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Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa was born on 21 December 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. His parents were second-generation Sicilian Greeks, the family had arabian and french origins too. His father played "strolling crooner" guitar. At the age of 12 Frank, who had relocated to California with his family, became interested in drums, learning orchestral percussion at summer school in Monterey. In high school he had some more harmony training because he was an unruly senior, and was given permission to take some harmony classes "to occupy his mind with". In fact, he found the training very boring. The first time he had any of his music performed was at Mount St. Mary's College in 1962 - an "all oddball, textured weirdo stuff", that "didn't sound at all like music is supposed to sound"; still, "the thing was actually taped and broadcast by KPFK".

Zappa played drums in a local R&B band called The Ramblers, and after moving to Lancaster formed the racially-integrated Blackouts. Early exposure to a record of Ionisation by avant garde classical composer Edgard Varèse instilled an interest in advanced rhythmic experimentation that never left him. The electric guitar also became a fascination, and he began collecting R&B records that featured guitar solos: Howlin' Wolf with Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters, Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown were special favourites. A school friend, Don Vliet (later to become Captain Beefheart), shared his interest.

In 1964 Zappa, who had been working in a local studio, recording spoof doo-wop singles and composing scores for b-movies, joined a local R&B outfit called The Soul Giants, whose line-up included vocalist Ray Collins (b. 19 November 1937, USA), bass player Roy Estrada (b. 17 April 1943, USA), and drummer Jimmy Carl Black (b. 1 February 1938, El Paso, Texas, USA). Zappa changed their name to The Mothers, but "Of Invention" was later added at the insistence of their label, Verve Records. A string of guitarists came and went, including Alice Stuart and Henry Vestine, before Elliot Ingber was added to the line-up. Produced by Tom Wilson in 1966, the late black producer whose credits included Cecil Taylor, John Coltrane and Bob Dylan, the Mothers Of Invention's Freak Out! was a stunning debut, a two-record set complete with a whole side of wild percussion, a vitriolic protest song, "Trouble Every Day", and the kind of minute detail (sleeve-notes, in-jokes, parodies) that generate instant cult appeal. They made great play of their hair and ugliness, becoming the perfect counter-cultural icons. Unlike the east coast band the Fugs, the Mothers were also musically skilled, a refined instrument for Zappa's eclectic and imaginative ideas. Ingber left to form the Fraternity Of Man before the recording of the band's second album, Absolutely Free. He was replaced for a short period by Jim Fielder, before Zappa chose to expand the Mothers Of Invention with the addition of second drummer Billy Mundi, keyboardist Don Preston (b. 21 September 1932, USA), and horn players Bunk Gardner and Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood.

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Building a Jazz Library

Frank Zappa: cofanetto "Over-Nite Sensation"

Read "Frank Zappa: cofanetto "Over-Nite Sensation"" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Frank Zappa Over-Nite Sensation --50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition Zappa Records 1973/2023 La ricchissima discografia di Frank Zappa si arricchisce di un nuovo titolo con l'edizione del cinquantesimo anniversario di uno dei suoi album di maggior successo commerciale, Over-nite Sensation, originariamente pubblicato nel Settembre del 1973. Le vendite furono tali da procurargli il secondo disco d'oro della sua carriera, preceduto nel raggiungimento di questo status dall'album immediatamente successivo Apostrophe(') il cui successo di vendite fu ...

2
Extended Analysis

Funky Nothingness

Read "Funky Nothingness" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


A quasi trent'anni dalla scomparsa e dopo il passaggio dell'intero catalogo alla Universal, prosegue al ritmo di quattro titoli all'anno la pubblicazione di album inediti di Frank Zappa. Dopo l'uscita di Mudd Club/Munich 1980, album francamente non imprescindibile a meno di essere appassionati del periodo centrato sull'album Sheik Yerbouti, ma comunque gratificato da numerosi eccellenti assoli di chitarra che basterebbero a giustificarne l'acquisto, arriva finalmente quello che per molti fan rappresenta il Santo Graal degli inediti zappiani. ...

