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Johnny Vidacovich: Out Da Box
Gene Krupa
drums1909 - 1973
Art Blakey
drums1919 - 1990
Buddy Rich
drums1917 - 1987
Elvin Jones
drums1927 - 2004
With no explicit intent to break the molds from which jazz drummers emerge and set new standards, his thing comes effortlessly—it is who he is rather than a self-conscious effort. Still to place Vidacovich into a tidy little box as solely a jazz drummer is hardly fair either, though this is a jazz record.
Aside from his weekly trio assortment of different musicians playing everything from modern jazz to the blues at a local venue throughout the year, he managed to gather the collective wits of himself and those of his friends and musical family to produce Out Da Box.
Calling them musical family is not over the top or an exaggeration either; he has been playing with some of these guys for so long, he is able to read their body language and musical intent with closed eyes, literally.
Upon recording the first track, "Steely Magnolia," in a single take, the producer stopped the session, approached Vidacovich wondering aloud if he wanted to add anything to what was merely a simple back beat, a modest showcase for his innovative skill set. Without hesitation he replied, "No, every CD needs a good dance tune."
The title track begins with an up beat syncopated flourish joined by the horn. Vidacovich's drum lines are as equally inventive as the sax solo; the interplay of the two back and forth vie for the lead. Finally
Michael Pellera
pianoIt is impossible, though, to ignore
Tony DaGradi
saxophoneb.1952
Occasionally, chosen tunes on an album reveal one's history. Even if he had not once discussed it, few will miss the reference with "When 6 Was 3," a brief opening tribute to
Mitch Mitchell
drums1947 - 2008
Jimi Hendrix
guitar, electric1942 - 1970
Recalling the impressionable 18 year old hearing Jimi Hendrix's "If Six Was a Nine" for the first time, he has never forgotten that experience—how could he with "three years of education condensed into eight measures"—realizing brushes could be effectively used in any musical genre.
Ever the one to dabble with vocals, the unmistakable stamp of a Vidacovich live appearance seems to include a rap of one sort or another and he has composed a proper one here—a surreal allegorical tale—the lyrics of which appear on the liner notes. Accented by the drums, a wailing, almost plaintively crying, horn emerges into the forefront closely followed by Pellera's soft melodic hand on keyboards; the intended effect is complete. How many jazz drummers write lyrics and sing ... or rap?
What inspires Vidacovich to continue to produce, play and perform? Easy to draw out in conversation, he will speak of molecules, sound waves and empathy. A deeply spiritual person, thinly veiled behind a no nonsense approach to expressing himself, his soft, sensitive side—beloved in New Orleans, his home town—is well known to all who have kept their eyes and ears open. As with life, he performs with an equally soft and sensitive touch. With no notes on drums, he is never out of tune nor misses a beat either, while creating some totally unexpected rhythms. ">
Track Listing
Steely Magnolia; Out Da Box; Puree; Don’t Eat My Grits; So Long; Spanky Chick Ole Oneida; When 6 Was 3; Na Na; Skypager; Crescent Mid City.
Personnel
Johnny Vidacovich
drumsMichael Pellera
pianoTony DaGradi
saxophone
Khari Allen Lee
saxophone, alto
Grayson Brockamp
bassAlbum information
Title: Out Da Box | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Paw Maw Music
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