Renowned bassist and producer in Europe and the United States, Victor Rice is an aficionado of Jamaican sounds from the 60s and 70s. Now based in the legendary Copan building in São Paulo, the New Yorker has an extensive résumé. He played in some of the most important ska bands in America, such as New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble, Stubborn All-Stars and The Scofflaws. He produced the first album by the Slackers, one by the Pietasters, another by Articles and another by Skavoovie & The Epitones, for example.
The old guard of Jamaica has also counted on his services. Laurel Aitken, the Jamaican Noite Ilustrada, had Victor Rice's escort in his backing band. Another legend, Desmond Dekker, idol of rude boys and rastamen around the planet, too. Even the Skatalites, creators of ska and all modern Jamaican music, had the producer's force on the album "Ska Titans". Rice became better known recently for having played bass on the album "Dub Side Of The Moon", praised dub version of Pink Floyd's classic album, released on the thirtieth anniversary of the original by Easy Star All-Stars, from NY.
In Brazil, he produced a dub version of "Máquina do Tempo" by the gaúcho band Ultramen, and mixed a theme by Nando Reis, recorded by the cariocas of Reggae B (parallel project of Bi Ribeiro, from Paralamas), among other works. Besides that, he is a member of the trio Firebug, which has just released its debut album through paulistana Radiola Records. At Radiola, now nationally distributed by Tratore, Victor Rice presents "In America", his second solo album, recorded partly in New York, partly in São Paulo. Basically instrumental, the album has suggestive titles.
Victor baptized some of his themes in Portuguese, such as "Fernandinho", "Fica" and "Toque". Abusing mathematics and creativity, he plays a version of "Parabéns" (Happy Birthday). However, here the song is played upside down, according to the sheet music. American Caz Gardiner lends her voice on the track "Baby Dub". In building his songs, Rice is inspired by the sophisticated harmonies of Jamaican heroes like Don Drummond and Jackie Mittoo, and also by the jazz of Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter. In nineteen tracks, the bassist dives deep into ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub. For laymen and specialists, the album is an irresistible dictionary of Jamaican sounds.