Steve Vai Talks Zappa
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- Опубліковано 7 чер 2024
- Guitar legend Steve Vai talks about his time with Frank Zappa and the enormous responsibility of having to transcribe, record and perform the composer's complex music. Vai also discusses the joys and tribulations of his experience with Zappa and the demanding role of being "stunt guitarist".
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction
1:05 The "Mo 'N Herb's Vacation" Score
6:18 Zappa's Densities
11:10 Learning and Performing Zappa's Guitar Parts
22:48 Origins of "Jazz Discharge Party Hats"
27:00 Musical Pathway to Frank Zappa
49:10 Zappa Advice
This interview is a treasure
👍
Truly! It's always such a pleasure to hear great players tell stories like this. Thanks for sharing, Chanan!
Ditto...
Yes. I really enjoyed that
it is stunning that this exists
Ok, this is hands down the best Vai interview on the subgect of FZ. Gongrats to you, Chanan, the praise he gives you at the end is 100% deserved.
whats your relationship with the letter G?
The fact that Steve was able to transcribe Franks music, sets him up as genius status.
Also Frank's reaction to him correcting his transcription is funny :D
@52:20 These words from Steve toward Chanan are so touching, heartfelt and important. You can see the love, reverence and awe Steve still feels for Frank. It's awesome. He is so happy someone is honoring Frank in the way Frank would want - through the music - and getting what he was trying to say with all those little black dots. Because, music IS the best. Thank you, Frank. Thank you, Steve. And thank you, Chanan.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
It’s rare when an interviewer just sits back and lets their subject talk. It gives this interview a flow that makes it fascinating and continually informative. Well done and thank you.
And, well, the smooth editing helps.
I'm so glad that Steve is being mined for all of these incredible Zappa stories. He was basically an apprentice for one of the most brilliant composers and these stories deserve telling. Thanks, Chanan
yup,,-
The sorcerer's apprentice.
I really wish Steve would write a book detailing his experiences working with Frank on transcriptions and his musical philosophy.
It's kind of nostalgic to hear Steve describe the look of Frank's scores and how Frank would hand them over to the copyists. I was one of those copyists -- Hi Steve -- and can verify that he liked the extra beam on the septuplets! Also, there was a phase when he wanted whole note (full measure) rests to be aligned with the first beat of the measure instead of properly being centered. I did push back on that very bad idea, and I guess he relented at some point. Fun times!
Incredible comment. Big love from England 👍👍👍
@TreyPhillips1969 I really had to think hard to recall that quote. The Zappa guitar transcription book, right? Chalk that silly comment up to youthful excess.
"You're the first" Chanan - love that and well deserved. Thanks for this wonderful interview with Steve and your content in general, always informative. Frank's music has been with me now for more than 40 years and you never stop discovering, whether through listening, learning or this example of deep insight into the creative process. Very humble of Steve as ever to continue to shine a light on Frank's legacy - thank you.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Great Review I'm leaning more about Franks music even now after discovering Franks music 50+ years ago Brilliant
ill second that , 🔥👏🏻
I remember see Steve’s transcriptions when I was at Berklee… opening that book and thinking… “who could do such a thing?” …they are absolutely a monumental part of Steve’s legacy… it’s a little sad he seemed unsure of their stature … he should know those transcriptions are totally revered by musical community.
Believe me. He knows.
tHAT was amazing. And the warm generous compliment he gave you topped it. Thank you !!!
You're welcome and thanks for watching.
What a great conversation. Thanks to Vai I discovered FZ, and became a Zappa maniac. Forever grateful to Steve.
Frank Zappa - the gift that keeps giving.
It's crazy how many Zappa interviews there are, you never really heard Frank go in depth on his composing. This is truly one of the best videos on Frank I've seen, would love to see a part 2!
Beautiful interchange between 2 egyptologists decrypting Frank Zappa s mysterious and out of this world pyramidal brain. So much respect to each other and so much love for frank s legacy. Chanan met Vai, Vai met Frank, Frank met Varese, passion for music is the way. Frank said it : muisic is the best
As someone who writes and records original music, I am consistently destroyed by the brilliance of Frank. He truly is at the level of Chopin and Bach for me...sometimes you have to dig thru the doowop and crazy lyrics but there are treasures in his writings that rival anything ever written in western music. From a melodic standpoint and from a rhythmic standpoint - you could spend years just analyzing 3 or 4 albums let alone the 30 or so. Staggering genius is an understatement. Great interview!!
It’s great that Steve has a good memory of what went on with Frank and that he clearly takes pleasure in recounting it.
