Frank Zappa (VIDEO) / Mothers / Jean Luc Ponty - Australia 1973

Short footages from
- Sydney (rehearsal June 26, 1973): Fifty-Fifty, Farther Oblivion (BeBop Tango/Montana)
- Melbourne (Festival Hall June 29, 1973): RDNZL
FZ, Jean Luc Ponty, Tom Fowler, Ralph Humphrey, Ruth Underwood, Ian Underwood, George Duke, Bruce Fowler, Sal Marquez
( visit zappateers! - visit zappa official site to know the new CDs edition! )

[@not_emerald]

When I was born Zappa was already gone. I'm grateful the internet exists.

[@br1tag]

@Eduardo - I'm happy to help you get to know him!

[@Ducatirati]

it's extraordinary that in his relative short time composing music , he had released 62 Albums, and since at least 57more by the FZTrust ,but his albums are beyond music, his composing, is a biological ride ,and he being a product of his generation, he would have been a great politician , except he has moral Density , haha , not funny but , it's like the more things change the more they stay the same , stagnate , Computers will destroy mankind , but not how the science fiction writers would have it , no one in my street knows their neighbour , kids don't wake up the neighbourhood on Christmas morning, they inside on the. two k iPhone you bought them for Crissy , not a footy ,not a bike , got them things, But the kid with Curly hair in my class Whats his name , Wilson, yeah , someone Wilson, he got a computer and a phone, I want a phone , what has averice done to humanity, ,Laugh when someone say use yah common sense , COMMON, nuthin common About it at all , probably the rarest comodity on the planet , just a rant , havin a vent , I'm really just a pony so forgive me coz I'm stoned luv on-yah RARA

[@CustodioLugo]

It’s the one thing that I’m Grateful for having seen just about every Band formation that Frank had from the Fillmore East to the Greatest Band that He Ever Assembled with some of the hottest session players that ever walked the Earth back in 1988 at the Beacon Theater in my hometown of New York City. I met FZ for the first time in 73-74 up in Montreal Canada. He treated me & my partner in crime, Conklin, like We Were old Friends. Then in 78 was where We all became like family, staying at the same Hotel for about a week eating Cheese Burgers for Breakfast at the side of the Pool. Frank would give us a lift to the shows in his Cadillac. We’d hang in His Suite till 4:30-5:am listening to the new album before any other humans, drinking Coffee and Smoking Winston. He showed me a Pristine copy of the Musical Manuscript for, Moe’s Vacation, which His Copyist had just dropped off at His Suite. I couldn’t move as I was trying to read it. But it was way too complicated for me and I began shaking. I couldn’t imagine being in the band and Frank putting that in front of me without me keeling over clenching my chest. It was terrifying! I witnessed all the rehearsals and they were brutal. FZ demands perfection and He’d rehearse the Band 4-6 hours before the show. They would do the show and afterwards another 4-6 hours of rehearsals. He didn’t fool around. By the way, Frank christened me, Erazerhead back in 78 and that name has stuck ever since. Anyway, thought you would enjoy some inside scoop from someone who was there and became Good friends with Frank. Take care, Dude!

[@Jack-vy6uo]

Join the club fool you were beside me many times ​@@CustodioLugo

[@davidbussell7799]

If I could go back in a time machine this would be one of the stops. This group was fantastic.

[@alancumming6407]

I was lucky enough in September '73 to see them.

[@puppenbuhnebauchkribbeln1183]

WORD 🥹

[@pequeuxdarleux1480]

What is incredible is that Jean Luc Ponty who's a compatriot, he is better known in the world than at home: in France. (Except by lovers of good music)."Jean Luc : tu fais la fierté de notre pays".

[@christophersmith3248]

Never in my wildest dreams back in the seventies did I ever think I'd be able to see stuff like this. Absolutely amazing.

[@itzaevasconcelos8453]

I just love Jean Luc Ponty.

[@ministrychicago1]

Have to Thank the people that Recorded this. Amazing.

[@rdnzl1]

Jean Luc and George are killing it. Who am i kidding? It is a typical amazing FZ Band. Everybody is amazing.

