Spinal Tap A to Zed

Jazz Odyssey: Written by Derek, this instrumental premiered at Themeland Amusement Park in Stockton, California, during the 1982 tour despite David's reluctance to "do a free-form jazz exploration in front of a festival crowd." As it turned out, only a sparse crowd was on hand to witness the rebirth of Tap sans Nigel. It may have been a good thing: Nigel is not a fan of jazz. "Jazz," he said in 1992," is just a series of mistakes without the 'oops.' " (LT) Nigel has also lambasted jazz guitarists for playing so soft. "I don't understand it. They use this bizarre tone on their guitars; it's like it's under a tub of water. It's like plup-plup-plup-plup-plup, like a little motor boat. But I think that's because they're old people, and they don't like the noise. And of course they play soft, so you can't hear them. Then they go, 'Yeah, I'm a great player.' 'Sure, mate. I've gotta take your word for it.' With me, I play loud. My manhood is right on the table. Examine it, pick it up, if you will." (GP) Derek: "Hopefully there's a bit of Jazz Odyssey in everything we play." (QM) Asked if the band would ever record Jazz Odyssey, Derek replied, "To record it, I think, would be to imprison a bird that must fly free." (WP)