KUR’s Vinnie Colaiuta Primer Mix

Back on November 26th, 2010, I suggested the idea of a Vinnie Colaiuta inspired mixtape. Little did I know at that time the actual extent of Colaiuta’s extensive recordings. Although he only played with Zappa from Spring 1978 to Fall 1980 as his principal drummer for studio and live performances, Colaiuta played on some of Zappa’s most successful albums up to that time – Joe’s Garage, Tinseltown Rebellion, and Shut Up ‘n Play Yer Guitar (The Series). After leaving Zappa , Colaiuta went on to play for Sting, Joni Mitchell, and has been a much sought after studio session musician in between his own individual and collaborative projects with Jeff Beck, Karizma, Jing Chi, The Royal Dan, and the Five Peace Band to just name some of the projects with which he’s been involved.

Familiar as I have been with the works of Frank Zappa, Sting, Jeff Beck, and Steely Dan – it’s a unique auditory experience to hear Colaiuta’s interpretation of these artist’s songs and compositions. If someone still thinks a drummer’s only vocation is simply to “keep the beat” all they need do is listen to this mix.

By far, not a comprehensive mix by a long shot, yet a very much a primer for anyone with an interest in Vinnie Colaiuta.

Click here to listen to KUR’s Vinnie Colaiuta Primer Mix.

Author: urbangraffito

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

16 thoughts on “KUR’s Vinnie Colaiuta Primer Mix”

  5. [quote comment=”20582″]listen to King Kong from this set. best solo ever![/quote]
    [quote comment=”20587″]Hannover 1979[/quote]

    Thanks for the heads up on this latest Zappateers Listening Session. I look forward to squeezing this set into my bulging harddrive.

  6. In the words of Donald Trump, “This is huge.”
    Thanks UrbanG. I knew ya could do it! 🙂

  8. [quote comment=”20640″]In the words of Donald Trump, “This is huge.”
    [/quote]

    That’s what she said.

    Also, Colaiuta is my favorite FZ drummer, tied w/ Aynsley.

  9. Wow, you once again delivered an enormous mixtape, UG. Someone should pay you huge amounts of money for this work, thanks!

  11. [quote comment=”20850″]Wow, you once again delivered an enormous mixtape, UG. Someone should pay you huge amounts of money for this work, thanks![/quote]

    Thanks, Robert. To me, sharing this fantastic music is it’s own payment. It’s also wonderful to hear all the unique perspectives and points of view one can hear Frank Zappa’s (and Vinnie Colaiuta’s) music. Just researching this mix, I found it incredible how Colaiuta interprets whatever song or composition he performs. Though not appearing in this particular mix, I suggest you listen to his interpretations of classic Police songs when he played with Sting, as compared with Stewart Copeland.

  12. [quote comment=”20538″]Woouuuw… I’m tweeked/The Attack of the 19 (!!) Tiny Lites!… ;-)[/quote]

    Gyere, gyere Fido
    Gyere kiskutyám
    Hozd ide a papucsom
    Vau-vau-vau 🙂

    Seriously, Balint, I love the look of that language, and your English isn’t bad either…

    Polyrythmic!

  14. Excellent mix, UG! I became Zappa fan around 1978/79, and it’s always been a regret to me that I didn’t catch the 1979 spring tour with Vinnie in Oslo. Frank was interviewed a lot by Norwegian media on that visit, partly because he had a big hit with Bobby Brown then. (He talked a lot about the shit with WB and the Panter albums.) But I was merely 14 years old, and Oslo was a two hour ride from my hometown. I got to see the band with Logeman in 1980, and that was a great experience, especially because the guitar playing was so far out, and loud! But, you know, this here band with Colaiuta is something else – a different league.

    The recordings from Manchester 1979 sound really good. Do you know who recorded?

  15. [quote comment=”21202″]
    The recordings from Manchester 1979 sound really good. Do you know who recorded?[/quote]

    Manchester, like Poughkeepsie, and some Palladium shows (and others) are soundboard recordings, so I suspect they were copies given to band members which somehow (and quite fortunately for the rest of us) got out of their hands and into trading circles.

  16. When Zappa was in Norway in 1979, he was asked about his religious feelings. He said that he didn’t need God or religion, because he was in heaven every night playing his guitar. Yo’ Mama from Palladium 29th of October 1978 is proof of that – it has an incredibly beautiful progression and breakthrough to otherworldly realms, as I hear it. This is transcendent music, if there is such a thing at all. I believe many a religious musician can identify with the mystery of Zappa’s playing here.

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