Ruth is one of those ridiculously talented musicians that has passed the music world by unnoticed almost completely, except for mostly Zappa fans. Not only is she a killer percussionist and musician, she seems to also have an awesome personality. She is one of my top 5 Zappa musicians of all time. One of the reasons that the 73-77 bands were great, especially the 73-74 bands. If true, the following snippet from Wikipedia just shows how awesome she is: "Ruth devotes her spare time to giving free music lessons to children who could not otherwise afford to study." You're awesome Ruth!
I saw Frank Three times in concert but sadly I didn't get to see Ruth Play. Very disappointing since I was a huge fan of what I heard. However, I did get to see Billy Hulting in the Dweezil tours. He was pretty talented too.
@@markkopchak147 Cudos to you! I started listening to Zappa in early 1989 so missed out on the 1988 tour which I to this day regret immensely. Zappa was a force of nature. Say what you will of him but he managed to root out some of the best musicians the world has ever seen, AND he made a mark on the music world that is hard to beat. "Music is the best."
I love Ruth, loved to watch her perform, I saw her twice with Frank. The truth of the matter is Ruth came from the world of "legit players AKA classical musicians" where very few musicians have name recognition except amongst their peers. She is truly a phenomenal musician and was a big time fan of Frank's music and persona before being asked to audition. Timing for her could not have been better. I'm so glad they found each other.
My favorite stories that former Mothers tell are how Frank somehow knew which things you could do that they themselves didn’t believe they could, and/or didn’t want to. George Duke, another “conservatory snob” is probably the best example. He refused to touch a synthesizer or any keyboard that wasn’t a piano, so Frank bought one and put it on top of the piano within easy reach. George said he resisted the urge for a long time, but eventually reached up and pressed a key. The rest is history. He also didn’t believe he could sing, so Frank got him to play one note, then sing it. Then two notes, and so on. Before long he was singing Inca Roads, arguably the most difficult vocal Zappa ever wrote. He brought music to the world that nobody else could have, and he got a lot of it from performances his musicians never thought they could play. Absolutely remarkable.
@@jamesthe-doctor8981 You might be referring to this: czcams.com/video/ERFUbX648S4/video.html where George tells a funny little story about when he first joined the Mothers. I can just picture Frank fixing him with a withering stare and saying sarcastically, "Oh, it's BENEATH you". Great stuff.
@@keithbird8910 yep, that’s exactly the one. Every interview with every former Mother always seems to point out that, although FZ needed classically trained musicians, he also had to find ways to open their minds as wide as his had always been. That phrase, “I can’t do that” probably made him laugh inside, causing him to think to himself, “you wanna bet?”😂 In George’s case with the synth, he really meant “I don’t want to do that,” while regarding his ability to sing, he meant it literally. I think Frank often took it as a challenge, and from all accounts, he always succeeded.
I'm a musician, mostly playing mandolin and Irish whistle. The complexity of this piece and her incredible talent make my brain hurt! She is one seriously smart lady!
Incredible. Frank was a musical genius, and Ruth Underwood is equally gifted as a musician. I have always admired her skills, but to hear her explanation of the harmony behind this composition just leaves me in awe... Thanks, Ruth!
@@arlingtonhynes I used to think that. I absolutely LOATHED dancing fool when it was on the air all the time. I thought he was awful. Then one day I tripped across an AMAZING guitar solo and when I went to check who was playing it -- it was HIM! I was SHOCKED. The man could PLAY. I mean REALLY play. He just chose to write some off the wall kooky stuff because I suppose he was entertained by it. But he was capable of playing DAMNED well. Have you heard Black Napkins? czcams.com/video/cNkl1avYXRM/video.html Have you seen his performance on Saturday Night Live -- I am the Slime? Back in the 70s he was telling us the media is crap. 50 years later we all know it. Have you seen him in a suit defending free speech? Man was a genius. Ahead of his time.
@@arlingtonhynes Eh, I don't know that he'd approve of it. Surprises me how some people do. But not the people who are really paying attention. And I can't speak to his albums, I don't own any. There are many songs of his that I don't care for, but many that are simply outstanding. Point being he is clearly capable of playing and writing on a high level, and he was a brilliant thinker when most people were completely blind and ignorant. Hence summary judgment: Genius.
