I recall watching this a while ago and was very impressed with Ruth. I saw Frank in KC 1978 w/ Bozzio which was great and then ~1987 w/ Wackerman and horns. killer. Vinnie's interview w/ Dom Famularo about his Zappa audition is fantastic.
That is great! I love Dom. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to see Frank live, but I've seen Zappa Plays Zappa and Return To Forever together, and man that was a near religious experience to me. I wish that Terry would have been with Frank longer and had more quality live recordings, as well as studio tracks. His personality and energy was my favorite. I love Chad's solo work, and his Holdsworth era, and wish that more people were hip to his greatness. Glenn.
One of Chad's solos, I think live, with Holdsworth is one of my favorite demo tracks. He has so many unusual drums and cymbals that he uses to perfection.
Ruth and Frank really loved each other. She said he'd write the most beautiful pieces for her and she'd play them for him most beautifully. What a level!
An other one - my favourite - Morgan Ågren. Franks talks about their first encounter:
Here is audio from him playing with Frank:
Morgan playing at a Zappa tribute - epic concert:
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Here is audio from him playing with Frank:
Morgan playing at a Zappa tribute - epic concert:
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No musician who played with (ok, for) Frank could be considered a slouch.
But Vinnie’s interplay with FZ was on another level. I believe Frank said so himself, if in not so many words.
But Vinnie’s interplay with FZ was on another level. I believe Frank said so himself, if in not so many words.
I saw Zappa on stage when Aynsley Dunbar was his drummer (yes, I'm old). Aynsley was doing a solo and some jerk in the audience yelled some uncomplimentary comment. Zappa stopped everything and told the guy 'to shut the f@#k up and listen'.
I saw Zappa in Hamburg in the early 70s together with George Duke, Ruth and Ian Underwood, Jean-Luc-Ponty and Ansley Dunbar. The greatest live perfomance I ever encountered.
Zappa at a peak with my fav lineup; I was just a kid giggling with my friends over the concept of "yellow snow". Not that I'd want to be any older now, but how unfortunate.
I attended 6 or 7 Zappa concerts between 1975 and 1982. The venues varied a lot, including Cole Field House at the University of Maryland (a huge indoor stadium with mediocre acoustics), DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. (exceptional acoustics) and the Hartford Civic Center (just as you would expect). The band varied a fair amount during that period, but they put on a good show, each and every time. I remember those concerts fondly: Frank avoided his hits and was always inventive and entertaining.
Regards.
Regards.
Osvaldo, the only Italian last name I can think of is Zappacosta, and that’s because of the Canadian musician Allie Zappacosta.
May be. Here there are several italian names. Most are Spanish: Gomez, López, Fernandez, Gonzalez, etc. The end ez means "son of".
Unfortunatelly I know very few about italian language, but I like to watch Comisario Montalbano in TV.
Unfortunatelly I know very few about italian language, but I like to watch Comisario Montalbano in TV.
An advantage of being older - in '75, I was still sucking my thumb musically at 15. Didnt get to see Zappa until he pretty much dropped playing guitar and went into his full time composer phase. That's not absolutely true, but I do remember a show when I was close enough to see his huge effects pedal array and he never used any of it. He had this other guy (Steve Vai) "turn on" at the point of his baton.
A few years ago my wife and I want to the local fall festival to see the current touring version of Blood, Sweat and Tears. No original members, of course, but one of the originals still owns the arrangements and the name and promotes a touring band. I noticed that the drummer was using sheet music through the entire set, looked like he was sight reading the whole show. At the end they introduced the band, and the drummer was Chad Wakerman! Chad was also the drummer the one time I got to see Zappa live, in 1981.
Back in the 80's? I just happen to go into my local Slingerland shop and Chad was doing a drum clinic. I'll never forget that.
My first Zappa concert was at Pepperland in 1970, a carpeted sit-in-the-floor venue
somewhat larger than my garage. Perhaps Flo and Eddie's first appearance -
"Who the hell are these two guys?" - and I sat about 7 feet front of FZ.
They recently released material from that performance, and I added it to my totally
complete Zappa collection. 50 years later my window washer presented me with
the original handbill - he was there also.
somewhat larger than my garage. Perhaps Flo and Eddie's first appearance -
"Who the hell are these two guys?" - and I sat about 7 feet front of FZ.
They recently released material from that performance, and I added it to my totally
complete Zappa collection. 50 years later my window washer presented me with
the original handbill - he was there also.