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| Cal Schenkel |
Frank Zappa: Waka/Jawaka - Released 50 years ago today - July 5, 1972. The 17:23 instrumental opener ‘Big Swifty’ is top-notch, ultra-quirky jazz fusion that explicitly pays tribute to Miles, and is guaranteed to greatly irritate anyone with more conventional tastes. Two shorter vocal tracks in the middle are at least as quirky, but do not really stand out relative to the overall multitude of satirical songs Zappa put forth in his time. Then, however, we come to the 11:17 instrumental closing title track, and another great ear worm for those of us who are demented enough to enjoy this sort of thing. For the two pieces bookending it, Waka/Jawaka is a must-have for all fans of Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion, Free Jazz, and novelty songs.
GRADE: A-
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