bunk gardnerbunk gardner
Born John Leon Guarnera on May 2, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bunk Gardner joined the Mothers Of Invention in early 1967. He recorded and toured with Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention until late 1969.
Shortly after he had left The Mothers, Bunk performed with Menage A Trois, with his brother Buzz and with John Balkin.
Bunk Gardner also toured and recorded with Geronimo Black and with The Grandmothers.
Early 2000, a couple of albums of The Don And Bunk Show got released, the duo that Bunk had formed with Don Preston.
In 2003 he took part in a concert (and recording) of The Grande Mothers Re:Invented. Besides Bunk Gardner, the Grande Mothers Re:Invented also feature Don Preston, Napoleon Murphy Brock and Roy Estrada.
In 2007, the Crossfire Publications record label released Bunk's first solo album, "It's All Bunk!", collecting material from Bunk's entire career.
In 2010, the Don & Bunk Show went on the road again for a number of gigs.
February 2011, the Don & Bunk Show did another series of concerts.
discography
| bud wattles
& his orchestra: themes from the hip (1959, lp, usa, roulette r-25073) - feat.bunk gardner |
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| joanna & the playboys: ?? (1962, lp, usa, ??) - feat.bunk gardner |
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| 2 | the
mothers of invention: absolutely
free
(1967, lp,usa, verve) |
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| 3 | the
mothers of invention: we're only
in it for the money
(1967, lp, usa, verve) |
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| 4 | frank
zappa: lumpy gravy
(1967, lp, usa, verve) |
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| 5 | the
mothers of invention: cruising
with ruben & the jets
(1968, lp, usa, verve) |
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| 6 | the
mothers of invention:
mothermania
(1969, lp, usa, verve) |
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| 7 | the
mothers of invention: uncle meat
(1969, 2lp, usa, bizarre) |
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9 |
the
mothers of invention: burnt
weeny sandwich
(1970, lp, usa, bizarre) |
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10 |
the
mothers of invention: weasels
ripped my flesh
(1970, lp, usa, bizarre) |
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| tim buckley:
starsailor (6) (1970, lp, usa, straight) - feat.bunk gardner, buzz gardner, john balkin |
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| domenic
troiano: the writings on the wall / the wear and the tear on my
mind (1972, 7", usa, mercury records) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner |
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| domenic troiano
domenic troiano (1972, lp, usa, mercury records) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner |
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| nicholas
greenwood: cold cuts (1972, lp, uk, kingdom) - feat. bunk gardner |
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| geronimo
black: geronimo black (1) (1972, lp, universal city recs) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention |
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| geronimo
black: let us live / '59 chevy (1972, 7"-pro, usa, uni 55339) |
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| geronimo black:
'59 chevy / let us live (1972, 7", new zealand, mca records mc/s 6145) |
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| geronimo
black: welcome back (2) (1980, lp, usa, helios recs) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention |
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| elmer & fred: elmer & fred (unreleased, lp, usa, rhino) - the album was announced by rhino in 1981 |
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| the
grandmothers: grandmothers (1) (1981, lp, ger, line records 6.24636 ap) - feat. various ex-moi |
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| the
grandmothers: fan club talk lp (2) (1981, lp, us, panda 001) |
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| the
grandmothers: lookin' up granny's dress (3) (1982, lp, us, rhino records rnlp 804) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions |
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| 51 | frank zappa: you can't do that on
stage anymore vol.1 (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko) |
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57 |
frank zappa: you can't do that on
stage anymore vol.4 (1991, 2cd, usa, ryko) |
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| the mothers of invention: the ark (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70538) |
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| the mothers of invention: 'tis the season to be jelly (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70542) |
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| zappa / mothers: electric aunt jemima (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71019) |
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58 |
frank zappa: you can't do that on
stage anymore vol.5 (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko) |
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| zappa / mothers: our man in nirvana (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71022) |
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| bunk gardner: bunk speaks - 1992
interview (1992, k7, usa, electrik yak 005) = interview for "ptolemaic terrascope |
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| ant-bee: with my favourite "mothers"
and other bizarre muzik (1992, k7, usa, electrik yak 003) - cover drawing by cal schenkel / feat. gardner, preston, black, snyder |
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| bunk
