gianfranco salvatore
frank zappa domani

Foreword: this, more than a review, aims to be an information... so take it as advice. So... a book about F.Z. ... another one, you might say. Well, yes, but this one has a merit; you literally immerse yourself in the "matter" Zappa. It is not the usual tome about the lyrics or the life on the road of our hero, but rather a true bible on the entire work of the genius from Baltimore. It extracts the vital essence and makes it readable to the uneducated and enlightens the educated. You will find yourself reading various chapters while listening to records to hear the details that often escape even more attentive listening. It explains Zappa's vision of music and dissects every detail, even the tiniest. The reading flows quickly, even in the chapters for those in the field (read: musicians). Nothing is left to chance; the albums are analyzed one by one, period by period, band by band. But there is one thing I must convey... this book makes the more challenging works, such as The Yellow Shark or Jazz from Hell, readable (excuse the pun). It explains the how and why, sheds light on the modus operandi in the recording studio (a very interesting chapter). In short, it is a precise guide to navigating the jungle of sounds, names, situations, and, importantly, it does justice to those who, by choice, have persistently swum against the tide, always paying personally for choices that seemed bold or worse, lost causes, giving them the rightful recognition both to the man and his immense work. Make it yours... money will never be better spent.