HOT RATS

Zappa is often revered for his hilarious insights, but on Hot Rats he delivers in spades the delicious composition and improvisation for which he deserves even greater accolades. The compositions are superb, particularly on the opener, Peaches en Regalia, where delightful jazzy melodies manifest themselves through saxophones, organs, and acoustic guitars. The album covers a wide range stylistically, mostly localizing itself around playful jazz fusion, but also venturing into dirty blues rock on Willy the Pimp, the only vocal track. Arguably the most impressive part of this album is the virtuoso improvisation that permeates. Zappa delivers some of his finest guitar playing, and he is accompanied by such luminaries as Jean Luc Ponty, who unleashes his legendary jazz rock violin prowess. This stellar improvisational energy makes Hot Rats an excellent addition to the collection of jazz fusion and jam band fans as well as proggers (I can say this as I fit all three of those fan descriptions).