v. ZAPPA, Frank: It Must Be a Camel

v. ZAPPA, Frank (1940-1993)

It Must Be a Camel (1969)
FZ, guitar
Ian Underwood, keyboards, woodwinds
Max Bennett, bass
John Guerin, drums
Jean-Luc Ponty, violin
(5:17)

From 1969's Hot Rats.

Zappa does something incredibly inventive at 2:21 -- the start of the guitar solo. We've been in 3/4 and it this point, it appears he's just double-timed it into 3/8 -- but count it out! Zappa continues to play in three, but the rhythm section is grooving away in 4/4. A few bars later, it becomes evident.

This piece is complex, filled with shimmering details, and Ponty's violin adds a warmth to the final bars of this masterpiece.