Yesterday, I was told that Chato Segerer would be playing
at the Zappanale Festival. I’ve known Chato for a couple of years and I’m
amazed about his musical ability and his good taste in music.
So let’s give this excellent news a bit of extra flavour with a short
interview.
UniMuta: Chato, Facebook says that you will be
performing at Zappanale this year. Can you give us some details about what,
where and when?
Chato Segerer: I will play on the Mystery Stage of
this year's Zappanale on Sunday, 4pm till 5pm. I will also play with
Jazzprojekt Hundehagen (same stage, same day). I don't know the exact time, but
they are the very last band of Zappanale #24.
In my solo show you will hear Zappa songs (sing-along
tracks & otherwise), at least one Beefheart number and 3 of my original
compositions (including a never-played-before track ‘cause it was written in
late April). I will entertain you with my guitar/keyboard skills, occasionally
with backing tracks I recorded/programmed myself.
My gig at Zappanale was confirmed last Friday, so my
name will be mentioned, but without any info/photos. Maybe they put the info on
their website, though.
UniMuta: You have performed solo at the Yellow Snow
Festival in Larvik in 2012, you played a solo set at the Moo-Ah Festival in the
UK a couple of months ago, and more recently you opened with your band MILPH
for Doctor Nerve. Is playing with a band the new direction that you want to
take?
Chato Segerer: I also played a solo set at the
Freakshow Artrock Festival in Würzburg in October and as opening act for the
Muffin Men in Manchester in August 2012...
Yeah, definitely. It was never my plan to do solo
shows BTW. The organisers of the Yellow Snow Festival approached me from out of
the blue and asked if I could play a show at their festival. I didn´t have a
band and I didn´t have a show (yet), so these guys really had much belief in my
talent/abilities and they weren't disappointed. My career really started there,
without them I would still be some guy who only plays guitar in his room, so
thank you Eric and Jan! As for a band, I always wanted to make my own band, but
I couldn´t find the right people who (1) like this kinda music (2) can play
this music and (3) WANT to play this music...until now! Unfortunately I have to
find new people soon cause I will be too far away from them (I will study
guitar rock/pop in Osnabrück in September).
Playing with backing tracks is (economically) fine,
but it´s nothing like "I can do this till I die, I´ll never need a
band". I like a band more (and the audience probably too).
UniMuta: The first time that we met, a couple of years
ago at Zappanale, I could immediately tell that you really like Panzerballet.
(note: Chato was wearing the Panzerballet cable rasta wig) Can you tell us a
bit more about that?
Chato Segerer: I heard of them when they were
announced for Zappanale #19, but I missed their performance. A year later I
checked them out and I liked it immediately. In the timespan of 4 weeks, I
bought all three albums (now they have 4) and saw them live twice. It's complex
as hell, it has groove, it has humour and I never thought Jazz and Metal could
fit so good together; it´s so refreshing! I auditioned as their 2nd guitar
player in March 2010 and they invited me to their rehearsal space. They thought
I was too young for the job (I was 19), but they were amazed that I could play
this complex music. They still recognize me, especially Jan Zehrfeld (who
announced me everytime I was in the audience).
UniMuta: That’s great.
(note: check out Chato's version of Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid', arranged by Jan Zehrfeld of Panzerballet here: https://soundcloud.com/chatosegerer/paranoid)
Chato, You've been to Zappanale a
couple of times. Can you explain why Zappanale is so much fun, and could you
share your favourite moment with us?
Chato Segerer: For me Zappanale is more than hearing
live bands playing Zappa. It's a location to discover bands and to hear bands
you know but would never come to Germany if there wasn´t a Zappanale (e.g. Ed
Palermo Big Band). And over the years I’ve met so many great people from all
around the world...I'm glad that this festival exists!
Favourite moment? Top 3 (no order): 1. Meeting the
Zappateers (ZN 21) 2. Winning 1st prize of the Zappa quiz (ZN 21) 3. Being on
the truckstage jamming one night and playing with Jazzprojekt Hundehagen the
other night (ZN 22).
UniMuta: I saw a part of that jam with
Michael Käckenmeister (from Jazzprojekt Hundehagen). Count me in. I’ll be
there.
Chato Segerer will be playing at Zappanale Mystery
Stage on Sunday, August 4, 2013. He’ll play a solo set in the afternoon (16:00
h) and he’ll sit in with Jazzprojekt Hundehagen (the final Mystery Stage concert,
on Sunday evening).
Here's Chato playing along with the Panzerballet CD, on The Brecker Brothers' 'Some Skunk Funk':
