Tom Fowler - Zappa's bassist

[blowfly]

I just listened to "Overnight Sensation" for the first time in a few years. I forgot what a kick-ass musician Tom Fowler is. He managed to play some insanely difficult music and make it sound funky; not like a sterile technical exercise. Listen to his playing on songs like "Zombie Woof". What an inspiration! Does anyone know what he's up to now?

[Blunt]

Originally Posted by blowfly

I just listened to "Overnight Sensation" for the first time in a few years. I forgot what a kick-ass musician Tom Fowler is. He managed to play some insanely difficult music and make it sound funky; not like a sterile technical exercise. Listen to his playing on songs like "Zombie Woof". What an inspiration! Does anyone know what he's up to now?

I have no idea but that is my favourite Zappa album. The bass playing is well off the wall at times like the songs.

[smidgley]

Tom actually posted here on TB back in January.

See Hi FromTomFowler

[blowfly]

Thanks for the info. I checked out his website www.thomaswfowler.com - I didn't realize that he was Ray Charles bassist at the end of Ray's career. He was blessed to play with two certified geniuses! The website has a cool video of Fowler playing a fretless as part of Ray's trio.

[Blunt]

Fifty-Fifty is a personal fave on that album. The deranged vocals and a very busy line keep it happening. An essential listen of the whole Zappa thing.

[KekChoz]

ok so if you guys recommend me a Zappa album, it would be Overnight Sensation?
What is another good album from him? (he did sooo many)

[blowfly]

Another favorite Zappa album is Apostrophe. The title track is an instrumental jam featuring Jack Bruce absolutely tearing it up on bass. Good stuff!

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by KekChoz

ok so if you guys recommend me a Zappa album, it would be Overnight Sensation?
What is another good album from him? (he did sooo many)

That's a really tough question since he covered so many styles. I spent most of the second half of the nineties building my Zappa collection and now I can die a happy man. BTW, the only Zappa album with Tom Fowler on bass that has a not-so-enjoyable component to me is "Bongo Fury" since I can't stand Captain Beefheart's vocals (at least in that CD), but the band is awesome. "Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy" and "Muffin Man" are two personal favorites.

[DocBop]

He if one of the Fowler brothers a family of great musicians. They have/had a band called Air Pocket with the great Mile Miller on guitar. If you get a chance check out Air Pocket and the other Fowlers.

[ibnzneksrul]

I remember seeing him several times playing in a jazz band in clubs around L.A. after his days with Zappa. Great player.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Originally Posted by DocBop

He if one of the Fowler brothers a family of great musicians.

Exactly. Tom and Bruce Fowler (trombone) played together on "Over-nite Sensation", "Apostrophe (')" and "Roxy & Elsewhere". Bruce and Walt (trumpet) played in the awesome band that FZ assembled for his '88 world tour. You can hear them on "Broadway The Hard Way", "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life" and "Make A Jazz Noise Here".

[sparktone]

The live "Roxy & Elsewhere" album from that period is excellent.

[Andrew Jones]

I like "One Size Fits All" the most.


You cant do that,,,Vol 2 the Helsinki Concert is like Roxy but 10 BPM faster and Tighter awsome!



Aj

[bassist15]

Im glad this topic game about. I jsut got an update on my computer a few weeks ago so Im now able to watch videos on youtube and they haev a few great videos of Zappa in 1973 with a great band.

[ryco]

you guys should bring up these two albums!

I've been listening to Apostrophe and Overnite Sensation all last week! A buddy has the old RYKO "two-fer" CD so I put 'em on my iPod.

I have the two LPs out in the garage. My bro and I played these to death when they came out. IMO Overnite was the first high production engineered sounding album made. It's as if Zappa wasn't satisfied with being a genius player/composer, he had to be a production genius as well.

Whatta guitar player, too. Man, those solo's are on a level with Charlie Parker IMO. Def in my top 10.

Tom Fowler = s m o o t h !!

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by KekChoz

ok so if you guys recommend me a Zappa album, it would be Overnight Sensation?
What is another good album from him? (he did sooo many)

i'd personally recommend Roxy and Elsewhere... fantastic playing... pure Fowler

he's definitely up there in my top 3 Zappa bass players (Scott Thunes and Arthur Barrow the other two), and he deserves special praise for being the first of FZ's bass players to be a really fantastic musician... FZ's music got a lot more complicated and flourished amazingly under the Ruth Underwood/George Duke/Tom Fowler/Nappy band, and Tom Fowler can take a lot of credit for allowing FZ's compositional stylings to be played

[DblG]

Originally Posted by sparktone

The live "Roxy & Elsewhere" album from that period is excellent.

+1. except make that most-excellent.
I always recommend this to folks interested in Zappa.

[Lesfunk]

T.F. On Roxy and Elsewhere is the Shiznit!

[LarryR]

I had the pleasure and privilege of sharing a stage with Tom, talking music, berating other players
In other words, the bar I used to play at had a jam night. It was close to Tom's home and he'd come by often to listen or sit-in. We always made him feel special when he came. This was from '99 to '04. He'd either bring his 5 string or a violin. A few times he used my upright. He's had some physical problems with his hands, but, he still ripped and played with a heart and soul that made you pay attention. Super funky, gooey style. Rarely ever hit a bad note. He also gave me pointers when I started playing URB. Like I said, it was a privilege to hang with him.

He moved from SoCal, I believe to Las Vegas.

Sweet, giving guy. I'm sure he felt the loss of Ray (RIP) in many ways. The man, the gig, the life, etc..

[Bellbass]

Originally Posted by DblG

+1. except make that most-excellent.
I always recommend this to folks interested in Zappa.

Same here. Roxy and Elsewhere, my favorite. And Dweezil played more the 70% of it, in its tribute to his dad. Fantastic...