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by Bruce Fowler ’ s trombone and Ian Underwood ’ s saxophone . “ I may be vile and pernicious , but you can ’ t look away ,” says Zappa while playing blistering acidfunk guitar during “ I ’ m the Slime .” It may initially seem like an admission of guilt , but it becomes apparent that the song is a warning against the mind-numbing control of mass media through television . One wonders what Zappa would write about cell phones and social media . The carnivalesque “ Montana ” describes Zappa ’ s loopy plan to escape city life and get rich while farming dental floss and enjoying a life of freedom astride his pygmy pony Mighty Little . The arrangement blends psychedelic soul , jazz , and serious music influences seamlessly . Zappa cuts loose with one of his most rocking guitar solos , followed by an intricate marimba lead from classically trained percussionist Ruth Underwood . Tina Turner and the Ikettes provide uncredited backing vocals during the complex arrangement ( and appear elsewhere on songs including the brazen “ Dirty Love ”). Kin Vassy of Kenny Rogers and The First Edition adds a rowdy refrain of “ yippy ty-o-ty-ay ” during the “ Montana ” coda . Ricky Lancelotti delivers a completely unhinged vocal performance during “ Fifty-Fifty ” while the band plays a dizzying disco-jazz arrangement with seeming effortlessness . Jean-Luc Ponty steps forward with a free-spirited , stratospheric electric violin solo before sending the spotlight back to Zappa and his guitar . “ Zomby Woof ” is another mesmerizingly intricate track that sounds like Carl Stalling ’ s cartoon scores on steroids and psychedelics , with Black Sabbath-styled blues-fuzz riffing , greasy funk , and another searing Zappa guitar solo added to the mix . The song is the midnight manifesto of a lustful boogieman . This 2xLP reissue arrives on heavyweight black vinyl , mastered at 45RPM for the first time for superior sound . A 12-page book includes photos , an essay by Zappaphile / audiophile journalist Mark Smotroff , and liner notes by vaultmeister Pat Travers .
The vinyl set includes a poster of David McMacken ’ s gleefully seedy and grotesque cover art . Lifers can seek out a Super Deluxe edition containing 88 tracks with deep cuts , live performances , and high-definition surround mixes .
– Jeff Elbel
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THELONIOUS MONK WITH JOHN COLTRANE Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
( Craft )
Craft Recordings has relaunched the respected Original Jazz Classics line with a collection of standout jazz titles , including this set , which was originally released in 1961 on Jazzland / Riverside Records and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 . At the time of recording in 1957 , pianist Thelonious Monk was well established but early into his tenure with Prestige Records . Coltrane was a rising bandleader at the time and would record his eponymous debut LP for Prestige between studio dates with Monk . Monk
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compositions “ Ruby My Dear ,” “ Trinkle Tinkle ,” and “ Nutty ” were recorded in July 1957 near the beginning of Monk ’ s lengthy residency at New York City nightclub the Five Spot Café in New York City . These songs are significant as the principally available recordings by the stellar quartet of Monk , Coltrane , bassist Wilbur Ware , and drummer Shadow Wilson . Coltrane ’ s lead communicates the conflicted emotion of “ Ruby My Dear ” with a compelling and lyrical combination of beauty and regret before passing the top line to Monk . Monk and Coltrane intertwine and react linguistically during the dizzying “ Trinkle , Tinkle ” before Coltrane takes flight on his own . “ Nutty ” finds Monk stretching and subdividing his |
piano lines while Coltrane plays sparkling bursts and fluid phrases with singular intuition . Monk ’ s well-documented gifts as a musical technician and bandleader are evident during the Five Spot recordings . In addition to carrying many of the tunes , he also pulls back to allow Coltrane the freedom to expand with what Down Beat writer Ira Gitler described as “ sheets of sound ” during “ Trinkle , Tinkle ” and “ Nutty .” Bassist Ware also steps forward with tuneful and percussive dexterity during these songs . Wilson ’ s playing on " Nutty " displays a particular combination of effortless swing and tasteful restraint . The album is completed by three alternate masters from prior Monk sessions . “ Epistrophy ,” composed with drummer Kenny Clarke , will be familiar to many jazz aficionados as the first song copyrighted under Monk ’ s name . The versions of “ Off Minor ” and “ Epistrophy ” captured here feature the drumming of Art Blakey . Coltrane ’ s confident saxophone spars with Coleman Hawkins ’ tenor during both songs , with solos during the familiar “ Epistrophy ” by Coltrane and trumpeter Ray Copeland contrasting with the familiar version from Monk ’ s Music . The clos- |
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April 20 , 2024 |