This is the only LP from the incipient version of Geronimo Black -- a supergroup of sorts featuring contributions from former Mothers of Invention membersJimmy Carl Black (drums/vocals), Buzz Gardner (cornet), his brother Bunk Gardner (flute/trumpet/bassoon/sax/organ/vocals), and Denny Walley (guitar/organ/vocals). Evidence that Frank Zappa initially worked with these musicians for their tremendous instrumental prowess is obvious throughout this self-titled effort. The angular and Baroque progressions of "Quaker's Earthquake" recall Zappa's orchestrations circa the Uncle Meat (1969) project. "Siesta" allows Bunk Gardner to unveil his tremendous versatility on what is undoubtedly the most pleasant surprise for listeners expecting an album of nothing but avant-garde and R&B material. The gentle tune recalls Erik Satie's 3 Gymnopédies (1888), with multiple melodies that diverge and reunite in an effortless interaction. The more introspective performances sit remarkably well beside the hammer-down ethos of "Low Ridin' Man" and the equally gritty "Bullwhip." As a rock & roll band, Geronimo Black foreshadows the sonic attack and verve that informed many of Captain Beefheart's Magic Bands. This is prominent throughout the cut "Other Man," which boasts a rhythmically off-kilter introduction and gallop that is strikingly similar to "Safe as Milk." The horn section takes the combo into the realm of jazz fusion. However, rather than leading the group, as per Chicago or the Loading Zone, they simply augment the arrangement à la the Tower of Power horn section, which adds a bite of brass within the context of R&B and soul. "L.A. County Jail '59 C/S" is an odd blues that invokes the spirit of the Electric Flag's "You Just Don't Realize." The straight-ahead rocker "Let Us Live" is a protest boogie that rises to the occasion with some nifty little horn riffs punctuating the emphatic vocals. The band re-formed in the early '80s on its way to becoming the Grandmothers -- which also incorporated the talents of another ex-MOI, Don Preston. While the initial attraction of Geronimo Black might lie in its Zappa connection, this effort firmly stands on its own merits and equally unique consortium of versatile talents. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide
Tjay Contrelli (Producer), Andy Cahan (Pipe Organ), Bunk Gardner (Bassoon), Denny Walley (Vocals), Albert Watson (Graphic Design), Nathan Gershman (Cello), Bunk Gardner (Producer), Bunk Gardner (Flute (Alto)), Jimmy Carl Black (Producer), Jimmy Carl Black (Percussion), Tjay Contrelli (Sax (Tenor)), Tom Leavey (Bass), Keith Olsen (Vocals), Denny Walley (Guitar (Acoustic)), Tom Leavey (Vocals), Albert Watson (Photography), Keith Olsen (Producer), Albert Watson (Original Graphics), Samuel Cytron (Violin), Bunk Gardner (Wind), Andy Cahan (String Arrangements), Philip Goldberg (Viola), Bunk Gardner (Tenor (Vocal)), Jimmy Carl Black (Tympani [Timpani]), Andy Cahan (Piano), Andy Cahan (Organ), Denny Walley (Guitar), Jimmy Carl Black (Drums), Denny Walley (Pipe Organ), Andy Cahan (Harpsichord), Andy Cahan (Producer), Bunk Gardner (Pipe Organ), Albert Watson (Original Photography), Keith Olsen (Vocals (Background)), Jimmy Carl Black (Vocals), Tjay Contrelli (Sax (Baritone)), Denny Walley (Producer), Andy Cahan (Drums), Tjay Contrelli (Baritone), Tom Leavey (Producer), Murray Roman (Vocals), Tjay Contrelli (Arranger), Bunk Gardner (Trumpet), Geronimo Black (Producer), Scott Page (Oboe), Bunk Gardner (String Arrangements), Tjay Contrelli (Tenor (Vocal)), Bunk Gardner (Flute), Tjay Contrelli (Flute), Bunk Gardner (Piano), Tjay Contrelli (Vocals), Andy Cahan (Keyboards), Tjay Cantrelli (Guitar), Andy Cahan (Vocals), Scott Page (Oboe), Bunk Gardner (Sax (Tenor)), Buzz Gardner (Trumpet), Andy Cahan (Wind Chimes), Buzz Gardner (Cornet), Denny Walley (Vocals (Background)), Tom Leavey (Vocals (Background)), Arno Nuefeld (Violin), Mick Skidmore (Reissue Mastering), Andy Cahan (Guitar)
Geronimo Black would be just another of the hundreds of all but forgotten semi-progressive hard rock bands of the early '70s but for the pedigree of the group's members. Geronimo Black was formed by former Mothers of Invention drummer Jimmy Carl Black in 1970, shortly after Frank Zappa broke up the original Mothers. Named after his youngest son (who has since grown up to be a musician himself), Geronimo Black was Black's band all the way, although he was one of two lead singers and everyone in the band contributed to the songwriting. Besides Black on drums and vocals and his Mothers bandmate Bunk Gardner on keyboards and reeds, the group also included sax player Tjay Cantrelli (who had previously been in the second lineup of Love), guitarist and singer Denny Walley (who ironically would later work for Frank Zappa for several years in the late '70s and early '80s), bassist Tom Leavey, and drummer and keyboardist Andy Cahan (who would later join another set of ex-Zappaites, Flo & Eddie). This lineup signed with MCA Records and released their first album, Geronimo Black, in 1972. Though it's a surprisingly solid album with a varied and occasionally experimental sound, the record attracted almost no attention and the group split up shortly after its release.
Normally, that would be that, but the entire original lineup of Geronimo Black re-formed in 1980 to record a new album, Welcome Back Geronimo Black, for the indie Helios label. Besides including new versions of three songs, "Low Ridin' Man," "Other Man," and the Native American epic "An American National Anthem" from Geronimo Black, the album featured contributions from three more former members of the Mothers of Invention: Don Preston, Ray Collins, and Buzz Gardner. This expanded version of Geronimo Black is the group that for all intents and purposes evolved into the controversial Grandmothers, the group of former Mothers of Invention members who re-formed in the early '80s to play new material and Frank Zappa covers, much to Zappa's displeasure. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
Geronimo Black was a short-lived hard rock band founded in 1972 by Jimmy Carl Black and named for his youngest son Geronimo. It is also the name for an album by "Geronimo Black Two", formed in 2003 by Jimmy's sons, Geronimo and James D. Black, which released a CD under their father's Inkanish Records label. [1]
After their manager Russ Reagen left, according to guitarist Denny Walley,
no one... really knew what to do with the band in the company or how to promote us and they were really afraid of us. We were rowdy, drank a lot, did everything a lot. We were pretty uncontrollable and they wound up banning us from even coming onto the lot and that was the end of the record deal.'[3]
After the band broke up, they briefly reformed to record a later album entitled Welcome Back, Geronimo Black, for the Helios label, which included ex-Magic Band guitarist Gerry McGee.
