Frank Zappa - Imaginary Diseases

Imaginary Diseases, an archival release including various live tracks dating from October to December in 1972 presents Frank Zappa at his artistic peak. This is the Petit Wazoo tour documentation. Ten piece group with 6 horn men. Entirely instrumental tracks with truly inspired performances. Impeccable drumming, fantastic horn work, ripping guitar solos and tasteful bass playing is what makes up performances on this, arguably the best Frank Zappa archival release.

The first track "Oddients" is, as the title suggests, an odd piece of improv with some audience participation. Which leads to "Rollo". The only flaw this album has is that the version included here is in edited form, without the vocals section like it used to have during the Petit Wazoo tour, and thus we only get the infamous finale that was later added to "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" suite for the late 1970s performances. Nonetheless, this instrumental coda is a striking piece of music, with some sad and heart-wrenching oboe used to good effect and also mixed in well with the brass, that tackle the atonal, yet oddly beautiful melodies. "Been To Kansas City In A-Minor" follows as a 10 minute blues jam that logically follows the blues rock orientation of the earlier Mothers line ups, but far more sophisticated thanks to the horn section.

The highlight, though, is the fourth piece. "Farther O'Blivion" suite has been previously unreleased, yet it's an amalgam of several distinct Zappa themes that later became compositions on their own. First part is the "Steno Pool" section from "The Adventures of Greggary Peccary", including a nice tuba solo, followed by the proto-version of "Be Bop Tango". While Bruce Fowler's trombone solo is as magnificent as it was on the Roxy and Elsewhere album (that man can really blow the horn!), it is drummer Jim Gordon who is the most surprising instrumentalist there. He proves to be a proficient jazz drummer and his solo is surprisingly listenable too. Usually I don't care for drum solos but his at least doesn't sound like a bunch of arrhythmic doodling, as could be said about most drum solos. Finally the band rounds it off with an instrumental version of "Cucamonga", much more involving than the later vocal rework on Bongo Fury. Overall, great sixteen minutes.

Fifth track "DC Boogie" starts out as hypnotic fuzz toned psychedelic jam with a heavy guitar solo, but during the middle, after Zappa's interaction with the audience, this improvised tune turns into...yup you guessed it, boogie! "Imaginary Diseases" is another composed tune, with the exuberant brass playing a theme reminiscent of a 70s cop movie on top of funky rhythm section. Frank again turns the tune into guitar fiesta until the head is restated again. "Montreal" is more inspired psyche/blues jamming from the group and is a fine ending to this 63 minute album.

Overall, a fine posthumous, archival release from Zappa. With none of the juvenile sophomoric humor so present in many FZ's work as it is entirely instrumental, and as this is the first release to document the 1972 live band; this is essential and highly recommended.