"I believe that the 60’s and the 70’s were magnificent years for the British scene. The most important bands in the world came out of those years, and it was revolutionary. Much of that audience lives still, and they transmit the passion for live music to their children and grandchildren. I have seen it at the CB’s shows."

The Cinelli Brothers: Blues Knights

The Cinelli Brothers have a passion for the music of the 1960’s, an amalgam of blues, rock and soul, and add a twist of contemporary style, making them a rising force on the music scene. Their appeal crosses all manner of boundaries, attracting a significantly younger crowd to their shows as well as pleasing the ears of older fans. Brothers Marco (guitar, keys, vocals) and Alessandro (drums, B/V’s) are joined by Tom Julian-Jones (guitar, harmonica, vocals) and Stephen Giry (bass, guitar, B/V’s). The band has released three albums to date: Babe Please Set Your Alarm (2018), Villa Juke Joint (2021) and No Country For Bluesmen (2022), featuring guests on every track, including Dana Gillespie, Ian Siegal, Big Joe Louis and many up and coming stars of the British blues scene. The Cinelli Brothers tour widely in the UK and across Europe, playing clubs and festivals, delivering live shows of predominantly original material with high energy, great musicianship and showmanship. 

(The Cinelli Brothers / Photo by Michelangelo Sguerra)

They have been nominated for UK Blues Awards and are establishing themselves as one of the leading lights of the UK blues scene. Definitely a band not to be missed! Winners of the 2022 UK Blues Challenge. UK Blues awards nomination best blues band for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023. In January 2023 the record “No Country For Bluesmen” was nominated for the UK Blues Awards as “Blues Album Of the Year”. In September 2022 the band won the UK Blues Challenge. In January 2023 the bank ranked number 2 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, US. The Cinelli Brothers champion a new generation of passionate musicians sharing in the love of Blues, Soul, R&B and the true authentic sounds that have made the blues a cornerstone of music history. The Cinelli Brothers will be the UK participation at the European Blues Challenge, Chorzów in Poland (June 1-3, 2023).

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues and Rock Counterculture influenced your views of the world and the journeys you’ve taken?

Marco: I think the Blues is a great style of music, and I am very happy to follow the footprints of the blues legends. The blues sound is my meter of judgment when I listen to some new artists, even though is not paramount that one must have the blues to be good. Concerning the journey we have taken, I would like to quote the booklet of Villa Jukejoint: “Some great musicians of the past have delighted us with one of the most magnificent miracles in music, the Blues. It comes from the deep culture of people who were kept in captivity, neglected and repressed for centuries. We are not conceiving anything new but just shuffling the cards once more. Enjoy.”

Tom: Blues and rock music and the counterculture of that it created has definitely shaped the way I see the world; it certainly made me want to become a musician and have a non-traditional lifestyle. Being a musician has taken me travelling all around the world, and interacting with people that I otherwise wouldn’t have met. It’s impacted everything I do for the better.

Alessandro: I believe that the influence of the Blues on my life still occurs every day, from the way I dress to the way I came to live certain experiences. It almost feels like Blues, and music in general, are a colour that I am attracted to…I do orbit around that colour, that flavour, that feeling, and I like it, makes me feel at ease. In my element.

Stephen: I embraced the blues culture when I was a teenager, it has always felt like a safety net to me. Something you can always rely on. Later on, it quickly defined my lifestyle as a troubadour, playing music everywhere I go, travelling the world and sharing this music with others.

How do you describe band's sound and songbook? Where does band's creative drive come from?

Marco: We come from the Blues, and the elements of our sound are the result of many days spent listening and practicing. Now we write our songs within the range of these elements. I think I have enough creative drive that I am always happy to share with the rest. Once we start with an idea, each one of us equally gives his bit.

Alessandro: From everywhere and everything. The inspiration can hit you at any moment, but only when you are ready to accept that. I believe that the more you live, the more you can summarize thoughts and the more you can develop ideas about life. It could be about any theme, from chewing a gum to love related matters.

"Music is one of the most important parts of human society, it’s the universal language that brings us all together. I really hope from music to just make people have a good time, and forget about their problems while they see one of our shows." (The Cinelli Brothers / Photo by Keery Irvine)

Why do you think that the UK Blues scene continues to generate such a devoted following since the 1960s?

Marco: I believe that the 60’s and the 70’s were magnificent years for the British scene. The most important bands in the world came out of those years, and it was revolutionary. Much of that audience lives still, and they transmit the passion for live music to their children and grandchildren. I have seen it at the CB’s shows.

Tom: Blues music does still have a small devoted audience in the UK, however, in answer to your question, I think that it has been slowly declining over the years. A few they remain loyal are the ones that grew up with the blues boom of the 60s all the part of it. They remember seeing bands such as cream all the Yardbirds interpreting, classic American blues into their own music. I feel there is a much more devoted scene in Europe and America.

Alessandro: Because of his sound and the fact that it is truly a unique take on the genre. It’s a killer combo to me. The respect of the tradition from the US plus the impetuosity of the UK energy. Remarkable indeed.

Stephen: Jeff Beck passed away today and looking at all these beautiful messages written everywhere by so many musicians and music lovers from all over the world, old or young, is the living proof that the UK blues scene is still alive and well. An endless source of inspiration for many generations to come because of its powerful songwriting and sound, mixed with that amazing blend of musical cultures and influences.

Are there any memories from gigs, jams, open acts and studio sessions which you’d like to share with us?

