Frank Zappa - Waka/Jawaka
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CD Details
Artist: Frank ZappaEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1995-05-02
Music Label: Zappa Records
Soundtracks:
- Big Swifty
- Your Mouth
- It Just Might Be a One-Shot Deal
- Waka/Jawaka
Music reviews of Waka/Jawaka
Music Review: A blast of fusion that is quintessential Zappa
Rating: 5 Stars
Within Zappa's catalog, this recording doesn't seem to get the respect it should. Often overshadowed by "The Grand Wazoo," the earlier "Waka/Jawaka" is relegated to a sort of second place within Zappa's fusion jazz experiments. Although on this site, users have overwhelmingly awarded this recording with five stars, other sites and bloggers give it three. But "Waka/Jawaka" is no less brilliant than "The Grand Wazoo."
You have the theme introduced quickly with "Big Swifty," and then the composition proceeds with the many variations on that theme, including the usual instrument solos common with jazz performances. The song bursts upon your ears and swiftly glides from one syncopated rhythm to another, returning an almost cosmic jazz sound with George Duke's first solo on the electric piano. Soon enters Sal Marquez on muted trumpet and the sound is complete, very reminiscent of Miles Davis in "Bitches Brew."
It's like Sal Marquez playing Miles Davis, but Marquez is doing more than recalling Davis' style. Rather, it sounds more like Sal Marquez playing Miles Davis who is playing Sal Marquez playing Zappa's "Big Swifty." And that is neat.
Zappa's guitar, which up till the end of Marquez's solo acted as a punctuation to the music, comes forward in quintessential Zappa style. It carries a bit of a Spanish flair to it as well that blends well with the overall feel of the piece.
And then the piece repeats the theme, which usually occurs at the end of compositions like this. But Zappa doesn't "end" the piece as neatly as that; hence the brain becomes engaged and begins to ask, "What is all this?" And what it is is Tony Duran's slide guitar solo. It is brilliant, because just as the listener's ear, conditioned by years and years of jazz compositions, and even classical compositions, is about to say "ahh, that was nice," the piece picks up and drolls on to a conclusion that is not only interesting, but suitable as well.
When the theme is reintroduced just after the 13-minute mark of this 17:22 song, there is a real sense of return and set up for the finale.
And then comes "Your Mouth." What is this? Not only is this tonally very different from the expansive "Big Swifty," it has lyrics! Someone is singing! From fusion, Zappa easily slips into a 12-bar blues piece that has just a hint of New Orleans gospel to my ear. We go Western with "It Just Might Be a One Shot Deal," complete with slide guitar and a short burst of music that recalls the themes from many a 1950's cowboy television show. And all the while the slide guitar is dreamily carrying on the tune toward the end, I can see graceful couples dancing to country swing.
The title track launches into an expansive intro with the theme laid out and reminiscent of, perhaps, a 1950s era Western movie, or maybe even a detective show from television, like "Hawaii Five-O." It just has this kitschy feel to it. Preston on the Mini-Moog seems to be dropping hints that are more strongly revealed in "The Grand Wazoo." Namely, hints at the future direction of Zappa's music. It's almost a prototype of "One Size Fits All."
Zappa's guitar solo at the end goes through some outrageous rhythm changes, but Ansley Dunbar's drumming effectively keeps pace, adjusting as needed, and when the horn section blasts in, Dunbar keeps the rhythm on track, then finishes with a respectful solo of his own. The theme returns with a thunderous "da-toom, da-toom, da-do-do-do- do-toom." The addition of flute at this point really a nice point, as well as the staccato piccolo accompanying the same staccato from the horns. The song fades to completion, recalling an image of a cowboy, perhaps, riding off into the desert, or if we go with the detective show theme, a helicopter shot looking down but fading back from the busy streets of L.A. I like the cowboy movie theme better myself.
Description of Waka/Jawaka
Japanese exclusive reissue of 1972 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.One of two sets recorded with a mini-big band in the early seventies, Waka/Jawaka is one of the most eclectic releases of Frank Zappa's hyper-eclectic career. The album's dual showpieces, the opening "Big Swifty" and the title track, combine dynamic horn arrangements and free-form improvisational experimentation (Think Miles Davis circa 1973), and the album's other two tracks, "Your Mouth" and "It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal" blend elements of electric blues and country music. Perhaps the cover image of a sink refers to the kitchen variety. Recorded whileZappa was confined to a wheel chair following an onstage attack, this stew of diverse musical elements is best for the diehard fan and anyone with a taste for the unusual. --Andrew Boscardin
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