Dweezil Zappa, Grammy® Award-winning artist and son of the legendary Frank Zappa, will perform in a musical tribute to his father when the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Performing Arts Center (PAC) presents UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra Meets Dweezil Zappa, Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9, at 7:30 p.m.
Zappa has been touring the world playing his dad’s music with his band Zappa Plays Zappa since 2008. He has also released multiple solo albums, with the most recent being Via Zammata in 2015. Dweezil Zappa and the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra will play a set together during each night’s performance to commemorate five years of the orchestra’s annual fall concerts celebrating the music of Frank Zappa.
“We’ve got a special set planned for this year’s show that spans three decades of Frank Zappa’s diverse catalog,” said Musical Director Trever Veilleux. “We’ll be playing songs from many of Frank’s best-selling albums like Hot Rats, Overnite Sensation, Apostrophe’ and Joe’s Garage. We are also going to throw in some of our favorite songs from the previous Zappa tribute concerts including Florentine Pogen and Sofa.”
The UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra includes more than 25 singers and musicians with a large horn section blowing over a rock and roll rhythm section. To capture Zappa’s complex music, the orchestra puts in four months of rehearsals.
“They work incredibly hard over the course of the semester to bring our audience a tight, professional-sounding show,” Veilleux said. “It is truly amazing what these young musicians can pull off.”
Tickets are reserved seating and priced at $35 General, $30 Discount and $15 UH Hilo/Hawaiʻi Community College students (with a valid student ID) and children, up to age 17, pre-sale, and $40, $35 and $20 at the door. Tickets are available by calling the UH Hilo Box Office at 932-7490, Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., or ordering online at artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu.
