By LYNNETTE SHELLEYYou might not know what to make of Vernon Reid,

By LYNNETTE SHELLEY

You might not know what to make of Vernon Reid, former guitarist
for the now defunct Living Color, but he knows exactly who he is. With
his new solo project entitled Mistaken Identity now out, ReidÕs out to
prove himself with a vengeance. Without the trappings of a band, or
even a genre of music to play in, Reid rises with a Lazarus-like
determination to conquer a whole spectrum of thought and sound,
from acid jazz to hip hop to rock ÔnÕ roll. He is unidentifiable,
undefinable, and completely unmistakable. Big Shout caught up with
the auteur in the midst of a highly touted tour and got the starÕs
lowdown of just who is Vernon Reid.
ÒThe record is like a return to life,Ó says Reid. ÒA lot of the record
came out of pain, but I didnÕt make a record talking about my pain. I
made a record just about the joy of making music. I love it. I love
loving music.Ó
The new album is not wrapped up in suffocating and stifling
definitions; instead it breathes with the freedom of the artist having
no expectations for himself or his music. Reid explains his rejection of
stereotypes and roles within the title cut on the album. ÒYou thought it
was me. I thought it was me. Mistaken Identity,Ó his voice intones in
the background on, almost hiding behind the guitar licks, but the
message is loud and clear. This is a new Reid.
ÒThe words that I added to [the title track] just talk about the whole
shift in perspective, from moving from the idea of being sort of
victimized to realizing that I had as much a part to play as anybody,Ó
Reid says.
What you do realize when you spend some time conversing with the
musician is just how articulate and insightful he is. Reid has grown
personally and musically from his time spent in Living Color and now
out on his own. ÒWho am I now?Ó he questions as he looks back on his
formidable career as a pioneer in the music scene. ÒI guess IÕm
someone whoÕs questioning the old ideas, someone thatÕs loving things
for their own sake.Ó
One of the things Reid is questioning is the definition of success.
ÒLiving Color sold maybe four million records all told at the end of the
day and did it bring me any happiness? Any real happiness?Ó he asks.
ÒIn a sense it did musically, and I did really love the records and we
had some good times, but things that I thought it was about and places
that I thought that IÕd arrived to were illusory.Ó
After two Grammys, three records, and Top 20 status, Reid realized
he wasnÕt happy within the band. ÒItÕs sort of ironic to win a Grammy
award and feel like a jerk,Ó he says. ÒI remember sitting in my living
room with my Grammy on my knee and feeling like a complete
nobody, completely unhappy. And I was like IÕm not supposed to feel
like that right now, this is supposed to be a night of triumph.Ó
Reid was burned by some of the things that happened with Living
Color but heÕs brushing off the ashes this time around to reveal
someone whoÕs a little wiser for the scars. ÒIÕm recognizing that thereÕs
no security, there are little or no rules, but thereÕs a lot of fun to be
had,Ó he says. ÒEverything is possible, which means the good and the
bad and the ugly and the beautiful are all possible.Ó
With Mistaken Identity, Reid explores the possibility of joy. The
music is honest and fun with rap-artists like Chubb Rock, Beans, and
DJ Spooky, as well as guest musicians such as saxophonist James Carter
and BlueÕs TravelerÕs John Popper making their appearances. Prince
Paul and Teo Macero co-produced the album with Reid, all making for
some sizzling ingredients for the musician to work with. ÒI really made
a record just for its own sake and I hope that that reaches people, and
I wonÕt have regrets if it doesnÕt,Ó he says.
Mistaken Identity is about being true to yourself; if youÕre honest
with yourself, then the music should reflect that, and hopefully,
according to Reid, people will be able to see this.
ÒIf I go to the soul of myself, thatÕs what will move people,Ó he says.