Overview:
Take the 20 piece Grand Wazoo orchestra, strip it down to two guitars (Frank and Tony Duran), one trumpet (Malcom McNabb), two trombones (Bruce Fowler and Glenn Ferris), two woodwinds/multi-instrumentalists (Earle Dumler and Tom Malone) and drums and bass (Jim Gordon and Dave Parlato). Add one more trumpet (Gary Barone) and you have the Petit Wazoo orchestra. This ensemble toured for about six weeks before disappearing forever. They played a handful of old songs (I’m Not Satisfied, America Drinks, Duke of Prunes), the first appearance of tunes that would become classics of following eras (Cosmik Debris, Montana, Farther Oblivion) and tunes that were only ever played on this tour (Imaginary Diseases, Little Dots, and Rollo). This is a fantastic tour, one of my favorites of the early 70s. This rocking teenage combo has a sleazy, sultry, jazzy big band feel that really works for this material. Every song is brimming with energy and every show is worth hearing. Frank’s very talkative on this tour, frequently interacting with the audience while the horns tune up. Frank also sings a few songs on this tour, as opposed to the previous few years of touring. I’m a sucker for horns, so my enjoyment of this tour is obvious, but the song choice is just fantastic. The three songs unique to this tour are some of my favorite Zappa songs period and its a shame them weren’t released until the 2000s. The other material is fantastic too, recognizable but well adapted for this fantastic band. This group also engaged in free improv on a regular basis, unlike the Flo and Eddie bands of the past few years. My only complaint about this tour is the somewhat limited setlist, but every song in rotation are ones I don’t mind coming back too, and almost every song has improvisation making every performance different. These are a fantastic set of shows and a unique highlight of FZ’s touring work.
The Band:
Frank Zappa – Lead Guitar, Vocals
Tony “De La Jets” Duran – Slide Guitar
Dave “What Can I Say?” Parlato – Bass
Jim “Skippy” Gordon – Drums
Earle “The Golden Geek” Dumler – Oboes, Saxes and Sarrusophone
Tommy “The Tuba” Malone – Tuba, Tenor Sax, Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet, Trombone, Piccolo
Bruce “You Would Be Amazed What He Can Do With His Lips” Fowler – Trombone
Glenn “Hava Nagila” Ferris – Trombone
Malcolm “Slowly Fading” McNabb – Trumpet
Gary “Blinky Bromo” Barone – Trumpet
Recordings Available:
1972 10-12 XX – Various Locations (Official Releases)
Frank recorded every show of the Petit Wazoo, but never released any material from this band in his lifetime. He did consider it though, editing out his favorite parts of shows for possible releases. Luckily the Zappa Trust has given us two collections of this FZ-edited material entitled Imaginary Diseases and Little Dots. Many of the tracks are available in unofficial form as audience recordings, but a handful are from shows not circulating. The tracks Oddients and Montreal are improv from the October 27th Montreal show, Imaginary Diseases (the song) is from Waterbury, Connecticut, Little Dots (again, the song) is from Charlotte North Carolina, and Farther Oblivion and parts of Rollo (on Little Dots) are from unidentified shows. Columbia, SC on Little Dots is obviously from Columbia, South Carolina and is notable for featuring Maury Baker on emergency replacement drums, as Jim Gordon (and Gary Barone) was arrested for a drug offence shortly before the show. Every performance on the two official releases are fantastic and the best sound quality of this band that exists. An easy recommendation.
1972 10 29 – Men’s Gym, Harpur College, Binghamton, NY (Audience B+)
A very nice, though somewhat shaky, concert from the earliest part of the tour. Frank and the band are in high spirits, and it shows. We get nice takes of I’m Not Satisfied and America Drinks to start the show, followed by Montana (with two solos! the second being over the ending section), Farther Oblivion (with a piccolo solo) and Cosmik Debris. An excellent Little Dots is next, and this version is special because it includes audience participation. Frank requested the crowd sing “ahhhhhhh” along with the trumpets in the theme of the piece and provide jazz snaps on cue. The audience has fun with it and it definitely adds to the energy of the tune. Following this we get great takes of Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing and Imaginary Diseases, both with long tasty solos. The show ends with an early version of Rollo that lacks the vocal intro. Overall it’s an excellent show in very nice quality, despite the higher than usual number of mistakes. Check this one out.
