Frank Zappa - The Yellow Shark (1993) [Reissue 1995]

The 26-member Ensemble Modern performs FZ's 'most-humanly-impossible-to-play' compositions. Piano duets, string quintets & small ballets. Simply exquisite, with a 60-page booklet to explain it all. Originally released in 1993, it stayed on the classical c

Released shortly after his death in 1993, The Yellow Shark represents one of the only accurate performances of Frank Zappa's "serious" orchestral music--at least as far as the composer was concerned. Assembled from a series of sold-out performances in Germany by the Ensemble Moderne, the set includes re-workings of old favorites like "The Dog Breath Variations" and "Uncle Meat," live arrangements of some of his hairiest computer music like "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" and "G-Spot Tornado" and new works by Zappa composed specifically for the event. The performances are astonishing and the music? Pure Zappa. --Andrew Boscardin

The 26-member Ensemble Modern perform FZ's "most-humanly-impossible-to-play" compositions. Piano duets, string quintets and small ballets. Simply exquisite; with a 60-page booklet to explain it all. Originally released in 1993, it stayed on the classical chart for most of `94. Includes the tracks "Outrage At Valdez," "None Of The Above," and " Welcome To The United States"; plus new arrangements of some of the most fiendishly difficult pieces from FZ's back catalogue and even a "greatest hit" or two (some would pick this as the definitive version of "Dog Breath Variations"). Sadly, this was the last album released by FZ during his lifetime.