@@MuzixMaker I'm not understanding. Ruth explains that you take a triad (1-3-5) and drop the 3rd down to 2 so it becomes (1-2-5) which would be a sus 2. I know they aren't playing the chord per say but they are playing an arpeggio of a sus2 chord. What am I not seeing?
I was very fortunate to have a master class with Ruth way back in the early 70’s. She was a true master of mallet percussion and a very genuine person. Watching this gave me chills remembering sitting not ten feet away as she demonstrated things that seemed impossible to my classmates and me.
Personally, I think it was Ruth Underwood that made the Zappa sound more than dropping the triad down 1. She plays the vibes like she’s a drummer, pianist and lead guitarist all in one.
Ruth, the public needs more of your insight and teaching. Please do more of these instructional videos! You are the only musician that I'm aware of that has actually "taught Frank." Thank you!
With all due respect, I think many if not all of the musicians that Frank gathered around him, at some point in time, taught him something. I believe his appetite for exploring new things was voracious and as such he liked to tap the minds of other creative people and share with and learn from as many as he could.
Ruth is perhaps the most incredible musician to play with Zappa! Her parts are always totally nuts and difficult, but she could always play those with a sincere smile! Love her so much
Please get back into the scene Ruth! Your presence on any stage with Dweez or any of the other dedicated bands, would be a lovely experience for all who admire your talent. x
I'm impressed that the xylophone piece was written. Zappa was so precise. But the music flows like they just knew what to play. Even the drummers had to know how to read.
Ruth Underwood and Gary Burton are underappreciated masters of an instrument that will never be considered "rock" yet added so much to the overall sound!
I love seeing her play live in the old videos!! She has so much energy and can be looking elsewhere and bouncing to the rhythm and laugh, all while still maintaining AMAZING accuracy and with so much flair! She's very intelligent and extremely talented.
When you see the old videos, it's so obvious that she was/ is basically just an uber-talented band nerd, all excited to be playing this crazy stuff like it's some sort of inside joke for musicians (which it is...). It's the enthusiasm you see, and the talent you hear. Not just Ruth, but so many of the musicians he picked up over the years.
In the mid 70’s up thru early 80’s, I was fortunate enough to see Frank & The Mothers numerous times. Ruth Underwood was and is, a monster player,..mesmerizing talent
I can't stop watching her play, such amazing touch and dexterity she has while handling two mallets in each hand. And I can't even master eating with chopsticks...
@@farshimelt "3 mistakes, one for each decade I have been away from Franks music and the instrument" I find that hard to believe seeing how effortlessly she plays the parts.
@@farshimelt Nope, she said she hung up the mallets after Apostrophe - since there was no further 'UP' for her. Then Frank called when he was sick and asked her to come play for him one last time - took her two weeks to practice and get some of her chops back. You can see she is not playing as fast or furious as she did almost 50 years ago - I am a marimba player as well. But Ruth - well, her play speaks for itself!
That song is mind blowing on so many different levels. Ralph Humphrey's drumming and Ruth Underwood's playing complement each other perfectly. Ruth Underwood is a brilliant percussionist. As a drummer I'm completely amazed every time I hear it - can't rate this song highly enough. You really had to be on top of your game to play with Zappa.
Frank had an incredible knack for getting talent musicians to be able to play his unique music but also making use of their strengths and styles in his compositions. A master of synergy.
spoke to her on the phone once during her heyday with Frank, she was very generous with her time and her insight! She was the only mallet player I knew who could handle that pressure with Frank's meticulous chromaticism... it defies memorization!
Nothing signifies Zappa"s sound more than Ruth Underwoods vibes. I wish I had taken up the instrument many years ago! Thank you for all your performances and especially your incredible live ones!
Thank you Rickey Fitts. I love Frank and Ruth and all things Zappa. I know she has been retired for quite awhile. Have never seen her do a demonstration of anything. Especially St. Alphonso.
I just showed this video to my daughter, who became interested in playing xylophone for the school band. I may have caused the opposite effect, since the complexity just scared her off.
Ruth has a way of talking about the most complex music ever written in a way that is both engaging and understandable. Incredible musician. She needs to write a book or release some kind of instructional DVD!