7
Album Review

Frank Zappa: Funky Nothingness

Read "Funky Nothingness" reviewed by Ken Dryden


Long after his death at the age of 52 in December 1993, Frank Zappa remains one of the most fascinating musicians and composers of his generation. Zappa was a rare individual who was equally skilled playing and writing in a number of different genres and styles, Funky Nothingness represents the brief era of a band which deserved to last longer than it did. Early on, Zappa realized the importance of recording whenever possible, as an impromptu studio jam or concert ...

7
Live Review

ZJM Big Band Plays Zappa for International Jazz Day

Read "ZJM Big Band Plays Zappa for International Jazz Day" reviewed by Nenad Georgievski


ZJM Big Band Ibni Pajko Park International Jazz Day Skopje, Macedonia April 30, 2023 Composer, guitarist, and producer Frank Zappa was an artist known for his unrelenting creativity, eclectic musical style, and irreverent humor. Throughout his career, Zappa displayed an omnivorous appetite for music, drawing from a diverse range of influences and genres to create a sound that was uniquely his own. Zappa's music was characterized by its experimental nature, blending elements of ...

Album Review

Frank Zappa: Waka/Wazoo

Read "Waka/Wazoo" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Il programma dela pubblicazione di inediti zappiani in occasione del loro cinquantesimo anniversario, iniziato con il box set The Hot Rats Session e proseguito con i cofanetti dedicati alle Mothers del 1970 e 1971 e alla colonna sonora del film 200 Motels, prosegue ora con quello che probabilmente è il titolo più atteso, da tempo annunciato e ora finalmente disponibile. Il nuovo cofanetto Waka/Wazoo contenente 4 CD di materiale inedito e un Blu-Ray celebra i 50 anni dalla pubblicazione di ...

Album Review

Frank Zappa: Zappa '75 Zagreb / Ljubljana

Read "Zappa '75 Zagreb / Ljubljana" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


La recente acquisizione dell'intero catalogo di Frank Zappa da parte della Universal non sembra aver modificato la politica di pubblicazione di registrazioni inedite tratte dall'imponente archivio di nastri, apparentemente inesauribile, sempre curato dal Vaultmeister Joe Travers. Nel corso del 2022 sono già stati pubblicati due cofanetti dedicati rispettivamente ai Mothers del 1971 e ai tre concerti tenuti nella zona di Erie, e in attesa del già annunciato box dedicato al 1972 di Waka/Jawaka e Grand Wazoo in uscita ...

Album Review

Frank Zappa: Zappa/Erie

Read "Zappa/Erie" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


La pubblicazione di inediti dall'apparentemente inesauribile archivio zappiano prosegue a un ritmo tale da mettere a dura prova anche i fans più incalliti, soprattutto considerando che quasi tutte le ultime uscite sono cofanetti con più dischi. Anche questo nuovissimo Zappa/Erie consiste di 6 CD alloggiati in una elegante confezione a libro formato LP, con 24 pagine di note e foto (una versione speciale deluxe limitata contiene anche un poster). Questa volta non si tratta di celebrare un ...

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Recording

Frank Zappa's Incredibly Rare Recordings, Believed To Have Been Planned For A Potential Sequel To His Iconic 'Hot Rats' Album, Have Been Unearthed From The Vault And Compiled As New Collection, 'Funky Nothingness'

Frank Zappa's Incredibly Rare Recordings, Believed To Have Been Planned For A Potential Sequel To His Iconic 'Hot Rats' Album, Have Been Unearthed From The Vault And Compiled As New Collection, 'Funky Nothingness'

Source: Michael Ricci

FEATURES 25 UNRELEASED AND RARE TRACKS AND MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF HOURS OF NEVER-BEFORE-HEARD COMPOSITIONS, COVERS, AND JAMS FROM 1970 WITH CORE GROUP OF AYNSLEY DUNBAR, DON “SUGARCANE” HARRIS, IAN UNDERWOOD, AND MAX BENNETT In 1969, after The Mothers of Invention disbanded, Frank Zappa released his groundbreaking solo debut, Hot Rats. Fusing jazz and rock, the innovative album became one of the artist’s bestselling releases, thanks to classic tracks like “Peaches En Regalia” and “Willie the Pimp.” Over ...

