FABRIZIO POGGI AND CHICKEN MAMBO
SPAGHETTI JUKE JOINT
APPALOOSA RECORDS AP-177-2
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The title is a historical reference of sorts, dealing with the number of Italian immigrants who left their homeland in the late 19th century and migrated to the Mississippi Delta to pick cotton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…Sheryl and Don Crow.
donandsherylsbluesblog 