"the most complex music ever written" is a reach. sensationalism. why do people have to exaggerate and make it the mostest, bestest, most complexish? Okay, it's complex.
I got to see that band Frank Zappa Ruth Underwood George Duke at the circle Star theater in San Mateo California 1974 it blew the house down we got to hear them play Dynamo hum
"well, 3 mistakes - one for each decade that i've been away from the instrument" lol so self aware but yet after all those years she still doesn't realize that it was actually her who brought that magic to frank's music. goosebumps whenever i hear her play...
An article I read in the 70’s about Steely Dan explained the “2” chord and that Donald and Walter called it the “mu” chord and it became my go-to chord ever since. Ruth just made me say “ah-ha!” About Zappa ! Never realized that !
I'm working on Rollo right now on guitar and for the last few months ,it's an absolute nightmare to get right , Frank was the most constantly creative composer of the 20th century and I feel privileged to have attended every tour .
THANK YOU RUTH! I've missed your playing and always was amazed at how effortless you made it seem. As others have said, I do hope you can make more of these "little ditties" as Frank would call them. Your playing sounded great, then and now, on a complex but now iconic piece of music. Thanks again, and as always "Music is the best."
This is brilliant. Another composer on FZ's level imo is Tim Smith of Cardiacs. If you don't know his work, check it out. He is also a GENIUS in many ways like Frank. You can study his music for years and years and learn many things. It was effortless for him to compose as is it was for Zappa. The creativity just poured out of these guys.
Amazing! Such a treat to watch her discuss and play this epic passage! When listening to FZ my ears always seemed to focus on Ruth Underwood. All my favorite Zappa songs prominently feature Ruth. Ed mann certainly had some big shoes to fill.
This music never gets old with me. I was a Zappa fan at 10 back in 1969. The first time I saw Ruth playing I thought wow! Not only is she a beautiful woman but a virtuoso as well. Bless you Ruth. Please treat us to more videos. Maybe do something on Vibraphone.
it always blows my mind to think about how sharp everybody in Zappa's bands must've been in the middle of tour, constantly rehearsing and playing shows every night and getting tighter and tighter until their music making machines!
I have watched this so many times love listening to your musical genius and the genius of the late Frank Zappa thanks a lot Scott Downing truck driver out of Bakersfield,
Those albums when she was playing on them were some of my favorite FZ albums. Probably since she was on them, since she is a great musician. And reading the comments from others, she is also a great person. Thanks.
I get goosebumps every time her parts kick in, no matter what song. Ruth is one of a kind.
So incredibly smooth& has an unmistakeable touch
I just wanted to write the same.
Does she play the parts in Green Rosetta at the end of Joe's garage too? That's such a beautiful yet completely stupid tune, I love it haha
A little known genius. So cool.
very true.
Ruth is one of those ridiculously talented musicians that has passed the music world by unnoticed almost completely, except for mostly Zappa fans.
Not only is she a killer percussionist and musician, she seems to also have an awesome personality. She is one of my top 5 Zappa musicians of
all time. One of the reasons that the 73-77 bands were great, especially the 73-74 bands.
If true, the following snippet from Wikipedia just shows how awesome she is:
"Ruth devotes her spare time to giving free music lessons to children who could not otherwise afford to study."
You're awesome Ruth!
Yeah I’m with you on that one. That was my favorite iteration of the Mother’s. So funky and so talented. And Ruth was low key a 🦊
You’re not wrong... very pleased to have found this... wonderful musician.
I saw Frank Three times in concert but sadly I didn't get to see Ruth Play. Very disappointing since I was a huge fan of what I heard. However, I did get to see Billy Hulting in the Dweezil tours. He was pretty talented too.
@@markkopchak147 Cudos to you! I started listening to Zappa in early 1989 so missed out on the 1988 tour which I to this day regret immensely. Zappa was a force of nature. Say what you will of him but he managed to root out some of the best musicians the world has ever seen, AND he made a mark on the music world that is hard to beat. "Music is the best."
I love Ruth, loved to watch her perform, I saw her twice with Frank. The truth of the matter is Ruth came from the world of "legit players AKA classical musicians" where very few musicians have name recognition except amongst their peers. She is truly a phenomenal musician and was a big time fan of Frank's music and persona before being asked to audition. Timing for her could not have been better. I'm so glad they found each other.
