Make a Jazz Noise Here
Encyclopedia
Make a Jazz Noise Here is a live double album by Frank Zappa
. It was first released in June 1991, and was the third Zappa album to be compiled of recordings from his 1988 world tour, following Broadway the Hard Way
(1988) and The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
(1991).
The album is made up mostly of instrumentals, featuring Zappa's own compositions, with some arrangements of Igor Stravinsky
and Béla Bartók
themes by his bassist, Scott Thunes
. The album showcases Mike Keneally
on guitar and keyboards. Chad Wackerman
appears on drums, known for his abilities in the jazz world (he has frequently played with jazz guitarist Allan Holdsworth
). A notable contribution to the mix is made by the brass section of the group: Walt Fowler (trumpet), Bruce Fowler
(trombone), and saxophonists Paul Carman, Albert Wing and Kurt McGettrick. Ike Willis
plays guitar and sings along with keyboardist Bobby Martin. Ed Mann
provides all the percussion and various other sounds, complementing the addition of the Synclavier
, which Zappa brought on tour for the first time. In the liner notes, Zappa states that the album features no overdubs.
As is often the case, there are also many references to previous Zappa material which a first-time listener might not catch.
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
. It was first released in June 1991, and was the third Zappa album to be compiled of recordings from his 1988 world tour, following Broadway the Hard Way
Broadway the Hard Way
Broadway the Hard Way is a Frank Zappa live album recorded at various performances along his 1988 world tour. It was first released as a 9-track vinyl through Zappa's mail order label Barking Pumpkin in October 1988, and subsequently as a 17-track CD through Rykodisc in 1989.This album was...
(1988) and The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life
The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life is a double disc live album by Frank Zappa, released in 1991 . The album was one of three to be recorded during the 1988 world tour, along with Broadway the Hard Way and Make a Jazz Noise Here...
(1991).
The album is made up mostly of instrumentals, featuring Zappa's own compositions, with some arrangements of Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
and Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
themes by his bassist, Scott Thunes
Scott Thunes
Scott Thunes is a former bass player with Frank Zappa, Wayne Kramer, Steve Vai, Andy Prieboy, Mike Keneally, Fear, The Waterboys and others....
. The album showcases Mike Keneally
Mike Keneally
Michael Joseph Keneally is an American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Allmusic says: "With his wide-ranging talents and ability to be creative in almost any musical situation, Keneally is the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era."Born on Long Island, New York, he...
on guitar and keyboards. Chad Wackerman
Chad Wackerman
Chad Wackerman is a jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer; arguably best known in the United States for his work as a drummer and percussionist in Frank Zappa's band...
appears on drums, known for his abilities in the jazz world (he has frequently played with jazz guitarist Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth is an English guitarist and composer. He has released twelve studio albums as a solo artist and played many different styles of music over a period of four decades, but first drew attention for his work in jazz fusion...
). A notable contribution to the mix is made by the brass section of the group: Walt Fowler (trumpet), Bruce Fowler
Bruce Fowler
Bruce Lambourne Fowler is a prominent American trombone player and composer. He notably played trombone on many Frank Zappa records, as well as with Captain Beefheart, and in the Fowler Brothers Band...
(trombone), and saxophonists Paul Carman, Albert Wing and Kurt McGettrick. Ike Willis
Ike Willis
Ike Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappa's band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 for personal reasons, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two...
plays guitar and sings along with keyboardist Bobby Martin. Ed Mann
Ed Mann
Ed Mann has been "a drummer and piano dabbler since childhood", best known for his mallet percusion recorded and live work with Frank Zappa from 1977 to the end of Zappa's career.- Career :...
provides all the percussion and various other sounds, complementing the addition of the Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
, which Zappa brought on tour for the first time. In the liner notes, Zappa states that the album features no overdubs.
As is often the case, there are also many references to previous Zappa material which a first-time listener might not catch.
Disc one
- "Stinkfoot" – 7:39
- "When Yuppies Go to Hell" – 13:28
- "Fire and Chains" – 5:04
- "Let's Make the Water Turn Black" – 1:36
- "Harry, You're a Beast" – 0:47
- "The Orange County Lumber Truck" – 0:41
- "Oh No" – 4:43
- "Theme from Lumpy Gravy" – 1:11
- "Eat That Question" – 1:54
- "Black Napkins" – 6:56
- "Big Swifty" – 11:12
- "King Kong" – 13:04
- "Star Wars Won't Work" – 3:40
Disc two
- "The Black Page (new age version)" – 6:45
- "T'Mershi Duween" – 1:42
- "Dupree's Paradise" – 8:34
- "City of Tiny Lights" – 8:01
- "Royal March from L'Histoire du Soldat" (Igor StravinskyIgor StravinskyIgor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
) – 0:59 - "Theme from the Bartok Piano Concerto #3" (Béla BartókBéla BartókBéla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
) – 0:43 - "Sinister Footwear 2nd mvt." – 6:39
- "Stevie's Spanking" – 4:25
- "Alien Orifice" – 4:15
- "Cruisin' for Burgers" – 8:27
- "Advance Romance" – 7:43
- "Strictly Genteel" – 6:36
Personnel
- Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, producer, main performer, vocals - Paul Carman – alto saxophoneAlto saxophoneThe alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions...
- Kurt McGettrick – baritone saxophoneBaritone saxophoneThe baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
- Scott ThunesScott ThunesScott Thunes is a former bass player with Frank Zappa, Wayne Kramer, Steve Vai, Andy Prieboy, Mike Keneally, Fear, The Waterboys and others....
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Albert Wing – tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
- Ed Mann – percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Chad WackermanChad WackermanChad Wackerman is a jazz, jazz fusion and rock drummer; arguably best known in the United States for his work as a drummer and percussionist in Frank Zappa's band...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Ike Willis – guitar, vocals
- Walt Fowler – trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Mike KeneallyMike KeneallyMichael Joseph Keneally is an American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and composer. Allmusic says: "With his wide-ranging talents and ability to be creative in almost any musical situation, Keneally is the leading progressive rock genius of the post-Zappa era."Born on Long Island, New York, he...
– synthesizer, vocals, guitar - Bruce FowlerBruce FowlerBruce Lambourne Fowler is a prominent American trombone player and composer. He notably played trombone on many Frank Zappa records, as well as with Captain Beefheart, and in the Fowler Brothers Band...
– tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate... - Robert Martin – keyboards, vocals