Record Reviews
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  | GINGER BAKER ~ HORSES AND TREES
CELLULOID 6126 (Barcode: 5060767443576) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1985 Released: 2022
This is a reissue / remaster of an album by British Rock / Jazz drummer Ginger BakerFind albums by this artist, recorded by an international team of musician, which included Indian violinist L. ShankarFind albums by this artist, American bassist Bill LaswellFind albums by this artist, who also produced the album, Brazilian percussionist Nana VasconcelosFind albums by this artist, American (of Greek origins) guitarist Nicky SkopelitisFind albums by this artist, Senegalese drummer Aiyb DiengFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents six tracks, composed mostly by Laswell and on some tracks co-composed by Baker and other participating musicians.
The music is a unique amalgam of rhythmic motives and World Music melodic influences, with a strong ambient production influences, which was highly experimental at the time of the recording. The trance / hypnotic atmosphere features heavy drum parts by Baker and other percussionists, with ethnic melodic influences and Jazz improvisations on top, definitely a weird mixture, but hardly surprising as Baker proved always that he eschews all forms of conventional approach in music.
This album is a singular document of Baker’s 1980s recorded output, which was a transition period between his interest in World Music and his gradual return to Jazz from the 1990s on.
Overall, this is a very unique piece of music, which shows Baker as a non-conventional explorer, not afraid of new (at the time) musical approaches and of course as a great drummer, a status which he maintained for his entire lifetime. This album might prove to be revelatory to many young listeners and musicians, who never came across his name.
| | Updated: 11/06/2023Posted: 11/06/2023 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ EVERYTHING IS HEALING NICELY
ZAPPA UMRK 03 (Barcode: 824302999127) ~ USA ~ Classical
Recorded: 1991 Released: 1999
This is the 69th album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 1999. It was recorded during the rehearsals for the “The Yellow SharkFind albums with this title” album, which was to be the last album released during Zappa’s lifetime, about a month before his death.
The music was recorded in California in 1991, during the first encounter between Zappa and the Frankfurt based international orchestra Ensemble ModernFind albums by this artist, which is dedicated to promote and popularize music of modern composers. The album presents thirteen original compositions by Zappa, some composed especially for this project and other older compositions, which were newly arranged. The Indian violinist L. ShankarFind albums by this artist performs on two tracks, but does not appear on the final version of “The Yellow Shark” album
Zappa’s obsession with orchestral music comes to its tragic climax with this album, especially since his status as a “serious” musician is finally recognized by his Classical peers and some of the most prestigious orchestras in the world agreed to record his music. Despite his complete contempt and sheer hatred of musical business and establishment, he could not resist the temptation to “show” them who is really better, which reflects the omnipresent, but often deeply hidden inferiority complex of all non-Classical musicians / composers in relation to the Classical ones.
Zappa’s music was always, from day one, as complex, ambitious, innovative, pioneering and Genius, and in most cases more so, than that of his Classical contemporaries, even when performed in the Pop / Rock / Fusion / Jazz environments, but this album is an opportunity to make an “equal ground” comparison, which of course easily proves his authority. For the avid listener, it is recommended to compare those parts of the material, which were previously recorded in different settings.
Listeners not familiar with Zappa’s legacy (an unthinkable sin) might think that he is a bona fide Classical composer, as this music sounds as “Classical” as they come, which is again a proof of his Genius. This music is conceived and in fact realized to sound as modern Classical music, which for a person of no academic Classical music education is truly astounding in every respect.
Overall, although over thirty years passed since this music was recorded, this album remains an absolute Classic in every respect, which stands proudly as an icon of superb music, which still shines brighter than almost anything else recorded since. Zappa’s genius, not only as a musician, but also as a visionary and a brilliant observer of the human condition and American folly and deceit, remain completely relevant and are even more actual today than ever.
| | Updated: 01/12/2022Posted: 01/12/2022 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | FRANK ZAPPA ~ HALLOWEEN
DTS 01101 (Barcode: 692860110199) ~ USA ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 1978 Released: 2003
This is the 71st album by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, released posthumously in 2003 in the DVD-A format and offering multichannel 5.1 surround sound mixes. The album presents music recorded during the live shows at the Palladium, NYC in October 1978, including the Halloween show on October 31. The album presents thirteen audio tracks and three bonus tracks, two video and one audio. All the music, except for one track, is by Zappa.
The music was recorded by a lineup, which includes Zappa on guitar and vocals and the following musicians: guitarist Denny WalleyFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Peter WolfFind albums by this artist, percussionist Ed MannFind albums by this artist, bassists Arthur BarrowFind albums by this artist and Patrick O`HearnFind albums by this artist and drummer Vinnie ColaiutaFind albums by this artist. Additionally, there is a rare appearance of Indian violinist L. ShankarFind albums by this artist on two tracks.
The material includes many Zappa’s compositions that were rarely performed by him live and unusual arrangements of other compositions, which makes this album quite special, although of course all Zappa albums are special one way or another. Another DVD-A release of Zappa’s music called “QuAUDIOPHILIAcFind albums with this title” was released in 2004, but thankfully the multichannel formats were abandoned by the Zappa Family Trust in their releases in the years to follow.
Overall, although this music is now forty-five years old, it sounds as fresh as it did when first heard and lost absolutely nothing of its power and everlasting beauty. This album is a valuable addition to Zappa’s incredible recorded legacy and is an absolute must for his many followers, who are always delighted to hear some previously unreleased material.
| | Updated: 12/01/2023Posted: 12/01/2023 | DVD-A 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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