Customer Reviews

Eddy Loves Frank

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Are you in awe of the compositional genius of Frank Zappa, but sometimes feel like you could live without the sleaze and the cheesiness? Do you find yourself listening to his CD's selectively, skipping tracks of inane "skits" and dialogue to get to the good stuff? Yes, I do understand that this was part of Frank's genius; not unlike life itself, you have to cut through a lot of crap to find the inner beauty. But if, like me, you sometimes just want to listen to some great music without the hassle, Ed Palermo is the man. As the title indicates, he clearly has a reverance for the source material, but his bright, clean, uncluttered big band arrangements emphasize the beauty and ingenuity of Zappa's melodies. He goes directly to the good stuff, and stays there. And the quality of the musicianship and the soloing is just outstanding on every track. This one gets an unequivocal five stars. An earlier Palermo / Zappa CD - "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" - is equally excellent. In fact, I purchased this one on blind faith, bassed on that one. Grab them before they go out of print.

Another inspired effort from Ed's well-oiled band, brilliant arrangements ... and what makes it great is that these aren't just straight ahead note for note renderings; the band really has fun with the pieces which is refreshing - extending, elaborating, soloing, adding their "eyebrows" - in other words really digging into the music. It comes off as if they are intimately in-tune with the music they are dealing with while simultaneously adding so much groovy spontaneity and creativity to the proceedings, the results are fresh. And this, their 3rd installment is perhaps the most liberating, creative & surprising of them all. (To my ears - it sounds like it is) I love Big Bands (especially of this caliber) and I love Zappa's music (well, not all of it - but Ed seems to know the best of the best judging by his choices!) The question is will they do another? I mean, it's so good you just want the band to do more of this sort of thing in their own special way. Black Page? Inca Roads? Approximate? Grand Wazoo? Blessed Relief? Be-Bop Tango? Sinister Footwear? The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue? Strictly Genteel? G-Spot Tornado? Manx Needs Women? Cruising for Burgers? America Drinks & Goes Home? Brown Shoes Don't Make It? Yo Cats? Alien Orifice? 200 Motels stuff maybe? Outrage at Valdez perhaps? Zappa penned & recorded so many fun, unique & cool pieces. Only time will tell, there is no doubt that they could probably squeeze out another batch that would lend itself well (or be adapted) to the big band format, but then again, with the truly refreshing trilogy of recordings the EPBB has given us thus far, they have covered a lot of Zappa's best & most memorable music. I cherish all 3 and listen to them quite a bit!

Another grand effort by the Big Band, the best Z cover-band ever. Full of intricate versions, which are both familiar and unique. Excellent musicianship, a real labor of love. A nice way to sneak Frank in on unsuspecting listeners. A must-buy for all Zappa fans. Enjoy.

I love Frank Zappa. Ever since I was a kid in Junior High school I would congregate with my few `esoteric' cronies to sit in one of our bedrooms to listen and laugh to the wonderment that was the `Mothers of Invention'. With their artistry, creativity and virtuosity we were transported onto newer and higher planes of art that I believe changed our lives forever in many ways. Whilst listening we studied the album covers and liner notes with their personal dental X-rays, bubblegum smears and the bizarre cartoons by Cal Schenkel. We couldn't get enough of this `anti-Beatles, anti-establishment, anti-pop culture' multi-media extravaganza.

The `Mothers' opened a whole NEW world of music to me. They lead me to Jazz, fifties Rhythm and Blues, Avant-Garde Classical as well as Electronic and Musique Concrete techniques. All totally with a humor and sociological insight only examined by the `beats' and `intellectuals' of my generation. I was enthralled.

Now who was behind this all? A dissident iconoclast named Frank Zappa (the great puppet master of musical mayhem). Frank went on after the `Mothers' to have a very prolithic and lucrative career as a composer, band leader, filmmaker, social satirist and political activist.

OK, enough with this `brief history of time'. That's what GOOGLE and WIKI are for. Get on it kids! Now, let's set our `time machine' for the 21st century and the premier interpreter of the music of Frank Zappa; ED PALERMO AND HIS BIG BAND.

Ed is undoubtedly one of the `hottest' Jazz Saxophone players on the circuit today. Also, his band is an ensemble of virtuous musicians each in their own right with scrolling credits to their names. Oh? Would you like me to name a few? OK! The New York Philharmonic, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Judy Collins, Paul Winter Consort, Leslie Gore, Liza Minelli, Dave Samuels, John Sebastian, Dave Valentine...and on and on and on... Got the picture?

Ed Palermos's last record of Zappa music; "Take your clothes off when you dance" has been on my top ten list since it's release and the NEW "Eddy loves Frank" I must say quite frankly, is his BEST work to date. As one who has heard pretty much everything released by Zappa and all the subsequent covers; Ed Palermo's interpretations are by far the best.

Therefore, if you love the music of Frank Zappa or if you love `Big Band' Jazz or if you want to get a `big bang for your buck' with a record you can listen to over and over again. "Eddy loves Frank" is mandatory.

so do we, so this is top draw, and has been played lots of time and not tired of it yet.

As longtime Frank Zappa fan, I know there is a select few in that fan club and Eddy Palermo Big Band does something very special with their admiration.

Brilliant reinterpretations of the genius of Frank Zappa. Ed Palermo adds his own essence to Zappa's music and in a way Zappa's Zappa's music.
If you don't like 'Night School' then there is something wrong with you.

I love zappa but this music goes beyond Zappa. Ed Palermo's band starts off with the Zappa tunes and basic arrangements and then off they go. The arrangements change in the most creative ways. The musicianship is superb and the sound is just delightful. There is inspiration and adventure in this music. Zappa fan or not, if you appreciate quality musicianship, you will enjoy these guys.

Ed Palermo's arrangement's are up there second only maybe dare I say to Frank his own self. Maybe Dweezil should guest host him on one of the ZPZ tours...

I'm not a Zappa-head by any measure, owning and knowing only two of his records: Have I Offended Someone (a collection) and The Yellow Shark ("classical" works released posthumously).

So, I don't recognize any of the music on the CD.

But, it's great!

THE WRITING is terrific. As mentioned, I have limited frame of reference per Zappa's original versions, so I don't know how much these deviate. Truth is: it doesn't matter. The music is fresh sounding, very surprising/unpredictable, loaded with humor, orchestrated very clearly.

THE PERFORMANCE is tight. The band of kick-butt NY 'locals' negotiates the metric and dynamic changes like a champ. And, I'm sure their interpretation is spot-on with Palermo's intent.

THE SOLOISTS all get the job done, too -- solid pros delivering the goods.

It's extremely refreshing to hear contemporary big band that does not take itself too seriously -- except, of course, for the execution of the music. A fun CD - worth putting in the rotation. I'll look to pick up one of the other two earlier CDs by same band.