Former “stunt guitarist” and keyboard virtuoso in Frank Zappa’s final touring band, Mike Keneally gives the U.S. debut of The Universe Will Provide, a composition for guitar, electric piano, and a 52-piece CalArts orchestra. His gripping, vivid blend of orchestral timbres and a traditional fusion rhythm section also incorporates sound collages (and even adds more than a few pop-cultural and musical references from Stanley Kubrick and Wendy Carlos to Looney Tunes). Since working with Zappa, Keneally has released 20 well-reviewed recordings of his own and has toured widely with Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, among others, and his own Mike Keneally Band. The Universe Will Provide was commissioned by the Netherlands’ NPS Radio for the Metropole Orkest, and recorded by them in 2004. Opening for The Universe is a trio set: Keneally (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Rick Musallam (guitar, bass, drums, vocals), and Doug Lunn (bass, drums).

Room by Mike Keneally