537: Johnny Vidacovich: Playing Between the Cracks (Re-release) - Drummer's Resource: Conversations with the world's greatest drummers and music industry pros.
December 2, 2019

537: Johnny Vidacovich: Playing Between the Cracks (Re-release)

This episode originally aired on 9/22/2014

In this podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Johnny Vidacovich who is a contemporary jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Playing since the early 1970s with the quartet Astral Project (which includes James Singleton, Tony Dagradi and Steve Masakowski), he has become widely renowned as a prominent and sought after New Orleans musician as well as contributing to New Orleans cultural heritage.

Johnny is often cited as an influence and mentor to many of today’s top drummers, including Stanton Moore, Kevin O’Day and Brian Blade.

“My goal is to live the truly religious life, and express it in my music. If you live it, when you play there’s no problem because the music is part of the whole thing. To be a musician is really something. It goes very, very deep. My music is the spiritual expression of what I am – my faith, my knowledge, my being.” – John Coltrane

In this session you’ll hear Johnny Vidacovich talk about:

  • How he got started playing drums
  • The history of New Orleans drumming
  • His influence on Stanton Moore and Brian Blade
  • His approach to playing
  • The New Orleans “sound”
  • Much much more

Resources and Links Mentioned:

  • Johnny Vidacovich’s: Facebook
  • Lessons Contact Email: jvidacovich[at]cox[dot]net <-  I wrote it that way to avoid spam emails to johnny
  • New Orleans Drumming (DVD)