The Ed Palermo Big Band - The Un-American Songbook Volumes I & II
Ed Palermo's Big Band has been a staple of the live NYC jazz scene for many years and could/should be considered the foremost interpreter of Frank Zappa's music short of anyone named Zappa. His arrangements are precise and loose at the same time and his live performances are not to be missed. Recently released, The Un-American Songbook features arrangements of UK based artists covering a broad range from The Beatles, Procol Harum. Blodwyn Pig, ELP and most notably 2 King Crimson chestnuts, Lark's Tongue and 21st Century Schizoid Man. Big Band music can sometimes come off as a bit pedantic, but Palermo's arrangements and his band's execution thereof are spectacular. As one can imagine, as a purveyor of Zappa's canon, Ed's sense of humor is also front and center - from the goofy album art to the brief comedic, narrative threads connecting several of the songs on the album - apparently from Ringo's less successful cousin. The album is available via Bandcamp either as a flac download or CD
https://cuneiformrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-un-american-songbook-volumes-i-ii. Full track samples are also available for your consideration.
Here's the artwork and track listing;
1. Good Morning, Good Morning (The Beatles) 02:53
2. Open Up Said the World at the Door (The Move) 05:10
3. We Love You (The Rolling Stones) 04:25
4. Eleanor Rigby (The Beatles) 04:45
5. Definitely Maybe (Jeff Beck) 05:38
6. As You Said (Cream) 04:29
7. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two (King Crimson) 07:07
8. 21st Century Schizoid Man (King Crimson) 06:29
9. Send Your Son to Die (Blodwyn Pig) 04:32
10.Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder (Nicky Hopkins w/ Quicksilver Messenger Service) 13:21
11.America/American Idiot (The Nice, Green Day) 02:55
12.Beggar's Farm (Jethro Tull) 06:47
13.Bitches Crystal (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) 05:25
14.Wreck of the Hesperus (Procol Harum) 04:01
15.Diamond Dust (Jeff Beck) 05:27
16.The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (Traffic) 05:29
17.Fire (Arthur Brown) 03:36
18.The Tourist (Radiohead) 04:54
19.Don't Bother Me (The Beatles) / Nardis (Miles Davis) / Don't Bother Me (reprise) 07:11
20.I Wanna Be Your Man (The Beatles) 03:22
21.Good Night (The Beatles) 05:41