The Ed Palermo Big Band is a New York City-based ensemble that has been active since the late 1970s, playing the compositions and arrangements of their leader, New Jersey born saxophonist Ed Palermo. The band is best known for Palermo's arrangements of the music of Frank Zappa, but they also perform and record compositions by Todd Rundgren, The Beatles, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, The Rolling Stones, Blodwyn Pig, King Crimson, Jethro Tull and many, many other composers from a wide range of genres.
Ed Palermo Ed Palermo started playing the alto saxophone and the guitar in high school. Early influences that pushed him in that direction were the Beatles and the Mothers of Invention. Palermo also discovered a love for the music of Edgar Winter while in high school. This inspired him to emulate musicians such as Cannonball Adderley, Phil Woods, and Charlie Parker. In college he switched from alto saxophone to tenor saxophone due to influences from John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, and David Liebman. After graduating college, Palermo moved to New York in order to become a jazz tenor saxophonist. At this point, an album called "Impact" by Charles Tolliver inspired him to try his hand at arranging. Palermo looked to his friend Dave LaLama, already an arranger, for advice and he began to compose and arrange music. Soon he began playing with Tito Puente, and during this time, assembled a group which later expanded into the big band bearing his name.
Early years In 1977, Ed Palermo assembled a nine-piece band to play his own compositions. The small group expanded into a big band and began a three-year residency at a New York club called Seventh Avenue South. During this time the band played primarily compositions by its leader along with his arrangements of other music. After three years, they were replaced by Gil Evans.
In 1982, they recorded their first LP and released it as Ed Palermo under a label called Vile Heifer. Later the LP became known as Papier Mache after the first song on the album. This LP featured guests such as Randy Brecker, David Sanborn, and Edgar Winter. The material on this album was mostly Palermo's original work, except for a few pieces that were co-written.
Due to the hassle involved in producing an album under one's own label, the Ed Palermo Big Band did not release another album until a record company showed interest. This happened in 1987. Ping Pong was released by Pro Jazz Records and featured much different material from the first album. This album featured less complicated music and more swing. From 1987 to 1993 the band alternated performing at the clubs Visiones and the Bitter End.
Recent years After Frank Zappa's death in 1993, Palermo decided to play a show of all Frank Zappa music. Before the show, Palermo posted a notice on an internet bulletin board. The turnout to the show was the largest that the Ed Palermo Big Band had had to date.
"Up until then, my own shows at The Bitter End were drawing next to nobody," said Palermo. "For some reason, the word got out about the Zappa show and the place was swamped. And it was incredibly exciting—people there were Zappa fanatics."
The idea was for only one tribute concert. But the band was contacted by Alan Pepper of The Bottom Line which led to a nine-year residency. For these shows they played primarily arrangements (done by Ed himself) of Frank Zappa songs, however, each show was different from the one before. The band often featured special guests at these shows such as Zappa alums Mike Keneally and Ike Willis.
They recorded their first Zappa album in 1997, The Ed Palermo Big Band Plays the Music of Frank Zappa, also known as Big Band Zappa, was released on Astor Place.
After nine years at The Bottom Line (1994–2003) they took a break from regular shows for a period of about a year. After that they began another series of regular shows at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. Since late 2018 the band acquired a monthly residency at Iridium playing a variety of musical genres and composers with a penchant for Frank Zappa.
In 2006. they released their second CD, Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance under the label of Cuneiform Records. In 2009 the group released their third CD, Eddy Loves Frank, also on Cuneiform. In February 2014, OH NO!! NOT JAZZ!! was released to rave reviews, including a four-star review in DownBeat Magazine. In 2015, the band released the album One Child Left Behind, featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock and Frank Zappa's sister Candy Zappa. In 2016, the band released the albums The Great Un-American Songbook, Volumes 1 & 2, also featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock, which also received a 4-star review from DownBeat Magazine.. Volume 3 will be released in 2020. Eddy Loves Frank, Oh No!! Not Jazz!!, One Child Left Behind, and The Great Un-American Songbook were all produced by the band's guitarist & vocalist, Bruce McDaniel. The next album was another well-reviewed release called The Adventures of Zodd Zundgren (Cuneiform 2017), a reinvention of the music Frank Zappa and Todd Rundgren. "The Adventures of Zodd Zundgren is big, irresistible fun." - Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz. The band's latest is a jazz album titled A Lousy Day in Harlem (Sky Cat 2019). Palermo returns to his jazz roots with a combination of covers and original compositions. "Twenty-first century big-band music doesn’t get more exciting and impressive than this." - Jeff Tamarkin, JazzTimes
Palermo teaches music at Hoff/Barthelson in Scarsdale, New York. In 2018, Ed's band was "third best band on the rise" in Downbeat Poll's Rising Star category.
