The Z3

The Z3 aren’t a Zappa tribute.

They do play the music of Frank Zappa, but not exactly as it happened in the ‘60s, 70s, or 80s.

The Z3 perform 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. During late night car stereo listening sessions in the parking lots of the nation’s great Motel 6es, they dreamed of an organ trio that performed nothing but Zappa. But where does one find a magical third member equally obsessed with Frank?

In East Haven, CT.

When guitarist Tim Palmieri stepped in, The Z3 was born. The three musicians knew each other from years working in the Northeast jamband scene, and their chemistry was instantly evident. The transition from pickup band to road warriors was as smooth as passage of quintuplets in 9/8.

Since 2011, The Z3 has tackled everything from Freak Out to Broadway the Hard Way with a playful and adventurous spirit that tickles the fancies of both diehard FZ fans as well as thousands who proclaim, “I never knew I liked Zappa.”

The Z3 has performed the Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC, held residencies galore at the regional dives, rocked all the hippy festivals, and delivered a legendary 3+ hour set at the Zappanale festival in Bad Doberon, Germany in 2013.

At the 2015 Zappanale 26 they performed both as the Z3 and as the house band for the “Goodbye Session” in which they backed Zappa musicians Ike Willis, Denny Walley and Ed Mann.

Give thanks for Frank!

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