Saturday Nov 1st
Tullikamarin Pakkahuone 10 p.m.
vernon reid: "my science project"

vernon reid - guitar, sampler
leon gruenbaum - keyboards
beans - rap
dj logic - turntables
eddie hall - drums, percussion


When Robert Fripp interviewed Vernon Reid for Guitar World-magazine in 1993, one of the leitmotifs of this summit of the titans was staying true to your individual vision and dreams.

Vernon Reid, who is often falsely said to come from Brooklyn, was actually born in the UK. The family did, however, leave for USA when Vernon was still a child. When Reid was 15 years old he heard the music of Carlos Santana and knew instantly what he wanted to do with his life. He got a guitar and started taking lessons and rehearsing relentlessly. The first global recognition came in the 80’s with the harmolodic Ronald Shannon Jackson Decoding Society and the guerrilla-funk group Defunkt. In 1984 Vernon and Bill Frisell showcased not only their six-string but also guitar synthesizer and banjo talents on the underrated duo album Smash & Scatteration.

1985 was a busy year. Vernon formed the Black Rock Coalition to take care of black musicians’ affairs and also set up the group he so far is best known for, Living Colour. During its ten-year existence this innovative quartet released four albums, and went on to sell about four million units worldwide. Living Colour performed at the first ever Lollapalooza-tour, collected two Grammies and raked in other poll- and critic awards all over.

After Living Colour broke up, Vernon wasted no time in forming a new group, Masque. Their record debut came in 1996 in the form of the lauded Mistaken Identity. The guitar-surrealist himself says that this album was the first offering in years that really sounded like him. Tampere will witness a newer Reid-project "My Science Project", which is partly operated by the same people as Masque. The line-up consists of the skilled DJ Logic, keyboard wizard Leon Gruenbaum, percussionist Ed Hall and rapper Beans.

During his career the 38-year old Vernon Reid has guested on albums by B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Jack DeJohnette, Madeleine Peyroux, Hal Willner, Public Enemy, Spearhead and many many others. But his abilities do not stop at music. Reid is also a tasteful photographer and columnist. It is safe to assume that Vernon is the first ever Tampere Jazz Happening-performer who lists the following as his influences: Ornette Coleman, Sex Pistols, King Crimson, Kool and the Gang -- and -- The Flintstones.