Customer Reviews

King Kong: Jean Luc Ponty Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you can't quite handle Frank Zappa try this for size - following work on such classics as Hot Rats (on a par with Sugarcane Harris on Sleep Dirt) Ponty took a number of instrumental works (which had not necessarily featured violin originally) and gave them a very credible re-working. The result is an excellent 'soft' introduction to Zappa (apart from the word 'bastard' in one title) which should point the novice listener in the direction of Uncle Meat; The Grand Wazoo; Sleep Dirt; Orchestral Favorites and Studio Tan before moving on to more mainstream works (if that term can ever be applied to FZ!). I have to give this album 5 stars despite the fact that it is a 'spin off' rather than one of FZ's own. Sit back and enjoy.

This was released in the spring of 1970. It is a must-have for any fan of the music of Frank Zappa who particularly enjoys his composing style from this era, his most fertile IMO. It should also please fans of late 60s West Coast electric jazz and of violinist Jean-Luc Ponty's dry and vibrato-less stylings of this period. If you are anything close to a Zappa completist, you need to get "King Kong", not only because the mustachioed wrote all of the arrangements and played a guitar solo on Ponty's own piece, but also because you actually get lots of Zappa writing that you cannot get anywhere else. "Music for Electric Violin and Low-Budget Orchestra" is a much longer version than Zappa's equivalent for guitar, as heard on "Studio Tan", and very differently orchestrated too. Although the Ponty album one does not exactly flow smoothly all the time - it is said to include countless edits - it has many "new" sections as compared with the Studio Tan version, with a feel similar perhaps to the composer's "Lumpy Gravy". "Twenty Small Cigars" and "America Drinks and Goes Home" also include beautiful additional writing from Zappa that is not available otherwise, to my knowledge. A nice little break in "America Drinks" is smack in the spirit of "Hot Rats" ("It Must be a Camel")! The musicians that perform on the jazz pieces are particularly wonderful here. Not that there is anything wrong with the other chaps that play on the more avant-garde bits... Just that in this context of likely limited time for rehearsal, the jazz guys really bloom... George Duke, Ernie Watts, John Guerin... all smoke big time! Mother Ian Underwood conducts the 11-piece band track (probably has the uncredited free-style tenor sax break on this one too) and plays on the head of the title track. Get it soon! However, the J.-L. Ponty fans of his fusion era must be warned: this is VERY different stuff!

This is by far one of the most original albums I have ever heard. 6 of Frank Zappa's best pieces, all played by world class jazz musicians: George Duke, Ernie Watts, John Guerin..., all conducted, composed, and arranged by Frank Zappa himself, sounds pretty impressive, right? I only have a few critiques...

The only improv time is given to Ponty, which is quite a dissapointment, given that there are so many good musicians on this album. Also, the sound quality is good, but not great. I'm not an expert in audio, but the album sounds a little too thin. These annoyances are small though, and don't take too much away from the album.

Sorting through Zappa's catalouge is painful and stress inducing, so I will try too tell you what kind of album this is. Thus begins the difficult task of classifying a zappa album (sigh)--

This album is kind of a jazz album. I say this because a couple songs have a jazz feel, all are played by jazz musicians and it has lengthy complex improvisations. And like about 30 percent of Zappa's catalouge, it doesn't come very close to being a rock album. And just to spice things up, Zappa added a few modern classical orchestrations.

--Thus, I will classify it as an Orchestral Jazz album.

This is a must have for any experimental jazz fan. And if you're a jazz fan trying to get into Zappa this would certainly be the best album for you. It is too often overlooked as yet another schizophrenic, rambling Zappa album. This, and Zappa's other fusion albums (Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo), need to be much more well known because their musical significance and their contributions to jazz.

I originally found this on vinyl in a used bin in Pasadena. It quickly became one of my all-time favorites, but was lost to me when all of my vinyl albums were destroyed by water damage in the Northridge earthquake in 1994.

