Record Reviews

FRANK ZAPPA ~ HAMMERSMITH ODEON VAULTERNATIVE 20101 (Barcode: 824302010129) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1978 Released: 2010 This is an archival album of the live recordings by iconic American guitarist / composer / bandleader / visionary Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist, recorded in January and February of 1978 at London’s Hammersmith Odeon, one of which yours truly had the pleasure to attend. The 3CD album includes a selection of tracks played during these concerts, all of which were previously unreleased. The album was released in 2010, to celebrate Zappa’s 70th Birthday. All the music was composed by Zappa. The lineup of the musicians playing in the band, which played these concerts consists, in addition to Zappa on guitar and vocals of course, of drummer Terry BozzioFind albums by this artist, bassist Patrick O`HearnFind albums by this artist, guitarist Adrian BelewFind albums by this artist, keyboardists Tommy MarsFind albums by this artist and Peter WolfFind albums by this artist and percussionist Ed MannFind albums by this artist (who played mallet percussion, i.e. vibraphone and similar instruments); a relatively concise septet without a brass section, which represented Zappa’s approach at the time. The repertoire covers past favorites going as far back as “Hot RatsFind albums with this title”, but also new material, which will materialize in the form of the brilliant 1979 “Sheik YerboutiFind albums with this title” album. The music, as I have already stated repeatedly, is beyond categorization, being first and foremost the idiosyncratic creation of Zappa’s musical Genius. Of course every new piece of reissued vault material by Zappa expands the portrait of one of the paramount musical Geniuses of the 20th Century. I still label it as Jazz-Rock Fusion, as it embraces the wide perspective of these two genres. After all it is no less than three hours of the best music money can buy, brilliantly recorded and carefully put together for you listening pleasure. Overall, this a superb and highly detailed document of the way Zappa created his masterpieces, and of course a testimony to his musical out of the box thinking and creativity. As far as concert recordings, this is an extraordinary example of Zappa’s ability to run a tight ship, perhaps tighter than any other. Despite the complexity of the material, Swiss watchmakers are using this music to synchronize their watches by.

Updated: 23/03/2022Posted: 24/10/2021

CD 3 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend