‘Sticking Up For Children’ with paint and rhythm

17th August 2015   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

“I bring used sticks so they’ve got some soul in them,” says Johnny Vidacovich of the drumsticks he carries with him to Sticking Up for Children’s Music & Arts Day events. The master drummer will again participate in Saturday’s, August 22, percussion and painting soiree from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center. It’s a fun, casual affair that welcomes folks of all ages to come and decorate donated drumsticks while digging the rhythms of some of this city’s finest percussionists. This week, the beats will be laid down by Vidacovich, Alfred “Uganda” Williams and Cuban born, New Orleans resident Alexey Marti. Special guest, clarinetist Evan Christopher will also speak about his life in music and perform with the group.

Sticking Up for Children is the brainchild of percussionist/vocalist Cyril Neville and his wife, vocalist Gaynielle Neville. The goal of the organization, which presented its first Music & Arts Day in May 2013, is to “help youth in their communities through art.” Profits made from selling the painted drumsticks benefit the Foyer Espoir Pour les Enfants orphanage in Haiti and other youth-oriented organizations.

Previously held at St. Claude Avenue’s Healing Center, the Music & Arts Day, which will also be presented on September 25 and October 24, moves to its new locale at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, for the upcoming events. (Like so many longtime New Orleans residents, Vidacovich laughingly says he still calls the central city street Dryades.)

The drummer observes that everyone — both kids and adults — have a good time as there’s a lot of things to do and look at at the events. For him, it’s also an opportunity to play with his longtime musical colleague and friend, percussionist Uganda Williams.

“In the ‘70s we played a lot together — with Fess (pianist/vocalist Professor Longhair) — in the ‘80s occasionally, in the ‘90s not so much and now they call us for special events,” Vidacovich explains. “He and I get along perfect — we always did.”

The drummer, who has participated in Music & Arts Day several times before gets involved beyond just drumming. “When I first get there, I usually sit at the table and talk to people while I’m signing and painting sticks. I usually sign my name and I put my little kind of I love you thing on the stick.”

“The sticks are beautiful — they’re really sharp,” Vidaco­vich says of those painted by others that are on display. It’s obvious people spent time on them.”

The decoration is done with paint pens so the drumsticks remain functional. And if you get one signed by Johnny Vidacovich, you’ve got yourself a piece of authentic New Orleans musical history.

For more information, go to www.stickingupforchildren.com.

Perez Patitucci Blade
Children of the Light
(Mack Avenue)

For the first time, pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade have stepped out as a unit from the realm of being the legendary composer/saxophonist Wayne Shorter’s rhythm section. Yes, they have pursued highly successful performing and recording careers of their own, yet playing together minus Shorter is definitely a new and, it could be added, much anticipated world.

Fifteen wonderful years with Shorter has naturally left his glorious musical stamp on these guys who had, when they joined him, already ascended to the ranks of superb jazz artists. Shorter became the glue that put and held them together. The quartet’s debut album was Shorter’s incredible 2002 Footprints Live!

As the title might suggest, Children of the Light emanates a gentle spirit though put forth with a strong sense of musical purpose. Perez’s “Sunburn and Mosquito” might bring to mind a child happily digging in the sand with a clear determination to reach water, the bottom, or whatever discoveries might lie there.

Here’s a shout out to our own Louisiana native, Brian Blade. The drummer, who moved to New Orleans to study at Loyola and the University of New Orleans was soon swept away to New York and beyond as others got hip to his huge talent. Blade contributes the most melodic composition on the CD, the beautiful “Within Everything.” The drummer grew up in the church and the spiritual and humanistic element of his inner self can be experienced in this warm and tender song. He obviously hasn’t changed much in that respect. Patitucci’s bass solo emphasizes the melody’s emotional impact.

The great saxophonist/bandleader/composer Rahsaan Roland Kirk often described jazz as Black classical music, a term that seems to fit Patitucci’s “Milky Way.” It’s a tune of magnificent grandeur, explosive crescendos and movements of mood.

Perez, a native of Panama and politically and culturally active in his home country, is a prominent contributor to Children of the Light, and brings a sense of romance and upward reaching to “Looking for the Light.” Though his compositions don’t take the usual paths, they often offer a certain comfortable familiarity. In his writing and playing he is at once forever challenging and he’s forever welcoming.

Perez, Patitucci and Blade represent the most brilliant musicians in jazz today. United on Children of the Light, their musicality and spirituality brightens the world.

This article originally published in the August 17, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.