OBITUARY: 1945-2016 by Angel Romero

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[This obituary appeared on the site www.progressiverockcentral.com on December 2, 2016]

Australian -rock and classical keyboard master and composer Allan Zavod passed away on November 28, 2016. Based in the United States of America for 30 years, Zavod played, recorded and toured with many well-known international musicians such as Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller Orchestra, Orchestra, Big Band and . He also played piano, synthesizers, organ and other keyboards with some of the most iconic jazz-rock artists such as Billy Cobham, Gary Burton, Herbie Hancock, Jean Luc-Ponty, George Benson and .

Allan Zavod was born October 16, 1945 in Melbourne, Australia. He completed a music degree at Melbourne Conservatorium in 1969. His skill as a pianist was much admired by Duke Ellington who, after hearing him playing jazz piano, arranged for him to extend his jazz studies at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Zavod later held a post as professor of music in Berklee.

Zavod played keyboards in Maynard Ferguson’s Chameleon (1974) and Life & Times by Billy Cobham (1976).

In 1974 Zavod played keyboards on the Chameleon album with Maynard Ferguson (pictured above)…

After that, he joined the Jean Luc Ponty band and appeared on many of the band’s best recordings: (1976), (1977), (1978), Live (1979), (1979) and (1980).

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In 1978 Zavod appeared on this Jean Luc Ponty album, Cosmic Messenger…

In the 1980s and 1990s, Zavod recorded and toured with Frank Zappa. He played in the following Zappa albums: Fits Your 34B, No Matter Which 43B You Are (1985), All You Need is Glove (1985), Does Humor Belong in Music? (1986), You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (1988), Guitar (1988), You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 (1989), You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 (1991), You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (1992), and Cheap Thrills (1998).

In the 1980s and 1990s, Zavod played on many albums with, and toured with, the American Frank Zappa (pictured above)...

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In 1996, Zavod composed the score for the stage adaptation of J R R Tolkien’s The Hobbit that enjoyed tremendous success across Australia.

As a film composer, Zavod wrote scores for over 40 American and Australian films, documentaries, television and theater, including: a US film score with guitarist Eric Clapton; an award winning children’s film for Shine director Scott Hicks; a film for Disney; the Theatre production of The Hobbit; and the long running series A Country Practice.

Zavod (left) pictured here with the Australian jazz musician James Morrison, was awarded a Doctorate of Music in 2009 by the …

In 2009 The University of Melbourne awarded Allan Zavod a Doctorate of Music for his international contribution in the field of Classical , only one of five recipients with an earned Doctorate for composition in the 150 year history of the University.

From 2007 to 2012 Zavod was dedicated entirely to composing. During this period his orchestral works were performed in Australia and abroad.

Allan Zavod passed away at his home in the company of his wife Christine, his son Zac, his mother Annie, and close friends.

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