The Band from Utopia (1994/2005) A Tribute to the Music of FRANK ZAPPA

by | Dec 6, 2006 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews | 0 comments

The Band from Utopia (1994/2005)
A Tribute to the Music of FRANK ZAPPA

Live at Jazzopen Stuttgart
Studio: TDK DVWW-JTBFU (Distr. by Naxos)
Video: 4:3 color
Audio: DTS 5.1, DD 5.1, PCM stereo
No region code
Length: 60 minutes
Rating: ****

(Ike Willis – guitars, vocals/Bruce Fowler – baritone sax/ Bobby Martin – tenor sax, keyboards, vocals/ Tommy Mars – piano, keyboards, vocals/ Tom Fowler – violin, bass/ Arthur Barrow – bass, guitar, vocals/ Ed Mann – vibes, percussion/ Jay Dittamo – drums/ Chad Wackerman – drums, percussion)

It may seem odd for Zappa-philes to find a band consisting of former members of various Zappa groups playing at a jazz festival.  The late rock star, avantgarde composer, satirist, guitar virtuoso, lyricist, author and campaigner for civil rights and individualism made a number of derogatory comments about jazz during his colorful life. But he was always a fan of rhythm n’ blues and his first albums with The Mothers of Invention were roughly in the jazz rock genre.  The strongly anti-commercial aspect of most of his rock creations made it a contrast with the rock mainstream and closer to the ideas of avantgarde jazz.

There have been several groups in both Europe and the U.S. which have carefully learned some of Zappa’s music – which is a daunting task in itself – and performed it live and on recordings. Even serious classical chamber ensembles have been involved – among them the Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Intercontemporain, and the Omnibus Wind Ensemble. This particular American band chose a name inspired by the Zappa album titled The Man from Utopia, and the nine tunes on this video lean more to the rock and R&B side; in fact some of the lyrics should probably warrant one of those warning stickers on the album cover. Ike Willis is the front man on guitar and delivering most of the vocals.  Easy Meat was composed as a jazz instrumental, but later had its lyrics added. Be-Bop Tango is an extended and very advanced jazz instrumental. The shortest tune is Sofa, which comes from Zappa’s Creation Story. It’s a big hit at the German festival because it’s lyrics are half in German and half in English – Zappa’s view was that if God exists, he must speak German. The DTS surround mix is great.  A must-have for Zappa fans; others may be shocked, which is probably the point.

Tunes: Bamboozled By Love, Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up, Be-Bop Tango, Easy Meat, Uncle Meat, Sofa, Andy, Outside Now, The Illinois Enema Bandit.

– John Henry
 

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