Members
Current Name Instrument(s) Ed Palermo Arranger, Alto Saxophone, Guitar, Vocals Ronnie Buttacavoli Trumpet (lead) Charley Gordon Trombone (lead) Mike Boschen Trombone Matt Ingman Bass Trombone, Tuba Cliff Lyons Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Phil Chester Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Ben Kono Tenor Saxophone, Flute Bill Straub Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet Barbara Cifelli Baritone Saxophone Bob Quaranta Acoustic Piano Ted Kooshian Keyboards Paul Adamy Bass Guitar Ray Marchica Drums Bruce McDaniel Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals, Arranger Katie Jacoby Violin, Vocals
Additional musicians/performers Name Instrument(s) Daniel Pearson Baritone SaxBill ToddSaxophone Dan Glaude Saxophone Drew Vandewinckel Saxophone Emily Pecoraro Saxophone Augie Haas Trumpet Matt Owens Trumpet Nick Grinder Trombone Jim Lutz Trombone Nina Hennessey Vocals Mike James VocalsSusan PalermoVocalsLee FinkelsteinDrumsDave EdwardsBassNicki DennerTap DancingAnton DennerSaxophoneKathleen DoranTrumpetJack DavisTrombone
Former musicians
Name Instrument(s) Laurie Frink Trumpet John Bailey Trumpet Joe Fiedler Trombone John Hines Trumpet Scott Harrow Saxophone Allan Firfer Saxophone Dave Rickenberg Saxophone Aaron Hyke SaxophoneTim SessionsTromboneJoe MeoSaxophoneMichael BoscarinoTromboneJenny HillSaxophoneChris OlnessTromboneTim SessionsTromboneAl HuntSaxophoneChuck FischerSaxophoneTommy IgoeDrumsDale KirklandTromboneDarryl ShawTrumpetLiesl Sagartz WhitakerTrumpetEugene RockwellVocalsJack SchatzTromboneErick StorckmanTromboneJim PughTromboneChuck WilsonSaxophoneBud BurridgeTrumpetDan LevineTromboneJeff LedererSaxophonePete McGuinessTromboneJeff HolmesTrumpetElaine BurtTrumpetTaylor HaskinsTrumpetNick FinzerTromboneTony D'AgostinoDrumsRoss PedersonDrumsKarl LydenTromboneMat JodrellTrumpetPeter AndersonSaxophoneMatt HavilandTromboneDaniel LindenTromboneDavid SmithTrumpet Guests
Ed Alstrom Jimmy Carl Black Russ Bonagura Tom Bowes Napoleon Murphy Brock Harvey Brooks Felix Cabrera Jim Clouse Steve Cropper Nicki Denner Perry Gardner Dave Glenn Wycliffe Gordon Thana Harris Nina Hennessy Mike James Mike Keneally John Korba Ryan Krewer Jimmy Leahey Will Lee Howard Levy Gary Lucas Deb Lyons Mats & Morgan Jenna McSwain Mark Naftalin George Naha Gary Oleyar Rob Paparozzi Lloyd "Mr. Personality" Price Elliott Randall Carl Restivo Todd Rundgren Catherine Russell David Sanborn Rick Savage John Sebastian Mike Stern Kasim Sulton John Tabacco Vaneese Thomas Jimmy Vivino Denny Walley Ray White Ike Willis Edgar Winter Candy Zappa
Discography Papier Mache (Released as "Ed Palermo")
1982 Vile Heifer Song title Featured soloist(s) Papier Mache Edgar Winter (Alto Sax and Organ) Complete Control Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Kim Plainfield (Drums), Bob Quaranta (Piano) Before Max Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Randy Brecker (Trumpet) Dusty Jim Clouse (Soprano Sax) Different People Differently Dave Glenn (Trombone) An Escape Nonetheless David Sanborn (Alto Sax)
Ping Pong
1987 Pro Jazz Records