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Event

Marcus Rezak & PR Productions Assemble An All-Star Lineup Ft. Members Of The Doors, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Motet & More For Friendsgiving Show At Troubadour In West Hollywood

Marcus Rezak & PR Productions Assemble An All-Star Lineup Ft. Members Of The Doors, Frank Zappa, Pink Floyd, The Motet & More For Friendsgiving Show At Troubadour In West Hollywood

Source: Michael Ricci

On Friday, November 25th, virtuosic guitarist Marcus Rezak will perform a special Friendsgiving show with an all-star lineup at the legendary Troubadour in West Hollywood, California. Presented by PR Productions, the three-set performance will feature Felix Pastorius (Hipster Assassins), Dave Watts (The Motet), Wally Ingram (Bob Weir/Phil Lesh), Adam MacDougall (Circles Around the Sun), Ben “Smiley” Silverstein (The Main Squeeze) with special appearances by Robby Krieger (The Doors), Ike Willis (Frank Zappa), Arthur Barrow (Frank Zappa), Scott Page (Pink Floyd), ...

1

Music Industry

Zappa Threatening Zappa Over Zappa Plays Zappa

Zappa Threatening Zappa Over Zappa Plays Zappa

Source: HypeBot

In this most recent copyright upset, the children of the late Frank Zappa are attempting to take legal action against one of their siblings, the unfortunate Dweezil Zappa, alleging that his attempt to tour under the name “Zappa Plays Zappa" is infringing on the rights of the Zappa estate. Guest Post by Mike Masnick on Techdirt Another week, another story about the abuse of intellectual property. This one, like many, involve the “estate" of a famous, but deceased, creator. In ...

Obituary

George Duke, jazz/funk keyboardist who collaborated with Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson and Miles Davis, dead at 67

George Duke, jazz/funk keyboardist who collaborated with Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson and Miles Davis, dead at 67

Source: Michael Ricci

Master musician bridged genres of jazz, R&B, funk and Brazilian music; Was sampled by likes of Daft Punk and Kanye West. George Duke, the master keyboardist who bridged the worlds of jazz, R&B, funk, and Brazilian music, died Monday at St John’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 67. No cause was given. Duke’s passing comes just over a year after the death of his wife, Corine, from cancer last July. The keyboardist dedicated his just-released album, DreamWeaver, to her ...

Recording

Bass Player Antoine Fafard To Release Second Album Occultus Tramitis Featuring Former Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson Members

Bass Player Antoine Fafard To Release Second Album Occultus Tramitis Featuring Former Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson Members

Source: Glass Onyon PR - William James

London, UK - Much to the excitent of music aficionados across the globe, the second solo album by composer and bassist Antoine Fafard, 'Occultus Tramitis', will be released digitally on May 15 and on CD June 1, 2013. Featuring the contributions of a number of jazz- rock legends including Terry Bozzio (Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra), Gavin Harrison (King Crimson, Porcupine Tree), Scott Henderson (Tribal Tech), Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Toto), Chad Wackerman (Allan Holdsworth, Frank Zappa) ...

1

Recording

Frank Zappa is About to Land on Streaming Services...

Frank Zappa is About to Land on Streaming Services...

Source: Digital Music News

This means nothing to Gaga and Perry fans, but everything to a sector struggling to win over the artist community. Now, the late Frank Zappa is preparing to land on streaming services like Spotify, Rdio, and Rhapsody, according to details shared with Digital Music News over the weekend. Zappa, who died in 1993, has a fairly massive catalog of about 60 albums (among other works), and it appears that a substantial chunk of that catalog will soon be available for ...