gardner: speaks ! - 1992 interview (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak letc 2) = a reissue + some additional music |
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61 |
zappa / mothers: ahead of their time (61) (1993, cd, usa, ryko) |
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| the
grandmothers: a
mother of an anthology (1993, cd, us, one way records ow 28880) = compilation + extra tracks |
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| ant-bee: snorks and wheezes (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black, motorhead sherwood |
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| ant-bee: the *#!%%? of ant-bee - rarities vol.3 (1993, k7, usa, electrik yak records 009) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black, motorhead sherwood |
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| don
preston: vile foamy ectoplasm (1) (1993, cd, ger, muffin records muffin cdmr 003) - feat. ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers |
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| the
grandmothers: who could imagine (5) (1994, cd, nl, munich records netcd 53) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa & beefheart compositions |
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| ant-bee: the bizarre german e.p. (1994, 7", ger, lollipop shop bouncing splash 8) - feat.bunk gardner, don preston, jc black |
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| ant-bee: with my favorite "vegetables" and other bizarre
music (1994, cd, uk, divine records divine 3) - feat.motorhead, black, gardner, estrada, preston, snyder |
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| snarfel:
thirty years of andy cahan (1995, cd, usa, hamana records) - feat. various ex-moi |
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| sandro
oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!? (1995, cd, usa, muffin records mrp015) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.'mr.green genes' (frank zappa) |
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| ant-bee: lunar muzik (1995, cd, uk, divine records divine 20) - feat. gardner, preston, black, estrada, sherwood, bob harris |
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| original soundtrack: caged heat 3000 (1996, cd, usa, cinemadisc records 602688 3003-2) - feat.bunk gardner |
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68 |
frank zappa: mystery disc
(1998, cd, usa, ryko) |
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| the muffin men: god shave the queen (8) (1999, cd, eec, efa 03447-2) – incl.compositions by don van vliet and by frank zappa, feat. zappa alumni |
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| bruce cameron: midnight daydream (1999, cd, usa, brain cell records) - feat ant-bee, bunk gardner |
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| the don and bunk show: necessity is... (2000, cdr, usa, brain records) – incl. ‘eric dolphey memorial barbecue’ (frank zappa) / re-released in 2011 as "the don & bunk show" |
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| the
grandmothers: eating the astoria (6) (2000, cd, i, obvious music om gm0100) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions |
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| the grandmothers: 20 year anthology of the grandmothers (2001, cdr, ger, private release) - anthology |
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| the
grandmothers: the eternal question (2001, cdr, ger, private release) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions |
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| don preston: io landscapes (2001, cdr, usa, brain records) - feat. frank zappa, bunk gardner |
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| various
artists: eyeinhand sampler volume
1 (2001, cd, spain, vaso music vm 032) - all zappa related artists |
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| the don and bunk show:
joined at the hip (2002, cdr, usa, brain records) - incl. 'little house' (frank zappa) |
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| project/object:
the dream of the dog (2002, cd, usa, private release) - improvised music, using familiar zappa chords & vamps |
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| various artists:
zappanale 13 (2003, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions |
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| various
artists: zappanale 13 -
the lewinskys - grandmothers west (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions |
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| various
artists: zappanale 13 -
retrospective (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions |
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| various artists:
zappanale # 13 (2003, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions |
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| the grandmothers: a
grandmothers night at the gewandhaus (2003, cd, ger, warner classic 2564600682) - incl.various frank zappa compositions |
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| domenic troiano:
the best of (2003, cd , canada, universal) - feat. bunk gardner, buzz gardner |
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| sandro oliva: heavy lightning (2004, cdr, i, private release) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa compositions |
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| the
grandmothers: boulder theatre – us tour, 2000 (200?, 2cdr, italy, obvious music) - feat.j.c.black, don preston, bunk gardner |
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| the
muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.one
(1990-1997) (2005, dvd, uk, private release) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni |
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| don
