Frank Zappa: Peaches en Regalia

Oh yea naysayers, who doubteth the jazz credentials of Mr. Zappa . . . please note this composition made its way into The Real Book. Not the legal version of The Real Book, but the underground, photocopy-of- a-photocopy-of-a-photocopy edition that passed from the innards of the Berklee College of Music and out to the world via ten thousand underemployed jazz musicians. Getting into this fake book was the ultimate insider credential for a jazz composer. But why they picked this song is a bit of a mystery. Not because it isn't greatvraiment, c'est magnifiquebut because "Peaches en Regalia" is one of those crazy, complicated Zappa tunes that is not your typical jam session fare. This music has a unhinged, majestic quality; it could serve as the soundtrack for the coronation of a mad king. Ian Underwood is a one-man band, the great Shuggie Otis joins on bass and Zappa adds a brief but very accomplished solo. Give that man a crown!