Sid Page

Funny thing, the music business. A glance at the discography of this artist should create the impression that he is one of the most famous violinists in the world. After all, the list of records he has played on is longer than some essays. Audiences at countless blockbuster films have heard his violin. Yet in a rave review of a soundtrack he participated on for a film that wasn't such a hit, the 1997 Nick Nolte vehicle Afterglow, reviewers waxed enthusiastically over the jazzy Mark Isham soundtrack featuring the likes of pianist Geri Allen; a critic noted that, "Violinist Sid Page is an unknown..." No, he wasn't. He didn't amass all those recording credits since 1997. Page is the perfect example of the many types of musicians who, although reaching the top echelon of their professional world, remain almost completely unknown not only to the general public, but to serious, inquisitive music listeners as well. His goal seems to be one of the best or at least busiest collaborators in history. In a recording career that basically kicked off in the late '60s, there seems to be no evidence in four decades of any kind of project released under his own name. If he has led any bands on his own, this activity has been extremely sidelined and has left very little documentation. It is difficult to determine where he was born, and he has done few interviews over the years. One of his off-and-on employers, West Coast goofball Dan Hicks, maintains an extensive website of his own, but doesn't provide any background information on any of his regular sidemen. It was in Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks that some music listeners were introduced to Page's playing. Particularly effective was the band's appearance on a segment of the live In Concert series -- the latest electric Miles Davis band was also on the bill -- and lovers of weird music were tuned in by the thousands. Despite the predictably far-out Davis music, Hicks' performance of "I Scare Myself was still a show-stealer, but Page's gypsy jazz stylings detracted attention from both Hicks and his two female vocalists. Page replaced violinist David LaFlamme to form what many feel was Hicks' best lineup. Page did a great deal to popularize the violin in rock music with LaFlamme's group, It's a Beautiful Day' Page guested on this band's second record, Marrying Maiden. LaFlamme was one of a group of violinists of varying technical ability who were sending the message that the violin could be an exciting solo instrument in the context of open-ended rock jamming. Page could have followed the trail blazed by the French Jean-Luc Ponty, popular Black fiddler Sugarcane Harris, or Mahavishnu Orchestra man Jerry Goodman, but instead chose the world of the Los Angeles studios. The result was that he never established himself as a solo player, but remained employed long after the inner mounting flame had gone out on the fusion-jazz violin jam campfire. Scanning his lengthy list of credits is really the best way to get an idea of what Page has accomplished, since committing a personal musical vision to posterity wasn't his priority. His prowess as an improviser, in which his command of inventive and surprising melodic language definitely merits mention, is on display on any of the jazzier projects as well as the Hot Licks material. The amount of room afforded a session player on the pop and rock projects varied widely, so Page's contributions can sometimes be more miss and miss than hit and miss. Nonetheless he has been along for the ride on the sleepy country blues of J.J. Cale, the grungy country-rock of Cracker, the smooth country of Suzy Bogguss, and the straight-ahead saloon swing of Harry Connick, Jr. He may be the only artist to have played with Joe Cocker, Suzanne Vega, Richard Thompson, Jerry Garcia, and last but not least, the Animaniacs Orchestra. (Is that his fiddle lick on the notorious "Lake Titicaca?") Page not only plays on many film soundtracks, but his credits have also extended up the food chain to concert master, meaning he is not just violinist but boss violinist. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi