Ossi Duri - X (Ten Years Later Uncle Frank Never Left) (2003)

X, the most recent offering from the Italian band Ossi Duri, has a double meaning: the band was celebrating its tenth anniversary, and it also marked ten years since the death of their primary inspiration, Frank Zappa. The album has them turning in a series of great performances of (mostly) FZ tunes, helped on several cuts by the likes of Zappa alumni Mike Keneally, Ike Willis, and Napoleon Murphy Brock. When you consider the age of this band (the oldest member was in his early-'20s at the time of this recording), you might think the alumni were brought in as ringers. This is not the case; these little Italian virtuosos have got it in spades. The guest spots are wonderful and exciting, but the bottom line is that Ossi Duri can flat-out play, with Martin and Ruben Bellavia deserving special mention for their guitar playing and drumming, respectively. Just take a look at the track listing: "Packard Goose," "The Black Page" (a fantastic piano rendition) and "Sinister Footwear." These are difficult pieces, and the band pulls them off righteously. In addition, the small handful of originals and various segues allow the band to inject a bit of their own humor and personality to the proceedings. Serious Zappa fans have had a difficult decade or so since Frank's untimely death, with very little new material being issued (and we know it's out there). As such, it's great when an album like X comes along, breathing some new life into the repertoire. Zappa fans will love it.