Frank loved Ruth because she could handle anything he threw at her and he didn't have to show her twice. Consummate musicianship.
As Frank said, she was a product of Julliard.
I suspect working with Frank left working with anyone else a let down for a musician of her caliber. But what do I know?🙄
My favorite stories that former Mothers tell are how Frank somehow knew which things you could do that they themselves didn’t believe they could, and/or didn’t want to. George Duke, another “conservatory snob” is probably the best example. He refused to touch a synthesizer or any keyboard that wasn’t a piano, so Frank bought one and put it on top of the piano within easy reach. George said he resisted the urge for a long time, but eventually reached up and pressed a key. The rest is history. He also didn’t believe he could sing, so Frank got him to play one note, then sing it. Then two notes, and so on. Before long he was singing Inca Roads, arguably the most difficult vocal Zappa ever wrote. He brought music to the world that nobody else could have, and he got a lot of it from performances his musicians never thought they could play. Absolutely remarkable.
@@jamesthe-doctor8981 You might be referring to this: czcams.com/video/ERFUbX648S4/video.html where George tells a funny little story about when he first joined the Mothers. I can just picture Frank fixing him with a withering stare and saying sarcastically, "Oh, it's BENEATH you". Great stuff.
@@keithbird8910 yep, that’s exactly the one. Every interview with every former Mother always seems to point out that, although FZ needed classically trained musicians, he also had to find ways to open their minds as wide as his had always been. That phrase, “I can’t do that” probably made him laugh inside, causing him to think to himself, “you wanna bet?”😂 In George’s case with the synth, he really meant “I don’t want to do that,” while regarding his ability to sing, he meant it literally. I think Frank often took it as a challenge, and from all accounts, he always succeeded.
I'm a musician, mostly playing mandolin and Irish whistle. The complexity of this piece and her incredible talent make my brain hurt! She is one seriously smart lady!
Incredible. Frank was a musical genius, and Ruth Underwood is equally gifted as a musician. I have always admired her skills, but to hear her explanation of the harmony behind this composition just leaves me in awe... Thanks, Ruth!
-thats Ruth!
I'm surprised she didn't mention that she played the part in unison with George Duke on synth. Or am I hearing things?
Only correction -- Frank was a genius, period. Musically, but beyond that too. The man was observant, astute, intelligent. And musically gifted.
@@arlingtonhynes I used to think that. I absolutely LOATHED dancing fool when it was on the air all the time. I thought he was awful. Then one day I tripped across an AMAZING guitar solo and when I went to check who was playing it -- it was HIM! I was SHOCKED. The man could PLAY. I mean REALLY play. He just chose to write some off the wall kooky stuff because I suppose he was entertained by it. But he was capable of playing DAMNED well. Have you heard Black Napkins? czcams.com/video/cNkl1avYXRM/video.html
Have you seen his performance on Saturday Night Live -- I am the Slime? Back in the 70s he was telling us the media is crap. 50 years later we all know it. Have you seen him in a suit defending free speech?
Man was a genius. Ahead of his time.
@@arlingtonhynes Eh, I don't know that he'd approve of it. Surprises me how some people do. But not the people who are really paying attention. And I can't speak to his albums, I don't own any. There are many songs of his that I don't care for, but many that are simply outstanding. Point being he is clearly capable of playing and writing on a high level, and he was a brilliant thinker when most people were completely blind and ignorant. Hence summary judgment: Genius.
whats's the secret to the Zappa sound?
Ruth: two-chords!
Everyone: Ruth!
She meant the chords where the threes (thirds) in chords become twos (shouldn’t that be 9th chords with suspended 3 btw?)
@@AndreasDelleske Bb2 is shorthand for Bbsus2. It looks neater on the page. And no, 9th chords have 7ths in them.
All sus 2 chords. Very cool.
@@pechondelgado not a sus; she’s playing a parallel interval, technically not a chord.
@@MuzixMaker I'm not understanding. Ruth explains that you take a triad (1-3-5) and drop the 3rd down to 2 so it becomes (1-2-5) which would be a sus 2. I know they aren't playing the chord per say but they are playing an arpeggio of a sus2 chord. What am I not seeing?
