Uneasy Listening

[Zomby Woof]

Uneasy listening
*Composer Edgard Varèse was father to Frank Zappa's iconoclastic ways as well as the focus of the rock and jazz hall of famer's swan song -- which may finally get to be heard.

By Richard S. Ginell, Special to The Times

FRANK ZAPPA — composer, rock star, satirist, visionary, curmudgeon, iconoclast — would have turned 65 on Dec. 21.

That milestone did not receive nearly as much attention as another sad reminder of mortality, the 25th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon. But the symbolism was just as poignant, for both Lennon and Zappa were unfinished portraits, cut off in midcareer. Born in the same year (1940), they spent their lifetimes saying plenty of pointed, trenchant, often humorous things about the human condition and left plenty unsaid upon their premature deaths.

http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/suncal/cl-ca-zappa29jan29,0,4945395.story?coll=cl-suncal

[Zomby Woof]

1. A kick for Frank and Edgard

[elshiva]

2. Another Kick for ZAPPA, A great Marylander (he was born in Baltimore)

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Varese is a fucking unsung god.

I have many recordings of his music, and it's all fucking amazing.

I got to hear his music performed live once - in a Zappa orchestral concert at Lincoln Center in 1992, the chamber orchestra opened with "Deserts".

[Zomby Woof]

4. I CANNOT WAIT

To hear Zappa's interpretation, via the Ensemble Modern. It will be fascinating and absoring.

Dissonance!

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Is a CD coming out?

[Zomby Woof]

6. Possibly

It was supposed to be released in 1994, since it was the last thing he worked on. Gail wanted to release it at the same time as a companion DVD, but the film crew stole the footage, and after tons of lawsuits, she just got it back.

After a few more legal hurdles, it may finally see the light of day more than 12 years later.