Chato Segerer: Sus2’s On The Loose II (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
I'm rather familiar with Chato's (prog) rock and Zappa projects. Even with his latest endeavors, which are being released on his "Never Odd Or Even" albums.
But I was completely blown away by 'Sus2's On The Loose II', a piece that gives a bit of a preview of what to expect on "Never Odd Or Even Vol. 2".
A beautiful composition with matching instrumentation.
Love it ! Check it out, and make sure to read Chato's comments on the piece over at Bandcamp.
ZAPPED will be performing at Zappanale, so here’s a short chat with bandleader, composer and guitar player Chato Segerer.
UniMuta: Hi Chato, I was glad when I heard that you will be performing at Zappanale with your ZAPPED project. It turned out to be a fortunate coincidence in which you were asked to replace a band that couldn’t make it. Were you happy when they asked you? And were you ready (material- and availability-wise)?
Chato: ZAPPED exists since 2023 and I submitted my band for the 2024 Zappanale . They were interested, but it didn't work out then. I was happy when Georg asked me, because it was his task to find replacement bands. We had enough material, but unfortunately our sax player had already a gig on that date. Georg & I searched hard for a replacement, but to no avail. The material still works without sax and probably (not confirmed) we have two guest players who will play one song each with us.
UniMuta: If my memory serves me right, you played a solo set in 2013 and performed with your Chato! Band in 2017. Why the name-change from Chato! to Zapped? And what can we expect?
Chato: The band CHATO! played its last gig in 2019, because many moved out of the city Osnabrück and I didn't have the energy to find new musicians. In 2022, I moved to Fürth and found new musicians in Nürnberg, because I studied jazz composition. ZAPPED is like a new chapter of the CHATO! band, the musical style and the instrumentation is similar (except now with vibes instead of keyboards), but now the material is at least 50% Zappa, the rest is my own. We even include some songs from the CHATO! albums.
I was never too happy with CHATO! as a band name, we had to come up fast with a name then, this was the only one we all agreed on and it makes sense, since I wrote all the material. But what would I call a solo album that doesn't feature the other musicians? Or if it's a very different style of music? ZAPPED features new musicians, so it was a good reason for a name change. And BTW ZAPPED was a name I suggested ten years ago, but the other band members didn't like it. The new members liked it and so, ZAPPED we are.
What to expect: we are the band for the Zappa nerds, because we play the less-played songs and some rare "numbers" (hint)
UniMuta: You’re also performing as part of a duo (J.O.E. ?), you’re part of Progosaurus, and you have your own Zapped project. How do you cope / prioritize? Is there (or could there be) a Zapped release in the pipeline?
Chato: Jupiter Orbit Escape (aka J.O.E.) is a full progressive pop band, but sometimes band chef Jovana and me perform as a duo for quieter gigs. Those three projects just happened. It was never the plan to be part of three projects :D
The prioritization is relative to the genre that is asked for gigs. If somebody wants a jazz band, there is ZAPPED, if somebody wants a hard rock/metal band, there is Progosaurus and if somebody wants a more song-oriented band with vocals, there is J.O.E.
We did talk about the possibility of a ZAPPED album. It's a time and money issue though and I want to do it justice. But first, I want to put out my solo album(s) "Never Odd or Even Vol 1&2" on CD this year and Vol 2 is not even out yet digitally (Vol. 1 was released last January on my bandcamp).
UniMuta: I know that you have an excellent taste when it comes to adventurous music. What artist or band blew you away recently? (this is a non-Zappanale question), and looking at the upcoming Zappanale festival, what band(s) do you want to see?
