"While much of the blues be done in three chords, a blues never repeats twice, there is much interpretation and feeling there and I think that is what fascinates people today."

Marzio Lenzi: Companheiro do Blues

Guitarist Marzio Lenzi releases his new album SECOND BLUES. The whole album was played and produced by Marzio and counts on some special guests. SECOND BLUES is the second solo album dedicated to the blues in Marzio’s carrier. The 10 tracks on the album focus on the traditional blues and confirm all the skills and varied vocabulary on the guitar that had Marzio stand out nationally on the instrument.

Amongst his own compositions and reinterpretations, the record is full of high-rated guests from the national blues such as America-born Greg Wilson , member of "Blues Etílicos"; Chilean virtuoso harmonica player Gonzalo Araya on "Two More Weeks"; Joe Marhofer from the great "Headcutters" plays harmonica on "Bad Boy"; Andrey Garcia, long-time partner shows his mastery of the organ on "Good Morning School Litlle Girl"; Decio Caetano plays guitar and sings on "Take the train to next station”; Ricardo Maca, also part of Headcutters appears throughout the album playing the piano and the guitar. Marzio, also part of the Brazilian band rock n’ roll Lenzi Brothers with 5 albums and 1 DVD released.

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

The blues taught me that sincerity and spontaneity are essential check everything you do in life. Do things with heart and be rewards. I'm a white guy who speaks Portuguese in the middle of Latin America. None of us will know the true meaning of the blues that came from past masters, the pains began to write and sing the blues, none of us will like them. What the blues means to me is my favorite style of music and the best door to meet cool people out there and that my guitar sings.

How do you describe Marzio Lenzi sound and songbook? What characterize your music philosophy?

During these twenty years I play guitar, always divide my work between classic rock and blues. However, try not to mix these styles when I make a blues album soil. Today the challenge for me is to focus on traditional blues trying to put my spice and personality into the mix. What is harder to do.

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

While much of the blues be done in three chords, a blues never repeats twice, there is much interpretation and feeling there and I think that is what fascinates people today.

"I'm a white guy who speaks Portuguese in the middle of Latin America. None of us will know the true meaning of the blues that came from past masters, the pains began to write and sing the blues, none of us will like them. What the blues means to me is my favorite style of music and the best door to meet cool people out there and that my guitar sings."

Are there any memories from gigs, jams and recording time which you’d like to share with us?

My most rewarding experience was the Blues have recorded a disc and have shared the stage many times with one of our heroes of the blues in Brazil, Mr. Greg Wilson's pioneering blues band here: Blues Etílicos. We deliver a demo for it at the show, he contacted us and today we completed ten years of partnership.

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I do not know why, but today few people write new good songs. The focus is on performance. I believe the reason I spoke before, they wrote their life stories and blues artists nowadays do not spend more for it. My fear for the future is that young people do not create any original material and festivals will be guitar and harmonica competitions. My hope is that new original artists to emerge in the USA, the birthplace of the blues.

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I think that in all schools to teach music to children, we would have many new talents.

"My fear for the future is that young people do not create any original material and festivals will be guitar and harmonica competitions. My hope is that new original artists to emerge in the USA, the birthplace of the blues."

Make an account of the case of the blues in Brazil. Which is the most interesting period in local blues scene?

I think the most interesting period is the current. Many artists are releasing good work and never have so many festivals around the country, which is quite large. There was a good run in the '90s, but with a few artists, then things stopped for a long time, but is now better than ever.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from States to Brazil and the rest South America?

There was a time it was hard to get stuff here, only scholars and collectors had access. Twenty years ago people had no choice but to listen to blues, ate what was available and the most popular artists. Nowadays the ease of the internet blues musicians are researching and turning increasingly to the root of style.

What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the local music circuits?

The most awesome blues band in Brazil today is Headcutters, are very good, see a show of them is a trip back in time to the fifties.

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

I would be the roadie BB King on the day of recording "Live at the Regal".

Is it easier to write and play the blues as you get older? What is your BLUES DREAM? Happiness is…

Yes, experience can make a big difference. If I could work exclusively with music and performing in different places of the world would be a dream come true.

Marzio Lenzi - official website