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More like Zappa?

post #1 of 8
9/5/09 at 11:12pm
Thread Starter 
Virtuosic guitar playing, elements of improvisation, non-standard songwriting (more freeform), excellent SQ. That's how I'd describe Zappa in a nutshell. What other artists can I look into?
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post #2 of 8
9/6/09 at 12:11am
Les Claypool's Oysterhead, The Grand Pecking Order and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, The Big Experiment in the Sky
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post #3 of 8
9/6/09 at 12:20am
Nels Cline
Marc Ribot
Joe Morris

...more mainstream: Bill Frisell, John Scofield
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post #4 of 8
9/6/09 at 1:08am
sounds like you're talking about Hot Rats-onwards fusion era Zappa rather than his early experimental stuff. In which case I'd recommend seeking out more jazz fusion, like Mahavishnu Orchestra, particularly their first two albums "The Inner Mounting Flame" and "Birds of Fire". both are possibly the pinnacle of guitar-oriented jazz fusion, and some of the most explosive and impressively technical music I've heard. the former has a MFSL release, but the standard CD's should sound fine - great recording quality. however, since you have an analog rig I'd recommend going after the original US vinyl for best mastering/SQ.

also, if you're still after freeform jazz-like compositions then Sonny Sharrock is an amazing jazz guitarist; I'd recommend his 1991 album "Ask the Ages".
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post #5 of 8
9/6/09 at 9:52am
On those four criteria, I'd suggest Umphrey's McGee. When I started listening they reminded me a lot of Zappa (tight, virtuousic heads, featuring some unusual metrical phrasing, followed by inventive improv) although I've listened to them both so much now that the resemblance has tended to get a bit fuzzy in my mind now.

Honestly, there's no one who's really like Zappa ... which is why we still have to keep listening to Zappa.
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post #6 of 8
9/6/09 at 10:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sordel View Post
Honestly, there's no one who's really like Zappa ... which is why we still have to keep listening to Zappa.
Exactly. And since he was prolific as a recording artist he left a huge legacy behind for us to enjoy.

--Jerome
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post #7 of 8
9/6/09 at 3:36pm
Viva la Zappa.
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post #8 of 8
9/6/09 at 3:47pm
+ YouTube Video


Not quite like Zappa, but the synth passages should quench your thirst
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