preston: vile foamy ectoplasm (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications) - feat. frank zappa, ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers |
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| bunk
gardner: it's all bunk! (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications) - feat. various ex-moi |
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| don preston:
works (2007, usa, cd, crossfire publications) - feat.bunk gardner |
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| jimmy carl black: where’s the $%&§#@’ beer? (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications 9508-2) - feat.various mothers of invention |
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| geronimo
black: welcome back (2008, download, -, crossfire publications) - feat. various ex-mothers of invention / downloadable version of the 1979 album, with six bonus tracks |
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| the grandmothers:
it happened here (2008, 2cdr, ger, arf society) = the grandmothers (with special guests) concert at zappanale in 2002 |
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| jimmy carl black:
"where's my waitress?" (revised) (2010, download, -, crossfire publications) = revised edition - download only |
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| bunk
gardner: it's all bunk! (reloaded) (2010, download, -, crossfire publications) = revised edition - download only |
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| geronimo
black: welcome back
geronimo black (revised) (2010, download, -, crossfire publications) = revised edition - download only |
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| ant-bee:
electronic church muzik (2011, cd, usa, barking moondog records bmr1) - feat. various zappa & beefheart alumni |
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sandro
oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!? |
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| bunk gardner: the
bunk gardner story (2011, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. don preston, arthur barrow |
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| bunk gardner: the
bunk gardner story - part 2 (2011, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. don preston, arthur barrow / artwork by ed seeman |
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| don preston:
the don preston story (2012, download, norway, zonic entertainment) - feat. bunk gardner, arthur barrow / artwork by ed seeman |
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92 |
frank zappa:
road tapes - kerrisdale arena, vancouver bc, 25 august 1968 (2012, cd, usa, vaulternative records ) |
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94 |
frank zappa: finer
moments (2012, cd, usa, zappa records) |
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don preston:
out of the vault |
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| the don and
bunk show: s/t (2014, cdr, usa, brain records) |
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| movie:
where's the beer and when do we get paid? (2014, dvd, ger, edition kassenknüller strassenfeger) - feat. jimmy carl black, eugene chadbourne, don preston, bunk gardner, roy estrada, andy cahan, denny walley |
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| the
grandmothers of invention: duke of prunes - live at the fabrik,
hamburg, germany (2014, dvd, ger, pinguin) - all compositions by frank zappa |
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| the grandmothers of
invention: zappanale 25 (2014, dvdr, ger, arf society) - (almost) all compositions by frank zappa, also incl. 'debra kadabra' (don van vliet) |
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| don
preston & bunk gardner: zappanale exhibition, july 18,
2014 (2015, dvdr, ger, rr production zapp-e-dvd014) - incl. various frank zappa compositions |
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105 |
frank zappa: frank zappa for president (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr 20021) |
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107 |
zappa
/ mothers: meat
light (2016, 3cd, usa, zappa records zr20024) |
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| the grandmothers
of invention: live in bremen (2018, 2cd, ger, sireena) - feat. don preston, bunk gardner |
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| the
grandmothers of invention: free energy (2018, cd, usa, private release) - feat. don preston, bunk gardner and ed mann |
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| bunk gardner:
bunkmania (2018, cd, usa, private release) - incl. 'the little house i used to live in' (frank zappa), feat. don preston, buzz gardner, jimmy carl black |
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geronimo black: freak out phantasia (2019, lp+cd, ger, munster records) - quotes 'help, i'm a rock' during 'ooh poo pah doo' |
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semi-official releases
| the mothers of invention: wollman rink, central
park, ny, august 3rd 1968 (2014, cd, uk, keyhole records) |
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dvd
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the muffin men: muffinz moovies vol.one
(1990-1997) (2005, dvd, uk, private release) - incl.various frank zappa compositions, feat. zappa alumni |
filmography
random notes
Birth
name: John Leon Guarnera
Birthday: May 2, 1933 (Cleveland, OH)
From: "Freak Out With The Grandmothers" tour booklet
A Cleveland Ohio native, born to Thelma and Charles Guanerra (why dad changed it
to Gardner I'll never understand.) Started
musically at age 7 with piano lessons
from Elmira Snodgrass for 50 cents a lesson.
Until the age of 12 I sucked my thumb and then replaced it with a
clarinet, tenor sax, bassoon and finally flute.
In 1954 my professional career started by being featured on sax and
flute on Roulette Records Western T.V. themes.
