Jazz Articles about Adrian Belew

Diana Ross & Frank Zappa: Soul Freak Symphony

by Glenn Astarita
April 1, 2025

When Diana Ross, the glittering soul siren of Motown, and Frank Zappa, the madcap maestro of musical anarchy, unveiled Soul Freak Symphony in March 1985 but was put in limbo due to contractual issues. Hence, it was not just an album--it was a cosmic detonation of sound and sanity. This 12-track hallucination melds Ross's velvety charisma with Zappa's unhinged genius, resulting in a creation so far outside the box it might as well be orbiting Saturn. The opener ...

Heaven & Earth: Live and in the Studio 1997-2008

by John Kelman
June 8, 2019

Yet another year, yet another characteristically detailed and chronologically contextualized King Crimson mega-box set. Except that 2019 is no typical year. And Heaven & Earth is no typical King Crimson box set. While Heaven & Earth: Live and in the Studio 1997-2008 completes (well, almost) the series of box sets documenting King Crimson's original commercial recordings (and so much more), it's far from the group's first (or only) release to go along with the current three-drummer ...

Adrian Belew Power Trio at Ardmore Music Hall

by Geno Thackara
May 10, 2017

The Adrian Belew Power Trio Ardmore Music Hall Ardmore, PA May 6, 2017 Like so much of life, music is really a work in progress that never stops changing. Adrian Belew has always been one to live by the idea rather than follow it--he's best known for an extended tenure in the always-inventive King Crimson, spins smart and often convoluted songs that still grab the ears effortlessly, and can wring sounds out of a guitar ...

Adrian Belew: Power Trios and Crimson Heads

by Justin M. Smith
November 10, 2008

Since 1977, Adrian Belew has been a guitar and songwriting innovator in the cutting edge rock field. Spending time in bands with Frank Zappa, David Bowie and Talking Heads, he's also clocked serious studio time with other artists including Paul Simon, Nine Inch Nails, Tom Tom Club, Tori Amos and Herbie Hancock. He's fronted the various incarnations of perennial art rockers King Crimson since 1981, as well as putting together several of his own solo projects.Belew has continued ...

Park West, Chicago, Illinois August 7, 2008

by John Kelman
September 4, 2008

When it was announced, in late 2003, that touch guitarist Trey Gunn was leaving perennial art rockers King Crimson, to be replaced by returning bassist/stickman Tony Levin—a member of the group during its 1980s and 1990s runs—anticipation was high. Gunn's strength was as a virtuosic melodic foil for guitarists Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew as well as holding down the bottom end, but Levin has always been considered Crimson's ultimate groove-meister. When Porcupine Tree drummer Gavin Harrison was recruited in ...

Adrian Belew: Side Three

by Glenn Astarita
May 26, 2006

Amid stints with King Crimson, guitar hero Adrian Belew has continued his solo career with his Side One and Side Two recordings, recently adding this final installment. Following suit in numerical title only, this set finds Belew grouping stylistic pieces that didn't fit into the motifs presented on the previous albums. Though much acclaimed for his work as an experimental guitar-slinger, the artist is also a strong vocalist and crafty multi-instrumentalist.

With the opening “Troubles," Belew incorporates twisted ...

The 21st Century Guide to King Crimson Volume Two: 1981-2003

by John Kelman
November 30, 2005

While Robert Fripp—erstwhile leader and only remaining member of the group that literally shook the foundations of the rock world in 1969 with In the Court of the Crimson King (Discipline Global Mobile)— rankles at those who call the continually evolving band King Crimson a progressive rock band, what band better fits the term progressive? Merriam-Webster defines the word progressive as: “making use of or interested in new ideas, findings, or opportunities," and “moving forward or onward." ...