The Importance of Big Band Zappa

Frank Zappa’s The Grand Wazoo

With all the legal wrangling going on between The Trust and The Arf Society (and legal bullying with just about every other cover/tribute band and various weblogs), it’s important to review exactly, and objectively, what’s at stake in these proceedings. Primarily, the freedom to play and experience Frank Zappa’s music live (as it should be experienced). Really, imagine a world in which only one performer is allowed to perform, say, the works of Igor Stravinsky? Or Eric Dolphy? Or Frank Zappa (or only one website being the sole source of FZ information)?

Personally, I think Ed Palermo’s Big Band does an excellent job performing “The Grand Wazoo” live at the Iridium Jazz Club.

Author: urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.

17 thoughts on “The Importance of Big Band Zappa”

  1. Aha, Urban, FZ music re -entering NY.

    Sarcasm : California / US seems to be far behind.

    The west coast of the Pacific, Korea and the like , will pick up this idea.
    Just as the Koreans did it within the ICT world : both (1) ahead of the time and (2) on their own, disconnected from the rest of the world. Just have a look at it, you’ll be very surprised.

  2. Transparency about Korean ICT systems:
    Cyworld
    Ohmynews
    Lineage
    Thus the Korean new wave halluy

  3. We have sloatman to blame for this blog turning into the “ubgo and bernie show”…thanks for the link to EP, though. Very tasty. sloatman et al should be proud their money maker is being played so well. Shake it, Ed!

  4. “Bernie show” now says:

    Watch out for the upcoming choir performance of FZ music.

    Sorry ’bout that folks.

  5. How odd. I had just finished making a pair of playlists which intermingled the songs from both of the EPBB albums and the originals (or definative live versions) from FZ. I will be eternally grateful that an introduction to your web site rekindled my love of FZs music that had gone dormant for almost 30 years. Finding the music of Ed Palermo’s Big Band was another breath of fresh air. They can sound just like Franks old band(s) when they want to or they can re-arrange the pieces in the most incredible manner. Too bad, when interviewed, Ed said there will be no more CD’s because of ZFT issues. I’ll have to get up to NYC to hear him.

  6. Ed Palmero’s Big Band has been playing in & around New York City for some time now. I finally caught them at the “Cutting Room” in downtown NYC last year. Napoleon Murphy Brock came out for a couple of encores. Very nice. It was an excellent show in a intimate setting. You can tell by Ed’s enthusiasm that he’s really into the music. And there is no way this guy is getting rich off this venture. He’s doing it for the love of FZ’s Music. And it shows in the performance. We got to chat with Nappy after the show. He was very cool and talked to us for awhile. Speaking of which I hope Brock’s band “the Grandmother’s” come state side soon.

  7. [quote comment=”860″]We have sloatman to blame for this blog turning into the “ubgo and bernie show”…[/quote]

    And exactly what’s your point, Bob Again? If you’ve got a criticism you’d like to direct towards me, go right ahead: I can take it. Or is your criticism limited to innuendo?

  8. Common sense flies out the door when love comes innuendo…

    …Groucho said that, something like that.

    My opinion (for all it’s/its worth) – too much ubgo and bernie, not enough Barry.

  9. [quote comment=”904″]Common sense flies out the door when love comes innuendo…

    …Groucho said that, something like that.

    My opinion (for all it’s/its worth) – too much ubgo and bernie, not enough Barry.[/quote]

    “Without music, life would be a mistake…”

    …Friedrich Nietzsche said that.

    My opinion (pompous, though it may seem to some) – not enough Bob Again (et al). This is a community after all. It is what YOU make of it, Bob Again and Again and Again.

  10. Let’s stick to the subject at hand – Ed Palermo and his Most Excellent Big Band.

    I have seen them since the mid-90s – not as often as I should have – and never come away disappointed. He does not make note perfect renditions of everything, same as much of the time neither did Uncle Frank. Ed massages the material in a very loving and tasteful way that – I think – would have been approved of by the Original Author, if not his Descendants.

