Ed Palermo Big Band Eddy Loves Frank Genres:Jazz, Pop Ed and his amazing 16 piece band (+ guests) return with his third album of his distinctive, big-band interpretations of the great 20th century composer, Frank Zappa. This body of work has won them huge — acclaim from both n... more »ew and old fans of the music and they even appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition for a short feature which was heard by millions of listeners in 2006. For those not already familiar with Ed's colorful, jazz-based arrangements of Zappa's compositions, Ed has led a big band for 30 years and has had his band performing the music of Frank Zappa for 15 years. Many years of playing these pieces in front of hugely enthusiastic crowds have honed the band s skills interpreting Zappa's beautiful but notoriously difficult material to where they are able to perform these challenging charts with ease.
All of these musicians are high caliber, hugely talented NYC professional players, and most of them have been playing this music for a decade and a half with this group because they all admire and appreciate the genius of Zappa's work and they love having the opportunity to be able to perform these terrifically exciting charts.« less
Ed and his amazing 16 piece band (+ guests) return with his third album of his distinctive, big-band interpretations of the great 20th century composer, Frank Zappa. This body of work has won them huge
acclaim from both new and old fans of the music and they even appeared on NPR's Weekend Edition for a short feature which was heard by millions of listeners in 2006. For those not already familiar with Ed's colorful, jazz-based arrangements of Zappa's compositions, Ed has led a big band for 30 years and has had his band performing the music of Frank Zappa for 15 years. Many years of playing these pieces in front of hugely enthusiastic crowds have honed the band s skills interpreting Zappa's beautiful but notoriously difficult material to where they are able to perform these challenging charts with ease.
All of these musicians are high caliber, hugely talented NYC professional players, and most of them have been playing this music for a decade and a half with this group because they all admire and appreciate the genius of Zappa's work and they love having the opportunity to be able to perform these terrifically exciting charts.
CD Reviews
EPBB do it again!
Anonymous | 06/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another inspired effort from Ed's well-oiled band, and what makes it great is that these aren't just straight ahead note for note renderings; the band really has fun with the pieces which is refreshing - extending, elaborating, soloing, adding their "eyebrows" - in other words really digging into the music. It comes off as if they are intimately in-tune with the music they are dealing with while simultaneously adding so much groovy spontaneity and creativity to the proceedings, the results are fresh. And it's done so well that anyone who truly loves music would enjoy it, not just Zappa fans. And this, their 3rd installment is perhaps the most liberating, creative & surprising of them all. (To my ears - it sounds like it is) I love Big Bands (especially of this caliber) and I love Zappa's music (well, not all of it - but Ed seems to know the best of the best judging by his choices!) The question is will they do another? I mean, it's so good you just want the band to do more of this sort of thing in their own special way. Black Page? Inca Roads? Approximate? Grand Wazoo? Blessed Relief? Be-Bop Tango? Sinister Footwear? The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue? Strictly Genteel? G-Spot Tornado? Manx Needs Women? Cruising for Burgers? America Drinks & Goes Home? Brown Shoes Don't Make It? Yo Cats? Alien Orifice? 200 Motels stuff maybe? Outrage at Valdez perhaps? Zappa penned & recorded so many fun, unique & cool pieces. Only time will tell, there is no doubt that they could probably squeeze out another batch that would lend itself well (or be adapted) to the big band format, but then again, with the truly refreshing trilogy of recordings the EPBB has given us thus far, they have covered a lot of Zappa's best & most memorable music. I cherish all 3 and listen to them quite a bit!"
Get it now
Just Mike | New York City | 09/11/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Are you in awe of the compositional genius of Frank Zappa, but sometimes feel like you could live without the sleaze and the cheesiness? Do you find yourself listening to his CD's selectively, skipping tracks of inane "skits" and dialogue to get to the good stuff? Yes, I do understand that this was part of Frank's genius; not unlike life itself, you have to cut through a lot of crap to find the inner beauty. But if, like me, you sometimes just want to listen to some great music without the hassle, Ed Palermo is the man. As the title indicates, he clearly has a reverance for the source material, but his bright, clean, uncluttered big band arrangements emphasize the beauty and ingenuity of Zappa's melodies. He goes directly to the good stuff, and stays there. And the quality of the musicianship and the soloing is just outstanding on every track. This one gets an unequivocal five stars. An earlier Palermo / Zappa CD - "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" - is equally excellent. In fact, I purchased this one on blind faith, bassed on that one. Grab them before they go out of print."
More amazing Z interpretations
R. Hiteshew | MD | 06/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another grand effort by the Big Band, the best Z cover-band ever. Full of intricate versions, which are both familiar and unique. Excellent musicianship, a real labor of love. A nice way to sneak Frank in on unsuspecting listeners. A must-buy for all Zappa fans. Enjoy."
ZAPPA ESSENTIAL
Joseph Provede | HIGHLAND LAKES, NJ United States | 07/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love Frank Zappa. Ever since I was a kid in Junior High school I would congregate with my few `esoteric' cronies to sit in one of our bedrooms to listen and laugh to the wonderment that was the `Mothers of Invention'. With their artistry, creativity and virtuosity we were transported onto newer and higher planes of art that I believe changed our lives forever in many ways. Whilst listening we studied the album covers and liner notes with their personal dental X-rays, bubblegum smears and the bizarre cartoons by Cal Schenkel. We couldn't get enough of this `anti-Beatles, anti-establishment, anti-pop culture' multi-media extravaganza.
The `Mothers' opened a whole NEW world of music to me. They lead me to Jazz, fifties Rhythm and Blues, Avant-Garde Classical as well as Electronic and Musique Concrete techniques. All totally with a humor and sociological insight only examined by the `beats' and `intellectuals' of my generation. I was enthralled.
Now who was behind this all? A dissident iconoclast named Frank Zappa (the great puppet master of musical mayhem). Frank went on after the `Mothers' to have a very prolithic and lucrative career as a composer, band leader, filmmaker, social satirist and political activist.
OK, enough with this `brief history of time'. That's what GOOGLE and WIKI are for. Get on it kids! Now, let's set our `time machine' for the 21st century and the premier interpreter of the music of Frank Zappa; ED PALERMO AND HIS BIG BAND.
Ed is undoubtedly one of the `hottest' Jazz Saxophone players on the circuit today. Also, his band is an ensemble of virtuous musicians each in their own right with scrolling credits to their names. Oh? Would you like me to name a few? OK! The New York Philharmonic, Carly Simon, Gladys Knight, Judy Collins, Paul Winter Consort, Leslie Gore, Liza Minelli, Dave Samuels, John Sebastian, Dave Valentine...and on and on and on... Got the picture?
Ed Palermos's last record of Zappa music; "Take your clothes off when you dance" has been on my top ten list since it's release and the NEW "Eddy loves Frank" I must say quite frankly, is his BEST work to date. As one who has heard pretty much everything released by Zappa and all the subsequent covers; Ed Palermo's interpretations are by far the best.
Therefore, if you love the music of Frank Zappa or if you love `Big Band' Jazz or if you want to get a `big bang for your buck' with a record you can listen to over and over again. "Eddy loves Frank" is mandatory.
