Frank Zappa - 1979 - Orchestral Favorites (40th Anniversary) (2019)

Frank Zappa - 1979 - Orchestral Favorites (40th Anniversary) (2019) @320

Although Orchestral Favorites was not released as Zappa originally planned it, it works well as an album. The 40th Anniversary Edition presents the entire album as released but adds a wealth of bonus material. Disc 1 is simply the album, as released, with an addition take of "Strictly Genteel" with overdubs by Tommy Mars (showing that Zappa kept tinkering with material even after it had been released). Discs 2 and 3 are the real bonus though. The album was recorded with no audience in Royce Hall, but the bonus material is a full show in front of an audience. Here, we really get to see the full range of Zappa's talents. He wrote all the music and did new arrangements for this ensemble. He hired and rehearsed all the players. During the show, he acted as emcee, played live guitar, conducted, and even did some mixing. It's really interesting to hear him teach the band "Black Napkins" during the show (the group had never played or rehearsed it together). It's a simple two-chord vamp, but he gives all the different parts of the ensemble different voicings right off the top of his head. The performances are great, of course, and the material from the show that didn't end up on the original album is excellent. Many of these pieces were written as ballets and Zappa's descriptions of the narratives are really funny. Terry Bozzio's excellent liner notes simply add to a great presentation. If you liked the original release of this album, you're sure to enjoy the 40th Anniversary Edition. (AllMusic)

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