Akashic Ensemble is Don Preston, Andre Cholmondeley (of Zappa tribute band Project/Object) and Cheri Jiosne.
The Grande Mothers are Don Preston, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Roy Estrada, Miroslav Tadic and Christopher Garcia
Don has played with a great many musicians, covering a wide swath of music. In the 50's he played upright Bass with Elvin Jones, piano with Herbie Mann and Nate King Cole and bass with Tommy Flanagan, Yusef Lateef and Don Ellis. He also worked with Charlie Haden, Paul Bley and Carla Bley. In the 1960's, Don started experimenting with electronic and tape music and incorporating synthesizers into my music. He met Frank Zappa in 1966 and joined the Mothers of Invention. Also at this time, Don toured and recorded with Meredith Monk. In the 70's, he performed with John Lennon and Yoko Ono, appearing on 'Sometime in New York City'. From 1975 - 1995, his recorded projects included: "Escalator Over the Hill", with Michael Mantler and Carla Bley and "Fields" with John Carter. Don has worked on numerous film soundtracks, notably "Apocalypse Now". He co-founded the Grandmothers, with former Mothers of Invention band members. Don toured with Lou Rawls, the Mike Mantler group and was the musical director for Leo Sayer touring group. He recorded/performed in the Robbie Krieger band and with Bobby Bradford. From the late 90's till now, Don has continued to stay very busy, performing and recording various Jazz and New music/Electronica. His most recent solo piano album, Hear Me Out, can be pruchased at Echograph Records. The GrandMothers have toured doing Zappa Music and original music in the USA and Europe. Don has also toured with Zappa tribute band Project Object. He founded the electronic trio Akashic Ensemble, which tours the USA, Canada and Europe.
"That's impossible - you cant do that on a Moog" - Synthesizer design pioneer , and Don's good friend, Bob Moog, commenting on his Moog Synth solo on Zappa's "WAKA JAWAKA".
Don Preston’s Akashic Ensemble's Friend Space (Top 23)
We are getting ready for our December Holiday issue of IN PROTEST OF BOREDOM and we want to hear from you! Start right now and get your Holiday Special Treat together and send it to: inprotestofboredom@hotmail.com
We hope to flood the site with alternative holiday offerings from all our "special" friends. Don't miss this wonderful chance to spread the love and protest the boredom of commercial holiday trappings. Who knows we might even hear from old Santa himself! (If you are out there Santa get in touch for an interview!)
IN PROTEST OF BOREDOM "We're Only In It For The Promo"
Recorded: live on March 16, 2003 at the Beta Lounge in San Francisco
In 1967, San Francisco’s Fifty Foot Hose were certainly one of the
innovators of a sound that took Psychedelia to new heights and was
captured on the band’s one record, Cauldron. They are a totally
unique hybrid—on one hand pulsating bay area acid rock, on the other,
fractured electronic freakery, becoming one whole cohesive being. The
sci-fi-ish video game-like artwork hinted at the sounds within, as did
the Limelight label’s pedigree for truly progressive sounds. Band
leader, Cork Marcheschi, used homemade electronic devices to create
crude and experimental soundscapes and instrumental compositions that
were sprinkled throughout the album.
Often starting shows with a swelling rumble that exploded into the
first song, they soon developed a rabid following on the SF scene,
though there was the occasional totally wrong gig, like when a
very-pregnant Nancy had to perform at a Catholic Girls’ school! Still,
the group wowed the crowds, performing with greats like Chuck Berry and
Fairport Convention.
Come to the German Forest and enjoy this concert, with Zappa music by "The FoolZ" and improvised kakophonic craziness by the "Polytoxicomane Philharmonie".
Wenn: Saturday 10th of October, 8:30 pm (entry from 7:30 pm) Where: Gebhardshain (close to the city Cologne) How much: 18 euro (ordering in advance: 16,50 euro). Below 24 years old: 6 euro.
Sky Sunlight Saxon of The SEEDS etc. passed over to be with YaHoWha 6/25/2009 at 9:10am. Sabrina Saxon and Joshua Aquarian were at his side. He passed peacefully and with no pain.
Donate to help with cremation and other expenses due to this unexpected crisis.
Quincy Jones has started a petition to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. We in the arts need this and the country needs the arts--now more than ever. Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues.