An interview with the namesake of The Ed Palermo Big Band aired May 10 as part of a series of special features this month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Greasy Tracks.
Here’s the archive, while a playlist is here.
We tracked through Prog vs. Fusion: A War of the Ages, the just-released album by The Ed Palermo Big Band which focuses on the challenging subject of material by Miles Davis, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes, King Crimson, Frank Zappa and others.
The band plays a record-release show at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York on May 19.
Palermo, the saxophonist and arranger, leads the New York City-based 18-piece ensemble renowned for its inventive jazz interpretations of jazz and rock classics, often leaning heavily on Zappa’s catalog, but never afraid to tackle an array of artists ranging from British Invasion bands to Todd Rundgren.
Greasy Tracks debuted on May 6, 1995, and has traditionally focused on a mix of soul — think Memphis — blues, rock, jazz and funk music.
Program content is intentionally devoid of hits and “sing-along-feel-good-music” as the host strives to challenge himself and the listeners when it comes to selections and focus. Long-form features are the norm and an average of 30-50 musicians, authors and recording industry veterans are interviewed each year..