    If you get a chance to visit New York City, or wherever EPBB plays, do go see them. Ed and band is very approachable as is Napoleon if you catch him. Class acts all around.

    For sure, his activity is a labor of love. Several times Ed has announced his hanging up of the baton, only to regroup and come back. Here’s to you Ed, should you read this!!!

  11. My Dad is a big band fan and he just doesn’t get rock music. To him, King Solomon’s Mines is the greatest film of all time and he believes Stan Kenton’s version of Hey Jude is a masterpiece, “if Kenton plays it, those Beatles must be REAL MUSICIANS,” not able to face that this was a pathetic attempt to get kids to listen to old people music. To this particular Dad, a degree from North Texas State is certifiable proof of musical worth in this world.

    I am conflicted about the Ed situation. I love deeply that Ed does what he does and find the music good, and never, ever want Ed to stop doing this. OTOH, Zappa’s recordings are untoppable and have so much character and power that any attempt to cover this music seems a doomed, tragic folly. This is why tribute albums usually bite crud.

    Ed must know this, but quixotically plunges on. This is beautiful madness, and us Zappa nuts who know every blat on The Grand Wazoo will always bitch about the missed punches here and there. I have seen Ed live only once and was thrilled.

    My Dad just got Eddy Loves Frank for a b-day gift from me and he is apparently diggging it (I haven’t heard it yet, any reviews?), and Ed’s motives are much purer than Stan’s.

  12. My Dad is a big band fan and he just doesn’t get rock music. To him, King Solomon’s Mines is the greatest film of all time and he believes Stan Kenton’s version of Hey Jude is a masterpiece, “if Kenton plays it, those Beatles must be REAL MUSICIANS,” not able to face that this was a pathetic attempt to get kids to listen to old people music. To this particular Dad, a degree from North Texas State is certifiable proof of musical worth in this world.

    I am conflicted about the Ed situation. I love deeply that Ed does what he does and find the music good, and never, ever want Ed to stop doing this. OTOH, Zappa’s recordings are untoppable and have so much character and power that any attempt to cover this music seems a doomed, tragic folly. This is why tribute albums usually bite crud.

    Ed must know this, but quixotically plunges on. This is beautiful madness, and us Zappa nuts who know every blat on The Grand Wazoo will always bitch about the missed punches here and there. I have seen Ed live only once and was thrilled.

    My Dad just got Eddy Loves Frank for a b-day gift from me and he is apparently diggging it (I haven’t heard it yet, any reviews?), and Ed’s motives are much purer than Stan’s.

    My Dad is a big band fan and he just doesn’t get rock music. To him, King Solomon’s Mines is the greatest film of all time and he believes Stan Kenton’s version of Hey Jude is a masterpiece, “if Kenton plays it, those Beatles must be REAL MUSICIANS,” not able to face that this was a pathetic attempt to get kids to listen to old people music. To this particular Dad, a degree from North Texas State is certifiable proof of musical worth in this world.

    I am conflicted about the Ed situation. I love deeply that Ed does what he does and find the music good, and never, ever want Ed to stop doing this. OTOH, Zappa’s recordings are untoppable and have so much character and power that any attempt to cover this music seems a doomed, tragic folly. This is why tribute albums usually bite crud.

    Ed must know this, but quixotically plunges on. This is beautiful madness, and us Zappa nuts who know every blat on The Grand Wazoo will always bitch about the missed punches here and there. I have seen Ed live only once and was thrilled.

    My Dad just got Eddy Loves Frank for a b-day gift from me and he is apparently diggging it (I haven’t heard it yet, any reviews?), and Ed’s motives are much purer than Stan’s.

  13. Half Japanese. 2 halves make a “hole”. half japanese. two halves make a ‘hole. Intellectual Gibberish. gobbledygook. Mental Masturbation. Lorem Ipsum. What’s the joke? Is anyone else laughing?

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