1972 10 31 – Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ (Audience B+/B – Two Shows)
click here to listen to the early show
click here to listen to the late show
The Petite Wazoo tour holds the honor of having Frank’s first Halloween shows. FZ’s most well known Halloween shows are from later in his career, but these two concerts are no slouch. Like most of his holiday shows, we get fantastic versions of all of this tour regular tunes and some special Halloween treats. The sound for both tapes is very listenable, good but not great. The early show, by audience request, has this band’s only known performance of Willie the Pimp. It’s a solid run-through, and fun to hear, but far from the best take of this tune. The late show brings continues with more delights. Rollo has now acquired it’s intro section, but doesn’t have lyrics yet. Frank becomes amused by a loud t-shirt vendor and mutates the late show’s Montana to be all about hocking T-shirts. For a final encore we get the only known live performance of Waka/Jawaka. It’s a fantastic take, and a performance I return to often. This is a fantastic set of holiday shows that should be in every fan’s collection.
1972 11 07 – Long Island Arena, Commack, NY (Audience B+/B)
Another solid date from early in the tour. Long Island FZ shows always tend to be good, and this is no exception. The band is still a little shaky, they mess up the ending of America Drinks, but the great improv they perform is worth the price of admission. After the opening I’m Not Satisfied, they burst into a long, fantastic Little Dots. The rest of the show is filled with great takes of this bands regular tunes, including Montana, Farther Oblivion, the first complete Rollo, and a great Imaginary Diseases and Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing. Frank tries out some vocal effects during Cosmik Debris, like he would for many tours to come. The sound on this tape is similar to the Passaic show, good but not great. Not the first show I’d go to, but worth checking out.
1972 11 10 (Early) – Irvine Auditorium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (Audience C-)
I’m sure this is a good show, but it’s maybe the worst sounding Zappa bootleg available. At most points you can barely make out what song is being played. The only reason to check out this show is for the lengthy improvisations which fans have dubbed “Six Horns in an Airplane Hanger”. Its a pretty good jam, but really not an enjoyable listen. Get this show only if you’re really desperate for more Petite Wazoo. Additionally the performance of the end of Rollo from the album Imaginary Diseases is from this show.
1972 11 11 – D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, DC (Audience B – Two Shows)
click here to listen to the early show
click here to listen to the late show
Another two fantastic shows from a fantastic tour. The early show features a handful of regular tunes (Montana, America Drimks, Rollo and the Duke of Prunes) all performed to standard excellence. The real gem from the early show is the 30 minutes of free improv that ends the main set. The jam starts in seven. before evolving into a regular Boogie. The Mothers make some fantastic music, parts of which ended up on DC Boogie on Imaginary Diseases and Trudgin’ Across the Tundra on One Shot Deal. The late show brings even more delights. Aside from the standard excitements, Frank plays a solo in Farther Oblivion, the only time he’s known to do so. Little Dots is fantastic as always, and it’s followed by an amazing audience requested Caravan with a drum solo! Then after the drum solo, in a classic sleazy bar band manor, the band segues directly into When the Saints Go Marching In. The shows then rounded out with Imaginary Diseases, Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing, and possibly the best Chunga’s Revenge of the tour. The sound quality is incredibly acceptable, no complaints but no frills either. I strongly recommend these two shows, especially to fans of this line up.
1972 11 12 – Palace Theatre, Providence, RI (Audience A/A-)
This is the newest show from this tour to surface, and it’s in absolutely excellent sound quality. If that’s not enough for you, the other highlights of this tape include an awesome 30 minute Little Dots and an audience requested Louie Louie/Plastic People that turns into a long improvised jam. FZ said that they were about to make something up, but the crowd wanted Louie Louie. The remainder of the songs are excellent to. Imaginary Diseases is played ridiculously fast and Frank experimented more with vocal effects during Montana. Overall an excellent show, worth acquiring for the great sound alone.
