» Fast 'n' Bulbous & Gary Lucas

Captain Beefheart's active period in music (1965-1982) was one of intense experimentation met with almost total commercial indifference. Since his abandonment of music to pursue a career exclusively in art, his 12 albums have gained enormously in stature. One reflection of this is the band Fast 'n' Bulbous.

Captain Beefheart's music is the quintessential 'outsider art music' of the second half of the 20th century. Despite the fact that he retired from music over 25 years ago, his music resonates more strongly than ever as an influence on contemporary music. Fast 'n' Bulbous offer a unique slant on the songbook of one of contemporary music's most idiosyncratic musical figures. The band features seven great, well-regarded musicians drawn from the rock and the jazz worlds:

Co-leaders guitarist Gary Lucas (who was in the final incarnation of Beefheart's Magic Band) and saxist/arranger Phillip Johnston (of the Microscopic Septet) as well as drummer Richard Dworkin, and baritone saxist Dave Sewelson (both also of the Micros), trombonist Joe Fieldler (Ed Palermo Big Band and Satoko Fujii's big band), bassist Jesse Krakow (of Time of Orchids and Doctor Nerve) and trumpeter Rob Heinke (also of Doctor Nerve). With a strong, creative line-up like this, you know that you will be getting something more than just a 'cover band' and you indeed are. Heartfelt, exciting and it both rocks and swings!

Description of Music: The idea is to use the compositions of Don Van Vliet as a vehicle for improvisation and arranging. The band consists of a steady crew of seasoned improvisers from both the worlds of avant-garde jazz and rock, who will render the music in both a tribute and a creative adventure in improvising. We use the horn section to take the place of the vocals, as well as transmute this guitar-based music into ensemble interplay, between horns and guitar and rhythm section.

First performances of the group were in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Brugge, Belgium, and Bremen, Germany in October of 2001. On Feb 9^th, 2002, the group made its New York debut, in a sold-out show at The Knitting Factory that included a reading by Mike Barnes from his biography of Captain Beefheart, and a program of rare videos of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. (see reviews) Subsequent gigs include Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space (sold-out), Joe’s Pub, the 2002 Saalfelden Jazz Festival, the Walker Art Center (sold-out) & Wexner Center in Columbus, Ohio, and the 2004 Frankfurt Jazz Festival.

Gary Lucas' statement: "Seeing Don Van Vliet's NYC debut at Ungano's in '71 with a bunch of my Yale buddies changed my life radically (and I'm still trying to recover!)--that night I vowed to myself that if I ever did anything in music it would be to play with this guy...and I got my wish in 1980 when I joined Captain Beefheart's merry Band as guest soloist (and manager by default)/ Over 4 years, 2 albums ("Doc at the Radar Station" and "Ice Cream for Crow", 1980 and 1982, Virgin Records), a world tour and video ("Ice Cream for Crow"), wrapping my fingers around 2 Van Vliet solo compositions ("Flavor Bud Living" and "Evening Bell") and a whole album as part of the Magic Band ("Ice Cream for Crow) was wonderful training for a career spent carving out my own niche in the post-modern music biz since Don chucked it all for painting in 1984. While my own music bares scant resemblance to his (I would never ever presume to emulate his singular approach) I feel that Van Vliet's sensibility and aesthetic definitely informs my guitar playing and overall worldview--it's like I went to Beefheart University."

Gary Lucas guitar
Jesse Krakow bass
Richard Dworkin drums
Phillip Johnston alto saxophone
Rob Henke trumpet
Joe Fiedler trombone
Dave Sewelson baritone saxophone

« back «