Johnny Vidacovich 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. He has been recognized by OffBeat Music Magazine in its Best of The Beat Awards as ”Best Drummer/Percussionist” numerous times, the Big Easy Entertainment Awards, with praise in Downbeat and the New York Times as well as NPR’s Jazz Profiles by Branford Marsalis. He has played with Bobby McFerrin, Stanton Moore, Charlie Hunter, Willy DeVille, Robert Walter and New Orleans greats such as ”Tan Canary” Johnny Adams, Professor Longhair, James Booker, Alvin ”Red” Tyler and Mose Allison. Vidacovich has also been faculty at Loyola University, School of Music. As of 2007 he can be heard weekly as a member of ”The Trio” with George Porter, Jr. at the Maple Leaf Bar. Vidacovich also gives regular workshops at the New Orleans venue Tipitina’s.
Drummers who have cited Vidacovich’s influence include Stanton Moore, Kevin O’Day and Brian Blade.
In the late 1960s Vidacovich performed with the Ronnie Dupont Quartet, featuring Warren Luening (trumpet), at The Bistro Nightclub in New Orleans. In the late 80s and early 90s Vidacovich drummed for Al Hirt. In the mid-1990s Vidacovich fronted his own jazz trio at the Windsor Hotel in New Orleans.
It's the beat! 