Top 10 Albums of 2008 - #4
Zappa Plays Zappa - Seattle/Portland Concerts
“The quality of your life changes when you discover Frank’s music.” This line from Steve Vai sums up Dweezil Zappa’s motives to assemble a top-notch group of players in order to introduce Frank Zappa’s music to lost generations. The 2-disc DVD from Razor & Tie documents a pair of concerts from Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Dweezil and Napoleon Brock are on hand, aided by the talents of half-dozen impeccably brilliant players, some as young as keyboardist/trumpeter/vocalist Aaron Arntz. Former Zappa band members Vai and Terry Bozzio make guest appearances as well, but no matter which tremendous musicians are on stage, the focus is clearly on Zappa’s music. Hilarious tracks like “Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow” are there for levity, amongst the testing instrumental forays of “Inca Roads” and “Pound for a Brown.” Songs for young fans, old fans, new fans, and longtime fans are spread throughout both concerts, demonstrating that the quality of each and every life can be changed for the better by Frank’s music.
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