Jazz breaking news: Roundhouse Celebrates Zappa’s 70th Anniversary
Thursday, November 4, 2010
This weekend sees Frank Zappa’s musical and personal legacy take over London’s iconic Roundhouse venue over three nights of music, art, discussion and perhaps mostly aptly, comedy to mark what would have been his 70th birthday next month.
A polymath of extraordinary proportions Zappa’s prolific musical output covers everything from grungy garage rock and blues with Captain Beefheart, sophisticated rock-fuelled explorations with the Mothers Of Invention, through to his unrivalled solo work that meshed together rock, reggae, funk and jazz with modern classical concepts, all wrapped in his fiercely satirical humour.
It’s no mean feat to take on Zappa’s hugely challenging material yet his son Dweezil’s highly detailed approach has seen him transcribe each original part from his father’s master tapes to ensure absolute authenticity and a staggering level of knowledge few tribute bands can match.
The three-day series of events begins tomorrow with a discussion between Frank’s wife Gail Zappa, his musical assistant Ali N Askin (who worked with him on his classical piece 'The Yellow Shark'), computer synclavier programming expert Todd Yvega, and recording engineer Frank Fillipetti, the first engineer to work with The Zappa Family Trust on reissuing unreleased Zappa material. This precedes a performance of 'The Yellow Shark' by the London Contemporary Orchestra – the last album to be released before Zappa's death in 1993, it features some typically Zappa-esque song titles; ‘G-Spot Tornado’, ‘Dog Breath Variations’, ‘Get Whitey’ and ‘Be-Bop Tango’. This will be followed by ‘Wild Imaginings – The Music That Influenced Zappa’ also performed by the LCO, giving an insight into Frank’s influences that ranged from Stravinsky to 1950s doo-wop, grungy rock ’n’ roll and jazz icon Eric Dolphy.
Yet it will be the Zappa Plays Zappa band that should provide the highlight of the celebrations on a double bill with cult British comedy duo The Mighty Boosh on Saturday. The ZPZ band have performed in the UK before but this should be particularly special as the band will feature original Zappa sidemen including Mothers of Invention singer / guitarist Jeff Simmons, anarchic bassist Scott Thunes and woodwind / keyboards player Ian Underwood. They’ll play Frank’s best selling album Apostrophe in its entirety as well as other selections from FZ’s vast repertoire. With The Mighty Boosh’s Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt providing their own take on Zappa’s music and a comedy sketch recreating actual dialogue from Zappa’s infamous Old Bailey obscenity trial, plus Frank himself making an appearance to ‘play’ live with son Dweezil, this will be an epic and aptly surreal tribute to this truly unique musical visionary.
With Zappa-inspired art adorning the inside of the Roundhouse, in an attempt to replicate the inside of Zappa’s mind, as well as video, visuals and music, plus a closing discussion on Sunday with bassist Thunes, who will be demonstrating some of his basslines from his seven-year stint in the Zappa live band, alongside Jeff Simmons who famously quit the MOI the night before they started shooting their movie 200 Motels, it’s all proof positive that Frank’s legacy is very much alive and kicking today.
– Mike Flynn
For more info go to www.roundhouse.org.uk/frank-zappa