“Zappa U” Film Screening and Concert by the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra
If you are fortunate to have experienced one or more of the Frank Zappa Tributes performed by the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra, you know what an amazing performance it is. If you have yet to be in the audience, Sunday, January 14th beginning at 4 pm, is your chance to get the full story and hear a set performed live by the Orchestra. Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village will host the documentary film, Zappa U. The film’s Producer, Steve Roby, will be present for a Q & A session after the film.
Since 2013, the University of Hawaii Hilo Jazz Orchestra has performed annual Frank Zappa tribute concerts. In 2016, Professor Trever Veilleux and his students (the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra) presented their fourth concert event, “Zappa4Ever.” Along with archival footage, the film tracks the students’ twelve weeks of rehearsals, their thoughts on Frank Zappa’s complex compositions, and what they take away from the final concert hall experience.
The documentary also features commentary from Cheryl “Quack” Moore (former Saturday Night Live Music Director), sax legend Lou Marini (appeared on several Frank Zappa albums), and photographer Chiu “Ray” Leong, who shot the cover for the seminal Mothers of Invention record “Freak Out!” The film concludes with the students performing several Zappa pieces in concert.
Resident film maker, Steven Roby, is a respected rock music historian, archivist, and best-selling author. Roby moved to the Big Island in 2015, and quickly immersed himself in the Big Island’s unique contemporary culture. In addition to Zappa U, Roby also produced the documentary Western Week In Honokaa for Snap Judgement Films. His third film, Livin’ On a Rock: A Big Island Music Story will be released in 2018. Roby is also the Managing Editor of bigislandmusic.net, an online magazine about Hawai’i island’s music scene.
This is a fundraiser for the UHH Jazz Orchestra. A $10 donation is requested. After the screening of “Zappa U” the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra will perform a 40 minute set of live Frank Zappa music.
Shot on location at UH Hilo
Synopsis
Since 2013, the University of Hawaii Hilo Jazz Orchestra has performed annual Frank Zappa tribute concerts. This is their story… from classroom to concert hall.
In 2016, Professor Trever Veilleux and his students (the UH Hilo Jazz Orchestra) presented their fourth concert event, “Zappa4Ever.” Along with archival footage, the film tracks the students’ twelve weeks of rehearsals, their thoughts on Frank Zappa’s complex compositions, and what they take away from the final concert hall experience.
The documentary also features commentary from Cheryl “Quack” Moore (former Saturday Night Live Music Director), sax legend Lou Marini (appeared on several Frank Zappa albums), and photographer Chiu “Ray” Leong, who shot the cover for the seminal Mothers of Invention record “Freak Out!” The film concludes with the students performing several Zappa pieces in concert.