Yeah, pretty amazing considering this all took place 40+ years ago!
Thank the both of you for the 54 minutes and 11 seconds of indescribable enrichment!!!
One of the best Zappa interviews
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Just when this channel couldn't get cooler!!!
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Wow what a final statement by Steve!! Goosebumps!!
"He painted his tapestries with his musicians as colours..." Brilliant. Timeless interview. 👌🏼🙏🏼🖖🏼
Really good interview. You got the ball rolling and Steve just ran with it.
I find it annoying when interviewers cut their interviewee off when they're in the middle of telling something really intersting that I've never heard before.
Excellent stuff, as always.
yes, great point. Chanan was a very attentive LISTENER which is what an interviewer should be doing.
Many thanks.
to receive such a compliment by Steve, congratulations man.
Good evening I had the chance to listen to Steve with Frank Zappa's group. and yesterday I was listening to this period on vinyl. thank you for this interview.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Thank you. Frank's one semester of college . Amazing.
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I really enjoyed that, I love hearing Steve talk about Frank, and for 54 minutes I was in heaven, thank you Steve Vai and thank you Chanan for doing this.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Amazing video, fantastic that Steve still has a wealth of light to shed on the FZ folklore. And what a beautiful ending.
Thanks for watching.
I have been waiting for years and decades to hear this frank era trivias from Steve.That's the definitive Frank's years interview.Thank you
This is the sort of interview with Steve I've always wanted to hear but no interviewer ever asked the right questions.....until now. Thanks for puting this together.
Two of the few people on the planet, that understand Frank’s music from a specific perspective. Bravo!
Steve looks great in this interview, like he took ten years off from last time I saw him a year ago. Gives us old geezers hope!
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Receiving praise from Vai - PRICELESS!! Yeh did it!! Well earned!
the two guitarist on this planet , that REALLY know Zappa , like .... for REAL ! This is such a treat ,- 🤩💥
Thanks Steve for sharing your memories of FZ. You were blessed to be able to know and work with him. One of the biggest joys in my life is listening to FZs music. It's divine.
AMAZING!!
52:30 - "you're the first" what a compliment!!
Many thanks!
Excellent. I am glad you got Steve. I hope it sends more people to your page. In my mind you should have 1 million subscribers talking about Zappa composition.
Many thanks!
At last an interviewer with balanced ego who let talk ❤
How wonderful and humble conversation from either one, all in Zappa’s name. Brilliant 🙏
This is among the very best interviews of a Zappa Alum ever. Every time Mr. Hanspal your content delivers.
A.mazing interview which shows just how much real hard work went into the Zappa shows. Steve Vai is a big part of that legacy.
Wonderful interview. I love to hear Steve talking about his time with Zappa.
Fantastic interview you can see he loved talking about Frank brilliant
Thanks John.
Wow, just awesome. Steve is really a good soul.
This is absolutely wonderful. It's an amazing and rare self discipline to not dive into every pause with another question from ones prepared list. A fantastic player and storyteller is telling interesting stories and the interviewer doesn't make it about himself at every opportunity. This is the channel that should have 3.58M subscribers.
Wow that flew by. I could listen to Steve talk about Frank forever. Thanks Steve and Chanan ❤
Wow Chanan, this is one of the best Steve interviews I've seen! I'm so happy for you! Congrats! I could tell by the way Steve was talking with you that he felt you were a kindred spirit and then at the end he confirmed it. 🙂
Thanks Derryl!
Thanks to both people for sharing. One can never learn enough about the great Frank Zappa or Steve Vai's wonderful passion for writing music.
You can easily make a number 2 of this, Chanan. It seems obvious that Steve has a lot to talk about and that he is keen!
Just echoing the sentiment from the last few comments here. @ChananHanspal this channel is of such a high quality-I'm just elated on your behalf to hear the final comments towards you after such a great chat with Steve - I got a little teared up at the end. You 100% deserve it.
Like a lot of us who compose, we've been piecing together a picture of Steve's time with Frank over the years of magazines, books, interviews, more recently Steve's many videos he himself has posted-it's a great service you've done pulling this piece together. That Steve is this open and sharing with his gifts has been the reason so many of us have dropped everything to listen whenever he has some wisdom to share, so thanks @SteveVaiHimself if you're reading this.
I think among the new insights I gleaned were a picture of what his day-to-day was like working with Frank, both initially transcribing and as a bandmember. I was a copying for 5 years or so and I always kept the $10/page in mind whenever I was griping about copying Britney Spears or something too churchy for my taste.
