MAKE A JAZZ NOISE HERE

Make A Jazz Noise Here is another two disc live set from Zappa's '88 touring band. This makes a perfect companion to The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life CD also from the '88 band, as this one focuses more on the instrumental/serious side of Frank's music (and probably no surprise the jazzier side). This of course is just a conveinent piegonhole. There is plenty of musical things happening here, filled with that typical Zappa humor and trademark sound. Because of this there should be something here for all types of Zappa fans. (As a side note, its hard to choose better this one and The Best Band...as which is better, so the smart thing to do is get both, but if you perfer the jazzier/instrumental stuffs get this one first, and if you perfer the rockier/direct humor stuff get The Best Band...first). Needless to say, this is played to perfection as Zappa never messed around with musicians and knew how to choose some of the best in the buisness.

There are many moments that make this album a must have. However, I will only highlight a few. First and foremost, When Yuppies Go To Hell. No question about it, this song goes in my list of top songs of all time. Thoughout the near 13 and a half minuets, much ground is cover, grooved based jazz-rock, experimental zaniness, a drum solo, free jazz, and bizarre sounds thrown together to make a psuedo melody. Sounds like Zappa at his finest eh? Secondly, the suite from Lets Make The Water Turn Black to Eat That Question. Absolutely amazing arrangements of some Zappa classics. The horns, the percussion, the guitar...everything is in the right place. This is capped by perhaps the finest moment to come out of the '88 band...an abbreivated Eat The Question. It is sad to see that it is shortened, but they certainly make the most out of it. (The baritone sax can shake the Earth when played at a loud volume) These two moments above alone, make this necessary. But there are more! City Of Tiny Lights. A rip-roaring version is presented here with a great guitar solo from the man. Royal March From L'Histoire Du Soldat and Theme From The Bartok Piano Concerto #3 are two short little covers. It is interesting and fun to hear these tunes arranged for a big-band jazz-rock performance (and I imagine it would be more so for people who are more familar with these works). Strickly Genteel ends the set, and while not being my favorite version of the song, is a great way to end the CD and certainly fits the best on this '88 band record. It also must be noted that even though I picked about five songs to highlight it is really hard to pick a bad moment on either disk (though I do perfer disk one as there are flatter spots on disk two, but nothing too deflating). From King Kong, to Dupree's Paradise, to Crusin' For Burgers...these songs are enjoyable, expertly arranged, well played, and always fun to hear.

All in all, this is one of the best live albums to come out of the Zappa's catalogue. I believe this has something for everyone and is one of Zappa's more progressive albums. While it wouldn't be the best place to start, once you've got the Zappa bug this one should be picked as soon as possible. 4.5 stars rounded up.

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