By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Internationally renowned drummer, composer and Niagara Falls native Bobby Previte brings a little voodoo magic back to Buffalo Thursday night. Previte wraps up a three week residency at Hallwalls with a concert at the Tralf. He and the locally assembled Voodoo Orchestra West -- featuring eleven of Buffalo's finest jazz musicians -- will explore the mystery behind Miles Davis' landmark recording "Britches Brew."
Every note builds on the next. Each track on the last. And every recording an original new sound. Previte's compositions are as singular as the career he's built over the last couple decades since leaving his hometown of Niagara Falls...to make it big...in New York and beyond. Downbeat Magazine called him "a composer deserving of wider recognition." But it's getting back to his roots, playing the drums, that Previte says really brings him home.
"Composing sometimes can be a laborious process, and difficult," said Previte. "And the drums, you know, you hit em' and they make a sound, it's kind of kind of unmysterious...they just boom, you know?"
It was partly that love for performing that inspired Previte's Voodoo "Orchestra" -- It's an ever changing group of musicians that, for the last several years, Previte has been assembling all over the world. Though there are many different players -- of just about any instrument -- it's a select group. They only play one thing. Miles Davis' mutually acclaimed and malaigned 1969 "Bitches Brew." Previte says that's because Bitches Brew changed his life.
"It gave me the freedom to think, well you know, all these things are possible," said Previte. "Jazz doesn't have to be this, and soul doesn't have to be this, and rock doesn't have to be this...and nothing has to be anything particularly."
Of course, Previte's whole approach to Davis' music is more concept than concrete. Previte believes the mutable Miles would have approved. And it's also a pretty solid idea -- given the caliber of musicians gathered for this jam. A who's who of Buffalo jazz...including Greg Piontek on electric bass, John Bacon on drums, Chu Nero on sax and a host of others.
Here at Hallwalls on Monday night the band is busy getting ready to present their version of the "finished product" for Thursday night. Feeling his way in, percussionist John Bacon, finds his space between the layers of alternating aggression and groove.
"When you have twelve people, and as much freedom as we have with this type of music, not playing is as important as playing," said Bacon. "And when you're not playing, you should be listening...really listening...as actively as you are when you're playing."
Four rehearsals, reams of music scattered across the floor and a room full of instinct later -- Previte says it's about right.
"We have enough rehearsal to make it so we can make sure it's unpolished enough," said previte. "You know, it's gotta be teatering on the edge of chaos. If it's not teatering on the edge of chaos it's no good."
But Previte says don't let the music fool you -- achieving chaos is a delicate process.
"I'm just with them, and we're all together, and we're going to play some beautiful music, and I'm just going to lead them, ever so gently, though it," said Previte.
Bass player Greg Piontek echoed that paternal theme. He says, like a child, the music -- even Voodoo music -- has to be nurtured.
"You try to set the example for them, and then they go out on their own. It's like you hope they can come back, and learn how to respect and be careful about things. And also go out and be creative - that's how music is too, especially in a situation like this," said Piontek. "I mean we venture out, and do our things - and then come back."
The music comes back, along with Bobby Previte, and the Voodoo Orchestra West Buffalo musicians at 8:00 Thursday night at the Tralf. [Cart No: previte-2 Time: 20s Out-cue: bring it]