Bravo and thanks - I hope you'll take the invitation he lays out and dig deeper with Steve as the years unfold.
(now I'm going to go practice)
Many thanks.
Congrats, Chanan, on getting Steve for an interview. Hope this helps catapult your channel. You deserve much greater recognition than you currently receive. Best of luck, mate!
That was fantastic. I first heard Zappa when I was 17, I'm now 55 and still love his music and integrity. It was great to hear this ..... Big respect to all of you 👍
Thanks for that interview. Very interesting stuff. When Steve said near the end that you were the first person to show acknowledgement and interest in the transcription work he'd done for Frank it was, on the one hand, shocking; on the other hand, it proves that even today Frank's work is just too out-there and iconoclastic for most musicians to wrap their heads around in a deep way. Thanks are definitely due Steve Vai. They need also to be extended to you for the work you have done and continue to do to investigate Zappa's music with seriousness, appreciation, depth, and generosity.
This... is epic.
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Incredible. Yes, Steve’s words at the end, his eyes and facial expressions were so powerful. I watched it several times. I also subscribed to Chanan’s channel because of Steve’s words. Wonderful!!
Same. 😉
1.4k views in 9 hours shows the interest in Frank Zappa . We're all so fascinated not just in the music but every thing FZ did . After the massive career of Steve Via he still talks of FZ as some kind of messiah . Got to go back and watch it again. The best thing on the internet ❤ thanks Chanan
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Thanks for this great interview!!! Steve Vai seems to be an amazing guy.
❤❤❤❤❤😁👍 I knew Steve back then and actually held the score for Moe and Herb in my hand.. beautiful stuff.
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This is a masterclass
This interview and discussion had such a solid energy of tenderness, nostalgia, and reverence. In my opinion, the best Zappa-related interview I’ve ever seen/heard, and also the best Vai/Vai-related interview I’ve ever seen/heard. This interview is definitely an archival-quality, sublime treasure. And I’m not one to enact hyperbole out of momentary excitement; this is not that.
Thanks for this, Chanan and Steve.
ua-cam.com/video/pBHdlcJ7OjA/v-deo.html
It felt to me that Vai would’ve continued spinning his marvelous narratives for hours longer. Maybe there’s a part two, a second interview coming our way, sometime…. 🤗🙏🏽
This is absolute gold 💛 (especially as someone who has often pushed at the limits of my brain's faculties when trying to accurately transcribe many of Zappa's most complex compositions in order to make solo piano arrangements of them). Thank you so much for asking these enlightening questions, and for the respectful, receptive way you conducted this interview. I'm so appreciative of your manner and dedication to your passions, not just your own incredible musicianship.
Hi, Thank you very much! It is very moving to hear the testimony of someone who approached Zappa so closely. Your work is recognized at its fair value! Sincere congratulations and Best regards
I love how Steve Vai talks about his career as a musician, especially the time he spent with Frank Zappa. At that time, on the other side of the globe, I loved the music you guys were playing and I couldn't believe Steve Vai virtuosity. I love how Steve plays the guitar from the moment I heard him. Thank you Chanan for great interview.
Amazing interview Chanan! Loved hearing him mention Modern Rhythmic Notation by Gardner Read. When I first got into Frank's music at college I was spending my life in the Library reading scores and that book was a total game changer for me in terms of understanding complex notation and tuplet rhythms. Also, his words of praise for your channel are so spot on. You're breaking down Frank's scores better than anyone. Awesome channel.
Thank you so much, Chanan, for letting Steve have a chance to think, a chance to actually reminisce about playing with Frank instead of pushing onward with your own questions. Some of the best interviewers use this technique. Kudos to you!
I never would have stopped this interview. Steve was a fountain of good will and prized information. Charming and perfect. Enthralling content.
Thanks for this. I really enjoyed it. Nice to know that in more than one way Zappa is still alive. And kicking.
Steve is a great storyteller
That was amazing, it was great to here Steve recounting his history, and great interviewing by Chanan to keep quiet and let him get on with it! Billiant stuff.
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This is so wonderful, as is Steve. What a career in music he’s having.
Fantastic Interview. Thanks for letting Steve talk Most interviewers don't let them talk. Great insights on Frank's and Steve's great careers.
I had ALWAYS wanted to hear about the jazz discharge party hats.... This is amazing!!! Thank You so much for this interview
So brilliant! can' t get enough of listening to this man. He is so interesting and tells such great stories it is such a wonderful gift that he sits down for these with all of these great interviewers. One of the most fascinating interviews I have ever seen by anyone. Great job gentleman!!
