The Drummer's Dominion

Drum-Related Blathering and Minutiae

Before Bruce Dickinson, there was FZ

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Zappa Cowbell

Roxy and Elsewhere is one of my favorite Zappa albums for many reasons. The humor, the compositions, the line-up including Napoleon Murphy Brock; George Duke; Bruce, Tom, and Walt Fowler; and the percussion section consisting of Chester Thompson, Ralph Humphrey, and Ruth Underwood. Great, inspiring stuff.

In addition to great lines like “Jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funny,” is this gem at 1:35 in “Be-Bop Tango (Of The Old Jazzmen’s Church)”:

“The cowbell, as a symbol of unbridled passion, ladies and gentlemen!”

If you, too, are aching for more of the ubiquitous percussion instrument, check out www.morecowbell.dj to superimpose a cowbell over any song!

Cool Stuff on NPR

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Yeah, I’m a nerd. When I’m not rocking out to Blind Guardian in the car, I’m listening to NPR. The other day I heard two back-to-back stories of particular interest to me and the Dominion.

The first was an interview with one of my favorite bass players, Dave Holland:
“Dave Holland: A Jazz Bassist’s Bassist”

Next, a memorial to Daniel Schorr:
“Daniel Schorr and Frank Zappa Were Friends. Really.”

Also, NPR will often play a bit of segue music leading into station identification breaks or between programs. Every once in a while—no joke—they play Mastodon‘s “Joseph Merrick”.