Winston Legthigh Posted September 6, 2019 Share Posted September 6, 2019 New Halloween 1973 box set announced today: https://www.zappa.com/news/frank-zappas-halloween-shows-recorded-live-1973-auditorium-theater-chicago-be-released-first After Zappa’s European tour that ended in September of ’73, the ever-restless musician decided to shake up his lineup once again and replaced woodwind and keyboards player Ian Underwood and violinist Jean Luc-Ponty with two new members: Chester Thompson on drums and Napoleon Murphy Brock who supplied vocals, tenor sax and flute. Following a month of rehearsals, the Halloween shows in Chicago marked the second gig for this new lineup. These recordings then represent the first official recording of this new configuration which as Travers writes in the liners, “would become infamous with the shows at The Roxy Theater scheduled for that December in Los Angeles and filmed for all posterity.” Preceeding the Roxy performances, which can be heard in full on 2018’s The Roxy Performances boxed set, as well as the 1974 double live album Roxy & Elsewhere, it’s thrilling to hear the band dynamics and evolution. As Travers writes, “the music is fresh and going through changes, along with incorporating the new funky rhythms of Chester and the dynamic lead vocals of Napoleon. And with the mallets of Ruth Underwood prominently featured in the instrumentation, Bruce Fowler’s bionic trombone, Ralph Humphrey’s technical wizardry of the drum set, Tom Fowler’s command of the bass and the keyboard mastery of George Duke, it’s a no-brainer that this line-up would go on to be a favorite among fans. The musicianship and chemistry of the personnel blended so well together with the material Frank was writing. It would prove to be a golden period in the history of Frank Zappa and these Halloween shows are proof.” Band members Ruth Komanoff Underwood and Ralph Humphrey both provide some fascinating insight into what it was like to play with Zappa and some insightful history about these shows in the in-depth liner notes which also feature beautiful live shots and intimate backstage photos. Underwood details Zappa’s desire to constantly change up the musicians he worked with and states, “Frank, though, wasn’t looking back for a moment, but only characteristically ahead, relishing the excitement and challenge at hand. Personnel changes had become routine for him, and he thrived on the new musical possibilities and mix of personalities. It was evident, then and always, that Frank needed to live his life in a state of perpetual transition, a reality that could be as maddening to us as it was exciting for all. However unnerving these constant changes, the exertion made us better players, despite some figurative bumps and bruises.” These concerts would be the only Halloween shows that Zappa performed in Chicago as the Halloween tradition would start the next year in NYC in 1974 and continue for the next decade. These shows would have the same unbridled, celebratory spirit of the NY gigs that David Fricke of Rolling Stone hailed as “advanced, instrumental ecstasy, cliff-edge improvisation and impromptu theatrical hijinks.” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mountain bed Posted September 7, 2019 Share Posted September 7, 2019 New Halloween 1973 box set announced today: https://www.zappa.com/news/frank-zappas-halloween-shows-recorded-live-1973-auditorium-theater-chicago-be-released-first Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Wow. This is a must-have, as Zappa’s playing was incredible in ‘73. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 For all you Hot Rats completists: *looking in Mr. Heartbreak's direction!* https://store.zappa.com/the-hot-rats-sessions-box-set-preorder.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 For all you Hot Rats completists: *looking in Mr. Heartbreak's direction!* https://store.zappa.com/the-hot-rats-sessions-box-set-preorder.htmlThey must have messed something up there: the link is a 404 page at the moment. A Hot Rats sessions box sounds mighty fine, tho! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 They must have messed something up there: the link is a 404 page at the moment. A Hot Rats sessions box sounds mighty fine, tho!Huh. Still works for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 Yeah, it's working now. I don't know what to think about that set. It's pricey (not surprising for the ZFT), but looks like it would be an interesting listen. Might be a bit of overkill. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Yeah, I love Hot Rats, but I'm not terribly interested in hearing the entire studio sessions for it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted January 15, 2020 Share Posted January 15, 2020 Alex Winter’s Frank Zappa Doc ‘Zappa’ Premieres at South by Southwesthttps://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/frank-zappa-south-by-southwest-doc-937847/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Alex Winter’s Frank Zappa Doc ‘Zappa’ Premieres at South by Southwesthttps://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/frank-zappa-south-by-southwest-doc-937847/ Wonder if there will be comments from Moon or Dweezil, as my impression was that they were irked that they were left out of the process when the kickstarter thing happened in 2016. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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