I was THRILLED to find this digital download on Amazon and STUNNED by the price (currently $3.68). The quality is much better than the vinyl was. But more important was how well the performance has "aged" over the years.

Jean Luc Ponty plays Frank Zappa tunes with the Mothers of Invention. The jazz performances are bold and solid on some tracks and gently touching on others. Hearing "Idiot Bastard Son" and "Twenty Small Cigars" again brought me to tears.

Some of the tunes will be familiar to FZ/Mothers fans. "Music For Electric Violin And Low Budget Orchestra" is obviously an adaptation of Zappa's "Music For Electric Guitar And Low Budget Orchestra".

So for Zappa fans, this is required listening. It's a collection of his tunes performed by another virtuoso.

For Ponty fans, this is your chance to hear what he was up to before his more upbeat fusion days.

In any case, required listening. And if you absolutely hate it, it's only $3.68 and you'll probably get a $4 coupon in your email after you purchase it. So it's a very low-stake gamble.

Jean Luc Ponty did the violin solo on "Willie The Pimp" on Frank Zappa's Hot Rats in 1969. Zappa returned the favor by producing this.

Most of the songs here, "Idiot Bastard Son," "America Drinks and Goes Home," and the title track are Zappas. Ponty's take on them turns them from dada expermentation to straight jazz. Not a bad thing at all. Streemlining these tracks show how strong Zappa's melodies are, even without the avant garde soil he first planted them in.

"How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That?" is Ponty's. A wonderful piece of early 70s fusion, it showcases the warm Fender Rhodes of George Duke. It is a perfect piece for what was than progressive radio, and would fit terrifically into a night club scene for a movie of the era.

The long piece got its name, "Concerto For Violin And Low Budget Orchestra," when Zappa lacked the funds to get all the musicans he wanted for the piece. It absolutely has its moments, but you need to listen to it a good deal before this extended monster begins to gel.

But this is a thoroughly fufilling album, if you like Zappa, Ponty, or jazz.

The music of Frank Zappa is the best specially played with on of the best violin player.

A great group of musicians. Dedicated to Zappa's compositions. Ernie Watts solo on How Would You Like To Have A Head Like This, inspired me to play the sax. Quality musicianship throughout, this will not disappoint.

This is one of the "bonus" albums that the average FZ fan might never be aware of but the hard core ones will find it a really worthwile addition to their collections. The undoubtable highlight is the Revised Music piece. It is much longer than the Studio Tan/Läther version and includes additional parts/arrangements such as A Pound For A Brown On The Bus (check out Uncle Meat). The album has an acoustic feel (not that much electricity that one might expect from a Ponty recording). I rate it 4 stars since this version of King Kong isn't my most favored, and since the sound isn't really excellent. A little muddy and thin I would say. Still a great album!

This will mainly be of interest to zappa and ponty fans, but it's accessible to other listeners too. It's on the great blue note label. Is it as good as hot rats? Of course not. Still it has its merits. John luke plays beautifully, solos and sheet music parts. George Duke shines too (there is an awesome piano bit on the last track). King Kong is a good version, lighter than the mothers. Duke and ponty(magic) solos. Idiot bastrad son contains a long expressive ponty solo,class. Also 20 small cigars. Nice arrangements by Frankie. The long piece has some nice moments, especially the 'duke of prunes' section. I prefer the Lather version of this tune though. Ponty's 'head' tune is a smasher. It has good soloing by frank,john,george,and tenor sax. America drinks and goes home is nice too. Overall verdict: recommended.

Jean-Luc Ponty / King Kong / Jean-Luc Ponty plays the music of Frank Zappa: Frank wrote the 19 minute "Music for electric violin and low budget orchestra" for this album and he also played in and worked with Ponty on this album. This is a GREAT Zappa Jazz album and Jean-Luc Ponty (a great artist and one of Zappa's bandmates) is perfect as the front man who plays his violin magnificently here. This is a neglected Jazz/Ponty/Zappa Masterpiece. This easily rates five stars.