You’re from Trieste (Italy), when and why did you decide to leave Italy for Ireland ?
I went to Ireland in the beginning of 2002 (I arrived in 02/02/2002 … not bad as a number).
I did not really decide to live in Ireland, but I was so tired and bored about Italy, without a real musical future.
The time for playing music was always less , so I thought to sell everything and buying a sailing boat, travelling around the world.
But, before to doin' it I saw my love for music, and I looked for another chance somewhere. My girl friend found a job at Galway on the
west coast of Ireland, and so we decided to move on.
Do you miss anything but, above all, what don’t you miss of Italy ?
About Italy, besides banal things such as a good coffee or pizza, I don’t miss anything. Well … maybe also a little… the sunny days …
I do not really miss all the problems for playing live such as SIAE (Italian company Authors and Editors), EMPALS, police, fireman permissions … etc …
In 6 years, in Ireland, I did not watch at policemen bursting into the venue stopping the gig and pulling up instruments as happened in Trieste in 2001.
Did you play music when you were living in Italy ?
Yes I did. I started playing with the ‘folkloristic’ band of my village and similar groups then, after my studies at school, I began a job in a mechanic workshop and the music became only a hobby.
I think was the 1995-96 when I decided to change my life trying to make music a real part of my life, with good and bad moments.
How was your meeting, and collaboration, with Jerry Fish born ?
Once at Galway I started to look around to see what about interesting was happening on the irish musical panorama, and so, after few months
I took part in the Black Magic Big Band, a 20 elements band performing swing/jazz.
In this band I met a girl from Holland called Mischa Langemeijer. She were already playing with Jerry (she played since the last period with An Emotional Fish).
When Jerry decided to record the first album asked her for a trumpet player.
She talked to Jerry about me. So we went to Dublin to record. If I Think to that period… I did not really understand what the project was about,
surely for my english language which, in 2002, was close to zero, but also due to Mischa who talked about a friend recording a Demo and his need for a trumpet.
I remained in studio with Jerry for at least 10 hours, and the communication among us and the sound engineer was managed by hands gesticulating.
I was looking like Tarzan ;-)
Did you have any other artistic experiences in Ireland before starting the JF project ?
As I was saying I started with The Big Band which playing each Monday evening at "Cuba Bar" in the centre of Galway,
and sometimes some jazz or salsa night session elsewhere.
Did you have an exclusive collaboration with JF or did you work with any other artists In these years ?
Ireland gives much work to musicians. I’ve been lucky, besides JF I worked with lot of groups/bands. Today I’m a stable part in some of these bands.
I’ve been Musical Director for a year and half in the Big Band, and I’m still playing in it. I have a Salsa Band in Galway and we play once a week in town.
I play with other bands in Dublin. The list is very long so …
I watched 2 JF gigs in the past. The debut one in the late october 2002 (Dublin), the second in 2005 (London). I noticed a big evolution and growth in the musical structure of songs, feeling among band members and between the band and
its audience, organization and great live performances as happens on Pop, Rock and Soul. How much remains for live improvisations ?
Nice question …The band grew up so much in all the ways, and this is a natural thing.
The Mudbug club is made up by so good musicians. The band just took life in October 2002. When Jerry called me for the first
gig I didn’t still play live with the band. I listened to the record to learn what playing on stage at the debut.
Time after time, gig by gig, things evolved in a natural way, and especially the great musical feeling with Félim Gormley
improved arrangements on horns. Much freedom remains for improvising, because on stage there’re no fixed rules imposing our behaviour.
Stefano, Mischa and Felim. Do you have autonomy in the songs arrangement and development ?
Yes, we do have great freedom. Jerry asks to us for a particular sound or effect he has in his mind.
We translate it in musical notes.
Rarely happened to propose something, some sentences and hearing a "no" from Jerry.
Which are your italian and foreign musical tastes , and which since you became a musician ?
My musical tastes are a delirium… I like many artists such as Stevie Wonder ... I consider him God (if God is black). I adore Toot's Thielemans and Chet Baker.
The music I Like is oriented to latina/salsa, latin jazz, jazz. I listen also to artists as Mina, Guccini, Renato Zero, Tom Waits finally to move toward Mozart …
Which are your fauvorite irish musicians ?
It’s not so easy to answer. So numerous irish musicians, and so many good ones. Only to list someone: Danny Healy (trumpet), Conor Guilfoyle (drummer), Conor Brady (guitarist),
Brandon Doyle (sax), Félim Gormley (sax), Pat Corless (trombone).
According to your opinion, did any interesting italian artist come up over the last 5 years ?
I don’t really know what’s happening in Italy now, the only one I’ve got on my mind is Neffa, but probably only cause my brother is playing with and I listened some
tracks about him. The positive thing about Neffa is that you suddenly can recognize by his music, while the other singers are so
similar if you do not know them.
