Though born in London, Geoff Pointer has spent most of his life in Australia. Music fascinated him from a very young age, and in his pre-teens he began playing his sister's hand me down classical guitar. After several lessons, he proceeded to teach himself using various books - including Bert Weedon's Rock, Skiffle And Blues guitar tutorial.

After discovering Frank Zappa in his late teens, he was inspired to investigate Stravinsky, as well as pre-twentieth century composers of whom Zappa had been dismissive. He bought an alto sax in an attempt to do something no one else was doing, and also started learning piano and studying the art of composition.

By the early 1980s he was working out Zappa songs by ear, and with the help of some scores sent to him by Barfko Swill.

Although he made a living teaching maths, computer science and physics, he has always made music - playing in a variety of bands and recording demos of his own compositions.

In 2018 he came up with Turbulator as a title for his musical endeavours and became a full time composer/performer/producer of his own music. Having met on the Zappa Forum, and then in person in the UK, I asked if he'd be interested in contributing to my projects with Cordelia Records. You can hear his covers of No More Mr. Nice Girl and Magic Fingers on the Lost Meat (2019) and Would You Like a Snack? (2021) albums respectively.

In 2020, Geoff contributed bari sax to the Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra's Bläther album on a cover of World's Greatest Sinner. The track also featured drummer John Parkinson of Treacherous Cretins.

In June 2024, Geoff released his first album proper as Turbulator: Delusions Of Grandeur, a movie for your ears, a single work with many parts, an opera in two acts. It was recorded at his then home studio in Adelaide...Gail Sloatman. How did she get in here?

At the end of 2024, he moved back to the UK permanently and the following year rebuilt his Back Shed Studios - less than 20 miles from Corby - and played both Zappanale and Mike Fox's Zappadan Zappajam. He recently became a member of the fantastic Mr. Fox's London Zappa Collective, who of course played Moo-ah in 2019.

Geoff says, "I've now decided to create a Zappa tribute album. I've got a concept with a title worked out and I'm close to finalising the track list. Now that my first album is finished, I have refocussed some significant attention on that project alongside my second album."

At Moo-ah, expect a mix of originals, thematic instrumental interludes, some Zappa and a heartwarming homage to Elon Musk. Probably.

Website: music.geoffpointer.com