Customer Reviews

Grand Wazoo

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Thirty years after "Grand Wazoo" was released, it remains as much a stunning example of Zappa's uncompromising musical vision now as it did then.
Although it is accurate to say that it continued the Jazz explorations of "Waka Jawaka" or deserves to be compared with "Hot Rats" as one of Frank's most accomplished instrumental albums, this alone does not paint the full picture of what this album has to offer. "Grand Wazoo" is an astonishinng work of melodic inventiveness and orchestration, each of its tunes can leave you breathless with their wealth of ideas and ironic genius.
Zappa, as praised as he has been, remains deserving of further acknowledgement. What do I mean? This guy belongs to a very small and selected group of American composers without whom it would be literally impossible to think of American music, period.
Zappa -like Aaron Copland, Duke Ellington or Miles Davis, to name a few- in their own ways, were ... are! ... artists who transformed the musical genres they cultivated, and made them something they have never been before.
In Zappa's case, the amazing satirist he was or the tremedous guitar player he could be, often, overshadowed the seminal composer and arranger he's always been. This album does the latter complete and unarguable justice.

Hi guys! I'm just one of those hated Jazz snobs the last reviewer was talking about. Just Joking! But I'm really into Jazz old and new, that is my cup of tea. But I like Zappa's music too, because IT IS JAZZ for the most part (at least in albums like this one). I am completly aware that Zappa was a very talented music writer, intelligent and creative even if sometimes over indulgent with himself. But absolutly not here. And anyway we have to recognize that he produced an incredible amount of music in his lifetime and that he couldn't write only masterpieces of course, noone could. But here he did it! This is a masterpiece. Without any doubt. It's an instrumental album very entertaining, very sharp, not too much absurd (still considering it's a Zappa's record so a little it is but in a positive very refreshing way!). I love Zappa's instrumental music. He's so into the future. His music will always be light years ahead of our time. Varese, Barthok, dodecaphonic music meets Jazz harmonic sophistication and pulse and rock aggression. Plus the Z factor. The ZAPPA factor, his weird but extremely fascinating personality. The records that are much focused on his musical ideas instead of his irony and grotesque are the ones that I really prefer. This is one of the best. The opener or the last tune here for example are sooooooo good! But this whole album is a masterpiece in music! He was so great when he wrote things like these ... I'm listening to this album right now for the thousand time ... 4.00 of the first tune .. just a word, fantastic.

Some weeks later ... I want to add something to my review. (I want to say something about each tune). The more I go deep inside Frank's musical universe the more I find this album THE PERFECT GEM in his catalogue. Neither Waka jawaka, which comes second to me, could be considered beautiful as this one. GRAND WAZOO IS THE THING for me. Neither Hot rats which is splendid is as much great as the Wazoo. Now something about each tune.

1 Grand wazoo
Incredibly catching fusion of styles. Extremely melodic and groovin. Everything is here. This tune is exceptional. Some called it the Zappa's answear to Miles "So what", but this is a lot more than a D pedal (maybe was "Blessed relief"? the answear ... I don't know but who cares?). Sure it is a modal tune (Frank hated chord progressions to solo over, he liked modal vamps only) but there's more here as I told you. The theme, the rhythmn and the orchestration parts are far more elaborated and solos are no less fantastic than the "So what" excursions by Trane, Cannoball, Bill Evans and Miles. The bridges are equally superlative. I mean. This is one of my all time favourite tunes. ALL TIME FAVOURITE. The trombone solo here is something UNFORGETTABLE. Pure splendid jazz! And behind you can hear the orchestra pumping, growling, roaring wanting to come up front. Oh my god, GRAND WAZOO. This is really among my all time favourite tunes. FRANK, THANXS FOR THIS TUNE.

