A Greasy 19 with Zappa

Have I told you lately that I Love Frank Zappa and his mates? I especially love when they groove in 19/16 and with such perverse persuasion, you just gotta laugh.

If you have been feeling like something has been missing in your life, its probably that you haven't felt a 19/16 like this yet.

The Groove starts around 3:13.



And you gotta see the performance version even though they've cut the 19/16 section.


Keepin' it Greasy,
BetZe13
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Reggae in 13 – Audition with Frank Zappa

David Aldridge, a Los Angeles based odd metered drummer, told me about an audition he had with Frank Zappa, back in the day. I can just imagine the intimidation Zappa uninhibitedly bestowed on the band hopefuls and I certainly would’ve melted probably after 5 seconds, especially at the tender age of 19. Its an interesting anecdote and of course I think more Reggae should be written in 13.

David's Words:
I met Vinnie Caliauta around January of '79, playing at the Baked Potato (Studio City, CA), doing his insanity. We hit it off, hung out, and when he left Zappa, he asked me if I would be interested in auditioning. Oh hell Yeah! I didn't know Zappa's music, but I knew odd meters, fresh out of 2 years at Towson State, so I figured, what the hell...

It was held at a very large rehearsal studio in North Hollywood. I walked in and got escorted into the studio, where the band was playing "A Mouth Supreme" a la "A Love Supreme,", making fun of the Charlie perfume model at the time, I believe. The drums were a duplicate of Terry Bozzio's double bass kit, and Arthur Barrow was playing bass. Frank described what he wanted, and I asked him if I could write down the sub-divisions. I think he kinda liked that I was at least trying to make it happen. It was a rock pulse, and Barrow just said "Keep time," which I did. We worked on a little bit, it wasn't bad, and I lasted longer than the 30 seconds most guys fell down with. When Frank asked for reggae in 13, I drew a blank. He thanked me for coming in, shook my hand, and that was my 15 minutes of fame...

I have since learned how to play the living shit out of reggae in 13...

Back to my words:
In fact, I think all Reggae should be written in 13, or 7 or 9… that way I can listen bare to listen to the upstroke guitar on 2,5 and 7 maybe…

Check out David Aldridge’s site with his extensive collection of odd metered compositions that will challenge your ears.

MySpace.com/DavidAldridgeDrums

Reggae in 13 foreva,
-BetZe
OddTimeObsessed.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Zappa

Its great to be Irish.... and boy am I ever - that Bostonian blood ya know...

What better way to celebrate than with ZAPPA - that's always who I think of when this day comes around.... not my homeboys taking off the day to honor St. Patrick wearing townie green shamrocks and drinking Buds at 10am and praying to the porcelain god by 6:00. Somebody always ended up with a green tongue by the end of the night. anywho....

So this week I will be playing tracks from this very special album.
Album: St. Patrick's Day
Recorded at: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena Binghamton NY
Date: 17-Mar-1988
Musicians: Frank Zappa's Best Band - Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, Ike Willis, Bobby Martin, Scott Thunes, Chad Wackerman, Ed Mann, Kurt McGettrick, Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler, Albert Wing and Paul Carman

If you haven't heard this album yet..... now you get to hear what you have been missing all of these years.... you are gonna like it...


1. The Black Page (New Age Version) Incl. Band Introduction (09:36)
8. A Pound for a Brown on the Bus Incl. Make a Sex Noise (18:10)
10. Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk (07:19)
11. Florentine Pogen (08:17)
12. Andy (05:31)
13. Inca Roads (10:24)
14. Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (03:06)
15. Let's Move to Cleveland (07:40)
18. Who Needs The Peace Corps ? (03:08)

I will be rotating these throughout the week - can only play 3 at a time.

Stay Green,
-B
OddTimeObsessed.com