The Sept. 30 edition of Greasy Tracks featured the latest release by The Z3, Filibuster For Frank, as well as a healthy smattering of Frank Zappa music, just because.
Here’s the archive, while the playlist is here.
The Z3 is a trio featuring Bill Carbone (drums), Tim Palmeri (guitar) and Beau Sasser (keys) which has been doing funky takes on the music of Zappa for nearly a decade.
Interviews with members of the band were be part of the feature as they discussed the new album as well as Zappa-related insights.
The musicians had a collective interest in Zappa’s music and had been playing together as a side gig from their regular bands: Palmeri and Sasser with Kung Fu and Carbone with Max Creek. Carbone and Sasser had also been working with Melvin Sparks.
The trio had been doing a residency playing funk-oriented music and decided to do a one-off show of Zappa material which ushered the start of The Z3 — another vehicle to keep Zappa’s music alive on stage and accessible to the public.
What sets The Z3 apart from other instrumental trios is their fearless approach to genre blending. They seamlessly incorporate elements of jazz improvisation, funk grooves, and rock energy into their compositions, creating a musical experience that is both intellectually stimulating and viscerally exciting.
Palmeri — currently out with Lotus — and Sasser handle the bulk of the vocal duties with the Z3.
In true Zappa fashion, Filibuster For Frank is a combination of live tracks recorded at The Pacific Standard Tavern in New Haven in 2017 and interesting interludes courtesy of Carbone.
The venue was the most beloved room for the band which had a number of residencies there. Carbone’s added segments, which intertwined seamlessly with the live material, were culled from a collection of personal, field recordings and what he deemed to be “found sounds.”