Zappa Plays Zappa

Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank, and brother to Ahmet, Diva Thin Muffin Pigeon, Moon Unit, and Motorhead has put together an incredible ensemble which goes by the name Zappa Plays Zappa.

I tend to over exaggerate a lot; especially after I see great music. But, this was something of mind blowing proportions.

Anyone who is a fan of the life, work, humor, and talent of Frank Zappa should make it a point to see this show. A team of remarkably talented musicians (one of whom toured with FZ in the 1970's - eight people total) go through a two hour set of Zappa numbers with the same zeal and profound uniqueness as Frank would have. The musical arrangements are intricate symphonies boiling with scorching complicated instrumentation, and usually hilarious satirical lyrics. Son Dweezil, serving as frontman (or the role of Frank, if you like) does a perfect job; not only conducting and crowd pleasing, but more importantly massacring the ever living shit out of the electric guitar - much like his father. The rest of the crew is right there with him moving at light speed and sparing no physical expense to perform each piece with unbridled fervor. Ray White was the special guest for the evening. White was part of the FZ band in 1976 serving as rhythm guitarist and vocalist on Zappa in New York, Tinsel Town Rebellion, and You are What You Is. His distinct voice brought a great deal of authenticity to what ZPZ is out to accomplish.

The late Frank Zappa left behind a virtual library of music, most of which he astoundingly composed himself with a pen and grand staff paper. People don't refer to him as the Stravinski of modern rock for no reason. He was a mad scientist driven by a ceaseless addiction to writing music and pushing the envelope. When the hippies were being hippies, Frank was satirizing everything in site. His disdain for pop culture and vulgar sense of humor mixed with an uncanny talent for composing groundbreaking music made him an immediate icon in the world of music - a label which lasted until and certainly beyond his untimely death in 1993 from prostate cancer.

Interesting fun fact: Zappa never used illegal drugs, in fact he despised them.

To summarize the life and work of Frank Zappa here on this little blog would be an exercise in futility. There is simply too much to know, too much to hear. He put out over 80 albums (including compilations, etc.) I will recommend a few albums to check out if you're interested : Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! , We're Only in it for the Money, Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo, and the two most popular - Apostrophe and Over Night Sensation. For the live experience check out The Roxy and Elsewhere, Filmore East 1971. As I list these albums I'm just restating what I said earlier about their just being too too much. Good luck.

My whole point here is that Zappa Plays Zappa is a project worthy of much attention from anyone who is into the music of Frank Vincent Zappa 1940 - 1993.

High lites: Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy, Nanook Rubs It, St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast, Cosmic Debris, Willie the Pimp, Joe's Garage.