Rob Paparozzi Interview Page 4

RP: Yeah, I think it was really that there was this whole other side of me that I never got to see because my father, as I said in the liner notes, my father was from outside of Rome and was a prisoner of war. He was captured; he was brought over here and I used to hear stories about Italy and I was fascinated, but I never really knew what Italy was. When my dad passed away, I finally went to his village. It’s such a small little town but they remembered my dad and they showed me where he and my mother got married. When I was in these little towns of Sutri and Canepina, I felt a connection to not only my dad and his roots but something much deeper. I really started getting a feel for the land and the history that was behind where these people were tilling the soil. I felt something that really connected to the musical part of my soul, and that’s when I started researching this Etruscan thing.

As I started looking at some of these Etruscan artifacts, I felt very connected to them because they do have a unique love for life. They had a lot of musicians that they held on a very high pedestal over there because Art was a very important part of that civilization. They definitely were into the good life, they knew life was here for a minute and they embraced and enjoyed it.

That’s really where I felt a much deeper connection to my inner muse, you know. I knew my music had to have some kind of connection to that civilization more than what I was getting over here. I mean I obviously learned a lot over here, I got all of my music from western music, from R&B and from Jazz, but yet there was something over there that really set the light bulb off and said, “I feel it, I feel where a lot of my original ideas and creativity comes from.” It’s coming from the Etruscan civilization. When I went and just walked around and just looked at the ruins… I felt the vibe. It’s hard for me to say it any more exact than that, but that’s really what happened… it was more of a spiritual enlightenment than anything. When I came back I felt like a different person.

Jazz Monthly: Your Etruscan roots.

RP: It’s kind of a weird title because you see Etruscan Soul, and you conjure up this idea of like some beautiful European type sounding music, and it’s not that at all. I just kind of thought, “Well OK, Etruscan is where I’m feeling my roots are from, the soul part was kind of a play on words because I came up playing Blues and Soul music.” So the Etruscan Soul is a little misleading. When you see the title you’re saying wow, and then you put it on and it’s basically, you know it’s a Blues record, but with a little more going on there.

Jazz Monthly:  What I think it is Rob, too and it’s not sapping at all, you know you used the word “spiritual,” that’s not a cliché. In other words there would be no Rob Paparozzi if it weren’t for these Italian roots, and you know, it is a calling. Not to sound corny or sappy, but, right?

RP: It is, it definitely is, it’s what made me what I am as a musician and as an entertainer and I definitely feel a connection to that. So I think between my father’s side and what my mother turned me onto musically, it was just an amalgamation of all of that. I felt it was time to pay homage to it. That’s why I included a picture of my dad in the Italian Marine uniform, because like I said, I had always attributed my musical talent to my mom’s side because she seemed to have more of the music on her side of the family. My dad was a mason, he used to mix cement, build driveways and patios and waterproof basements and he used his hands, that’s what he did. I always thought my mom gave me the gift of music and then I really realized that the other half of it came from him.

Jazz Monthly:  That’s great Rob, so it’s a combination of your heritage, your mom’s piano and Connie’s candy shop over there in Linden with the jukebox.

RP: Yeah, and my mom was very hip to music. She turned us on to a lot of great music. One day she said Rob, if you’re really serious about your harmonica, you’re going to go to the Rainbow Grill and see Larry Adler, and I said, “Larry Adler?  I don’t even know who that is.” She said,  “Well you need to know, you’re telling me you’re a harmonica player and you don’t even know who Larry Adler is? He’s playing tonight at the Rainbow Grill, his first time back in the United States since he was blacklisted in the fifties and you should go see him because they’re having a meet and greet.” I went. After that I looked at the harmonica… I mean I had the Paul Butterfield and the Chicago Blues thing down and I knew I was going with Little Walter and all that stuff… and then when I came home from that show I said I don’t just want to play Blues harmonica, I want to play harmonica. So, again, thanks to my mom making me go see Larry Adler.

Jazz Monthly: Music was not just important to the Paparozzi’s growing up, it was practically a religion right?

RP: It was part of our religion, you’re right; it was a very important part of our life. We were tuning into on the radio at night. It was always in the house… always in the house. Then when we found out we could go out and buy drums and guitars and harmonicas, we were right there trying it out.

Jazz Monthly: Well, as I mentioned in my intro, and I guess the best way to conclude this great interview is I said, “What took you so long, and it’s about time,” and I also mentioned it certainly was well worth the wait. Your legions of fans are going to just absolutely love this great CD, Etruscan Soul.

RP: Joe thanks for including me in Jazz Monthly.Com. I think it’s an unbelievable magazine online, and I’m so glad that you and Joe Kurasz are out there doing this because it’s just a great, great resource for people on the Internet.

Jazz Monthly: We’re delighted to be able to tell everybody about Etruscan Soul, so thank you Rob, for joining us.

RP: Alright Joe, thank you so much, we’ll talk soon.