[@mrtriffid]

Music and performance . . . What Zappa could get out of great musicians! Zappa is an incredible original and a truly fearless human being.

[@albertocelli8329]

Per me il miglior Zappa di sempre. Anche come gruppo.

[@TheHive616]

Both were so similar as far as what they played, and the level of talent on stage. But it's strange how such slight changes in lineup can affect the way these songs sound. Sometimes Montana can sound like a soulful ballad in the later band, but with this lineup Montana sounds almost like some sort of jazz country fusion madness. Frank knew exactly how to utilize each member's unique take on the music and direct them to their full potential. Frank = musical genius

[@Jack-nu4un]

I concur thankfully I got ti see this ensemble in NYC which was terrific....

[@TheTralfaz]

I saw these concerts.....treasured memories.....still have the bootleg cassette I made

[@bwana-ma-coo-bah425]

copy them< I know some one that might be interested in them.

[@building436]

What a fantastic music document! What top-class musicians ! Thanks You Frank Zappa for showing the world what is musically possible!

[@greenatom]

Kudos to whatever technology was used to straighten this video footage. Judging by how much the timer was bouncing around, it was a mess.

[@johnjoachim8311]

I saw this exact line up at Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa 73.. Ponty and George Duke were great. Saw him 2 years later with with Terry Bozzio and Lady Bianca.

[@Nomadmandolin]

Arguable his best band line-up.

[@duster71]

That can be said over and over again about Frank and his Rockin Teenage Combos.

[@wanderreitschule6390]

Very, very Thanks for posting. Unbelievable !!!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

I enjoyed this rehearsal clip a lot more than most of his live concert recordings. Stellar lineup despite the fact that NM Brock had yet to join the group.

[@Royale_with_Cheeze]

I would be happy to have dropped one of the drummers from the ROXY-era band and keep Ian and Ponty in there. Frank George Ruth Nappy Ian Ponty Chester Tom Walt Bruce That would be un-fucking-stoppable

[@astrophytvma5726]

Zappa, Ponty... the mothers...💚

[@johnbader3722]

Nice bits of Rollo and Rdunzl near the end of the video.

[@smilinbee9971]

Such a wonderful combination of musicians, great sound even for a rehearsal. Love the antics.

[@bigtone1348]

I was at the Wembley gig the same year. That was one helluva show!

[@PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

✨💖✨

[@sapristioca1]

Siempre conmigo y no dejo de asombrarme y añorarle

[@dorianbianco9446]

I love this line-up, especially because his sound is one of the best, perfect mix between jazz, rock, with a dash of Stravinsky-like style and funk

[@electricchurchmusic4298]

Super Heavy upload !!! Great quality too :))

[@petermaxwell2965]

I paid I think $12 to see them play.. best twelve bucks I ever spent 🎼 he played his *** off in Sydney !!

[@LAtoyboy]

So very special. Thank you for sharing this gold nugget.

[@trumpgottagoitmfa9216]

Gold!..... pure gold!!!!

[@Ducatirati]

Frank had an inate ability to have have a philosophical argument with lucPonty and that ilk , who respected his knowledge and he got respect ,and every bit of these artists he took to their limits , and when superb artists come together egos clash , but Frank got them to his exacting schedule and expectations, thats a challenge for any virtuoso , composer ,conductor FRANK included , BELLA

[@stereom]

This is what I like about the '73 band avec JLP: swinging rhythms from Ralph, great (esp. rhythm) guitar from Zappa, superb frontline with clarinet, violin and trombone. A jazz-fusion combo mixed with a miniature electric chamber orchestra: that's what the JLP Mothers sounded like! Subsequent bands with Brock and Thompson got a bit slicker and R&B infused.

[@Bix12]

best incarnation of the mommys

[@frankzappa0815]

Great

[@friendofbeaver6636]

Thanks for dropping this! Enjoyed this rehearsal footage of one of my favorite Zappa lineups!

[@davekpghpa]

Fantastic... give some insight into the complexity and perfectionism of FZ.

