Johnny Vidacovich
This Brazilian cultural matrix positions Johnny Vidacovich globally...
Curation
CURATION
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from this page:
by Matrix
The Integrated Global Creative Economy
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Name:
Johnny Vidacovich
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City/Place:
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Country:
United States
Life & Work
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Bio:
Since starting to play the drums at the age of ten, performing has been the passion of Johnny Vidacovich. From French Quarter clubs to the big stages, he has shared his talents with greats like New Orleans' "Tan Canary" Johnny Adams, Professor Longhair, and Mose Allison, and as a member of Astral Project. The seminal New Orleans contemporary jazz group, Astral Project has been taking its audiences to higher planes of reality for several decades. The loose affiliation finds its members doing their own thing and returning to renew their musical acquaintanceship with each other. Each player is a master in his own right: Steve Mazakowski on the guitar willed to him by the late, great Danny Barker; James Singleton, at one with his bass; Tony Dagradi, the essence of cool on the saxophone; wild man David Torkanowsky on the piano; and Vidacovich on the drums.
Astral Project started out in the '70s, jamming at the venerable Absinthe House on Bourbon Street, with Bobby McFerrin often sitting in. Gigs at Snug Harbor and the New Orleans Jazz Fest won them a devoted local following, which has expanded to international acclaim. The musicians have continued to hone their skills individually and collectively in live gigs and recording sessions.
The group's first CD, Dreams of Love (now out of print) was released in 1987, and things have been on the upswing ever since. The ensemble's live CD, Astral Project, introduced the artists to audiences in far flung places like New York, L.A., and Europe, and established their reputation as pushers of the envelope in the jazz idiom.
Meanwhile, Vidacovich continued to gig and record with other musicians until he became the most sought after drummer in the city of New Orleans. He also paid his dues in New York, where he received rave reviews. Vidacovich has been recognized by everything from the Big Easy Entertainment Awards to accolades in Offbeat and Downbeat and the New York Times, to an appearance on the NPR show of fellow New Orleanian Branford Marsalis, Jazz Profiles.
It is in improvisation that his abilities show to greatest advantage. Always sensitive to the shifting sands of jazz, the drum maestro may mix it up with reggae, bebop, street beat, and blues rhythms in the course of one tune, as he follows the lead of one of his collaborators. The lightning speed with which he morphs from one style to another as the occasion requires can be heard on CDs such as Astral Project's Voodoo Bop and Elevado; his own Mystery Street, and Banks Street; and We Came To Play with George Porter Jr.
He is also a highly regarded teacher and educator whose past students include Stanton Moore and Brian Blade. He has been a longtime faculty member at Loyola University and the University of New Orleans. Johnny and his wife Deborah maintain the Tipitina’s Sunday music workshops where younger students can come play with the pros on Sundays at Tip’s.
Johnny played the first and every New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (which just celebrated its 44th anniversary) and has become a fixture on the New Orleans music scene. He has 4 records under his own name and an instructional book and DVD focusing on his approach to New Orleans drumming. He continues to maintain an active playing, touring and teaching schedule, both in New Orleans and all over the world via Skype.
More
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Quotes, Notes & Etc.
