Jazz Articles about Ed Palermo

Ed Palermo: Eddy Loves Frank

by Ken Dryden
December 8, 2009

Since 1994, Ed Palermo has arranged and performed over 200 works by the late Frank Zappa, a brilliant musician whose often controversial lyrics distracted people from his gifts as a composer. Putting together a tightly rehearsed band consisting of New York City-based musicians, Palermo has played his charts in nightclubs around the city for over 15 years, while excelling at putting his personal stamp on Zappa's music in a jazz setting, drawing material from different periods in the rocker's career. ...

Ed Palermo Big Band: Eddy Loves Frank

by Nic Jones
December 3, 2009

With the dubious benefit of hindsight, it could be argued that Frank Zappa's music could--and on the basis of this release can still be--defined by what it's not. Zappa was both astute and knowing enough to realize that both progressive and jazz rock could easily become stylistic straitjackets. His music was reflective of this knowledge as much as it was infused with a sense of humor so sophisticated as to be entirely at odds with his often low-brow verbal satire. ...

Ed Palermo: We're Only In It For The Music

by Ian Patterson
November 16, 2009

It's got to be love, hasn't it? Why else would someone bother to transcribe 200 of Frank Zappa's tunes? For what other reason would someone dedicate himself for over 15 years to presenting his arrangements of Zappa's music in the setting of a 17-piece jazz big band, and at a loss to boot?

Yes, it's safe to say that saxophonist, composer and arranger Ed Palermo really, really loves Frank.

Ed Palermo (center, on alto) with Ed ...

Ed Palermo Big Band: Eddy Loves Frank

by Ian Patterson
October 20, 2009

The Ed Palermo Big BandEddy Loves FrankCuneiform Records2009

Saxophonist and bandleader Ed Palermo loves Frank Zappa, and not just a little bit. It's not only the transcribing of 200 Zappa tunes, the scores of concerts where Palermo has led his big band through the late Zappa's music, nor the three CDs celebrating his music which Palermo has recorded to date; it's also the fact that Palermo considers Zappa worthy of the same ...

The Ed Palermo Big Band: Eddy Loves Frank

by Jerry D'Souza
October 7, 2009

Alto saxophonist/bandleader Ed Palermo returns with his third CD devoted to the music of Frank Zappa. Palermo has now become the jazz face of Zappa, having prepared close to 200 transcripts that leaven the music with jazz harmony, while leaving the inherent flavor and quirkiness intact. The charts lend themselves to lush orchestration as much as they leave room for individual musicians to make distinctive statements. Add Palermo's humor to the dynamic, and it's yet another delicious dollop of enjoyable ...

The Ed Palermo Big Band: Eddy Loves Frank

by AAJ Italy Staff
June 30, 2009

Giunto al terzo disco dedicato alla riproposizione per big band delle composizioni di Frank Zappa (il secondo su etichetta Cuneiform dopo Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance), Ed Palermo si fa più audace e ambizioso, realizzando probabilmente il suo capolavoro. I temi zappiani presi in esame sono sicuramente i più complessi tra quelli finora affrontati dalla sua big band, ma anche i più gratificanti musicalmente. “Echidna's Arf (of You)," “Don't You Ever Wash That Thing" e “Dupree's Paradise" provengono ...

The Ed Palermo Big Band: Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance

by Ian Patterson
May 4, 2007

Frank Zappa once quipped that jazz wasn't dead, it just smelt funny. To many people his own highly personal brand of music also gave off a rather strange whiff at times although, since his death in 1993, his orchestral/avant-garde works have received increasingly serious consideration. At the same time Zappa's rock music has inspired a plethora of tribute bands, such as guitarist John Etheridge's Zappatistas and saxophonist Ed Palermo's big band.

Take Your Clothes Off when You Dance ...