Zappa

“It starts with Zubin Mehta decades ago. He left a piece of him with the L.A. Phil that we still embrace today. He performed with Frank Zappa, so he kind of broke that boundary,” said Meghan Umber, the L.A.

Winter is more concerned with the serious musician than the scatological comedian, concentrating on the early work with the Mothers of Invention and late-period rehearsals and concerts of the orchestral music Zappa wrote his whole life.

If “The Velvet Underground” had to contend with limited source material, “Zappa” director Alex Winter enjoyed an open door to the vault of a man who recorded everything, filmed much and apparently kept it all.

This busy romp through the life, art and times of Frank Zappa is illustrated with clips and photos even ardent fans won’t have seen; commentary from friends, family and collaborators fills out the picture of a very public private person.

Moon Unit Zappa’s memoir is a self-portrait of an insecure and often confused child, worshipful of her absent father, Frank Zappa, and thirsty for maternal affection.