DISCOGRAPHY
Year Album Artist
2015 Music Is Love Papa Mali
2013 Advice from a Father to a Son Scott Ramminger
2012 In New Orleans Willy DeVille
2011 A Nod to Bob, Vol. 2: Nod to Bob: An Artists' Tribute to Bob Dylan on His 70th Birthday
2010 The Rounder Records Story
2009 Dirty Power Shane Theriot
2009 Essential Recordings: The Great Johnny Adams Jazz Album Johnny Adams
2008 Cure All Robert Walter
2008 Red House 25: A Silver Anniversary Retrospective
2007 City of Dreams: A Collection of New Orleans Music
2007 Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino
2007 Umbrella Man Scott Albert Johnson
2006 More or Less Jazz Two
2006 The Great Johnny Adams R&B Album Johnny Adams
2005 A Celebration of New Orleans Music to Benefit the Musicares Hurricane Relief
2005 Super Heavy Organ Robert Walter Cymbals,
2005 The Great Johnny Adams Blues Album Johnny Adams
2005 Voice of the Wetlands Tab Benoit
2004 Alan Lomax's Southern Journey Remixed Tangle Eye
2004 Byrd Lives Professor Longhair
2004 Funk: The Language of New Orleans, Vol. 8
2004 Strut Michael Kaeshammer
2004 The Essential Collection Bill Morrissey
2003 Box of the Blues Rounder Records
2003 Grease Factor Shane Theriot
2003 Louisianthology Tom McDermott
2003 Mardi Gras: Language of New Orleans, Vol. 7
2003 Scrapomatic Scrapomatic
2003 Trip to New Orleans Vahag Petian
2003 We Came to Play Vidacovich Porter Yamagishi
2003 With Fessor's Funky New Orleanians Thais Clark
2002 Piano Face John Autin
2002 Vidacovich Johnny Vidacovich
2001 No Strings Attached Michael Kaeshammer
2000 For Joe Steve Masakowski
2000 There Is Always One More Time Johnny Adams
1999 Dear Jo Phil Parnell
1999 Living Room Anders Osborne
1999 The Orleans Records Story Orleans Record Story
1999 Tryin' to Make a Little Love Michelle Willson
1999 Voodoo Bop Astral Project
1998 Blues: The Language of New Orleans, Vol. 3
1998 Dedicated to You Clarence Johnson III
1998 Elevado Astral Project
1998 Jazz: Language of New Orleans, Vol. 2
1998 Jazznocracy Al Belletto
1998 Modern New Orleans Jazz Masters
1997 Astral Project Astral Project
1997 Banks Street Johnny Vidacovich
1997 Game of Chance Rick Margitza
1997 Jazz Profile Mose Allison
1997 Music, Vol. 1: Language of New Orleans
1997 Mystery Street Johnny Vidacovich
1997 We Got It Goin' On Mambo Brothers
1996 All of Me Harry Connick, Sr.
1996 Bill Deraime Bill Deraime
1996 Blue Orleans Tim Laughlin
1996 Loyalties Chuck Bergeron
1996 Stargeezer "Spider" John Koerner
1996 World Christmas [Capitol]
1996 Worth the Price Lenny McDaniel
1996 You'll Never Get to Heaven Bill Morrissey
1995 But... Beautiful Lillian Boutté
1995 Live at the Columns Tony Dagradi
1995 Night Owl Mambo Brothers
1995 The Pfister Sisters The Pfister Sisters
1995 Time for Love Phillip Manuel
1994 Allison Wonderland: Anthology Mose Allison
1994 Liquid Fire: The Best of John Scofield John Scofield
1994 Tribute to Edith Piaf [Amherst]
1993 Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology Professor Longhair
1993 Good Morning Heartache Johnny Adams
1993 What It Was Steve Masakowski
1992 Pictures And Paintings Charlie Rich
1992 Remember Me Roland Stone
1992 Testimony John Mooney
1991 Johnny Adams Sings Doc Pomus: The Real Me Johnny Adams
1990 Charles Neville & Diversity Charles Neville
1990 Gramavision 10th Anniversary Sampler Drums
1990 My Backyard Mose Allison
1990 The Creole Christmas
1990 Victory Mixture Willy DeVille
1989 Walking on a Tightrope: The Songs of Percy Mayfield Johnny Adams
1988 Blues Bred in the Bone Ray Anderson
1988 Dreams of Love Tony Dagradi
1988 Flat Out John Scofield
1988 Steppin' Out David Torkanowsky
1987 Louisiana Scrapbook Various Artists
1986 Graciously Alvin "Red" Tyler
1986 Heritage Alvin "Red" Tyler
1985 Looking Back Zachary Richard
1985 Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill
1985 Out of the Blue [Rykodisc]
1983 Lunar Eclipse Tony Dagradi
1982 Classified James Booker
1980 Crawfish Fiesta Professor Longhair
1977 Angelle Angelle Trosclair
1976 The Complete Remastered Recordings on Dischi Della Quercia Giorgio Gaslini
Clips (more may be added)
There are certain countries, the names of which fire the popular imagination. Brazil is one of them; an amalgam of primitive and sophisticated, jungle and elegance, luscious jazz harmonics — there’s no other place like it in the world. And while Rio de Janeiro, or its fame anyway, tends toward the sophisticated end of the spectrum, Bahia bends toward the atavistic…
It’s like a trick of the mind’s light (I suppose), but standing on beach or escarpment in Salvador and looking out across the Baía de Todos os Santos to the great Recôncavo, and mindful of what happened there (and here; the Bahian Recôncavo was final port-of-call for more enslaved human beings than any other place throughout the entirety of mankind’s existence on this planet, and in the past it extended into what is now urban Salvador), one must be led to the inevitable conclusion that one is in a place unique to history, and to the present:
Brazil absorbed over ten times the number of enslaved Africans taken to the United States of America, and is a repository of African deities (and their music) now largely forgotten in their lands of origin.
Brazil was a refuge (of sorts) for Sephardim fleeing an Inquisition which followed them across the Atlantic (that unofficial symbol of Brazil’s national music — the pandeiro — was almost certainly brought to Brazil by these people).
Across the parched savannas of the interior of Brazil’s culturally fecund nordeste/northeast (where wizard Hermeto Pascoal was born in Lagoa da Canoa — Lagoon of the Canoe — and raised in Olho d’Águia — Eye of the Eagle), much of Brazil’s aboriginal population was absorbed into a caboclo/quilombola culture punctuated by the Star of David.
Three cultures — from three continents — running for their lives, their confluence forming an unprecedented fourth. Pandeirista on the roof.
That's where this Matrix begins:
Wolfram MathWorld
The idea is simple, powerful, and egalitarian: To propagate for them, the Matrix must propagate for all. Most in the world are within six degrees of us. The concept of a "small world" network (see Wolfram above) applies here, placing artists from the Recôncavo and the sertão, from Salvador... from Brooklyn, Berlin and Mombassa... musicians, writers, filmmakers... clicks (recommendations) away from their peers all over the planet.
