“It Can’t Happen Here” — but it will. ADVERTISING “It Can’t Happen Here” — but it will. That song title from The Mothers of Invention’s 1966 debut album, “Freak Out,” is the theme of the University of Hawaii at Hilo
“It Can’t Happen Here” — but it will.
That song title from The Mothers of Invention’s 1966 debut album, “Freak Out,” is the theme of the University of Hawaii at Hilo Jazz Orchestra’s second annual Frank Zappa tribute concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the UH-Hilo Performing Arts Center.
“Last year’s Zappa’s concert was something I’ve always wanted to do, and it was successful,” said Trever Veilleux, the jazz orchestra’s director and a professional guitarist. “It was successful musically; the students did a great job. They put their hearts and souls into learning the material and put on a good performance. And it was successful as far as the audience was concerned. It was a sold-out show. We got two standing ovations and people seemed to really enjoy it.
“I thought given that, why not try it again? There’s certainly enough material, you know. Zappa put out 60 albums in his lifetime. So, we decided to do a Part 2.”
Veilleux, a certified Zappa fanatic, said the show will cover “a broad range” of material from the late musical iconoclast’s career.
“We’re playing stuff from the early Mothers of Invention albums all the way up to material recorded on his last tour in 1988. There might be a certain song about dental floss (‘Montana’) in the repertoire,” he said. “There will also be some of his great instrumentals. We’ll be doing ‘Son of Mr. Green Genes’ from ‘Hot Rats,’ which is a monster song. That song is written like a jazz song, with a head and then an improvised guitar solo in the middle.
“What’s unique about that song is he went back and transcribed certain sections of the improvised guitar solo and had the horn section play on top of that. We’re mimicking that pretty unique arrangement, with the harmonized horns coming in and out, in that show. It’s an amazing piece of music and it’s really fun to put together with the band.”
Jazz orchestra newcomer Roger Winter will be the featured guitarist on that selection.
“He’s a big Zappa fanatic himself,” Veilleux said. “He owns a signature Zappa Gibson SG. Gibson only made a couple hundred of these guitars. … And he put the time in and learned note-for-note the solo.”
Other guitarists include orchestra veteran Sean Luscombe, Rory Silva-Sampaio, Keoni Thompson and Veilleux — who said he “can’t resist.”
Veilleux said this edition of the orchestra includes “a killer horn section.” Players include tenor saxophonist Payton Meyer, trumpeter Josh Timmons and trombonist Vince D’Angelo, all of whom recently played with Grammy-nominated Hawaiian swing band Kahulanui.
Another featured player is Elizabeth Sekona, a Honokaa High School Jazz Band veteran, on electric violin. She’ll be performing pieces that originally featured jazz icon Jean-Luc Ponty and the late blues violinist Don “Sugarcane” Harris.
“She’s more than up to it; she’s got that down,” Veilleux said.
Female vocalists include Lilinoe Kauahikaua; Eva Gonzalez, who also plays piano; and Mayumi Long, also a percussionist. The principal male vocalist is Ka‘ikena Scanlan.
Sitting behind the drum kits are Paul Battad and Sean Kenny, who also plays marimba.
“We have some great players in the band,” Veilleux said. “I’m really proud of these kids. I’m hoping people come to see this because of the amount of work that went into this along with the amount of talent from these kids. I think anyone who comes to the show is going to be blown away — whether they’re a Zappa fan or not.”
The event is open seating. Admission is $10 general, $5 seniors, students and children, and it should sell out, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.
For tickets, contact the UHHPAC box office at 932-7490 or artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
