Getting thumbs up from a music legend is like a badge of honor, and the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn wear it well.
On June 11, 2007, country icon Willie Nelson raved, “The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn provided fantastic entertainment." It's not hard to see what impressed Nelson. The Blue Vipers deliver a potent sting, an infectious brew of Dixieland jazz, swing, and classic blues. Although based in New York, the Blue Vipers' latest album, Permanent Magic, is steeped in the rich history of New Orleans jazz. Bassist Chris Pistorino discusses the history of the group and where they are possibly headed.
Q: What began the musical trek which led to you being in the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn?
A: I started playing music because I wanted to be a rock star. But I chose to play bass so that didn't quite work out the way I thought it would.
Q: When did you get started?
A: I was in sixth grade.
Q: So your tastes leaned more towards rock & roll back then?
A: I went from only liking hard rock and heavy metal to enjoying and playing everything from classical to jazz to roots music.
Q: What did it feel like going from dreaming of being a rock star to recording a song for the first time?
A: Recording is a whole different feeling from performing live. I prefer performing live and am much more comfortable with it. The more I record, I hope the more comfortable I will become.
Q: How did the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn form?
A: I met vocalist/guitarist Billy Nemec because he was crashing on the couch of another musician I was playing with. Billy introduced me to the rest of the band.
Q: How did the group develop its sound?
A: We developed our sound from playing and busking on the streets of New York City every day that it wasn't raining, snowing or freezing year in and year out.
On June 11, 2007, country icon Willie Nelson raved, “The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn provided fantastic entertainment." It's not hard to see what impressed Nelson. The Blue Vipers deliver a potent sting, an infectious brew of Dixieland jazz, swing, and classic blues. Although based in New York, the Blue Vipers' latest album, Permanent Magic, is steeped in the rich history of New Orleans jazz. Bassist Chris Pistorino discusses the history of the group and where they are possibly headed.
Q: What began the musical trek which led to you being in the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn?
A: I started playing music because I wanted to be a rock star. But I chose to play bass so that didn't quite work out the way I thought it would.
Q: When did you get started?
A: I was in sixth grade.
Q: So your tastes leaned more towards rock & roll back then?
A: I went from only liking hard rock and heavy metal to enjoying and playing everything from classical to jazz to roots music.
Q: What did it feel like going from dreaming of being a rock star to recording a song for the first time?
A: Recording is a whole different feeling from performing live. I prefer performing live and am much more comfortable with it. The more I record, I hope the more comfortable I will become.
Q: How did the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn form?
A: I met vocalist/guitarist Billy Nemec because he was crashing on the couch of another musician I was playing with. Billy introduced me to the rest of the band.
Q: How did the group develop its sound?
A: We developed our sound from playing and busking on the streets of New York City every day that it wasn't raining, snowing or freezing year in and year out.
