The first rap artist in music world wide, who began his career as a composer of music to B-cowboy films. Self made all the way on the guitar as well. One of the first jazz/rock bands under his supervision The Mothers Of Invention, later on only The Mothers. An anarchist to the system. Lyrics always small stories about society and the "slime", often very funny and a stage performance with no comparison to ordinary jazz or rock bands. You may not consider FRANK ZAPPA a jazz musician, however he did surround himself with some of the best jazz and rock musicians:
The album for this morning in jazz/rock - Overnite´ Sensation from 1973 by FRANK ZAPPA (electric guitar, lead vocals).
========
Jean-Luc Ponty (electric violin, also with Mahavishnu Orchestra), George Duke (keyboards, synthezisers also with Miles Davis), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Sal Marques (trumpet, vocals also with Santana), Ian Underwood (flute, tenor and alto saxophone, clarinet), Ruth Underwood (marimba, percussion), Tom Fowler (el. bass, vocals also with It´s A Beautiful Day) and Ralph Humprey (drums).
I have known of the american John Abercrombie (guitars, el. mandolin) since he performed in a duo with Ralph Towner on the album Sagasso Sea from the early 1970´s on ECM Records.
On the album "Night", ECM Records 1984 he records with Mike Brecker (tenor saxophone), Jam Hammer (piano, organ) and Jack DeJohnette (drums).
Awesome album. I am always reminded of why Jack DeJohnette has been on the top five poll on drummers throughout 40 years in jazz. His cymbals work has no comparison, except mayby towards the late Tony Williams from the Miles Davis Quintet, who was the idol in drumming of Jack DeJohnette.
Abercrombie and DeJohnette have performed and recorded on numerous albums with the ECM Records. They both enjoy the improvisations.