This [Vidacovich] is Johnny's third and most diverse CD in his tenure as a solo artist. Using an eclectic array of instrumentation? sousaphone, organ, bass clarinet etc- Johnny boils down the beat and seasons it with rhythmic flavor and poetic spice. Johnny's intent was to play a series of interspersed duo pieces, whether they stand on their own or are a product of a breakdown as a result of a groove. Hear why Offbeat Magazine says, "Johnny Vidacovich is not only one of the greatest drummers in New Orleans? he?s one of the greatest drummers in the world."
Johnny, along with Michael Pellera and Jeffrey Meyer, contribute the playground of material allowing the players to romp to the beat. Pellera, Matt Perrine, Tony Dagradi and Shane Theriot add the exact dose of sound for the listener to savor, driven by Johnny's homegrown ingredients.
"The drums have to come from a different consciousness. It's not notes and structures; it's time and rhythm and harmonic motion... Listen for the drum's sound, the linear peaks and lows. See how long the cymbal sound lasts... Don't play the drums with your brain... Play the drums with your heart and your soul." - Johnny Vidacovich
"Drum master Johnny Vidacovich hooks up with a couple of new partners and some old friends on an album that flaunts a myriad of his musical muses. Significant to the overall sound of the album is the presence of Matt Perrine who is predominately on sousaphone. The pairing of Vidacovich's street-wise approach and Perrine's riffing low notes is a New Orleans' natural on the funky opener, keyboardist Michael Pellera's "The Zone." The tune shifts into jam band stylings when guitarist Shane Theriot of the Neville Brothers slinks into his solo.
Co-producers Pellera and percussionist Jeff Meyer penned "Second Opinion" that returns to the streets with hard-blowing saxaphonist Tony Dagradi leading the second line parade. There's a certain wonderful wackiness to Vidacovich drum solo that bubbles with personality. Fans of Vidacovich's poetic bent and his unique recitations will appreciate that he includes several here. Pellera's Hammond organ provides an almost eerie base as Vidacovich briefly questions an illusionary "Jack Shee." It's just drums and sousaphone backing the little ditty, "Coffee," a prelude to the instrumental tune of the same name that takes off with apparent caffeine-injected velocity.The quieter moments of the familiar Vidacovich original "New Day" with Perrine moving to upright bass and Pellera on electric piano allows us to further appreciate the drummer's sensitivity and lyrical approach to his set. Professor Longhair is in the house on the boogie-woogie rhythm of "Show Me the Money," a light-hearted drummer/synthesizer duo. Vidacovich opens "Fender Bender" with an almost march-like cadence that is soon transformed by the electrified, wah-wahed guitar of Theriot-it's heavy metal funkin' time folks.
The drums of Vidacovich and Meyer briefly meet to close an album that boasts the minimal title Vidacovich. The name of the disc is much like the drummer and his music-honest and straightforward while teaming with tasty complexity and humor."
- Geraldine Wyckoff, OffBeat Magazine