I then recorded and toured with
Eartha Kitt, Tim Buckley, Frank Zappa, Little Richard, Van Morrison and the 4
Winds Ensemble. From Bassoonist
with the Cleveland Philharmonic in 1950 to all the woodwinds with the
Grandmothers in 1994 with a few stops inbetween like playing
experimental music in 1962 with Don Preston, Frank Zappa and my brother Buzz in
Don's studio to Geronimo Black with Jim in 1970. Also the Montage Trio &
Quartet and one year of cullinary cooking at L.A. Trade Tech.
I delved into many
musical forms starting with boogie woogie and dixieland to classical and jazz
to latin and fusion and finally avant-guarde.
But I still love spontaneous improv
and I'm secretly joined at the hip with roomate Don Preston!
(vegetarians to the end!)
From: Patrick Neve
Apparantly that silver-haired fox Bunk Gardner joined Jack Bruce to do a Band
Of Gypsies tribute album. I got a
flyer in the mail today, advertising this
recording session which should have happened last September ('98).
The project is led by a guy named Bruce Cameron who is putting out an album called
Midnight Daydream. Also on the bill
are Buddy Miles, Billy Cox, Mitch
Mitchell, A couple of Alice Cooper members, someone from Uriah Heep, and
the ANT-BEE.
From: Howard Greene
I have met and spoken to Bunk Gardner on a couple occasions. I found him to be a
very friendly chap who's quite willing to talk about his days with FZ. He lives
in Southern California. He and Don Preston used to perform regularly as a
duo at a Zappa-themed restaurant in Los Angeles called Lumpy Gravy. They did mostly
jazz standards, Don Preston compostions and some Zappa. They both sounded
great.
| Newsbulletin from Zonic Entertainment - 2010 02 08 | |
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Last week we had some fantastic studiosessions in LA with original Mothers DON PRESTON (78) and BUNK GARDNER (77). We recorded "The Don Preston Story" as well as "The Bunk Gardner Story" - if you are familiar with the previous release "The Jimmy Carl Black Story" you know the concept. The sessions went on very well, and both Bunk and Don were so full of interesting stories (5-6 hours each, about Zappa, the Mothers, early recordings and concerts, etc) that this is far too long to release on CD. Consequently their stories will be put directly to iTunes and other digital distributors, but with proper booklet, etc (free for album downloads). Arthur Barrow - yes, the clonemeister himself! - is editing the recordings as we speak, and they will be published asap, hopefully before June. Don and Bunk also recorded a marvelous music session together, showing clearly that these pioneers in avant garde music, as well as audio surrealism, electronica and humour, actually play better than ever before! And their DON AND BUNK SHOW is available for booking this spring (US East coast), and summer (Europe) - highly recommendable, I can forward contact. |
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BUNK
GARDNER and DON PRESTON - in an echo from the classical Mothers of
Invention |
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Today on MySpace www.myspace.com/jonlarsenguitar I have published new 19 photos from the studio sessions, including some of Don Preston's Mothers Of Invention Memorabilia - photos, postcards, posters, and even info on an unpublished audio tape of the Mothers' - in a phtoto session for LIFE magazine (the one with the babies!) app. 1967! In the blog there are also more info about the studio sessions with Don Preston and Bunk Gardner - all for your FREE Zonic Entertainment! From these historical recording sessions, we went
directly into another unforgettable recording session: new music
composed and performed by TOMMY MARS - in my view the most brilliant
keyboard player today, he is pure genius! This time Mars recorded new,
almost orchestral music to the surrealistic story "WILLIE
NICKERSON'S EGG", by yours truly. From before Tommy had already
read the story, so now I only have to mix and edit the project before
release. More info about this project later, but if you like
"Strange News From Mars" you'll love this! Being in LA in Arthur Barrow's lotek studio, we also
made agreements about re-releases of some of Don Prestons old
recordings, some of Bunk Gardner's, as well as Arthur Barrow's own - all
on Zonic Entertainment. You will be kept informed. Music Is The Best! Sincerely yours, ZONIC ENTERTAINMENT Reminder - previous releases on Zonic Entertainment:
Available now on iTunes and CD.
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| Bunk Gardner (left) and Don
Preston (right). at Zappanale 2016. picture taken by Bonnie Benefield. |
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