Wow!!! Vai....wow! Amazing Chanan!!!!
Thanks Andy. Best wishes.
@@ChananHanspal All the best Chanan...when are coming on my YT?
@@AndyEdwardsDrummermake it happen Andy
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Anytime Andy.
This has to be one of THE best Vai interviews I've seen(and I've probably watched most of them).
It's amazing hearing about this experience from a giant like him maintaining the "day to day" tasks of a giant like Zappa.
thanks for that
Well done Chanan. I loved the questions and I am so glad you are being recognised.
Awesome interview thanks for sharing!
Chanan congratulations on this interview. I know this must have been an amazing experience for you, and I found myself watching you sit there with a grin almost as much as I watched Steve. I too was smiling along with you, and was touched at Steve's final words to you, and how you humbly accepted his thanks. One of my favorite videos of all time, and I will watch this a few more times as well. Again, congratulations!!!
Thank you!
Awesome stuff, these are the kind of deep dive interviews I like.
I love hearing how music gets written,who does what, the realities of touring. It sounded genuinely exhausting performing material that complex, and who the hell changes set lists on a whim with songs like that?! Well, Frank Zappa of course.
Great to hear Steve give us such marvelous insights, thank you.
While most of the technical stuff was way over my head (I don't even play guitar) I loved the depth of feeling that came across from both you guys. I have been blessed for 40+ years of love of the music of FZ and SV. Thank you very much for this post.
Gran entrevista Chanan!!,increible veros juntos hablando de vuestra mutua pasión con Zappa y su grandisima obra.
Increible ,gracias y congrats!!
This interview is just fantastic understanding more about music and the late great Frank Zappa, Steve Vai is a Treasure to music, I got into franks music early 70's then late 70's Steve Vai, if anyone has not got Steve Vai's Felx-able's albums they are a music, bless you Frank Music is Best
I really did hope you would have a chat with Steve at some time and it's great that it happened sooner rather than later. So Happy :)
Thanks Jonny.
Wow. What a joy. Thank you both! 🙏
Love this. Steve and Chanan are such great people. Tops! Thanks for such an interesting and priceless interview...
It’s always the humility of Steve that makes the biggest impression on me.
Wonderful interview. You got really high praise at the end there from Steve 😮 My heart would've exploded 😅
Many thanks.
Well done brother, awesome interview, never heard Steve go that deep on Zappa before.
I agree with Steve ,Chanan.
NOBODY has gone as in depth as you in the disection of Frank's METHOD of writing.
This is the best interview with Steve about Frank that I've ever heard.
Awesome brilliant interview! Many thanks to each of you!
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
Brilliant conversation - loved it :D
Hey Chanan thank you so much for putting this out. I have been a fan and collector of Frank Zappa since the 1970s.
I have been fascinated by your illustrations of his music.
Brilliant stuff and to hear Steve Vai talking with such insights is so interesting. Superb.
i am 53. my folks had a few zappa albums but when joes garage came out, i was old enough to remember my folks buying it and playing it a lot like they did right after they bought a new album. i loved it. a couple years later, on halloween, my 'babysitter', older girl next door, clicked on the newly formed MTV to watch a live zappa show. i was hooked. i wore out all the zappa albums my folks had which included joes, one size fits all, apostrophe, overnight sensation, etc... in the late 80s, i had a chance to go to a zappa show near where i lived but something came up and i figured i would be able to catch the next show. another chance never came up and he died a few years later. i still smack myself today for not going to see him.
Steve's passion for music is so fun. I could listen to him talk about Frank all day.
The title had me here like a shot. Great channel.
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This was a wonderful interview, thank you so much! Also, I appreciate you letting him talk.😊
A fascinating hour of conversation. Its always inspiring to listen to Steve Vai talk music and Zappa. And this is one of the most interesting interviews I've heard. Thanks!
Steve Vai went into this interview well prepared. In the end we also find out why.
Touching!
Thanks to both of you.
You're welcome and thanks for watching!
What a fantastic interview,Steve laid out stories I had never heard,loved this interview.
PURE GOLD! I have the Frank Zappa guitar book transcribed by Steve Vai, and it is incredible. Thanks to Steve Vai for sharing all these amazing Frank Zappa stories. I could listen to those forever. How utterly fasciniating, and Steve answered some of my most pressing questions regarding playing with Frank. This interview is invaluable and priceless. Thank you, Chanan Hanspal for conducting it, and thank you for your analysis and thoughts. You create terrific content.