THE Z3 – Funky & Energetic … In the spirit of Frank Zappa

Frank’s cynicism, sarcasm, and biting social criticism isn’t recreated, it’s pointed at the present, and it still works!

Who is The Z3?
Tim Palmieri (Lotus, The Breakfast) – Guitar, Vocals
Bill Carbone (Max Creek, Melvin Sparks) – Drums, Vocals
Beau Sasser (Kung Fu) – Organ, keys, vocals

The Z3 are and aren’t a Zappa tribute. They do play only the music of Frank Zappa. They don’t try to recreate it exactly as it happened in the ‘60s, 70s, or 80s. Instead, they orchestrate it for their funky organ trio vibe, with an energy and groove that carries it into the 20-teens. They embrace the cynicism, sarcasm, and biting social criticism for which FZ was famous, but they point it squarely at 2024. It’s Funky Takes on Frank in the present tense.

Organist Beau Sasser and drummer Bill Carbone discovered a shared passion for Frank Zappa while touring together in the band of guitarist Melvin Sparks. They daydreamed of a trio in the organ-funk style that performed nothing but Zappa–but what third musician could serve as the missing link to bridge the two genres was a mystery. When guitarist/vocalist Tim Palmieri, a diehard Zappa fan, ended up on a string of regular Wednesday night funk gigs with The Beau Sasser Trio in November 2011, the Z3 was born.