David Ocker About 100% Zappa

I really like it when someone speaks about something that is really close to him. And I’m also glad when it has something to do with a fine concert that I saw.

…the results were as good or better than the studio LSO recordings which Frank edited repeatedly. But these live unedited recordings were light years beyond what the LSO produced at the Barbican in 1984. Very encouraging.

David Ocker about the 100% Zappa concert. Nice text. Thank you!

16 thoughts on “David Ocker About 100% Zappa”

  1. If you know the music to 200 Motels, as most Zappa fans do, Bogus Pomp is sort of a travelogue – a series of scenes all set off by fanfares. Frank chose which music to include and I orchestrated it, under his supervision, into one continuous performable piece. Hearing the MR Orchestra performance, I began to think of Bogus Pomp as a symphony in four movements. These are played without pause like many modern symphonies. Speaking of it in these terms might help non-Zappa fans appreciate it as more abstract music.

    The first movement (centered around Centerville with sprechstimme trombones) is followed by the “slow” movement (the Tuna Sandwich music mostly). Or maybe it’s just one long first movement. Then, about half way through Bogus Pomp, we get the “Scherzo”; I mean the word “scherzo” in the sense of a “joke”. Maybe even a “parody”. This is where the pomp really gets bogus, and, for me, it’s the heart of the entire piece. Frank follows this with a frantic presto finale. After the climax he tosses in just a touch of deja vu – a wistful memory of the “slow movement” reminds us just how much territory we’ve covered. When performed well, it’s a wild ride. Who is not going to like this?

    Thanks, Balint. I couldn’t agree more with David Ocker, especially concerning “Bogus Pomp.” One of my all time favourite Frnk Zpp pieces.

  2. FZ applicable:

    ” In order to improve his diction (clear, loud, persuasive …), the ancient Greek orator Demosthenes used to walk down to the beach, then put some pebbles in his mouth, and with this impediment he started perorating against the roar of the crashing waves, just to make sure that the expressiveness and force of his speech could overpower the limits of the human body and the worst of natural obstacles.”

    That’s a comment from Free jazz blog ( another Belgian ) on a new CD from another great Californian, Larry Ochs

    Siurce: http://freejazz-stef.blogspot.com/2007/12/larry-ochs-up-from-under-atavistic-2007_18.html

  3. Pebbles in the mouth…
    Brando did the same thing to get Vito Corleone’s mumble just right.
    Applicable is as applicable do…

  4. They all seemed to be inspired by +/- the same ancestors.
    As far as I know FZ was Greek ( father ) – Italian ( mother), mixed with ” Coca Cola” ( US).

  5. Just found out :

    ” I spent 20 years of my life in Sicily and I know Sicilian genealogy and nobody in the 20th century had a genealogy like Zappa’s (including Zappa). Early in the book he claims his father was of Greek-Arab background but Sicilian by birth. What the hell does that mean? When exactly did Zap’s dad’s ancestors come from Greece to Sicily?… ”

    Have a look at the comment, here:
    http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0671705725?filterBy=addThreeStar

  6. Another well documented quote :
    ” It appears Zappa’s dad was well-educated and knew Sicilian history and in an effort to distance himself from the mafia, in the eyes of Americans around him, created these fanastic stories that he was of recent Greek-Arab origin. And to make the family seem classy claimed his wife was of French origin. Old Mr. Zappa probably feeling that claiming himself to be all three was too farfetched. On another note, I remind you all this book was written by someone else alongside Zappa and the words in it may not be the musician’s all the time. Some parts of this book look rather fictional indeed. “

  7. David Ocker’s insight is always appreciated. As involved as he was with the REALLY technical aspects of Frank’s music, he is able to boil it down so that even EYE can understand it.

    Thank you David Ocker.

  8. …for those who may still don’t know, the english word for “zappa” is “hoe”.

  9. Yea, great stuff. I would go without food to attend a big FZ orchestral gig. I also read (probably here) that SAD JANE was/is to be performed somewhere? Or perhaps I imagined it.

  10. This is not having to do with the above comments, but I was catching up with previous entries (entrees?) and saw that KUR released a ’72 Wazoo show a few weeks back? I must have missed that week. Is there anyone out there who would be willing to mail me a copy of the show, or email it somehow? I would happily respond in kind with some other merriment. Thanks!

    Alan … alwechs at juno dot com.

  11. As for the study & history of patent law, could somebody send all links on this blog concerning the ” accident” to The Library Of Congress and / or to LOC / Law?

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