There's a reason why you don't see too many Frank Zappa cover bands
What is that reason? No one can do the mustache?
yeah but it's got nothing to do with this video
sus2 chords aint a wild concept
@@guitarslim56 no the soul patch lol
Same reason nobody covers “YES”
Good luck ever trying to cover "the aristocrats"
I saw her in person with Zappa in around 74 she was brilliant
I was very fortunate to have a master class with Ruth way back in the early 70’s. She was a true master of mallet percussion and a very genuine person. Watching this gave me chills remembering sitting not ten feet away as she demonstrated things that seemed impossible to my classmates and me.
How cool! Thanks for sharing your experience!
But.... I've got the crystal ball.
Personally, I think it was Ruth Underwood that made the Zappa sound more than dropping the triad down 1. She plays the vibes like she’s a drummer, pianist and lead guitarist all in one.
She is! And Juilliard trained.
Ruth: Three mistakes!
No one: Yeah Ruth, that was terrible.
Her mistakes are better than my successes.
My biggest musical achievement is that I heard 2 of them...
Uh. RUTH!!
Playing in Zappa's band will make you like that. He was a perfectionist.
Any musician worth his or her salt is their own biggest critics.
That's Ruth ! !
datedada
On Ruth!
Ruth, the public needs more of your insight and teaching. Please do more of these instructional videos! You are the only musician that I'm aware of that has actually "taught Frank." Thank you!
With all due respect, I think many if not all of the musicians that Frank gathered around him, at some point in time, taught him something. I believe his appetite for exploring new things was voracious and as such he liked to tap the minds of other creative people and share with and learn from as many as he could.
Arthur Barrow actually teaches a Zappa college course in Texas. Check out his book Of Course I said Yes.
I hope she will write a book about her Zappa days - she wrote the liner notes to Roxy by Proxy and it's the best liner notes of any Zappa album.
Ruth is perhaps the most incredible musician to play with Zappa! Her parts are always totally nuts and difficult, but she could always play those with a sincere smile! Love her so much
Please get back into the scene Ruth! Your presence on any stage with Dweez or any of the other dedicated bands, would be a lovely experience for all who admire your talent. x
"What this means to Frank". Not only can she play it, she can say it.
I'm impressed that the xylophone piece was written. Zappa was so precise. But the music flows like they just knew what to play. Even the drummers had to know how to read.
Ruth talks about the Zappa sound, but she made it!
Early to mid 70’s Zappa band was killer.... difficult to match .... Ruth was am integral part of that.
Ruth Underwood and Gary Burton are underappreciated masters of an instrument that will never be considered "rock" yet added so much to the overall sound!
Ruth you are amazing
I love seeing her play live in the old videos!! She has so much energy and can be looking elsewhere and bouncing to the rhythm and laugh, all while still maintaining AMAZING accuracy and with so much flair! She's very intelligent and extremely talented.
When you see the old videos, it's so obvious that she was/ is basically just an uber-talented band nerd, all excited to be playing this crazy stuff like it's some sort of inside joke for musicians (which it is...). It's the enthusiasm you see, and the talent you hear. Not just Ruth, but so many of the musicians he picked up over the years.
In the mid 70’s up thru early 80’s, I was fortunate enough to see Frank & The Mothers numerous times. Ruth Underwood was and is, a monster player,..mesmerizing talent
Ruth and Ian. What a team.
I can't stop watching her play, such amazing touch and dexterity she has while handling two mallets in each hand.
And I can't even master eating with chopsticks...
cannot believe that she has'nt been playing in the last 30 years! What a gifted human being!
She hasn't been playing Zappa's music in 30 yrs. She's still playing or she couldn't execute those parts.
@@farshimelt "3 mistakes, one for each decade I have been away from Franks music and the instrument" I find that hard to believe seeing how effortlessly she plays the parts.
@@farshimelt Nope, she said she hung up the mallets after Apostrophe -
since there was no further 'UP' for her. Then Frank called when he was sick and asked her to come play for him one last time - took her two weeks to practice and get some of her chops back.
You can see she is not playing as fast or furious as she did almost 50 years ago - I am a marimba player as well. But Ruth - well, her play speaks for itself!
