, the United States rep for the Associazione Roots and Blues. Marco Gisfredi handled most of the questions for the band during the interview. US: You guys are from Italy. What got you into playing the blues? THEM: Listening to rock ‘n’ roll and blues records, vintage tapes… people like Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson. US: How did you guys get together to become the Jacknives? THEM: We met at jams. Two of us played in a blues band before. We began this band through friends. Two of us live in Bologna, one in Padova and one in Noventa Vicentina. The towns are several hours apart. We get together in the middle to rehearse. US: What is the blues scene like in Italy? THEM: There are some festivals. We have gotten to see many blues greats…people like Robert Junior Lockwood at the festivals. US: What about playing the clubs? THEM: There are only three or four blues clubs in Italy though. In the early 90’s blues was more popular…now, not so much. We get a good response in France. It’s a better blues scene there. Now the most prevalent music is hip-hop or Italian folk music. US: How did you get to the IBC? THEM: We were sponsored by the Associazione Roots and Blues. Also, a medical factory called QB Group assisted us. US: What’s your impression of Beale Street? THEM: This is our first time to play in Memphis. It’s the first time a blues band has come from Italy to the IBC. It’s a great pleasure, very lively. Here people dance and enjoy the rhythm of the music. In Italy people sit in a theatre, like a concert. US: Have you had any BBQ yet? THEM: Yes. We have eaten some great southern cooking while we have been here. We told Tony when we got off the plane…"no pasta". US: Have you had grits yet? (Puzzled looks all around.) THEM: We do not know what grits are. (At this point Tony Negri gave the guys a brief description of hominy grits.) No. No grits. US: You haven’t eaten true southern cooking until you have eaten grits. THEM: Maybe. US: I understand you got to play at the Thursday night jam at Ground Zero in Clarksdale. Tell me about that experience. THEM: Yes, we played at Ground Zero. We played together as a band and got a good crowd response. We were also interviewed by Sonny Payne and we were on Channel 3 in Memphis. We also stayed in the shacks at Hopson Plantation. US: Has playing in Memphis on Beale Street influenced your playing. THEM: There is much inspiration here. We have gotten to meet people it would have been impossible to see in our own country. We get to see other bands. The level of the blues talent is high here. US: Speaking of the level of talent, what is your take on the blues here in the states? THEM: In the United States, the blues is approached more professionally which can sometimes be good. Some musicians here are so prepared they sometimes forget the most important part of the music. Blues music is hard to play if you are not relaxed. You have to have fun when you play. US: Do you write your own music? THEM: Mostly instrumentals. It’s hard to write new blues. There is so much that has been done. We are working on a new record that will have some original music on it. US: Who are your influences? (The guys listed a number of musicians that influenced them. These are the ones we managed to get written down.) Luca: Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker (all of the guys nodding in agreement). Marco G.: Robert Junior Lockwood, Earl Hooker, Hubert Sumlin, Eddie Taylor. Federico: Fred Below, Little Walter, Odie Payne. Marco P.: Sonny Boy, both of them; Little Walter, Steve Guyger, Paul Oscher.
US: What would you tell the American public about your brand of blues music? THEM: Our music comes from the old school of blues. We play with emotion…from the heart. US: Any plans to
return to the states? US: Where are you going after Beale Street. THEM: Back to Italy and our day jobs (laughing).
Postscript: The band did not make it to the finals of the IBC. However, their journey did not end with the competition. The Jacknives shared the stage Saturday evening with one of their blues heroes, Bob Margolin, during his jam session at the Rum Boogie Café. The guys must have made an impression on the blues hounds in Memphis that weekend. We found out their CD, Step Back Baby, was the best selling CD of all the competing artists during the competition.
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