Don Ellis “Don Ellis at Fillmore” (1970)

Don Ellis at Fillmore will satisfy even the most intense and discerning cravings that people might have to hear more music like Frank Zappa’s The Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka. Ellis explores all things quirky with his Jazz ensemble. There’s solos galore. Many of the songs are lengthy. There’s comedic thrills. They go so far as to inject “Hey Jude” with a syringe of heroine and steroids. The room may be spinning but Jude could still kick your ass. The audience gets messed with severely. Pretty much every Zappa fan should own this music. Ellis was probably one of the main people that influenced Zappa to make the move from his early phase (Freak Out! to Uncle Meat) into trying something like Hot Rats all of the sudden. A copy of Don Ellis at Fillmore surely must have been on the Zappa tour bus. –Rob