"Music Master" Danny Cavazzi Interview
www.DannyCavazziDrums.com
Interview by Roger Zee (05/10/22)
Roger Zee: Who inspired you to take up the drums and sing? Do you play any other instruments?
Danny Cavazzi: Phil Collins inspired me to become a singing drummer. I remember watching Genesis videos as a kid and thinking, "Wow, this guy plays drums and sings his heart out!" That did it for me. I also play guitar and keyboards.
RZ: Tell me about some of the musicians and groups you gigged and recorded with.
DC: I currently gig with a number of bands. I'm the drummer and co-lead vocalist in the Rock cover band Superhero. We
specialize in delivering a varied selection of Eighties, Nineties, Modern Rock, Alternative Rock covers complete with high energy live performances. Superhero features Michelangelo D'Amico on Lead Vocals/Guitars and Clint Amereno on bass.
I drum and sing lead in the Classic Rock cover band Big Chief and the Midnight Groove. The band brings to the stage an eclectic curation of Classic Rock from the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties. We're not afraid to "stretch out" by adding exciting, extended instrumental jams. Big Chief features Phil LoPresti on guitars/vocals, Glenn Cavazzi on keyboards, Mark Bridgman on bass/vocals, and Kenny Mack on sax/flute/percussion/vocals.
I also perform every Thursday with long time friend and musical cohort, Jimmy Vas, in a Mediterranean-flavored instrumental, acoustic duo at the ultra cool waterside venue, L'Escale, located in Greenwich, CT.
I also started rehearsals with an exciting, new trio called The Electric featuring Jimmy Vas on guitar/vocals, Doug Odell on bass/vocals, and myself on drums/vocals. We cover "heavier" material from a diverse range of artists such as King's X, Rush, Thin Lizzy, The Ramones, Jellyfish, Stone Temple Pilots, Soul Asylum, The Cult, and much much more! We make our debut in September 2022.
Over the years, I gigged with the following bands: Bliss, The Bar Car Band (filling in for Tommy Nagy on one occasion), Straight Wired, Projekt X, and Double Espresso who still performs every once in a while.
As far as recording, I made a full-length, original album with Superhero and laid down some tracks for Big Chief guitarist Phil LoPresti. I also currently write and record my own original instrumental, Synthwave/Ambient music for a project called Interface Theory.
RZ: What drums/mikes/amps do you currently use?
DC: I currently use Tama Superstar Classic drums, Paiste cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Remo drum heads. When I play guitar on an acoustic gig, I use a Yamaha FSX 800 with an Orange Acoustic 30 amp. For my vocal mic, I use a Shure Beta 58.
RZ: Talk about your home studio.
DC: I keep my recording set up simple. I use LOGIC PRO as my digital audio workstation with various plug ins and an ALESIS Micron synth for composing.
RZ: What and how do you practice.
DC: I practice my rudiments a few times a week, primarily on a practice pad. As far as guitar goes, I try to play a few times a week just to keep my chops up.
RZ: Do you teach music privately?
DC: No, not at this time.
RZ: How has the Pandemic affected you? What's on the horizon?
DC:
The Pandemic actually forced me to become more creative. It made me dive into composing electronic synthwave and ambient music.
On the horizon? The Electric will debut in the Fall of this year. But my current band gigs will also continue on. And there’s some other exciting things on the horizon that I will keep under wraps for now.
RZ: Describe your most special and/or unusual gig.
DC: The one gig that that will always stay etched in my memory took place back in the early Nineties when I performed in an original Metal band called Amadeus. We played a gig in NYC on E. Houston Street at a place called The Bank when Motorhead showed up and used our gear to play a short set. Yes, it’s a true story!
RZ: How do you see the future of the music business?
DC:
I’m not sure. I do hope it comes back full circle to what I grew up with...
RZ: What advice do you give up-and-coming musicians?
DC: Play with different musicians. Play different kinds of music. Listen and absorb different styles of music. Follow your passion!
RZ: Do you live with any animals?
DC: Yes, my cat George.
RZ: Anything else you'd like to add?
DC: Being a musician and lifelong musical fanatic, music lives in my DNA. I really don’t know what I would do without it. It’s my passion!
YouTube - "Stratus" - Big Chief and the Midnight Group Live at MacDuff’s Public House in Greenwich, CT on Jan. 7, 2015
YouTube - "Make Me Smile/Beginnings" - Big Chief and the Midnight Group Live at Crab Shell Restaurant in Stamford, CT on Sept. 15, 2018
©2022 Roger Zee
