Ensemble Modern Plays Frank Zappa: Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions (2003)
Ensemble Modern Plays Frank Zappa
Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions, a selection of works
Toast Rip | FLAC (separate) | (no cue, no log) | Cover | 414 MB | 61:06
Modern - Experimental | 2003 | RCA Red Seal | RS/MU
Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions, a selection of works
Toast Rip | FLAC (separate) | (no cue, no log) | Cover | 414 MB | 61:06
Modern - Experimental | 2003 | RCA Red Seal | RS/MU
Ensemble Modern - Jonathan Stockhammer, conductor
Omar Ebrahim, voice - David Moss, voice
Arrangements and transcriptions: Ali N. Askin
TRACKS:
1. Moggio [2:43]
2. What Will Rumi Do? [1:36]
3. Night School [4:50]
4. Revised Music For Low Budget Orchestra [7:37]
5. The Beltway Bandits [3:37]
6. A Pig With Wings [4:25]
7. Put A Motor In Yourself [5:21]
8. Peaches En Regalia [3:08]
9. Naval Aviation In Art? [2:29]
10. The Adventures Of Greggery Peccary [21:17]
The fabulous Ensemble Modern present another all-Zappa program following up the Yellow Shark project from about a decade earlier. The main difference between the albums is that Zappa died in 1993, so there are no new pieces written specifically for the Ensemble and Frank isn't conducting. Also, with the exception of an exercise entitled "What Will Rumi Do?" (which conceptually ties back to Ruth Underwood in "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?"), all the pieces should be known to Zappa fans, who are a pretty hardcore lot. For many listeners, that may make for a more enjoyable program, but it's not like this is the Mantovani Orchestra performing the "Hits of Frank Zappa." The track selection is excellent, although it is a bit off the beaten Zappa track. There are several compositions that have only appeared as Synclavier pieces, from the albums Jazz From Hell and Civilization Phase III, and "Revised Music for Low Budget Orchestra" and "Greggery Peccary" are probably not very high on the average FZ fan's hit parade. That being said, these are great, if sometimes challenging compositions, and the Ensemble Modern clearly rise to the task.
allmusic.com