That song is mind blowing on so many different levels. Ralph Humphrey's drumming and Ruth Underwood's playing complement each other perfectly. Ruth Underwood is a brilliant percussionist. As a drummer I'm completely amazed every time I hear it - can't rate this song highly enough. You really had to be on top of your game to play with Zappa.
More Ruth please. Never get tired of Ruth. She’s a musical treasure.
I was in love with Ruth when I was a teenager !
Yeah and she got curvy body back then. Amazing player too. Zappa's music not for faint hearted peoples.
@Crimson Lens OFFICIAL watch the roxy movie
We all were
@@paulieplayspoorly yes we were, she is still hot thou!!
Frank had an incredible knack for getting talent musicians to be able to play his unique music but also making use of their strengths and styles in his compositions. A master of synergy.
Would love it if Ruth could start a YT channel and just do whatever she felt like. She'd definitely have a grateful audience.
Ruth Underwoods percussions to me have always defined the sound of Zappa.
I suddenly want pancakes
I'll steal the margarine
@@muddshshshark Dominus vobiskum
St. Alphonso
St. Alphonso
St. Alphonso 🎶
MMMMMMMMM ... pancakes!!
lagom I demand a muffin.
Wait a minute: she played that after not playing for 30 years? What did the devil get out of that deal?
the chance to hear it again
@@risimurphy5083 damn!
"Lemme dust this old thing off..."
***world explodes
Chrissy and three beers.
😂😂😂
Ruth underwood. You were such a brilliant member of the mother's. I just love your brilliant playing. ❤
Ruth is a rare and beautiful gem.
spoke to her on the phone once during her heyday with Frank, she was very generous with her time and her insight! She was the only mallet player I knew who could handle that pressure with Frank's meticulous chromaticism... it defies memorization!
hi michael! is there anywhere I could read your interview with Ruth? it would be so enriching!
Ed Mann and Art Tripp were also very good. Art Tripp also played Beefheart's music, which is possibly more difficult.
I just love Ruth Underwood, always did and always will. Thank you for your wonderful music and your talent, Ruth.
Loved you then and love you now. Thank you for all the amazing music you made with Zappa!
Ruth You are wonderful and so talented. I remember your performance well!
Amazing. So fun to watch her explain it. And even more fun to watch her play it. I miss those times.
We love Ruth forever
Nothing signifies Zappa"s sound more than Ruth Underwoods vibes. I wish I had taken up the instrument many years ago! Thank you for all your performances and especially your incredible live ones!
Thank you Rickey Fitts. I love Frank and Ruth and all things Zappa. I know she has been retired for quite awhile. Have never seen her do a demonstration of anything. Especially St. Alphonso.
I just showed this video to my daughter, who became interested in playing xylophone for the school band. I may have caused the opposite effect, since the complexity just scared her off.
Even if everyone on the planet said out loud that Ruth Underwood is a great percussionist, she would still be underappreciated in my opinion!
She's a pretty decent piano player as well
czcams.com/video/zqmcNKTezSM/video.html
Ruth has a way of talking about the most complex music ever written in a way that is both engaging and understandable. Incredible musician. She needs to write a book or release some kind of instructional DVD!
"the most complex music ever written" is a reach. sensationalism. why do people have to exaggerate and make it the mostest, bestest, most complexish? Okay, it's complex.
Mad genius. The world is a less colorful and less intelligent place without Frank. RIP good sir.
❤️
I loved everything you did with Zappa
great googly moogly. and that folks is the crux of the biscuit.
I got to see that band Frank Zappa Ruth Underwood George Duke at the circle Star theater in San Mateo California 1974 it blew the house down we got to hear them play Dynamo hum
"well, 3 mistakes - one for each decade that i've been away from the instrument" lol
so self aware but yet after all those years she still doesn't realize that it was actually her who brought that magic to frank's music.
goosebumps whenever i hear her play...
Amazing talent.......I love watching her perform
most amazing music I say and i'll say it again, most amazing music
omg, she's so talented and beautiful... ♥
An article I read in the 70’s about Steely Dan explained the “2” chord and that Donald and Walter called it the “mu” chord and it became my go-to chord ever since. Ruth just made me say “ah-ha!” About Zappa ! Never realized that !
Wow. wish she'd do more of this.
