FRANK ZAPPA — The Grand Wazoo (1973-1995) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When Frank Zappa found himself stuck in a wheelchair for most of the year 1972 (after a "fan" pushed him off the stage in December of the previous year), he relieved his band (including singers Flo & Eddie) of its duties and turned to studio work. One of the first things he tried was to write jazz fusion music scored for wider instrumentation than an average rock band. Waka/Jawaka was conceived in parallel to The Grand Wazoo, but with fewer players. The album, released in July 1972, is comprised of two extended instrumental pieces and two shorter songs. "Big Swifty," a theme-and-solos showcase, would become a live favorite, but the highlight came in the form of the orgiastic title track, recorded with ex-Mothers of Invention keyboardist Don Preston, trumpeter Sal Marquez, trombonists Bill Byers and Ken Shroyer, saxophonist Mike Altschul, bassist Erroneous, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. The songs, never performed live, feel like filler material. Waka/Jawaka was Zappa's second solo album and is occasionally referred to as "Hot Rats II" (the handles of the faucets on the cover artwork show the words "hot" and "rats" instead of "hot" and "cold"). His writing and recording technique had matured a lot in very little time. The dirty blues jamming of the 1969 LP was replaced by clean, crisp jazz improvisations -- no need to say this was also an abrupt change in style from the Mothers' 1969-1971 incarnation. But this album was only transitional: Zappa's big-band stylings would really flourish in The Grand Wazoo a few months later. François Couture
Tracklist :
1.    The Grand Wazoo 13:19
Bass – Erroneous
Brass – Ernie Tack, Malcolm McNabb
Brass, Contractor [And Spiritual Guidance] – Ken Shroyer
Brass, Soloist [Trombone] – Bill Byers*
Brass, Soloist [Trumpet] – Sal Marquez
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar
Guitar, Soloist [Bottle-neck Solo] – Tony Duran
Guitar, Soloist [Opening Solo] – Frank Zappa
Percussion – Alan Estes, Bob Zimmitti
Synthesizer [Mini-moog] – Don Preston
Vocals – Janet Neville-Ferguson*, Sal Marquez
Woodwind – Tony "Bat Man" Ortega*, Earl Dumler, Fred Jackson, Joanne Caldwell McNabb, Johnny Rotella, Mike Altschul
2.    For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers) 6:06
Bass – Erroneous
Brass – Bill Byers*, Ernie Tack, Malcolm McNabb*, Sal Marquez
Brass, Contractor [And Spiritual Guidance] – Ken Shroyer*
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar
Guitar – Frank Zappa, Tony Duran
Percussion – Alan Estes, Bob Zimmitti
Synthesizer [Mini-moog] – Don Preston
Vocals – Janet Neville-Ferguson*, Sal Marquez
Woodwind – Tony "Bat Man" Ortega*, Earl Dumler, Fred Jackson*, Joanne Caldwell McNabb, Johnny Rotella*, Mike Altschul
3.    Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus 2:57
Bass – Erroneous
Brass – Sal Marquez
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar
Guitar – Frank Zappa
Keyboards – George Duke
Trombone [Multiple] – Ken Shroyer*
Vocals – "Chunky"*, Frank Zappa, George Duke
Woodwind – Mike Altschul
Woodwind, Soloist [Sax Solo] – Ernie Watts
4.    Eat That Question 6:42
Bass – Erroneous
Brass [Multiple Toots] – Sal Marquez
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar
Gong – Lee Clement
Keyboards – George Duke
Percussion – Frank Zappa
Woodwind – Joel Peskin, Mike Altschul
5.    Blessed Relief 7:59
Bass – Erroneous
Brass – Sal Marquez
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar
Keyboards – George Duke
Lead Guitar – Frank Zappa
Rhythm Guitar – Tony Duran
Woodwind – Joel Peskin, Mike Altschul