Grand Wazoo [Original recording remastered]

From the Label
This 1972 album continues the mostly-instrumental, jazz-rock thread of Zappa's work, which began with HOT RATS and continued with WAKA/JAWAKA. It's a big-band setting this time, with lots of improvisation, with big brass, woodwind and percussion sections. Sal Marquez, in particular, shines on trumpet. Zappa-philes will also recognize names like Aynsley Dunbar, Don Preston and George Duke.

The five lengthy tracks include the witty "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus," the intricate title track, the rock-edged "For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)," and the more lyrical "Blessed Relief." Packaging includes a Zappa narrative that gives these tracks their conceptual continuity. Zappa was temporarily giving his satirical side a breather (it would return in due time on OVER-NITE SENSATION) and making some of his more ambitious, if often overlooked, instrumental work.

Grand Wazoo,Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention,Rykodisc,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Grand Wazoo [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating:

Is This Phase II of Waka Jawaka?
The Grand Wazoo
The Grand Wazoo
Jawaka no.2: he does it again...
A wonderful jazz disc

The Grand Wazoo
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention
Manufacturer: Zappa Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Waka/Jawaka
Hot Rats
Burnt Weeny Sandwich
One Size Fits All
Uncle Meat

ASIN: B0000009SF
Release Date: 1995-05-16

Tracks:

The Grand Wazoo
For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus
Eat That Question
Blessed Relief

Customer Reviews:

Is This Phase II of Waka Jawaka?.......2007-07-26

I'm a big Zappa fan (actually saw the Roxy band in 1974 - eat your heart out). Anyway, in my humble but all important and all knowing opinion, The Grand Wazoo (with its glorious 21 piece jazz orchestra) and Waka Jawaka simply represent the best of Zappa's material from the 70s. Ok, we can throw Roxy and Elsewhere and Bongo Fury in there as well. Sure, Zappa had bands that sounded this good, most notably the Make A Jazz Noise Here band - but for some reason, this music just sounds more organic than that final touring band (which he regarded as his best band ever). There are 5 tracks on Grand Wazoo and they are all great. I have a particular fondness for the title track and the closing track, Blessed Relief. If you want to hear Zappa at his very best, you want The Grand Wazoo and Waka Jawaka. 'Nuff said.

The Grand Wazoo.......2007-05-30

Frank Zappa And The Mothers Of Invention-The Grand Wazoo *****

A previous reviews have stated Frank Zappa belongs to a select few composers of jazz that surpass all the rest and are among some of the most talented musicans ever, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Frank Zappa. Now, and really even during his career Frank Zappa was mostly known for his satirical comedy in his lyrics and his vituosic guitar playing which is fine and good because he was amazing at both, however Zappa was also one of the greatest arrangers of classical and jazz that the world has ever known, as well as one of the most inventive and innovative, and that is often disgarded and overlooked, and The Grand Wazoo does a wonderful job of showing all of showing all of Zappa strong suits.

The Grand Wazoo was released in 1973 as part of the tilogy of albums begining with the legendary classic Hot Rats, continuing with the brilliant Waka/Jaka, and concluding here with The Grand Wazoo. While not the overwelming classic that Hot Rats is this is far superior in composistion and form. More mature and thought out even though most of this is 'free form/improv' though not much was ever improv with Zappa other then guitar solos. While this is more orchastral then Hot Rats it is more like Waka/Jawaka, and once again this album is superior in all the techincal ways of playing and composition and form, however the other two albums in the genra are favorites above this one. Doesnt make since does it. See while this one is most innovative and revolutionary it does not compare to the other albums as a whole.

Zappas playing as far as guitar playing goes is nothing short of breath taking here, not that it ever is, but this album shows a more adventurous nature to Zappas playing one that had not been heard by him before and he had tried after The Grand Wazoo but was never able to reach this level of experimentation with such success again.

As composing goes this is possibly his strongest album in that area. The songs, well piecces of music rather are so of his most original and interesting. The time signatures and molodic lines and harmonies are out of this world. Zappa was really on a role with The Grand Wazoo.

Aside from Zappa himself Sal Marquez owns the trumpet here and shines like never before or since. This album may contain the most talented and cohesive group of musicians ever assembled together to play on a Zappa album, which explains the incredible results. Aynsley Dunbar, Don Preston and George Duke all in the same room playing together...are you kidding, there is no way this album would be anything short of phenonomal!

For jazz fans and Zappa fans alike this is an album not to pass up. This is the album Miles Davis wishes he would have made with Bitches Brew!

The Grand Wazoo.......2007-04-03

This album is simply amazing!!! The whole album is jazz fusion. The compositions are extremely well written and performed, and it'll blow your mind!! Highlights of the album are The Grand Wazoo, Cletus Awreetus Awrightus, Eat That Question, And Blessed Relief.

Jawaka no.2: he does it again..........2007-03-22

I see this work as a continuation of "Waka/Jawaka," very similar, but it seems to be more crafted, a more solid body of work. One peculiar thing about the label on this record, it is accredited to "The Mothers;" yet another assembly of musicians almost completely unrelated to the previous "Mothers" lineups. But this time around, it is a line-up of twenty-odd something players, a huge band to lead, in a studio or on a stage.

Like its predecessor, it is a vehicle for the featured musicians to show off a little in the framework outlined for them, yet it has the trademark Zappa approach, which the true fan, as well as even the casual fan, will notice right away. A very busy, layered sound, full production, and just odd-ball enough to throw you a curve.

This is a very beautiful performance. The title track, "Grand Wazoo (not to be confused with the other 'Grand Wazoo' from "The Lost Episodes," a monologue delivered by Don Vleit with synclavier accompaniment)" is a swinging blues/jazz fusion piece with electronically treated electric guitar and dark, brooding horn arrangements, very ominous, but still nice. "For Calvin" is another taste of the bizarre, it has a dream-like quality, rambling sound, but still organized. "Cletus Awreetus-Alrightus" is just playful, tack piano, with its "La-La-La" lyrics and horn solos by Ernie Watts, from Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Orchestra. Somewhat silly, but very entertaining, nonetheless.

"Eat That Question," what can I say? This is a vehicle for George Duke to treat you to a taste of his piano playing, and the horn section's repetition of the melody line throughout provides a solid backdrop; and I have always thought a high-school marching band could win a competition with this arrangement. And "Blessed Relief" is a soft, big-band piece, soothing melody, kind of mournful, but as with the rest of this material, a wonderful arrangement, pulled off immaculately by this huge ensemble.

On the whole, this release, teamed up with "Waka/Jawaka," can provide many entertaining, educational hours of listening and learning pleasure.

A wonderful jazz disc.......2007-02-24

"The Grand Wazoo" is different from typical Zappa albums because it's mainly instrumental jazz. No satirical lyrics or crunching rock riffs, just five groove filled songs with plenty of room for improvising.

The title track is a big-band jazzy tune with awesome solos all around, the shuffling percussion work and walking bass line really move the tune along making thirteen minutes fly by. "For Calvin" is a weird dissonantly arranged beast that could test your patience. I love the boogie-woogie keyboard break of "Cletus Awreetus Awrightus" and the quirky horn toot's and vocals near the end of the song are hilarious. "Eat That Question" incorporates a bit of blues into a loose-formed jam with some great keyboard and guitar work, and finally, "Blessed Relief" is a quiet, moving, intricate ballad that is the perfect closing song. What a wonderful jazz disc.