For those unaware, Ed Palermo is not a business as usual musician. After all, when most people think of big bands, they think Oh No! Not Jazz!! But go to see Ed Palermo’s Big Band, and you might hear Frank Zappa, Todd Rundgren, The Police, Pat Metheny, or one of Ed’s own compositions, loaded with lush turns and unexpected twists.

Before forming his band, Ed toured and recorded with many different artists, including Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Lou Rawls, Melba Moore, Debbie Gibson, The Spinners, and countless others.

Ed’s interpretations of the music of Frank Zappa, Paul Butterfield, Todd Rundgren, The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Procol Harum, Jethro Tull and others have consistently brought him and his band critical acclaim and rave reviews.

The Ed Palermo Big Band’s latest album, “Prog vs Fusion: A War of the Ages,” highlights some of Ed’s favorite progressive rock and jazz fusion compositions.

1. Resolution (John McLaughlin) [1:13]
2. Black Hole Sun Intro/Bodhisattva (Chris Cornell/Walter Becker, Donald Fagen) [1:07]
3. There Comes a Time (Tony Williams) [3:01]
4. Tarkus (Keith Emerson, Greg Lake) [1:03]
5. Vrooom (Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto) [4:03]
6. Long Distance Runaround (Jon Anderson) [5:34]
7. Snake Oil (Tony Newton) [3:48]
8. G-Spot Tornado/Resolution/Jingo (Frank Zappa/John McLaughlin/Babatunde Olatunji) [2:40]
9. Vrooom Vrooom (Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto) [1:17]
10. There’s No Mystery About My G-Spot (Chick Corea/Frank Zappa) [2:25]
11. Spanish G-Spot Tornado (Chick Corea/Frank Zappa) [0:22]
12. Mystic Knights of the Sea (Tony Williams) [3:18]
13. On the Milky Way Express (Wayne Shorter) [5:11]
14. Take a Pebble (Greg Lake) [3:21]
15. One Word (John McLaughlin) [1:03]
16. The Fish (Chris Squire) [2:17]
17. Fred (Allan Holdsworth) [1:46]
18. Black Hole Sun (Chris Cornell) [4:46]
19. Pictures of a City (Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield) [6:39]

This intriguingly sculpted new recording opens on the strident Resolution and the compelling Black Hole Sun Intro/Bodhisattva and then we get brought forth the flirtatious, spoken-word hued There Comes a Time, the propellent Tarkus, the funkily-grooved Vrooom, and then comes the all-embracing Long Distance Runaround, the infused funk-driven Snake Oil, the drum-led, guitar-fed G-Spot Tornado/Resolution/Jingo and the forceful Vrooom Vrooom.

Along next is the elegantly outlandish There’s No Mystery About My G-Spot and the clap-along of the .22 second Spanish G-Spot Tornado and they are in turn backed seamlessly by the cinematic swing of Mystic Knights of the Sea, the flourishing On the Milky Way Express, the languishing Take a Pebble and the absorbent One Word, the set rounding out on the drum-fed, funky guitar work of The Fish, the vibrant Fred, a Bruce McDaniel-vocalized Black Hole Sun, closing on an uproarious Pictures of a City.

Internationally, the Ed Palermo Big Band returned to Germany in 2019 to headline the 30th Annual Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan. This was their 4th trip to Europe.

Locally, the band performs bimonthly at The Iridium in NYC and The Falcon in Marlboro, NY.

Ed Palermo Big Band - Prog vs. Fusion [CD Promo 2025]

Official Purchase Link