Difference between revisions of "Vinnie Colaiuta"

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(Added more info, with sources.)
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<blockquote>"A (guitar) soloist choosing to work in this odd style ultimately winds up as a hostage -- he can go only as  
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<blockquote>"A (guitar) soloist choosing to work in this odd style ultimately winds up as a hostage -- he can go only as far into the 'experimental zones' as his rhythm section will allow him to go. The problem lies in the  
far into the 'experimental zones' as his rhythm section will allow him to go. The problem lies in the  
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polyrhythms. The chances of finding a drummer, a bass player and a keyboard player who can conceive of those polyrhythms -- let alone identify them fast enough to play a complementary figure on the  
polyrhythms. The chances of finding a drummer, a bass player and a keyboard player who can conceive  
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moment, are not good. (The grand prize goes to [[Vinnie Colaiuta]], the drummer for the band in 1978 and '79.)"</blockquote>  
of those polyrhythms -- let alone identify them fast enough to play a complementary figure on the  
 
moment, are not good. (The grand prize goes to [[Vinnie Colaiuta]], the drummer for the band in 1978  
 
and '79.)"</blockquote>  
 
 
<div align=right>— Frank Zappa, ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]''</div>
 
<div align=right>— Frank Zappa, ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]''</div>
  
  
<blockquote><p>"The band I was bringing over from the States would be doing a total of seventeen weeks' work, all  
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<blockquote><p>"The band I was bringing over from the States would be doing a total of seventeen weeks' work, all of it rehearsal except for four weeks of rock shows, one week of orchestral concerts and five days  
of it rehearsal except for four weeks of rock shows, one week of orchestral concerts and five days  
+
of recording. It was to be a nine-piece group and each musician would have earned $15,000 for the seventeen weeks of work plus having all of their travel expenses paid, all of their food paid for,  
of recording. It was to be a nine-piece group and each musician would have earned $15,000 for  
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all of their hotels paid for, etc.</p> <p>Shortly before the start of rehearsals in the U.S., [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] and [[Jeff Berlin]] called our office and tried to make secret deals to get their individual salaries raised, saying, 'Don't tell the other guys.'</p> <p>When I heard of this, I canceled using the electric group with the orchestra, saving myself a lot of time and trouble rehearsing them, and a lot of money moving them around."</p></blockquote>  <div align=right>— Frank Zappa, ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]''</div>
the seventeen weeks of work plus having all of their travel expenses paid, all of their food paid for,  
 
all of their hotels paid for, etc.</p>  
 
<p>Shortly before the start of rehearsals in the U.S., [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] and [[Jeff Berlin]] called our office  
 
and tried to make secret deals to get their individual salaries raised, saying, 'Don't tell the other  
 
guys.'</p>  
 
<p>When I heard of this, I canceled using the electric group with the orchestra, saving myself a lot of  
 
time and trouble rehearsing them, and a lot of money moving them around."</p></blockquote>  <div align=right>— Frank Zappa, ''[[The Real Frank Zappa Book]]''</div>
 
  
  

Revision as of 14:39, 23 May 2020

Vinnie Colaiuta born Vincent Colaiuta, February 5th, 1956, is a highly regarded drummer and prolific session musician. He met and auditioned for Frank Zappa in 1978 after a recommendation from Tom Fowler. The Zildjian percussion company created a Vinnie Colaiuta drumstick.


"A (guitar) soloist choosing to work in this odd style ultimately winds up as a hostage -- he can go only as far into the 'experimental zones' as his rhythm section will allow him to go. The problem lies in the

polyrhythms. The chances of finding a drummer, a bass player and a keyboard player who can conceive of those polyrhythms -- let alone identify them fast enough to play a complementary figure on the

moment, are not good. (The grand prize goes to Vinnie Colaiuta, the drummer for the band in 1978 and '79.)"

— Frank Zappa, The Real Frank Zappa Book


"The band I was bringing over from the States would be doing a total of seventeen weeks' work, all of it rehearsal except for four weeks of rock shows, one week of orchestral concerts and five days

of recording. It was to be a nine-piece group and each musician would have earned $15,000 for the seventeen weeks of work plus having all of their travel expenses paid, all of their food paid for,

all of their hotels paid for, etc.

Shortly before the start of rehearsals in the U.S., Vinnie Colaiuta and Jeff Berlin called our office and tried to make secret deals to get their individual salaries raised, saying, 'Don't tell the other guys.'

When I heard of this, I canceled using the electric group with the orchestra, saving myself a lot of time and trouble rehearsing them, and a lot of money moving them around."

— Frank Zappa, The Real Frank Zappa Book


Vinnie Colaiuta provided drums (and the occasional vocal) on:

He was also mentioned and thanked in the liner notes of The MOFO Project/Object (2006) album. [1]

Sources