And there was cake

Zappadan Zappajam went really well last Friday. Each band did a short set on their own then there was general mixing and matching including a dozen guest players with an audience of around 50. It all ended with a mass rendition of Muffin Man with almost everyone playing, singing and dancing. Overall a fantastic night. It almost felt like the Acton Zappa Collective had come into being.

Busy preparing for Zappadan Zappajam this Friday

by Jo Jo Gabor

Rehearsed with Acton Zappa on Saturday. Tonight I'm going to Jazz Mondays rehearsal and tomorrow Tuesday Blue. Then rehearsing some guests on Wednesday. Thursday I'm going to the launch of All City Queens, a book featuring the work of female graff writers and then it's all go for the party on Friday! Guest performers now total a dozen including Jo Jo Gabor, the Burns brothers from Gumbo Variations and Andrew the Idiot Bastard himself threatening to murder a bass guitar. My wonderful wife Lynne is slaving away on decor for the party. This is going to be a wonderful Zappa event - don't miss it.

Zappadan Zappajam preparations going well

In addition to the three bands there are 6 surprise guest players going to join the fun. Some travelling considerable distances.

See us at Zappadan Zappajam on Friday 11th December

Rehearsals continuing to go well and as promised, back in August, here's some details and a flyer for our gig next month. We are hosting a party to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Frank Zappa's birth. There will be 3 bands: As well as Acton Zappa playing Zappa exclusively, there will be Tuesday Blue mixing Zappa with blues and soul and Jazz Mondays bringing their big-band sound to some Zappa tunes. There will also be some surprise guests bringing their own take on Zappa. The party starts early and goes on till late. Hope to see you there.

Now we are 4 (again)

After a longish summer break we were back in the studio on Saturday and very pleased to be joined by trombone player Ollie Hill.

Summer break and future plans

We've taken a break for August. We were to be playing a gig at Oxjam Chiswick in September but sadly the whole event has been cancelled. Maybe next year. Been working on new numbers to add to the rep including Peaches en Regalia and Son of Mr Green Genes both from Hot Rats and looking forward to playing them as a band at the first September rehearsal. Also very much looking forward to Ollie a trombone player sitting in with us. Plans are afoot for an event in December for Acton Zappa to celibrate the 75th anniversery of Frank's birth. It will be on Friday 11th December. Watch this space for further details.

Acton Zappa to be on CD

Acton Zappa are proud to announce that we will be on the new Idiot Bastard and Cordelia Records CD "Sons of Mr Green Genes"

This will be a compilation by various bands playing many versions of Zappa's "Son of Mr Green Genes" - the instrumental track from his popular "Hot Rats" album. The CD is no. 6 in the series put together by the very wonderful Idiot Bastard and Cordelia Records.