ANY Worcester Zappa fans who didn't battle through floods to see Jimmy Carl Black and the Muffin Men missed a treat.

The band was formed in 1990 to play a one-off show to celebrate Frank Zappa's 50th birthday and have been wowing fans ever since, boasting four original Mothers of Invention or Zappa band members in their line-up.

Jimmy Carl Black was drummer and singer for the Mothers and was special guest for this latest tour, bringing his rich vocal (and he's in his 60s now) to add a cherry to the cake of the band's outstanding musical talents.

Drums, bass and lead guitars, trumpets, saxophones and keyboards - the famous sound was captured and joyously replayed for a grateful if not massive audience.

There was the jazz, blues, boogie, experimental, chamber music mix which you might expect from the great Mr Z's enormous repertoire. And the Muffins gave us music you could feel and proved themselves no ordinary tribute band. All individually creative within a very well orchestrated whole, in true Zappa tradition, they also included plenty of humour and toe-tapping in between. From Zut Alors to Big Leg Emma, a night to remember and a legend witnessed.

Review by Carolyn Morris