Banned from Utopia
BANNED FROM UTOPIA was formed in the summer of 1994 to perform at the Stuttgart Jazz Festival as a tribute to Frank Zappa. Most of the members have both played live and recorded with their mentor and friend, Frank Zappa, in his various band incarnations. BFU is not merely a tribute band, being just content trying to mimic the master. Rather the values and influences instilled by the years of playing with Frank are the biggest parts of BFU's focus. The tunes Frank wrote are a part of each member's body and soul, put there by years of rehearsal, recording, and concert appearances. BFU prides itself on keeping the Zappa tradition alive with a blend of spontaneity, virtuosity, and by blazing the studio with satirical music. Elements of hard rock, jazz, funk, modern classical, country, and even rap/hip-hop are a part of BFU's musical language. So Yuh Don't Like Modern Art is their debut CD release from Favored Nations.
So Yuh Don't Like Modern Art features six of Frank Zappa's instrumental songs, each given a fresh treatment. Tink Walks Amok/Thirteen is a combination of two songs and is done in much the way Frank intended. It was never performed live, because of band personnel changes. The great Sinister Footwear is revamped along the original 1988 version, but with the horn parts now perfected. Filthy Habits features a powerful duet between guitarist Mike Miller and keyboardist Tommy Mars. Twenty Small Cigars is a beautiful jazz ballad, and Dupree's Paradise is arranged as a combination of the best parts of the many versions recorded and performed live from 1973-88.
Along with the Zappa masterpieces, five awesome originals round out the CD. Most of these are vocals done in the bawdy storytelling tradition with emphases on incredible playing, and of course, humor is in plentiful doses.
THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA PLAYERS
Bruce Fowler - trombone, vocals, euphonium, synth (Zappa, Captain Beefheart)
Tom Fowler - electric bass, violin, acoustic bass (Zappa, Jean Luc Ponty, Ray Charles)
Walter Fowler - trumpet, flugelhorn (Zappa, Diana Ross, James Taylor)
Tommy Mars - piano, Rhodes, Hammond B3 (Zappa)
Robert Martin - vocals, piano, synth (Zappa, Bette Midler)
Kurt McGettrick - baritone sax, bass sax, Eb contralto clarinet, piccolo (Zappa, Yazawa)
Mike Miller - guitar, vocals (Chick Corea, Bette Midler, Fowler Brothers)
Chad Wackerman - drums (Zappa)
Albert Wing - tenor sax (Zappa, Manhattan Transfer, Yazawa)
Arthur Barrow - bass (Zappa)
Marvin Fowler - Scratcher
Ed Mann - marimba, percussion (Zappa)
Mark Matthews - guitar
Phil Teele - bass trombone (Toshiko Akiyoshi)
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