Marco: Yes, absolutely. Skånevik Bluesfestival 2022, Norway. We were supposed to play in the same day of our inbound trip, and we travelled fairly early in the morning. One thing we didn’t calculate right was that driving through the Norwegian fiords can take ages, because of all the routes by ferry, and we made a huge mistake to trust the path of google maps versus what the organization told us to do.  We lost all the spare time we had, and we were to a point where we would never make it in time for the show, stuck ashore waiting for the last ferry to depart. Two cowboys from the festival came pick us up with a small speed boat. We left the car, and we hopped on board, and sailed back and incredible speed. We made it on the stage of the festival three minutes before show time.

Tom: I’ve had some great moments over the years. In regard to this question, I particularly remember the many nights Alessandro and I used to share at a club called the alley cat in central London, jamming with Matt Schofield and Ian Siegal. I also fondly remember playing with Paul Oscher (ex muddy waters harp player) in Austin Texas.

Alessandro: There will be too many to write down here, but last time in Norway was just incredible. We were running late because of a delay on the flight from London and because of the very slow ferries across the country, so one of the members of the festival (what a star!) came to pick us up with a speed boat and we jumped on stage only 5 minutes before the beginning of the gig…Plug the instruments, quick line check and boom…showtime!

Stephen: There are so many… one that comes to mind was a last-minute warm up in Jazz in Marciac festival before going on stage with Keith B. Brown. Keb Mo’ and Eric Bibb where playing that night as well and they came along to play backstage. That sense of warm welcoming to the blues family as a young guitar player was really unique, it almost felt like a ritual.                         (The Cinelli Brothers / Photo by Michelangelo Sguerra)

"Music speaks for itself. It affects people in a way that is completely fascinating, magical and sometimes also very unexpected. It shaped generations before us and I hope it will continue to do so. What better way to communicate and also federate people? It’s a beautiful mystery."

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

Marco: I don’t particularly miss anything from the past, since I love the music of today and go watch some live shows around. If I could attend one show that I was never able to see it would be Jimi Hendrix. I am not afraid of the future of the music. Even if live music will completely disappear, I guess I will be ok with it.

Tom: I miss that there are plenty of musical artists that don’t play instruments now, the concept of the DJ is strange to me, some are world-famous, and I feel they are just glorified computer programmers. I fear of the future where AI takes over everything. Recently There has been an app that went viral, that made art using Photos and AI. I worry that artists and musicians will be eventually replaced by algorithms, and other jobs will be replaced by increasing computerization and automation.

Alessandro: I miss a lot of things, but they can all be connected to my personal taste. I love the sound and the way of playing and signing on old records. I hope that live music will never stop and that there will be more and more amazing albums to be heard. I don’t particularly fear anything for the future of music. I don’t mind music evolving and changing constantly.

Stephen: I can’t say that I miss something from a past that I didn’t live and experienced. Most of my inspiration comes from an era that is now long gone but yet still lives on inside me. Of course, I miss my heroes, of course I would have loved to feel what it’s like to hear Rory Gallagher cranking up his old tweed bassman or just seeing young people going crazy for the new Stax record…there is a golden age for everything, now is the time to reinvent ourselves as musicians and performers.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Marco: I don’t want anything different than what it is. For me, it is a very simple equation: People like some type of music that makes them feel good, and If I’m involved in it I will feel even better, because I play what I like and people like it too. I no longer compose music thinking of changing the world, or the general trend. People's taste is too powerful and eventually will crush you, no matter how motivated you may be. If you think you know better than the mass, you need to feed them gently with something new. If they like you already they probably take the leap and follow you into your delirium.

Tom: Music is one of the most important parts of human society, it’s the universal language that brings us all together. I really hope from music to just make people have a good time, and forget about their problems while they see one of our shows.

Alessandro: Music delivers emotions, and emotions can affect people. Every single person can grasp a different message from a song or a record, very much like reading a book or looking at a beautiful painting. Music goes in parallel with the socio-cultural surrounding and it can affect people by just making you stop for a second and giving you some emotions that can make you connect deeper with yourself.

Stephen: Music speaks for itself. It affects people in a way that is completely fascinating, magical and sometimes also very unexpected. It shaped generations before us and I hope it will continue to do so. What better way to communicate and also federate people? It’s a beautiful mystery.

"I miss a lot of things, but they can all be connected to my personal taste. I love the sound and the way of playing and signing on old records. I hope that live music will never stop and that there will be more and more amazing albums to be heard. I don’t particularly fear anything for the future of music. I don’t mind music evolving and changing constantly." (The Cinelli Brothers / Photo by Mikki)

What's the balance in music between technique skills and soul/emotions?

Marco: I would say for the music we do the technique needs to be just enough to be able to play our songs. Any excess of it will probably result in narrowing our audience. The rest it’s only in the emotion, and hopefully we can keep them for long.

Tom: There is a fine line to be walked between skill and emotion when playing any instrument or singing, personally, I prefer the emotion and soul side to the technique. I’m a self-taught musician, and therefore probably don’t have great technique, but I feel every note I play.

Alessandro: It’s all very balanced. You can freely express your emotions with very little technique, but skills will allow you to make a stronger statement. It’s like in a conversation, the more words you know the more fluent and expressive that conversation can be.

Stephen: The balance is reached when playing or singing a song, in terms of musical technique, brings out an emotion that can be shared.  Knowledge, skills chops and tricks are nothing without the honest and truthful feeling of singing/playing your heart out. It’s something you can’t hide from. Balance to me is staying true to your own self as an artist. Simple and true. No matter what. Not that simple I suppose…

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