Frank Zappa - Wazoo

Frank Zappa spent most of the year 1972 in a wheelchair, after a stage attack in London. During this period he wrote a lot of music, especially for big-band format. In studio, two records in this vein were conceived: Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Having recuperated to a certain point, he assembled an orchestra of 20 musicians (dubbed The Grand Wazoo, naturally) and he went on the road for a small tour. This was followed by another tour with a ten member lineup (The Petit Wazoo), the recordings of which were compiled for Imaginary Diseases in 2006.

In late 2007 the Grand Wazoo lineup also got its archival album. Titled simply Wazoo, it presents a full concert, which was also the last performance of the 20 member orchestra, recorded in Boston, 24th of September, 1972. The stage repertoire, fully instrumental, refers to how amazingly prolific the composer was even during the wheelchair period. Surprisingly little material is performed by the live bigband from the studio big band records. These two studio albums are only represented by "Big Swifty" (with a spiffed-over arrangement and a completely different solo section) and the title track of "The Grand Wazoo". The sole oldie in the set is "Penis Dimension" sans lyrics. Everything else appeared on the record years later.

"Approximate" with its rhythmic-melodic abstration is electrified free-jazz at its best. Its atonal improvisation is colored by its solos, especially Earle Dumler on contrabass sarrusophone and Ian Underwood on synthesizer. Magnum opus "The Adventures of Greggary Peccary" retains its cartoonish edge even without narration (found in extensive liner notes). The given performance, lasting over 30 minutes, is spiced by improvisations. Especially memorable is a "Sketches of Spain" type jam in part two that intensifies to a powerful culmination. Part three contains improvisation that is more post-rock in its unhurried tempo and muted, subdued textures than most of what passes as post-rock these days. The set closes with "Variant I Processional March", a faster paced almost "Peaches En Regalia" like proto-version of a later tune called "Regyptian Strut".

In terms of sound it's amazing how the concurrent recording techniques have managed to capture such a big line up. The sound on the recording is crystal clear and the mastering is well done. Taking that, and the band's wonderful performance (especially by the rhythm section of Dave Parlato on bass and Jim Gordon on drums) into account, Wazoo is a record that is just as fine as Zappa's best recordings and appeals to both younger and older fans.