42

Recording

The Friday Morning Listen: Frank Zappa - We're Only in It for the Money (1968)

The Friday Morning Listen: Frank Zappa - We're Only in It for the Money (1968)

Source: Something Else!

The drama surrounding the whole SOPA and PIPA bills was kind of fun to see play out. It was like the corporate interests legislators who were behind the bills had absolutely no idea that their proposals might have unintended consequences: ones that would generate a firestorm of passion. Between the website blackouts and the avalanche of phone calls and emails that inundated congressional offices, it appears that some eyes have finally been opened. And then, shortly after the day of ...

75

Performance / Tour

Central Bucks Jazz Presents "The Music of Frank Zappa" with Ed Palermo on January 11

Central Bucks Jazz Presents "The Music of Frank Zappa" with Ed Palermo on January 11

Source: Neil Delson

The Central Bucks Music Department would like to invite you and your students to an exciting event happening on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. The CB East, South, and West Jazz Ensembles will be hosting New York jazz artist Ed Palermo, founder of the Frank Zappa Big Band. The concert will feature Mr. Palermo's (fantastic) big band arrangements of Frank Zappa's music. All three CB Bands, as well as our Central Bucks Faculty Jazz Big Band, will perform. Many of Zappa's ...

64

Video / DVD

Halloween Special: Frank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops DVD (2008)

Halloween Special: Frank Zappa - The Torture Never Stops DVD (2008)

Source: Something Else!

What better way to spend Halloween than with (as it's lovingly referred to in the liner notes) this thing? “The Torture Never Stops"—a 24-song, two-hour blast of almost indescribably brilliant/crazy rock from an Oct. 31, 1981 concert by the equally brilliant/crazy Frank Zappa—affords us a unique opportunity to experience one of popular music's most original guitarists, composers and personalities. Just as fitting, the mood is absolutely right for a late October night: Zappa and Co. are literally immersed in a ...

140

Recording

Frank Zappa: Carnegie Hall 4-CD Set

Frank Zappa: Carnegie Hall 4-CD Set

Source: JamBase

ZAPPA FAMILY TRUST TO ISSUE UNRELEASED 4-DISC LIVE ALBUM RECORDED 40 YEARS AGO TODAY AT CARNEGIE HALL Forty years ago today on October 11, 1971, Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention performed two marathon, full-length shows at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall. This is your ticket directly to the Vault, and to four CDs of the music made then. Fans can now have it for the first time since it was first performed live by FZ with Mark ...

Jason Camelio
trombone
Frank Macchia
composer / conductor
Ed Palermo
saxophone
Rich Willey
trumpet
David Leikam
multi-instrumentalist
Ed Hartman
percussion
Michel Delville
guitar, electric
Collier & Dean
vibraphone
Marco Oppedisano
guitar, electric
Brent Bowman
saxophone, alto
SoSaLa
saxophone, tenor
Dave Quick
synthesizer
The Ed Palermo Big Band
band / ensemble / orchestra
Jason Quick
guitar
Illya Gomola
keyboards
Kyle MacLeod
keyboards
Jonatan Piña Duluc
saxophone, tenor
Denis Krupin
various
Intergalactic Brasstronauts
multi-instrumentalist
Alix Tucou
trombone, bass
Jimmy Layton
keyboards
David Cain
multi-instrumentalist
Christoph Gallio
saxophone, soprano
The Stinkfoot Orchestra
band / ensemble / orchestra

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Funky Nothingness

Zappa Records
2023

buy

Over-nite Sensation...

Zappa Records
2023

buy

Zappa/Erie

Zappa Records
2022

buy

Zappa '75 Zagreb /...

Zappa Records
2022

buy

Waka/Wazoo

Zappa Records
2022

buy

The Hot Rats Sessions

Zappa Records
2019

buy

Videos

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