Nicolas Slonimsky on Frank Zappa
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Just playing catch-up on Frank Zappa.
Roger Wright is apparently a fan ::~2003, Independent:
Having infuriated its classical music traditionalists, BBC Radio 3 has angered jazz purists among its audience by deciding to feature the rock icon Frank Zappa.
The guitarist and songwriter, who hated jazz (as well as a lot of other things), is to be the focus of a special edition of Jazz File this month.
The programme appears to be an attempt to break down more barriers at Radio 3, where some of the audience are already upset over changes to the music policy.
David Samuels, of the listeners' group FoR3 (Friends of Radio 3), said yesterday: "This is going to upset the jazz fans, no doubt about it. Jazz File is one of Radio 3's standard programmes. If they are going to put Frank Zappa on they are likely to start alienating the jazz fans the way they have the classical fans."
In notes for the programme, scheduled for 22 November, the BBC admits: "[Zappa] said he didn't like jazz, complaining of its endless 'noodling' and he once famously said that 'jazz is not dead, it just smells funny'."
Roger Wright, the controller of Radio 3, is known to be an admirer of Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention. In an interview nearly three years ago, he hinted at an ambition to get the rock legend on the Radio 3 airwaves: "The barriers are down. We don't just have people who listen to Handel and people who listen to Frank Zappa. There are people who are comfortable with both."
This is the offending programme, I think:
Radio Documentary, Jazzphile: "Jazz from Hell - His Bizarre Relationship with Jazz" A 3 part Radio 3 BBC documentary broadcast in 2003, to mark the 10th anni...
There seems to be some very good Jazz moments in his later albums; did he really hate Jazz??
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Originally posted by Oddball View PostJust playing catch-up on Frank Zappa.
Roger Wright is apparently a fan ::~2003, Independent:
Having infuriated its classical music traditionalists, BBC Radio 3 has angered jazz purists among its audience by deciding to feature the rock icon Frank Zappa.
The guitarist and songwriter, who hated jazz (as well as a lot of other things), is to be the focus of a special edition of Jazz File this month.
The programme appears to be an attempt to break down more barriers at Radio 3, where some of the audience are already upset over changes to the music policy.
David Samuels, of the listeners' group FoR3 (Friends of Radio 3), said yesterday: "This is going to upset the jazz fans, no doubt about it. Jazz File is one of Radio 3's standard programmes. If they are going to put Frank Zappa on they are likely to start alienating the jazz fans the way they have the classical fans."
In notes for the programme, scheduled for 22 November, the BBC admits: "[Zappa] said he didn't like jazz, complaining of its endless 'noodling' and he once famously said that 'jazz is not dead, it just smells funny'."
Roger Wright, the controller of Radio 3, is known to be an admirer of Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention. In an interview nearly three years ago, he hinted at an ambition to get the rock legend on the Radio 3 airwaves: "The barriers are down. We don't just have people who listen to Handel and people who listen to Frank Zappa. There are people who are comfortable with both."
This is the offending programme, I think:
Radio Documentary, Jazzphile: "Jazz from Hell - His Bizarre Relationship with Jazz" A 3 part Radio 3 BBC documentary broadcast in 2003, to mark the 10th anni...
There seems to be some very good Jazz moments in his later albums; did he really hate Jazz??
Despite FZ's comments there's plenty of evidence to suggest that he was an admirer of jazz musicians, recording with his friend Archie Shepp and jamming with Roland Kirk.
JR
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