ZOOT ALLURES

This is my go-to Zappa disc. Everything Frank does well, he does on Zoot Allures and all in under 40 minutes, no less. The funny stuff, the complicated stuff, the guitar solo stuff and the lascivious lyrical stuff all present and accounted for (though not his orchestral dalliances) on these two hot sides of wax.

Most impressive of all is the title track - a jazz fusion tour de force with some spectacular guitar chording completely unique to Zappa's then-recorded output. For a guitarist relatively set in his ways - as unique as they are - to completely reinvent himself like this is quite the accomplishment. Like Zappa's musicianship was ever seriously in doubt!

The bands (there are several lineups at work here) all cook, even if none of them contain Patrick O'Hearn & Eddie Jobson who both appear on the cover. Drummer Terry Bozzio, who does, dazzles as always. The tunes come from all sorts of studio and live origins, as is Frank's wont in such matters. But everything's solid, and not a stinker in sight.

Succumb to the allure of Zoot Allures. 4 stars.