2 For Calvin
Pure Zappa's extravaganza. In the melody, harmony and orchestration. It starts weird and ends weirder. If you are not accustomed to strange harmonies and melodies this one can shock you a little bit. Anyway Zappa's awkward but splendid sense of melody and atmospheres is very clear here. The tune swings slow like a broken toy, or a broken watch ... at a certain point there are dissonations going on, you may think you don't know were you are, then a siren shout! These moments of entropy, of chaos are sublime, I swear, sublime. The drums is still alive behind, giving the pulse, confirming that the tune is not dead yet. Slowly we go on, following the trombone and the trumbet which are saying strange things, than the tune accelerate, you are completly disorientated .... than a genial absolutly genial orchestrated bridge part arrive!! I mean this is Zappa at his very weird best. Another crescendo! The tune comes to the end. Frank you did your VERY VERY best for sure in this album.

3 Cletus
A strange very melodical romp begins at the end of Calvin's song, it's Cletus. And here we are again with Frank's melodical genius. Piano is up front here. Than strange voices take the first places. It's delightful. Something that you can't miss. Its pure ingenuity is something marvellous which only a true pure genius can communicate without sounding childish.

4 Eat that question
George Duke steals the show here. This is quite an unbelievable tune. This is fantastic. A funky fist in your face, the more challenging tune of the album from a technical standpoint. The melody is perfect, catching, hard, a really fantastic riff played in unison by the electric piano and the guitar. The rhythmn section works effortlessy on this hard funky vamp. Everything flows easy and hard at the same time. Duke's solos on the Fender Rhodes range among the very best jazz stuff I have ever heard (I own and Know thousands Jazz records). The energy of this tune is so dramatic! Exceptional. What a band! When you think the tune is over the theme returns harder than ever. Wow! It leaves you speechless! What an orchestrated riff! I mean. No words here. THIS IS PERFECTION IN MUSIC! (Frank's fuzz guitar tone here is expecially cool too).

5 Blessed relief
This tune closes one of Zappa's greatest achievement. GRAND WAZOO. Blessed relief is a calm, soft, delicate tune, unforgettable. It begins as a dreamy ballad but then evolve in a magic melodic line and after that in an unbelievable spotlight for the soloists. When the theme, the melodic line returns you wonder where you have been in the last minutes. Away. Lost in a beautiful dream.

This was Frank. Grand Wazoo is Frank at his best. If this man wasn't a musical genius .. I don't know who we can call that way. Grand Wazoo.

This album, in my opinion, is the highlight of Zappa's greatest period of work. The horn - dominated numbers fit perfectly with Frank's unique wah - wah style and George Duke's impressive keyboard work to produce an album that has lasted through time. From the long title cut to the ultra-funky keyboard riff of "Eat that Question" to the impressive, jazzy, and spacey sounds of "Blessed Relief," this album is definitely worth buying if you are into FZ's jazz-fusion instrumental works. Other albums that I would characterize with this album are: Hot Rats, Waka-Jawaka, Studio Tan, and Sleep Dirt. Get this CD and groove to FZ at his finest.

Excellent jazz work from FZ. Slip this album, especially "Blessed Relief" or "Eat That Question" to a jazz snob and see the reaction you get when you tell them that they're enjoying the smooth sounds of FZ. Fun music, yet soothing and thoughtful, this is a fantastic addition to any FZ or even a jazz fan's collection. Enjoy.