Chato: Two weeks ago I saw a singersongwriter event where several artists performed three songs and one guy totally blew me away. He is called "Butzemann" and he sang while the rest came from a backing tape. Also featured was Lee (who performs with me in Progosaurus) who did show elements and also sang. It was extreme, it was funny, it was clever, it was rough directly-in-your-face. The project "Butzemann" is so fresh you can't find him under that name right now, there is only one single (Erwachsenensachen) on Spotify under the artist name "Backalley Recordstore". I loved all three songs right away. This must have been the same feeling to watch Knorkator in 1995 (one of my favourite bands)
About Zappanale: I wanna see "The White Page", should be interesting. Unfortunately, I have to leave Saturday morning, but Monika Roscher's big band is top (I even had her as a teacher for Large Ensemble for 1 semester, you will hear the result on my upcoming solo album "Never Odd or Even Vol.2")
UniMuta: Thank you, Chato. See you soon. Zapped will be performing at half past midnight on Friday. On the main stage. That might a bit on the late side, but I’m sure that it will be worth it. See you there!!
And don’t forget that you can follow Chato and ZAPPED on different platforms:
The exciting one first: my band ZAPPED plays at Zappanale this year ! The band Z3 can't come this year, so we were asked to substitute for them. We will only be a quartet for this occasion, because Linus the sax player is unavailable, but of course we will give you an awesome show
18.7. Zappanale Festival, Bad Doberan, 0:30 (last band of the day), Mystery Stage
Other ZAPPED Gigs in 2025 are:
30.8. w/ Bonnen in Gebhardshain, Georgs Garagen Konzert
13.9. im Concrete Jungle Jazz Club Nürnberg, 20 Uhr
Also exciting is my solo show called "The Dynamite Chato Solo Extravaganza" and I play it twice this year:
29.3. Kaltscher Klup Fürth, 20 Uhr
12.9. Zapparossa Festival, Gelnhausen, after the movie Eat that Question
I will do stuff of my projects, original compositions and covers, just guitar or with backing track
Progosaurus Gigs:
6.5. Opener der Jazzsession, Tellerrand, Nürnberg, 20 Uhr (auf Hut)
Frank Zappa's movie 200 Motels, and right after that, a concert of my band
Am Sonntag, 17.11.24, gibt's was besonderes, denn im Casablanca im Nürnberg wird nicht nur Zappas Film "200 Motels" gezeigt, es spielt sogar nach dem Film noch meine Band ZAPPED, also das Rundum-Sorglospaket für Zappa-Fans
Der Film startet um 19 Uhr, Konzert direkt danach im gleichen Saal
Reserviert euch lieber ein Ticket auf der Casablanca Seite, gibt nur noch paar Plätze
News about my new album:
Everything is mixed, now it only needs a mastering. I sooo wanna release it before Xmas, but I have to wait for the master. I will make a pre-order very soon. Remember: It will be here first as download-only, then when my 2nd album is ready, I will release 'em both on 1 disc.
Meanwhile: If you haven't already, check out the latest single LAWINEEE!!! from this new album.
Featuring Lee (guitar, bass), Lukas Kollross (guitar), Chato Segerer (bass, guitar) & Moritz Luzner (drums), Progosaurus has just released their first album.
As the name and the line-up suggests, this is instrumental, guitar-oriented prog. Love the artwork, love the music.
Out on CD and available as a digital download / streaming album. Private release, and word has it that the album will also be distributed in Japan !!
The band has scheduled some concerts, so check them out if you're in the neighbourhood.
4th August, Weinturm Open Air, Bad Windsheim, around 1 pm
15th September, Newcomer Contest, Fürth, around 3 pm
Check out Palina & Chato's version of FZ's 'Dumb All Over' on the ZappaRap compilation / Zappa tribute album. Here's Chato discussing and showing how he recorded the overdubs:
There's a slight delay in the manufacturing of the Progosaurus CD, but the good news is that the album can be enjoyed on Bandcamp, AND there are opportunities to see the band live.
