Don’t know I’d agree that FZ invented it, but he was certainly very involved in it early on.
Yeah, I don’t really know either. But I recently saw some videos of Zappa playing with Ponty and Al Dimeola among others that must have been done in the 60s (or earlier??) on some TV show in black and white, with him explaining the idea behind that type of music.
It sounded much like Return to Forever, for example, but this was possibly a decade or more before it.
I had not realized what exactly FZ was involved in. I did not follow him closely. He just had a reputation as a monster musician. I knew his presentations were very eclectic. I saw him perform some Orchestral work on some show (maybe SNL?) and I heard snippets of other things and of course, I remember “Valley Girl.” with Moon doing her impressions.
FZ was a remarkably prolific and eccentric genius, IMO.
“Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” (from Absolutely Free -- 1967) is likely the first “rock operetta”.
One of his last recordings -- “The Yellow Shark” -- featured a European chamber orchestra called Ensemble Modern which had the best intonation and rhythmic precision of any chamber ensemble I’ve ever heard. (And I’m glad he finally got some of his orchestral stuff recorded by players who could do it justice, as his self-financed recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra were not to his satisfaction. He had some pretty scathing stuff to say about the LSO’s lack of professionalism.)
The Ed Palermo Big Band has recorded some excellent versions of his stuff (much of which seems to have been taken down from YT). Hell…even Woody Herman recorded “America Drinks And Goes Home”:
If you can find the Ed Palermo version of “America Drinks…”, know that it features a pretty damned funny vocalist mocking Sinatra in addition to a killer band.
Happy Craigs-list Caturday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, dv8, Fatwa, Mac, and Sven!
In just a bit I’m going to climb on the roof, hang my head over the edge, and try to get more of the patio cover attached to the house. Teh Younger and I have been fairly successful at finding the studs, so what we’ve attached so far isn’t going anywhere. The process involves drilling a clearance hole in the sheet metal, using a hammer-drill to drill into the stucco, then an impact driver to drive the screw into the stucco and the stud behind it. All while blood rushes to your head. Fun times.
Coupled with full sinuses? Yeah, sure feels that way. I think we got enough screws in to hold everything in place. Got the lights re-strung from the patio cover to the pine tree and back again (a triangle). It appears the tree grew away from the house, pulling on the patio cover. I added a good 3.5 inches of slack and the cable is still plenty taught -- probably 35 lbs of tension.
Fatwa:
Yeah, I don’t really know either. But I recently saw some videos of Zappa playing with Ponty and Al Dimeola among others that must have been done in the 60s (or earlier??) on some TV show in black and white, with him explaining the idea behind that type of music.
It sounded much like Return to Forever, for example, but this was possibly a decade or more before it.
I had not realized what exactly FZ was involved in. I did not follow him closely. He just had a reputation as a monster musician. I knew his presentations were very eclectic. I saw him perform some Orchestral work on some show (maybe SNL?) and I heard snippets of other things and of course, I remember “Valley Girl.” with Moon doing her impressions.
Happy Cat-Ship Caturday, Wheelizens!
Hi, dv45!
FZ was a remarkably prolific and eccentric genius, IMO.
“Brown Shoes Don’t Make It” (from Absolutely Free -- 1967) is likely the first “rock operetta”.
One of his last recordings -- “The Yellow Shark” -- featured a European chamber orchestra called Ensemble Modern which had the best intonation and rhythmic precision of any chamber ensemble I’ve ever heard. (And I’m glad he finally got some of his orchestral stuff recorded by players who could do it justice, as his self-financed recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra were not to his satisfaction. He had some pretty scathing stuff to say about the LSO’s lack of professionalism.)
The Ed Palermo Big Band has recorded some excellent versions of his stuff (much of which seems to have been taken down from YT). Hell…even Woody Herman recorded “America Drinks And Goes Home”:
If you can find the Ed Palermo version of “America Drinks…”, know that it features a pretty damned funny vocalist mocking Sinatra in addition to a killer band.
======================
Good morning, gentle Gerbils.
dv45, very happy for you and the Gentle Lady. My very best wishes for you both.
Happy Saturday -- good thoughts and smiles winging your way Dv8 and Miss Harper!
Happy Craigs-list Caturday, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, dv8, Fatwa, Mac, and Sven!
In just a bit I’m going to climb on the roof, hang my head over the edge, and try to get more of the patio cover attached to the house. Teh Younger and I have been fairly successful at finding the studs, so what we’ve attached so far isn’t going anywhere. The process involves drilling a clearance hole in the sheet metal, using a hammer-drill to drill into the stucco, then an impact driver to drive the screw into the stucco and the stud behind it. All while blood rushes to your head. Fun times.
Big head? Be careful.
Coupled with full sinuses? Yeah, sure feels that way. I think we got enough screws in to hold everything in place. Got the lights re-strung from the patio cover to the pine tree and back again (a triangle). It appears the tree grew away from the house, pulling on the patio cover. I added a good 3.5 inches of slack and the cable is still plenty taught -- probably 35 lbs of tension.