"The Grand Wazoo"-5 stars
Instead of a paragraph, I'll give a track-by-track analysis.
1. "The Grand Wazoo"
Frank switched this one and "For Calvin" to make the title track first, and it's a good thing he did. But more about that later. This track is, in fact, a collection of solos--very jazz influenced solos--put together in an upbeat track. The trombone shines, second only to the guitar solos (one by FZ, another one on bottleneck). Overall a great opening track.
2. "For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)"
The title is based on a story by Cal Schenkel (he did the cover for this albuma and many others), and works best in the second slot. Much slower than "Grand Wazoo," it's a nice drop from the energy of the former song. The only track with full-blown vocals, it's still a nice track. A la slow jazz, "For Calvin" is what I call "the one you can dance to" for it has that perfect tempo where it doesn't change and stays nice and easy. Think "prom dance gone wrong" tempo. Great track, again.
3. "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus"
My favorite track. The theme repeated throughout the song will stay in your mind for days upon end. Again, trombones shine in the first run through of the theme. With "vocals" (it's just "la-la-la" and "rum-pum-PUM") singing the theme at the end, Zappa really showcases his "wonderful voice" (as he called in in his authbiography). The tenor sax solo will blow any listener away not only for its technical difficulty, but for the way the octave key is so effortlessly used (if you know about the sax, then you'll get this). Much to my dismay, a score isn't available from Barfko-Swill for this one. [Note: Spring this one on a dissenter of FZ, then see if they still agree to disagree.]
4. "Eat That Question"
Replace "question" with a certain religious group that Romans fed to large felines. There's the original title. Anywho, Don Preston's piano really pops out in the opening and later on, and yet another theme will haunt you for days. A bit more of a straightforward "jazz" piece, "...Question" features great trumpets and overall brass. Woodwinds still come out, but aren't as incredible as brass. This one is just perfect.
5. "Blessed Relief"
The finale. Words cannot describe this one. Just beautiful. Sit back and enjoy this one, maybe with one of those pesky dissenters, then spring the FZ trick again.
If you don't have "Hot Rats," then I highly suggest that you purchase that with or directly after "...Wazoo." "Hot Rats" shows the roots of this album, and "Waka/Jawaka" (plus it has "Little Umbrellas" and "Peaches En Regalia"). Not a single second wasted on this album, nor any other albums in the full catalogue of FZ.

Simply put: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST JAZZ FUSION ALBUMS EVER. Any fan of jazz or jazz-rock will undoubtedly love this album. I own many be-bop jazz, jazz-fusion, and funk/jazz albums but never have I heard such amazing and complex compositions as on The Grand Wazoo. "The Grand Wazoo" could possibly be the best jazz-fusion song ever written, complete with big band sounding horn arrangements, funky guitar riffs, and extended trumpet and sax solos all within the same song.
"For Calvin and his Next Two Hitch-hikers" and "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus" retain the sound of some of Frank Zappa's more experimental early stuff, i.e. "We're Only In it For the Money" and "Absolutely Free", while still incorporating experimental, big band, and free jazz in the songs.
"Eat That Question" is the greatest riff I've ever heard in my life, along wtih some amazing guitar and keyboard work. It really has to be heard to be believed.
And Zappa finishes off the album with some straightforward, and surprisingly, normal jazz with "Blessed Relief". Although it is less experimental than the other tunes, it is still one of the best on the album.
Overall, Frank Zappa truly broke through with a jazz masterpiece with "The Grand Wazoo", and if you buy this album, you certainly will not be disappointed. It is the most breathtakingly amazing and stunning jazz fusion album of all time. Hear it as soon as you can.

Although TGW is arguably one of FZ's greatest and most cohesive albums, it may not be the best choice for the novice. It's somewhat inaccessible and requires repeated listening in order to appreciate the sheer scope of the bizarre soundscapes. So check out "Joe's Garage" or "Overnite Sensation" first if you're new to FZ. However, once you have acquired a taste for FZ, get this one. I own nearly 3/4 of his studio albums and this one is definitely in the top five. "Blessed relief" alone is worth the price of admission.

The world needs Frank Zappa and his spirit lives on, even if ugly radio ignores him...

Grand Wazoo is a jazz album that may surprise Zappa fans expecting such fare as "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow" or "Valley Girl". It is an instrumental feast with lovely horn music and of course, FZ's guitar. Worth exploring if you like your music instrumental, tight, but untamed.

boy, when I get tired of hearing what passes for music in 2002, I put on this CD, real musicians playing real music, it's light years ahead of anything else out there. If you think Zappa is just novelty songs then you don't know what you're talking about. Listen to this or Waka/Jawaka or Hot Rats and then talk to me about Zappa. Bands will be playing this music 200 years from now, this is the classical music of the future, everything else is garbage

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.