Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in CDs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on CDs
If you're like me you wanna hear everything from Zappa. If you're mostly interested in his instrumental music then you don't wanna pass this by. What a line-up:Ian(piano+synth)and Ruth(marimba+electric perc.)Underwood,Tom Raney(vibes+electric perc.),Dave Parlato(bass),Jim Gordon(drums),Bruce Fowler(trombone),Glen Ferris(trombone+euphonium),Kenny Shroyer(trombone+bari horn),Tom Malone(trumpet in Bb+tuba),Sal Marquez(trumpet in Bb),Malcolm McNab(trumpet in D),Charles Owens(soprano+alto sax+other winds),Mike Altshul(piccolo,bass clarinet+other winds),Jay Migliori(flute,tenor sax+other winds),Earl Dumler(oboe,contrabass sarrusophone+other winds),Ray Reed(clarinet,tenor sax+other winds),Joann McNab(bassoon),Jerry Kessler(electric cello),and Tony Duran(slide guitar)yeah baby! Feast your eyes on that.The first track is a groovin' blues number that the brass at times makes it sound like something else and in addition to Zappa soloing you get the pleasure of a great solo by Tony. The second number is sort of free form ala Zappa's parameters and includes a Jim Gordon solo(how often do you get a chance to hear him solo?). Next you get to hear their version of Big Swifty which concludes the first disc. You've got 1 1/2 hour of instrumental music from this band put together for a short series of concerts in 1972-this being their last concert in the series.If you liked The Grand Wazoo I think you will either like this at least as much but quite possibly more.Read full review
Finally the world has been given an official release of the Wazoo project Zappa launched in 1972 including a small orchestra. Since Zappa never was afraid of doing something different this is no exception. The sound quality is very good and the alternative versions of different songs are really interesting. Some songs are even not recorded in the studio until several years later. So if you're really into Zappa, this is more ore less a "must buy" album, but if you're new to his music perhaps "Sheik yerbouti" is a better choice. However, me being a Zappa freak, this one will be played often.
A pristine audio document of Zappa's shortest-lived touring band, Wazoo is essential for fans of his work. This album represents a full concert of his so-called Grand Wazoo group, a 20-piece band which only played something like eight gigs, and is stuffed with a little bit of everything from blistering solos on Big Swifty to the tight precision playing throughout the over 30 minute long Peccary. It's the hidden middle ground between his late 60's fusion records (Hot Rats and Waka/Jawaka) and his later full orchestra recordings. It's a shame there isn't more from this group released; the impressive liner notes mention a few songs which weren't at this gig.
This is quite simply, Frank Zappa snd the Wazoo big band playing live in Boston in 1972 at a level seldom heard then, and unfortunately almost never heard now. Featured are versions of Big Swifty and Approximate also The adventures of Gregory Peccary among others, and the sound quality is exceptional. Highly Recommended. M.B.
The Funky Emperor fights for freedom Soundscapes with eyebrows Prevent descent into drooling submission Aural tapestries of squarkle and blatt Hang from chords thick with distortion Tricky time signatures and odd meters make them dance Cleetus and the mystery horn shuffle to a nearby hummock and play a march