[@mikerobo2112]

Lovd seeing footage of Ralph.

[@TheRafaJimi]

No words to say :)

[@lepoisson]

03:00 The Montana bridge is floated over the Bebop Tango, with George comping JLP's sublime interpretation. I have yet to find a recording of them doing this again.

[@michaelhenshaw258]

Great gig

[@cristaldelalluvia]

Cada día me gusta más

[@arkismontic]

un mostro ese violinista

[@mariabruna6977]

Genio!!!✌

[@augustohenriques1753]

Amazing! Tkx

[@alanchambers7163]

So lucky I was there.....

[@dreggymon]

There has to be more! Where is it!!!! omg.... Thank you so much for sharing this here so I can see it all the time very easily!

[@rrr1063]

dreggymon Yes more please.

[@rrr1063]

I saw the Sydney show (2nd night after the power strike). Fantastic. Better than the Duke, Underwood, Brock, in 1976.

[@tomgrosemusic]

'76? Duke and Ruth left in '75

[@ThomasTERichmond]

Nice, ThankYou!

[@jameskennedy721]

This is the OVERNITE SENATION band . not much film of them until the ROXY shows with Napoleon handling the vocals .

[@tonyfreejazz20]

WOW

[@ronfrey6639]

Excellent this is a ma zing it IS.

[@johnyoung6497]

great and very believable

[@mikepanza5802]

awesome

[@saphiregin]

Awesome... quite some level...

[@ranatlas]

Wonderful footage and audio

[@eddierukidding4773]

very cool

[@Bix12]

What a band.....damn son. Tom and Bruce Fowler are just two of a bunch of professional musical Fowlers, including mom n' pop

[@Dwiltone]

Wow

[@CassioLuisDoNascimento]

Isso que é Música.

[@TheZeevik]

classic

[@carladiniz3253]

muito bom

[@zappainfrance]

Déja vu !

[@mikerobo2112]

Step aside Miles.

[@mariaangy2546]

Da n'occhiata a tal Anais Drago, violinista. Ha fatto i propri studi sulla musica del sommo. In rete ci son alcuni suoi video: ha un canale. Vedi...ehm, senti che ha fatto con G-Spot Tornado. 😆 Mi si allarga il cuore sapendo qnt gioventù, brava, studia la musica del Sommo. 😁😘🙋

[@mariaangy2546]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘🙋

[@fastnbulbouss]

That's Sal Marquez on trumpet ?

[@fastnbulbouss]

Yes.......😎

[@mcasualjacques]

the time-code display was waltzing

[@andygreen9673]

love how at 4.17 mark onward we're treated to an excellent rendition of Cucamonga, wonder if they ever played this version live.

[@donaldronson1387]

They played it live pretty often as the third movement of Farther Oblivion.

[@jbreedlove42]

Holy Wazoo Dust!

[@gervasioraffo8375]

¿De dónde sacaste esta joya?

[@txikitofandango]

Did Zappa's compositions and collaborators ever match this 1973 band?

[@gwr8133]

any more?

[@phillipthompson4349]

the meek shall inherit nothing. legends dont need publicity

[@ginc8109]

OREGON

[@jakeyccc5788]

Caught them with Mahavishnu opening killed. Me

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

That's sounds amazing. Ponty has quite the resume

[@rickmerlotti7720]

Me, too. In Detroit. Awesome concert.

[@grouchozappa6569]

release more of this and less porn tapes

[@PhilipPedro2112]

Good luck trying to play this on drugs.

[@Jiv_Ing57819]

Wtf was with that filmwork, they should have shoved the cameras in their own faces, see how they like it, embarrassing.

[@NN-ul4oy]

That's show business. Also, as Robbie Robinson explained somewhere in the comments Frank planned to record everything on high quality level for producing a live album. Then the electricity workers went on strike and the whole plan failed. That is really really unfortunate for us all, it would have been an epic album. So, the camera work fit to Frank's planning, though he probably had little control over it since it was public television. Actually I like the close up filming, you feel as if you are on stage yourself!