About Me
The band started in February 2003 on the initiative of Alberto Vigliarolo and Ezio Cavagnaro, two musicians who had been active on the Genoese blues scene for some years and who had already shared other musical experiences. The bands specific aim is to go beyond the fashionable rock sound, rediscover (and get people to rediscover) the intrinsic expressive value of the blues sound. This musical goal is achieved by drawing inspiration from the original founders of 1950s and 1960s electric Chicago blues, which is now represented by the best modern interpreters who managed to bring this genre up-to-date without distorting it. Besides Rice Miller, Little Walter, Walter Horton, and Muddy Waters, the group particularly likes Duke Robillard, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Kim Wilson, Rod Piazza, William Clarke, Mark Hummel, and Sugar Ray Norcia, who are undoubtedly among the most interesting modern bluesmen, and epitomize the development of the blues between innovation and tradition. The Lowdown Fellows play songs ranging from typical shuffles to boogie, occasionally venturing into rock n roll. This makes for a varied repertoire, which explains the various changes in the bands line-up that currently includes a doublebassist.
In the course of the years, the group had the opportunity to perform in a number of venues and festivals, such as Blues Channel 2003 at Canale dAlba and the Sestri Levante Blues & Soul Festival in 2003 and 2004. On the latter occasion, as well as in spring and autumn 2004, the group also backed Austrian-American pianist Christian Dozzler throughout his Italian tour. At present, the Lowdown Fellows are playing different venues and working at their first CD.The band includes:
-Alberto Vigliarolo harp and vocal. After starting as a bass player in 1988, in 2000 he began to play blues in the Genoese group Midnight Special and, as a result of his intense study of the harp, he joined the band Dirty Work. In his new quality as harp player, in the summers of 2002 and 2003 he had the opportunity to blow harp with American musicians, such as Billy Branch and Charlie Musselwhite, sharing with them the stage of the most important Chicago venues. In September 2004 in Texas he accompanied Christian Dozzler, Chris Zalez, Ash Brown and the legendary Johnny Nicholas. He also collaborated with Paolo Bonfanti and Andrea Scagliarini, two among the most representative Italian musicians.
-Ezio Cavagnaro drums. The oldest member of the group as far as musical experience is concerned, he was already playing on cruise ships at the end of the 1960s and went on playing all kinds of musical genres including rock and pop, from the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix to beat and R&B. He collaborated with many musicians, such as Bob Callero, and got an interest in blues music in 1997, first in the group Midnight Special and then in the Dirty Work. At present, he is trying to perfect his instrumental skills within the framework of his new musical genre.
-Alberto Casali guitar and vocal. A milestone of the Genovese blues scene, he has gradually perfected his guitar technique and taste in different line-ups and has collaborated with a number of musicians, such as Paolo Bonfanti and Davide Serini. After some years of musical activity, he met A. Vigliarolo e E. Cavagnaro, ranking second under the name Midnight Special in a talent scout contest for emerging jazz and blues musicians organized by Louisiana Jazz Club at the Teatro dellOpera Carlo Felice in 2001. In June 2003, he shared with Vigliarolo his musical experiences in Chicago.
-Pietro Martinelli upright bass and electric bass. A disciple of Bob Callero, he took up upright bass under the guide of jazz musician Giovanni Sanguineti. He is the youngest of the group, which he joined only recently.
