the hum / By Bob Doran

Zapped

Dweezil plays Frank, plus Fishtank goes Italian and poet Nicholas Karavatos back from the Middle East

(Nov. 26, 2009)  When the late great Frank Zappa died in 1993, he left behind a massive body of work that’s not easy to play for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, his quirky compositions use complex melodies and time signatures, drawing on his love for avant-garde composers, jazz and good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll to create a signature style that’s simply unique - Zappaesque, if you will.

The other thing that makes it hard to play is the fact that Gail Zappa, Frank’s widow, guards his legacy jealously and zealously and is known to be litigious, having lawyers send cease and desist letters to tribute bands and fan sites threatening action for the “unauthorized use of works, trademarks and images owned by the Zappa Family Trust.” Dedicated FZ devotees are put off, but most ultimately submit to the iron will of Gail Z, grousing unhappily. 

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The “Zappa Plays Zappa” show coming to the Van Duzer has no such worry of being zapped. The Zappa Family Trust itself presents the evening of music by Frank, with his son Dweezil Zappa fronting the officially sanctioned cover band.

Unlike the Marley kids covering their dad’s tunes (ad infinitum) Dweezil’s versions tend to be “note for note,” as the guitarist noted regarding his Grammy-winning take on Frank’s “Peaches En Regalia.”

“I actually played along with Frank’s guitar solo from the original Hot Rats master tapes,” he explained at zappaplayszappa.com. “He had dedicated that album to me since he was working on that around the time I was born. It’s cool to hear us playing together note for note in a stereo time machine.”

Ready for the Zappa time machine? It lands at the Van Duzer Tuesday, Dec. 1, a busy night music-wise.

Fans of Fishtank Ensemble know that their omnivorous sense of music is global in scope drawing on Balkan music, flamenco, opera, etc. etc. French-born fiddler/bandleader Fabrice Martinez is also an importer of musicians: last time I heard him play he was with Opa Cupa, a band drawing from Italy, Serbia and NYC. Tuesday Fabrice returns to Muddy’s Hot Cup with another international combo, this one fronted by Italian singer/accodionist Gerardo Balestrieri. I’ve been listening to Gerardo’sdisc, I Nasi Buffi E La Scrictura Musicale, an enchanting blend of French chanson, Greek rembetika (currently all the rage) and Italian songs, delivered in a rich baritone reminiscent of Paolo Conte. Great stuff. The backing band includes Fabrice, his brother Roland, over from France to play bass and clarinet, Sean Tergis on percussion and Fishtank flamenco guitarist Doug Smolens (originally from Mexico) who notes, “The songs are mix of originals, Turkish, Greek, gypsy and Mediterranean music.” I’m there.

Also on Tuesday, a visit by those purveyors of psychedelic cowboy music and odes to marijuana pirates, New Riders of the Purple Sage, with David Nelson and friends back in the saddle again. They’re playing way out Hwy. 299 at Simon Legree’s, a bar (and restaurant) in Hawkins Bar. Too far to drive? Not to worry, they’re also playing at Humboldt Brews Wednesday, Dec. 2.

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