Don Preston's Akashic Ensemble

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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".