Frank Zappa - Waka/Jawaka (1972)

Sometimes known as "Waka/Jawaka - Hot Rats" from the cover drawing, and even written as such on some releases, this 1972 slice of prime Zappa functions pretty well as a sequel to, well, Hot Rats.  Not least on the side-long opener Big Swifty, a Son Of Mr Green Genes/Gumbo Variations-style jazzy theme and lengthy variations.  Close your eyes at certain points during this track and you could be listening to a Miles Davis track from the same era.

Oh, and this 2012 original-tapes remaster sounds fantastic, sans Zappa-instigated digital reverb that marked my generation's first exposure to many of his albums via Rykodisc.  Big Swifty sounds finely detailed throughout; the two short tracks with vocals improved too.  The country-rock inflections and unsettling voice effects of One-Shot Deal come through better, making it an utterly bizarre standout even by Zappa's standards.  Then the closing title track (per Zappa, Waka/Jawaka is "something that showed up on a ouija board" - I remember assuming it was onomatopoeia for wah-pedal guitar) is another breezy jazz-fusion masterpiece, including Don Preston's great Minimoog performance and Zappa's guitar solos.

Next Monday: as if one jazz-fusion masterpiece in 1972 wasn't enough, Zappa made another one.

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pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:

Lumpy Gravy

Roxy & Elsewhere

The Perfect Stranger (live 2018)