Chato adds:
next Progosaurus gigs:
4th August, Weinturm Open Air, Bad Windsheim, around 1 pm
15th September, Newcomer Contest, Fürth, around 3 pm
speaking of gigs, here are the upcoming ZAPPED gigs (my own band):
23rd July, Tellerrand, Nürnberg, 8 pm. Opener of the Jazz session AND bachelor concert of my drummer simultaneously
3rd November, Immerhin, Würzburg, double bill with Sean Noonan's Picnic, 4 pm
And if you want to catch me with other bands or one-offs, here is the complete list, directly copied from my Facebook musician page (facebook.com/Chato.Segerer)
22. Juni: als Impromusiker mit @RollenRausch , Zukunftsfestival Fürth, Grüner Markt, 16:30
2. Juli: Composer's Ensemble (mit neuen Werken von u.a. mir), Katharinenruine Nürnberg, 20 Uhr
3. Juli, Hermeto Pascoal Ensemble spielt 1 Komposition von mir (Liveaufnahme für mein Solo Album), Katharinenruine Nürnberg, 20 Uhr
16. Juli, Uraufführung einer neuen Komposition als Soloperformance, Orchestersaal der Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg, 20 Uhr
20. Juli, mit Matt Craft / Matt & the Strangers, Wasserschloss Wülmersen in Kassel
30. Juli Impromusiker bei Queer Improv, Südpunkt Nürnberg, 20 Uhr
Chato Segerer adds: This is not my own band, but a new band project where everybody can bring in songs in a progressive style. Mostly I'm playing bass, except on my own songs and Lukas' songs as well.
Progosaurus is a progressive rock / joint band project that features Chato Segerer on guitar. A first album is in the making and should also become available (in a limited edition) on CD.
There is a MEGA END-OF-YEAR-SALE going on right now. That means the following:
- Both studio albums (Prog Fusion with Balls + So und nicht anders) cost now only 10 € each AND FOR THE FIRST TIME:
- if you buy both together as bundle, it's only 18 €
But remember, only this cheap till December 31st ! On January 1st it goes back to the regular price.
See shipping costs at end of message
And as if that weren't enough and if you are more into digital :
- Starting now, there is a 15% discount on the whole digital discography, that means 2 studio albums, 1 live album (over 67 min) and 1 single for less than 20 € !
Unlike the CD prices, this discount will stay.
so boys & girls, this is your chance, the CDs have never been this cheap before. Works good as a present too ;)
Love,
Chato
SHIPPING COSTS OF CDS: (all with tracking number)
in Germany:
1 CD 3 €, 1 € more per additional CD
Bundle: 4 €, 0,50 € more per additional bundle
Rest of world:
1 CD 5 €, 2 € more per additional CD
Made available on Bandcamp earlier today, but also to be enjoyed on YouTube: Chato!'s performance of Frank Zappa's 'Marque-Son's Chicken', from Zappanale 2017.
Chato Segerer’s concert at Zappanale #28 (on July 16, 2017) included a performance of Frank Zappa’s ‘Marque-Son’s Chicken’.
The Zappanale concert got released on Bandcamp in 2020 but did not included this piece.
Chato: "It's an outtake from the Live album that I released last year. I cut it out because I toyed with the idea of making an album of Zappa covers, but in the meantime, I have thrown the idea out of the window.”
Chato Segerer recently added two albums to his Chato! Bandcamp page.
Actually, one single track as a fundraiser for Tim Smith, and one album that presented his Zappanale concert from a couple of years ago.
The Zappanale set included FZ's 'Let's Make To Cleveland', a track that Chato had already recorded and released on his "So Und Nicht Anders" album.
If you're unfamiliar with the music of Chato Segerer, I urge you to check out his 2015 "Prog Fusion With Balls" and his 2017 "So Und Nicht Anders" albums.
More recently, Chato has added two 'new' tracks to his Bandcamp page, released as "Live In The Studio Session 2018".
Both tracks sound great and I'm really impressed with his 'In Memoriam, Frank Zappa'.
I brought this album home from Zappanale, where Chato! played a breathtaking live set.
"So Und Nicht Anders" is at least as incredible. I guess it's one of my favourite 2017 releases.
The album is funny. It's zappa-esque progressive rock, and it includes an excellent reworked version of FZ's 'Let's Move To Cleveland'. Completely my kind of music !