Song title Featured soloist(s) Ping Pong Rick Savage (Trumpet) All Out Ed Palermo (Alto Sax) 3 Views of a Secret Chuck Wilson (Alto Sax) Who's the Goose Rick Savage (Trumpet) Ratphobia Bud Burridge (Trumpet) Mood for Maude Matt Finders (Trombone) Darkness Tom Malone (Trombone) Perry Mason Chuck Wilson (Alto Sax) Goodnight Al Hunt (Oboe) Bitch's Crystal Bob Quaranta (Piano) Your Spleen Perhaps Ed Palermo (Alto Sax) I.G.Y. Jim Clouse (Tenor Sax)
The Ed Palermo Big Band Plays the Music of Frank Zappa (aka Big Band Zappa)
1997 Astor Place Records Song title Featured soloist(s) Peaches en Regalia Mike Keneally (Guitar) Toads of the Short Forest Bob Mintzer (Tenor Sax), Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Ted Kooshian (Organ) Who Are the Brain Police? / Holiday In Berlin (Excerpt) Mike Stern (Guitar) Twenty Small Cigars Dave Samuels (Vibraphone) King Kong Bob Mintzer (Tenor Sax) Aybe Sea / Inca Roads (Excerpt) Mike Keneally (Guitar) Waka Jawaka / Son of Orange County (Excerpt) Chris Potter (Tenor Sax) Sofa No. 1 Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Dave Samuels (Vibraphone) The Little House I Used To Live In / Mother People (Excerpt) Mike Stern (Guitar) Heavy Duty Judy / Grand Wazoo (Excerpt) Ray Marchica (Drums), Ed Palermo (Alto Sax) Carnival of the Animals (Finale) Ted Kooshian (Keyboard), Bob Quaranta (Keyboard) We Are Not Alone Mike Stern (Guitar), Mike Keneally (Guitar), Ed Palermo (Guitar) wai, fn?
Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance
2006 Cuneiform Records Song title Featured soloist(s) RDNZL Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Charles Gordon (Trombone), Bob Quaranta (Piano), Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Ray Marchica (Drums) Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance Joe Fiedler (Trombone), Ben Kono (Tenor Sax) Dwarf Nebula Procession March & Dwarf Nebula Cliff Lyons (Alto Sax) Pound For A Brown On The Bus Ray Marchica (Drums), Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Bill Straub (Tenor Sax) Sleep Dirt Phil Chester (Soprano Sax) Gumbo Variations Dave Riekenberg (Tenor Sax), Carl Restivo (Guitar) Mom and Dad / Oh No Carl Restivo (Vocals), Ed Palermo (Alto Sax) Moggio Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Bob Quaranta (Piano), Ray Marchica (Drums)
Eddy Loves Frank
2009 Cuneiform Records Song title Featured soloist(s) Night School Ed Palermo (Alto Sax) Echidna's Arf (Of You) Cliff Lyons (Alto Sax), Bill Straub (Tenor Sax), Charles Gordon (Trombone), John Hines (Trumpet) Regyptian Strut Phil Chester (Soprano Sax), Joe Fiedler (Trombone) Don't You Ever Wash That Thing? Ben Kono (Tenor Sax), Ray Marchica (Drums), Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Ed Palermo (Alto Sax), Bruce McDaniel(Guitar) Dupree's Paradise Bob Quaranta (Piano) What's New in Baltimore Bob Quaranta (Piano), Ben Kono (Tenor Sax) Let's Move to Cleveland Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Ronnie Buttacavoli (Trumpet) America the Beautiful Ted Kooshian (Synthesizer), Bruce McDaniel (Lead Vocals)
ELECTRIC BUTTER - ROB PAPAROZZI and THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND "A Musical Tribute to Paul Butterfield and Michael Bloomfield"
2014 Jankland Recording