Frank Zappa

• 50TH ANNIVERSARY 180 GRAM BLACK VINYL

• GATEFOLD EDITION

• 4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Like its immediate predecessor, Waka/Jawaka, The Grand Wazoo was a largely instrumental jazz rock album recorded during Frank Zappa's convalescence from injuries sustained after being pushed off a concert stage. While Zappa contributes some guitar solos and occasional vocals, the focus is more on his skills as a composer and arranger.

Most of the five selections supposedly form a musical representation of a story told in the liner notes about two warring musical factions, but the bottom line is that, overall, the compositions here are more memorably melodic and consistently engaging than Waka/Jawaka. The instrumentation is somewhat unique in the Zappa catalog as well, with the band more of a chamber jazz orchestra than a compact rock unit; over 20 musicians and vocalists contribute to the record.

While Hot Rats is still the peak of Zappa's jazz-rock fusion efforts, The Grand Wazoo comes close, and it's essential for anyone interested in Zappa's instrumental works.

PERSONNEL:

• Sal Marquez - (vocals, brass)
• Mike Altschul - (woodwinds)
• Frank Zappa - (guitar, arranger, vocals, percussion)
• Alex Dmochowski - (bass)
• Aynsley Dunbar - (drums)

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• A1. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
• A2 The Grand Wazoo

• SIDE B
• B1 Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus
• B2 Eat That Question
• B3 Blessed Relief