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In Italy the brain escapes abroad is a real problem. This is real as for artistic talents …
Only few chances for people to play music at a professional level, while in Ireland maybe exist more possibilities.
Is it really true or, as we say here, “the neighbours’ grass is always more green” ?
The neighbours’ grass is always more green, but here in Ireland is really more green ;-), not only for the rain.
Italy is Italy in every way, as for other sectors in musical business you must have a personal and straight link to someone.
This way often doesn’t reward the talents and worth.
My best friend, Davide Giovannini, lives in London played and playing with important artists such as Paul McCartney, Bjork,
Steve Winwood, Cubanismo, Lisa Stansfield and many more … but in Italy he’s unknown.
His talent and skills are incredible.
Many Italian musicians say to be a cover band is the better and short way to play music live …
Do you think the main problem is for lack of investments by musical industry or a general short of ideas of artists ?
I think the real problem is due by television which transforms in shit the brain of the 90% of population. There’s no more a serious TV program which lets you think, everyone hypnotized by TV .
I think in the need to give more space to the art in its greater meaning, avoiding to hindering people trying to arrange something.
It’s time out for organization as SIAE, which probably is the main reason for Italian musical crisis …
I wonder this next question many times, and I sometimes received it from fans from the web site anemotionalfish.net.
I ask this question to you, but I know this is to forward to Gerard (I will not miss to ask for it as soon as possible).
I saw the JF project starting with many musicians. An Emotional Fish members took part in ‘Be Yourself’ Recordings to leave away few moments later.
On musical scene we can look at reunion or revival of each type (maybe for lack of ideas or only for money…and maybe these are the answer).
JF never played live any AEF songs, also re-arranged according to the new musical line, why ?
Jerry Fish & The MudBug Club is a brand new thing, past is past, that’s the present and probably the future…I think Jerry should answer in this way.
I think Jerry has no regrets. No time for past. Now it’s time for changes, time goes by, people grow up and things change with no repentances from past.
Here in Italy, when media talk about an irish musician, there’s always at least a quotation to U2 (and here I am … I’m doing the same now !)
I consider it a very unbearable thing (and the writer is an historic U2 fan).
Do you consider that’s a limit or an emotional push to do better ?
Is it a real problem felt from irish bands or it's only a personal paranoia of mine ?
Irish people is half divided about U2. Half hates U2, while the other half adores them. You must think that since 1846 to 1849 about 6 millions irish people died due to hunger.
2/3 of population disappeared in about 3 years. I think this influences a lot on people general psychology. U2 are one of the much known and success bands than ever, and for a 3,8 millions
people Country that’s a big thing. I live here since 6 years and every day people wondering how will new U2 be, it’s just like waiting for the new Messiah…
From 2002 to 2006 JF gigs have been so numerous. The things about we’ll find in the new record the are result of ideas born in this period ?
Well, I think everything is the result of ideas ripened in 4 years touring, gigs and funny moments passed together. The one thing never missed in our band is gaiety, laughing a lot, and our feeling is fantastic.
I felt a similar thing in the salsa band I played in Italy (Ocho Rios), the first italian salsa band, where amusement was guaranteed. I think one of the most important thing in a job environment is the right atmosphere. Especially for music and art that’s more and more important.
How is the new album development ? Does it already have a title ?
No comment !
Gerard said to me the new record will be a great work.
Is the horns section the same one ? Does it remain important in the songs arrangement ?
Will be there any news and/or surprises from the past ?
I can say there’ll be some news but honestly, up to now, I don’t know exactly how these will come out.
Félim left the band since few times. I proposed to switch him with a Trombone in order to avoid comparisons
with another saxophone. Jerry accepted and so we already played around with the new horns section.
I still don’t know how the new songs will be arranged, but I’m sure it’ll be a great album ...
Did anything change in the new record projecting and development respect 'Be Yourself' ?
I don’t know. When I began to record in 2002 I didn’t know anything about the project etc. Now I believe there’s more working group and organization around the arrangement and probably in composition too.
The second album often represents the moment for the artistic confirmation.
Did expectations and emotional pressures grew respect the past ?
don’t think so. I do not feel a personal emotional weight, maybe because I believe in this project very deeply and I’m not scared.
Is a live performance thinkable in Italy in the 2008 for the new album promotion ?
An appearance in Italy for 2008 ? It’s possible, maybe probable. We must wait for a couple of things and perhaps we can arrange a couple of gigs in Italy to promote the JF project abroad.
I don’t know but in Italy, as a still "virgin" market, is also reasonable to promote the first album. I think Jerry surely has much more cleared in his mind what to do for an hypothetical Italian tour ;-)
Thanks a lot, Stefano.
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