GABRIELE MORI: The Man Behind The Music

19 Mar

Q. Let’s start with the name of your band, "Gabriele Mori & The Monkeys". How did it come about, and what does it mean?

When we started working with these wonderful musicians, a large part of our eclectic repertoire was dedicated to the great maestro Paolo Conte. In one of his most famous songs, he describes his early, primitive musical groups as “Ragazzi Scimmia del Jazz” (“Jazz Monkey Boys”). From here came the inspiration, echoing Burroughsian “beat” vibes, as well as non-Darwinian references to the animalistic nature of the performer. And… Gabriele Mori is my real name!

Q. Every band has its rituals or superstitions before getting on stage. Do you and your bandmates have any particular habits you follow before starting a live performance?

Having the good fortune to perform live often and in very different situations every day, I must admit that sometimes we start our shows without even greeting each other! But everything changes when the stage and the room (or the audience...) are particularly beautiful, like at the House of Nine. In that case, we come together in a big embrace, looking into each other's eyes, generating positivity and energy with a hearty collective battle cry—sometimes using a word often heard in theater, though it might not be elegant to mention here...

Q: What gives you energy before a concert? Is there something specific you do or think about to mentally prepare yourself for the stage?

Certainly, an Italian coffee! Before starting a concert, with a deep breath, I focus my attention on the pleasure, the beauty, and the fortune of having the most passionate job one could wish for, so I can then share this raw emotion without filters with whoever is in front of me.

Q. If I say "House of Nine", what's the first thing that comes to your mind? Is there a special connection or memory linked to this place?

“Quality” is what comes to mind. My very first memory comes from deep within because it's tied to smell—it's the light yet inebriating fragrance that permeates the beautiful spaces of the House of Nine. A scent of well-being I noticed the very first time I went there, and it still brings a smile to my face every time I walk in. Following that, I recall the sensation I had walking toward the bar, as if I had stepped through a dimensional door that transported me to a timeless Art Deco world, perfectly modernized and balanced somewhere between Havana and New York. Pure magic!