This Integrated Global Creative Economy (we invented the concept) uncoils from Brazil's sprawling Indigenous, African, Sephardic and then Ashkenazic, Arabic, European, Asian cultural matrix... expanding like the canopy of a rainforest tree rooted in Bahia, branches spreading to embrace the entire world...
Recent Visitors Map
Great culture is great power.
And in a small world great things are possible.
Alicia Svigals
"Thanks, this is a brilliant idea!!"
—Alicia Svigals (NEW YORK CITY): Apotheosis of klezmer violinists
"Dear Sparrow: I am thrilled to receive your email! Thank you for including me in this wonderful matrix."
—Susan Rogers (BOSTON): Director of the Berklee Music Perception and Cognition Laboratory ... Former personal recording engineer for Prince; "Purple Rain", "Sign o' the Times", "Around the World in a Day"
"Dear Sparrow, Many thanks for this – I am touched!"
—Julian Lloyd Webber (LONDON): Premier cellist in UK; brother of Andrew (Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Phantom of the Opera...)
"This is super impressive work ! Congratulations ! Thanks for including me :)))"
—Clarice Assad (RIO DE JANEIRO/CHICAGO): Pianist and composer with works performed by Yo Yo Ma and orchestras around the world
"We appreciate you including Kamasi in the matrix, Sparrow."
—Banch Abegaze (LOS ANGELES): manager, Kamasi Washington
"Thanks! It looks great!....I didn't write 'Cantaloupe Island' though...Herbie Hancock did! Great Page though, well done! best, Randy"
"Very nice! Thank you for this. Warmest regards and wishing much success for the project! Matt"
—Son of Jimmy Garrison (bass for John Coltrane, Bill Evans...); plays with Herbie Hancock and other greats...
I opened the shop in Salvador, Bahia in 2005 in order to create an outlet to the wider world for magnificent Brazilian musicians.
David Dye & Kim Junod for NPR found us (above), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (he's a huge jazz fan), David Byrne, Oscar Castro-Neves... Spike Lee walked past the place while I was sitting on the stoop across the street drinking beer and listening to samba from the speaker in the window...
But we weren't exactly easy for the world-at-large to get to. So in order to extend the place's ethos I transformed the site associated with it into a network wherein Brazilian musicians I knew would recommend other Brazilian musicians, who would recommend others...
And as I anticipated, the chalky hand of God-as-mathematician intervened: In human society — per the small-world phenomenon — most of the billions of us on earth are within some 6 or fewer degrees of each other. Likewise, within a network of interlinked artists as I've described above, most of these artists will in the same manner be at most a handful of steps away from each other.
So then, all that's necessary to put the Brazilians within possible purview of the wide wide world is to include them among a wide wide range of artists around that world.
If, for example, Quincy Jones is inside the matrix, then anybody on his page — whether they be accessing from a campus in L.A., a pub in Dublin, a shebeen in Cape Town, a tent in Mongolia — will be close, transitable steps away from Raymundo Sodré, even if they know nothing of Brazil and are unaware that Sodré sings/dances upon this planet. Sodré, having been knocked from the perch of fame and ground into anonymity by Brazil's dictatorship, has now the alternative of access to the world-at-large via recourse to the vast potential of network theory.
...to the degree that other artists et al — writers, researchers, filmmakers, painters, choreographers...everywhere — do also. Artificial intelligence not required. Real intelligence, yes.
Years ago in NYC (I've lived here in Brazil for 32 years now) I "rescued" unpaid royalties (performance & mechanical) for artists/composers including Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Mongo Santamaria, Jim Hall, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd (for his rights in Bob Marley compositions; Clement was Bob's first producer), Led Zeppelin, Ray Barretto, Philip Glass and many others. Aretha called me out of the blue vis-à-vis money owed by Atlantic Records. Allen Klein (managed The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Ray Charles) called about money due the estate of Sam Cooke. Jerry Ragovoy (Time Is On My Side, Piece of My Heart) called just to see if he had any unpaid money floating around out there (the royalty world was a shark-filled jungle, to mangle metaphors, and I doubt it's changed).
But the pertinent client (and friend) in the present context is Earl "Speedo" Carroll, of The Cadillacs. Earl went from doo-wopping on Harlem streetcorners to chart-topping success to working as a custodian at PS 87 elementary school on the west side of Manhattan. Through all of this he never lost what made him great.
Greatness and fame are too often conflated. The former should be accessible independently of the latter.
Yeah this is Bob's first record contract, made with Clement "Sir Coxsone" Dodd of Studio One and co-signed by his aunt because he was under 21. I took it to Black Rock to argue with CBS' lawyers about the royalties they didn't want to pay (they paid).
Matrix founding creators are behind "one of 10 of the best (radios) around the world", per The Guardian.
Across the creative universe... For another list, reload page.
This list is random, and incomplete. Reload the page for another list.
For a complete list of everybody inside, tap TOTAL below:
TOTAL
Ex Terra Brasilis
Susan Rogers
Julian Lloyd Webber
Clarice Assad
Kamasi Washington
Randy Brecker
Matt Garrison
RÁDIO MATRIX