Henry Kaiser : Weekly Solo #40 : Crazy Backwards Alphabet

 Somebody [ Chris Oliver]  posted this clip (in 2021) on John French’s Facebook page  John French - The Drumbo Club

 

Chris Oliver 

Henry Kaiser : Weekly Solo #40 : Crazy Backwards Alphabet

CRAZY BACKWARDS ALPHABET was an active band in 1986-1988. There were several different incarnations of the ensemble. The performing members included: BOB ADAMS was in the NAME band with Henry. He is Henry’s favorite composer of guitar parts in this sort of music. JOHN FRENCH is DRUMBO in the Beefheart band and subsequent Magic Bands. He is Henry’s favorite drummer on Earth. HENRY KAISER is the host of this weekly show. MICHAEL MAKSYMENKO was the amazing drummer and bandleader of KRALDJURSANSTALTEN. He resides in Sweden. ANDY WEST, a founding member of the DIXIE DREGGS, is also a long-time collaborator with Henry; the recent FIVE TIMES SURPRISE on Cuneiform being especially notable. A COUPLE OF SURPRISE GUESTS ALSO APPEAR IN TODAY’S SHOW. There were two main CBA albums: https://www.discogs.com/Crazy-Backwar... https://www.discogs.com/Crazy-Backwar... A single: https://www.discogs.com/Crazy-Backwar... And an excellent John French solo album, where 7 of the 14 tracks are basically CBA, and also featuring some Bob Adams - John French co-writing. https://www.discogs.com/John-French-W...

John ‘Drumbo’ French says:

“ This was in the guise of a "Instructional Video" on Bass Playing and was at Andy West's invitation that we were all here at this studio, which was in North Hollywood. 

That first piece was created by Bob Adams and called "Dropped D" -- after the guitar tuning I guess. They were shooting video when we arrived and asked us to set up our stuff in the parking lot ( mostly, my drums) so they could move them in as soon as the Glam Rock guitarist was finished. 

I went in at one point to view what was happening and this guitarist, wearing a LOT of makeup -- was playing a rapid-fire solo to a typical 12/8 slow standard blues progression. The first thing I thought is "this guy is playing in the wrong key." About ten seconds later, the recording engineer stopped them and asked, "What key are you playing in?" -- to the soloist who answered " B!" He then asked the others what key they were playing in, and their answer was "A!" I thought, "This is going to B a while..." I did notice that the drummer was Vinnie Appice. 

We had arrived on schedule at ten in the morning ( actually 9:00) allowing an hour for setup). Our stuff was set up in the parking lot by 10, but we didn't go into the studio until after 6 p.m.! The crew was in a pretty bad mood, obviously, as they had been worked to death. The girl who was in charge ( Director ) was shouting "Quiet on the set!" etc. and it seemed like all of them were quite frazzled. I did manage to express the fact that none of this was our fault, which seemed to lessen the intensity. 

After 8 hours in the parking lot, keeping guard over our equipment, it took a bit for use to un-frazzle ourselves as well. I remember taking lunch in "watches" at the local Denny's so we could watch the stuff. It was a warm day, so that was good, but almost too warm. Anyway, people came out to help us move our stuff in ( mostly the drums). Andy also had another group he worked with there. 

I think their music was based upon some kind of Buddhist meditation practice. It seemed like they played first, and it was more electronic ( MIDI background tracks) played to by a keyboardist and bass. There may have been a guitarist also? I just remember they had a ton of gear, and there were a LOT of cables. So, we waited as they did their part. It was quite the endurance run. Because CBA had all practiced our parts separately to recordings, we were familiar with the music, and instinct sort of took over. 

This was back when I was playing jazz and standards a lot, and I practiced every day, so I was probably in really good shape with peak energy."

The Drumbo Club

I am truly not sure what I make of this and the noodle soup at the beginning is excrutiating to these ears but as it’s John (French) I gave it the benefit and listened on besides he comments and he is always fascinating . . . . . if music be the food of love play on .. . .etc etc