Coming onto the music scene with a toe-tapping, finger-snapping and unique flair for incorporating
swing, blues and the big band sound of an era gone by into a new and vibrant beat, Big Bad Voodoo daddy
has scored many musical fans since they formed in the early 1990s. their latest release is a tribute to the
songwriting and singing talent of legendary Cab Calloway and titled How Big Can You Get? BBVd is also
ringing in 2010 at the beautiful Walt disney Concert hall in downtown L.a. on new Year’s Eve with two shows
sure to be full of the stylistic and true-to-form live performance for raising the roof and a glass of champagne
to the new Year. Lead trumpet player, glen “the Kid” Marhevka spoke with The Rage Monthly from his home
in Los angeles recently to give me the “lowdown” on the uptown sound of Big Bad Voodoo daddy.
The rage Monthly: There is something intensely wild about Cab he’s really into the harry James style and that sort of thing.
Calloway’s music, how would you describe the effect his material i’m really into him and harry James would be a predecessor
has on you as a musician? of his by whom he was very influenced. i really, really love
glen Marhevka: i definitely agree with you there. there is that style of playing. they are both phenomenal trumpet
something wild about it. i think just his whole energy and players.
the style that he had, has just been a huge influence on not rage: Performing two shows on new Year’s eve at The Walt disney
only myself but also the whole entire band. our band is Concert hall…is this a first for BBvd?
known for putting on a really high-energy and fun show gM: We have played there one other time. it’s such a
and we look back to Cab Calloway for inspiration as far as beautiful place. i’ve gone to listen to the L.a. Phil play there
that goes. a lot of the aspects of what you see from Big Bad and i saw dave Brubeck play there last year with a small jazz
Voodoo daddy live; it is very inspired by Cab Calloway’s group. So, i’ve seen a couple different things at that hall.
stage presence and his showmanship. Just being able to play there is just an amazing experience.
rage: My favorites right now are “The Call of the Jitterbug” and that is one of the best concert halls in the world. the other
“reefer Man” written in the early 1930s by Calloway. You guys re- great thing is it’s only 10 or 15 minutes from my house,
ally nailed those songs and your rendition is incredible and really which i like (laughter).
tight. rage: One thing that is so unique about your sound is the fact that
gM: oh, great. thanks. those tunes are actually really people who love to swing dance are probably your biggest fans and
fun. those are the early-on tunes of Cab Calloway’s. People that in itself is a cool phenomenon.
aren’t as familiar with those songs. it’s stuff that he was gM: from day one with this band, we’ve had dancers
doing in the Cotton Club, which is really cool and it’s a very that were just coming out and were really into what we
nostalgic time. Everybody knows about the Cotton Club do. they love to dance to it and they love the music. that’s
and it’s cool to try and put our own stamp on something been a huge part of our fan base for years. i like watching
that he was doing at that particular time and at that par- dancers when we play. i’ve seen some of the best dancers
ticular place. in the world. i kid you not…amazing.
rage: Please tell me about the exciting experience of recording rage: Scotty Morris [lead singer] is not only a performer but
this tribute album in the Capitol Building in hollywood. songwriter as well for the band, do you have a favorite song of his
gM: Every time we go in that building, it’s just super fun that he wrote?
and exciting. We’ve recorded three or four albums there. gM: that’s a good question. there are quite a few songs
Every time i walk in there, it’s just amazing. You just look that i really like. i like all his stuff to be honest with you. i’ve
at the building from the outside. it’s just like a landmark played in other groups before BBVd where i had to do the
building for hollywood. then, you get in the studio…i same tunes every single night and i couldn’t stand playing
mean, i’ve seen all the archive photos from all the record- some of them. But i’ve been doing a lot of Scotty’s songs
ing sessions. i see the same microphones that we’re using for years and years now every night and i’m not really sick
and the pictures of frank Sinatra, dean Martin, nat King of them. i still enjoy playing them with the band. he’s really
Cole and Judy garland. those classic recordings were all great with all types of music…not just big band. he knows
done right in those rooms. so much about recordings and who were on them. he
i’ve been in that building hundreds of times and i still am knows everything about all the genres, which really blows
blown away every time i go there. it’s special. me away. he’s really a fan of music.
rage: i have an interest also in big bands, harry James, Tommy rage: have you guys ever thought of adding a girl singer to the
Glen “The Kid” MarhevKa
dorsey, Woody herman and artie Shaw primarily… do you have a band or even having a female do some guest vocals on an upcoming
personal favorite of yours who is another trumpet player? Cd?
gM: i think my favorite guy…trumpet wise and from the gM: it’s been talked about. it’s not out of the realm of
big band era, he was a little bit later on than the ones you possibilities. i wouldn’t rule it out that there’s a track on the
just mentioned. But, i really am a big fan of doc Severinsen. next album with a female vocalist singing on it as well.
i have an album that he did called The Big Band is Back and rage: Great. Thanks so much Glen.
i want to say it’s from the late 1960s or maybe, early 1970s. gM: nice talking with you.
December 2009 | RAGE monthly 19
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