For me, this sold out gig was a must see and watch. Produced by Marco Cinelli, this special evening was worth the journey. Chris Grace who runs the Hampton Hub is welcoming and the club has a warm stylish atmosphere. Seated, civilised with cute lights, cushions and clever artwork, this Greater London venue feel is living room, restaurant meets live venue. The guy behind the bar could not have been nicer, making me feel at ease. Derek Pettit on the The Cinelli Brothers merch stand was his usual friendly self, while familiar Cinelli fan faces were also there early.

Indeed, The Cinelli Brothers' Marco and Alessandro are like pied pipers. Wherever they go their extended family follow! Indeed, lots of others had journeyed far and wide this evening, including superfans who had travelled into the UK, as well as the likeable former Mayor of Enfield who knows her music, having first seen The Cinelli's play in her London Borough! Loyal fans, Paul and Carol Campbell, should also get an award for the amount of mileage they have racked up, with Paul now their unofficial gig stage guitar tuner, while Carol is the band's dancing queen!

Also there was Paul Robigo, a regular at Twickenham's Eel Pie Club, with his trusted steed of a video camera. as well as Katie Eversfield with her blonde bubbly presence, Gemma Dorsett, the musician Greene, plus Nigel Foster, a stalwart of Coulsdon's Tuesday Night Music Club, who knows and loves live music. That’s what happens with The Cinelli's, as once seen, you're then on the road with them, sharing in their musical journey, as well as connecting, hanging out with, and contributing to their collective fan love! Therefore, I just felt that I had to pay tribute and name check some of the fan family for their enduring support.

So why was this evening special? Because Marco, the ever evolving human incarnate of a music machine, had taken it upon himself to out on a one off evening with Artie Zaitz and Scott McKeon. Zaitz is a superb Jazz Blues guitarist, so I was so curious to see him collaborate with Marco. Although, I had not seen or heard of guitarist McKeon before, but Marco has a knack for spotting and bringing talent into his musical stable. Indeed, tonight had been billed as elite Blues and Soul, so I anticipated and expected a Soul edged set, with some Blues and Jazz incorporated, albeit as it transpired, with a surprising Rock element!

The Cinelli Brothers trio of Marco, Alessandro on drums plus Marco’s music college mate, the talented bassist and guitarist Jorma Gaspari, formed the core of tonight's band line up. Zaitz on a full size original Hammond, as well as later on his fine Gibson guitar, provided the Soul-Jazz inflection throughout the set. While McKeon’s light touched fender guitar strokes, subtly enhanced the sound, leaving Marco to dominate on keyboards, guitar, vocals and along with his general stage presence.

Including just three Cinelli's numbers, this unusual set was varied in style, opening with 'Dillon' from 2022's 'No Country for Bluesman', featuring Zaitz on Hammond along with Marco’s extended solo. The set also comprised of 'She Done Gone' with Paul Campbell on guitar and vocals, as well as the upbeat 'Married Woman'. Then cue Jimi Hendrix’s classic songs and compositions, namely 'Red House', 'Manic Depression' and Power of Love', enabling Marco to demonstrate how much of a talented Rock guitarist he is, along with Gaspari. Marco then revealed how much he loved Stevie Wonder, before segueing into his classic 1974 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', of which the ladies at the Hampton Hub tonight, including me, all duly got down and boogied!

Next was a terrific version of 'Love Disease', a song which featured on The Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s album 'Keep on Moving'. Written by the band’s saxophonist, Gene Dinwiddie, this saw The Cinelli’s own Tom Julian Jones on harmonica and vocals, that brought pure Chicago Blues into the Hub. Indeed, London based Tom also has his own group when not touring (last year 360 days out of 365 apparently!) and his Blues set is always worth checking out at London's Aint Nothing But in Soho. Jimmy Vaughan’s 'Greenbacks' also featured McKeon on guitar, while Average White Band's 'Work to Do', also saw Greene joining in, funking it up on guitar. Meanwhile Zaitz’s vocal on his composition, 'The Way Out Of', was also a delight.

Tonight there was a party like atmosphere with Marco as band leader, relishing the range of musical genres with his guests. This was a more mature version of The Cinelli Brothers, less frenetic, more produced and less restrained, giving Marco and the guys the freedom to play what they enjoyed, not only wanting to show off their skillset, but also for us to enjoy., Indeed, this evening's set suited Marco, Alessandro and his musical mates! The good news is that there is a also a one off CD of this excellent special gig which I recommend you buy, given it will no doubt become a collector’s item!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester