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Zappa Plays Zappa
Posted on 12/27/12 at 7:40 am
Posted on 12/27/12 at 7:40 am
Any Zappa fans out there? I saw Zappa play at LSU Assembly Center around 1978 and it was one of the most amazing concerts I ever witnessed to this day. I just saw that tickets have went on sale for "Zappa Plays Zappa" at HOB in N.O. on 1-27-13. Dweezil Zappa has put together a band that replicates Frank's music as a tribute. Very interesting indeed. I found a ZPZ Bio as follows:
After taking more than three years off to study the physical performance and technical compositional techniques of his father, Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa began his search to create a combo that could, according to Dweezil, "accurately execute Frank's music in the most authentic way humanly possible." Rather than creating what he called a "circus" of Frank's former bandmates, Dweezil's focus was on providing an avenue for the elder Zappa's music to new generations of listeners. To that end, he personally selected members of the Zappa Plays Zappa septet after an arduous set of auditions. The process typically involved them having to transcribe assorted Zappa pieces and then play their specific parts while accompanied only by Joe Travers (drums) -- the latter having previously worked with Dweezil in his and brother Ahmet Zappa's Z. Travers is also the Zappa Family Trust archivist, which likewise meant he would be intimately familiar with the various distinct eras of Frank's music.
After the dust had cleared, Dweezil chose Aaron Arntz (keyboards, trumpet, vocals), Sheila Gonzalez (saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals), Pete Griffin (bass), Billy Hulting (marimba, mallets, percussion), Jamie Kime (guitar), and Travers to accompany him on guitar and vocals. In addition to Dweezil's unwitting role as Frank's progeny, another tether to the man and his music is the revolving-door "guest spot" incorporated into each Zappa Plays Zappa outing. During their inaugural excursions in 2006 that role was filled by three distinct talents: Napoleon Murphy Brock (flute, saxophone, vocals), Steve Vai (guitar), and Terry Bozzio (percussion, vocals). This incarnation was captured for posterity in high-definition video and Surround Sound during their December 21, 2006, gig in Portland, OR, at the Roseland Theater and the following night in Seattle, WA, at the Paramount Theater, highlights of which can be seen on the double-DVD =Zappa Plays Zappa package. In 2007 and 2008 Ray White (guitar, vocals), previously an on-stage member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles, joined the group. ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi
After taking more than three years off to study the physical performance and technical compositional techniques of his father, Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa began his search to create a combo that could, according to Dweezil, "accurately execute Frank's music in the most authentic way humanly possible." Rather than creating what he called a "circus" of Frank's former bandmates, Dweezil's focus was on providing an avenue for the elder Zappa's music to new generations of listeners. To that end, he personally selected members of the Zappa Plays Zappa septet after an arduous set of auditions. The process typically involved them having to transcribe assorted Zappa pieces and then play their specific parts while accompanied only by Joe Travers (drums) -- the latter having previously worked with Dweezil in his and brother Ahmet Zappa's Z. Travers is also the Zappa Family Trust archivist, which likewise meant he would be intimately familiar with the various distinct eras of Frank's music.
After the dust had cleared, Dweezil chose Aaron Arntz (keyboards, trumpet, vocals), Sheila Gonzalez (saxophone, flute, keyboards, vocals), Pete Griffin (bass), Billy Hulting (marimba, mallets, percussion), Jamie Kime (guitar), and Travers to accompany him on guitar and vocals. In addition to Dweezil's unwitting role as Frank's progeny, another tether to the man and his music is the revolving-door "guest spot" incorporated into each Zappa Plays Zappa outing. During their inaugural excursions in 2006 that role was filled by three distinct talents: Napoleon Murphy Brock (flute, saxophone, vocals), Steve Vai (guitar), and Terry Bozzio (percussion, vocals). This incarnation was captured for posterity in high-definition video and Surround Sound during their December 21, 2006, gig in Portland, OR, at the Roseland Theater and the following night in Seattle, WA, at the Paramount Theater, highlights of which can be seen on the double-DVD =Zappa Plays Zappa package. In 2007 and 2008 Ray White (guitar, vocals), previously an on-stage member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles, joined the group. ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi
Posted on 12/27/12 at 9:45 am to TreeDawg
quote:
Pete Griffin (bass)
Seriously though, they are great.
If you are a Zappa fan at all then you should definitely check them out.
Posted on 12/27/12 at 10:09 am to TreeDawg
quote:
Any Zappa fans out there? I saw Zappa play at LSU Assembly Center around 1978 and it was one of the most amazing concerts I ever witnessed to this day.
Was there in the 5th row!
Posted on 12/27/12 at 10:13 am to TreeDawg
if you get a chance don't miss Zappa plays Zappa. They played here a couple of years ago and I almost balked at the $60 ticket price. It was an incredible and unique musical experience. I would recommend all music fans going, not just Zappa fans.
Posted on 12/28/12 at 9:35 pm to TreeDawg
I saw Dweezil on two different tours doing Zappa plays Zappa...well worth seeing...
Posted on 12/28/12 at 9:39 pm to TreeDawg
quote:
I saw Zappa play at LSU Assembly Center around 1978
I don't know if it was the same tour, but seems around the same time I saw him in N.O., may have been on Tulane campus...
Posted on 12/30/12 at 9:45 pm to TreeDawg
ZPZ is really awesome. I bet that '78 show was great! Totally jealous.
Posted on 12/31/12 at 3:05 am to TreeDawg
Frank Zappa Gigography/Tour History in Ticket Stubs
LSU Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, LA) - September 17, 1977
I was there also .....
LSU Assembly Center (Baton Rouge, LA) - September 17, 1977
I was there also .....
Posted on 1/2/13 at 11:18 am to TreeDawg
Saw the show a couple years ago. Dweezil can definitely play. But he played a lot of the more obscure, esoteric Zappa stuff. The show dragged quite a bit.
Posted on 1/9/13 at 3:11 pm to TreeDawg
quote:
I saw Zappa play at LSU Assembly Center around 1978
I was thinking 1979 but it might have been '78. Did anybody happen to catch him at the Kingfish later that night?
My roommate worked at Leisure Landing and he heard a rumor that Frank was going to appear at the Kingfish that night after the PMAC gig. We were like yeah sure but after the show, we went anyway just on the off chance. There was a jazz band playing and I think they went by the name 21st Century Band or something like that. Anyway, we're there for a while and then I noticed FZ leaning against the backstage doorway. When the band finished that song, Zappa walked out on stage, huddled up the band for about 5 minutes and then they played Stink Foot complete with parable about Adam, Eve and Fido in the Garden of Eden. After that, Zappa said g'night and left.
Anyway, I've seen ZPZ and I would go see them again without hesitation. Very faithful to the originals and Dweezil is a terrific guitarist and one hell of a nice guy. When I saw them they opened for Jeff Beck and Dweezil stayed around talking to people and signing autographs until Jeff took the stage.
This post was edited on 1/9/13 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 1/9/13 at 3:21 pm to TreeDawg
Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for the heads up. I saw them the last time they were in NO at the HOB. Very good show. I really enjoyed it. I am too young to have ever seen Frank himself in concert unfortunately, but the man is my idol. Zappa plays Zappa is the closest thing I will ever get to seeing my idol live in concert.
Posted on 1/9/13 at 4:15 pm to TreeDawg
"I poked and stroked till my wrist got numb, but I still didn't hear no Dinah-moe-hum".....Ah Zappa, what a genious.
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