Waka/Jawaka

by Frank Zappa

Overview

When Frank Zappa found himself stuck in a wheelchair for most of the year 1972 (after a "fan" pushed him off the stage in December of the previous year), he relieved his band (including singers Flo & Eddie) of its duties and turned to studio work. One of the first things he tried was to write jazz fusion music scored for wider instrumentation than an average rock band. Waka/Jawaka was conceived in parallel to The Grand Wazoo, but with fewer players. The album, released in July 1972, is comprised of two extended instrumental pieces and two shorter songs. "Big Swifty," a theme-and-solos showcase, would become a live favorite, but the highlight came in the form of the orgiastic title track, recorded with ex-Mothers of Invention keyboardist Don Preston, trumpeter Sal Marquez, trombonists Bill Byers and Ken Shroyer, saxophonist Mike Altschul, bassist Erroneous, and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. The songs, never performed live, feel like filler material. Waka/Jawaka was Zappa's second solo album and is occasionally referred to as "Hot Rats II" (the handles of the faucets on the cover artwork show the words "hot" and "rats" instead of "hot" and "cold"). His writing and recording technique had matured a lot in very little time. The dirty blues jamming of the 1969 LP was replaced by clean, crisp jazz improvisations -- no need to say this was also an abrupt change in style from the Mothers' 1969-1971 incarnation. But this album was only transitional: Zappa's big-band stylings would really flourish in The Grand Wazoo a few months later. ~ Francois Couture

Product Details

Release Date:	12/16/2022
Label:	Umr / Zappa Records
UPC:	0602448139726
Rank:	37940

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Frank Zappa   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Conductor,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic)
Chris Peterson   Guest Artist,Vocals
Sal Marquez   Guest Artist,Chimes,Vocals,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Aynsley Dunbar   Guest Artist,Drums,Washboard,Tambourine
Sneaky Pete Kleinow   Guest Artist,Soloist,Pedal Steel
Billy Byers   Trombone,Horn (Baritone)
Jeff Simmons   Vocals,Hawaiian Guitar
George Duke   Tack Piano,Piano (Electric)
Mike Altschul   Piccolo,Sax (Tenor),Flute (Bass),Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass)
Don Preston   Piano,Mini Moog
Joel Peskin   Sax (Tenor)
Erroneous   Vocals,Fuzz Bass,Bass (Electric)
Janet Ferguson   Vocals
Ken Shroyer   Trombone,Horn (Baritone)
Tony Duran   Vocals,Slide Guitar

Technical Credits

Kerry McNabb   Engineer
Frank Zappa   Text,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Art Direction
Doug Sax   Remastering
Joe Travers   Transfers
Sangwook "Sunny" Nam   Remastering
Robert Hadley   Remastering
Marvin Mattelson   Cover Illustration
Cal Schenkel   Packaging
Philip Schwartz   Photography
Michael Mesker   Digital Layout
Melanie Starks   Production Manager