Amazing. Thank you Ruth.
THIS WAS SO COOL TO SEE! She’s incredible!!
That's one amazing lady and musician.
I'm working on Rollo right now on guitar and for the last few months ,it's an absolute nightmare to get right , Frank was the most constantly creative composer of the 20th century and I feel privileged to have attended every tour .
Ruth, George Duke and Frank - that's the musical cream on top of a Zappa pie.
she makes these look so effortless.......
My favorite zappa drummer
i love you, Ruth!
I Love Ruth!
god, I love to hear that again&again! It was my first Zappa album. Love u Ruth
10 seconds of Ruth playing Zappa absolutely and positively blows away the cover band dead and company.
Magic. Simply, magic.
Saw Ruth with Frank in 73. What a great show it was. Saw Yes a month later but Frank blew them out of the water.
One of my fave Zappa tunes. Good to see the legend behind that solo!
I dunno who's more of a mad genius, Frank for inventing this music, or Ruth for understanding his madness.
THANK YOU RUTH! I've missed your playing and always was amazed at how effortless you made it seem. As others have said, I do hope you can make more of these "little ditties" as Frank would call them. Your playing sounded great, then and now, on a complex but now iconic piece of music. Thanks again, and as always "Music is the best."
This is brilliant. Another composer on FZ's level imo is Tim Smith of Cardiacs. If you don't know his work, check it out. He is also a GENIUS in many ways like Frank. You can study his music for years and years and learn many things. It was effortless for him to compose as is it was for Zappa. The creativity just poured out of these guys.
I always considered Cardiacs the missing link between Zappa and XTC. :-)
@@jonaslind8123 That's a perfect description!
Brilliant! Thank you Ms Underwood!
Amazing! Such a treat to watch her discuss and play this epic passage! When listening to FZ my ears always seemed to focus on Ruth Underwood. All my favorite Zappa songs prominently feature Ruth. Ed mann certainly had some big shoes to fill.
Music is the best! Ruth is music!
And...she might need the 50 bucks 🙄
@@stevenedwards4470 That's Mary, right! Home is where the heart is ...
i love you, Ruth
This music never gets old with me. I was a Zappa fan at 10 back in 1969. The first time I saw Ruth playing I thought wow! Not only is she a beautiful woman but a virtuoso as well. Bless you Ruth. Please treat us to more videos. Maybe do something on Vibraphone.
The genius. Ruth acknowledged. Wonderful.
Breathtaking.
What a beautiful and talented woman she is .
Talent: 15% inspiration, 85% perspiration.
Awesome Ruth! One of my favourite “runs” of all time. After such a long time it’s still thrilling to hear.
For Ruth... That's Ruth! So happy to hear this piece played on the fly (including mistakes :-)), from my favorite Zappa era/lineup. Thanks Ruth.
Two Zappa songs with Ruth playing in them stick out in my head: "City Of Tiny Lights" and "Dancin' Fool".
She didn’t play on Sheik Yerbouti
that
should've
been Ed Mann, at the time ...
Brilliant as ever
Ruth has a style of her own . Always loved her sound . Thank You Ruth !
No apology needed by Ruth. That was great to hear and to see performed. Top notch musician and lady.
it always blows my mind to think about how sharp everybody in Zappa's bands must've been in the middle of tour, constantly rehearsing and playing shows every night and getting tighter and tighter until their music making machines!
Man she is such a disciplined musician
That's the crux of it.
One thing about great musicians and composers is....even when they are gone the legacy still goes on.
That’s talent. Ruth 👍 Frank 👍👌
Watch Ruth !!!!
She was for a while an integral part of the Zappa sound.
I have watched this so many times love listening to your musical genius and the genius of the late Frank Zappa thanks a lot Scott Downing truck driver out of Bakersfield,
Thank you Ruth for the insight. His level of writing is pretty awe inspiring, and your musicianship being able to do it is also awe inspiring.
Most interesting!
I love this
Thanks Ruth! always loved that song.
Those albums when she was playing on them were some of my favorite FZ albums. Probably since she was on them, since she is a great musician. And reading the comments from others, she is also a great person. Thanks.
That brings me to my next point, kids.... Don't smoke crack.
Ruthie, Love you. You are a percussionist's dream.