1972 12 02 – Cowtown Ballroom, Kansas City, MO (Audience A- – Two Shows)
click here to listen to the early show
click here to listen to the late show
Two more great shows, in great quality, from the tail end of this bands existence. The early show features a handful of the regular tunes this band plays and some great improv later entitled Kansas City Shuffle. The first concert is also notable for the audience request of “The Heat’s Out Every Night”, which Frank calls the rarest request he’s ever heard. The Kansas City tapers heard this song on the Denver 1969 bootleg and request it at a handful of shows in and around Kansas City in the early 70s, to the delight of this reviewer. The late show starts with a loosely played Johnny’s Theme and a “Here’s Frankie!” A wonderful start to a wonderful concert. Frank intros the band and they play some more free improv, leading to the great Been to Kansas City in A Minor. After this we get the first Son of Mr. Green Genes of the tour and a handful of other standard numbers. Someone yells for FZ to “shit on stage” and Frank responds with about four perfect quips. These two shows capture this band at the height of their power, and are truly great document of what this ensemble could do. Check ’em out.
1972 12 03 – Pershing Municipal Auditorium, Lincoln, NE (Audience B)
An all around fine show. Listenable sound quality, good but not incredibly notable performances and a handful of mistakes, notably in Imaginary Diseases and America Drinks. The most interesting aspect is the opening improv, usually titled as the “waiting for the tenor sax blues”. Though just because this isn’t an incredibly notable show that doesn’t make it bad. It’s got quality performances of many of this bands tunes, including the late addition of Son of Mr. Green Gene’s. Overall a good show, but I’d listen to most of the other available shows before this one.
1972 12 09 – Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR (Audience B/B+ – Two Shows)
click here to listen to the early show
click here to listen to the late show
Another great pair of shows. The early show is pretty hissy, but still very listenable. It features an excellent Chunga’s Revenge, Rollo and Imaginary Diseases and some very cool improv where Frank tells a story about Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, one he thought up during the soundcheck, while the band plays a “Duke of Earl”-esque vamp. Frank announces they won’t leave the stage for an encore, they’ll just play their last song and the show comes to a close. The early show’s fun, but the second show blows it out of the water. It starts with a fantastic 25+ minute Little Dots with two solos from Frank and is followed by a Farther Oblivion that’s feels like it’s about to turn into free improv at any moment, with random burst of horns getting cued throughout the solos. The show continues with a lively Mr. Green Genes and some excellent improvisations sometimes known as “Hope That It Turns Out Wonderful”. The sound quality improves for the late show too. All in all this a great pair of shows and very well worth listening too.
1972 12 15 – Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA (Official Release – Waka/Wazoo)
This great show (Frank’s final show of the year) was released officially on the amazing Waka/Wazoo box set. Frank sports out some monitor problems during the intro and a fantastic Little Dots begins the show. It’s a great take with four nice solos (after the drum/bass duet). Frank even asks the audience to sing “waaaah” over the trombone stings in the head, like in Binghampton. America Drinks is next, and someone in the crowd wishes Frank a Happy Birthday before the song starts. The tune is great as always, and has an especially lively ending. There is some weird modulation effect applied to the lead trumpet in the second half, but it isnt too distracting. Solid takes of Montana, Farther O’Blivion (with parts on Imaginary Diseases) and Cosmik Debris, with some vocal modulation on the ending, follow. The night ends with a great Chunga’s Revenge, probably the best of the tour. It’s possible there was an encore this night, but this is all that was found in the vault. Overall this is a very nice show, and another reason to check out the lovely Waka/Wazoo box.
The Songs Played:
America Drinks – This Absolutely Free tune was reworked as an instrumental for Jean-Luc Ponty’s FZ produced album King King, and then further reworked for this tour. We get an instrumental version of the main theme heard on Frank’s second album followed by a short trombone solo. After this we hear more music from the end of the Ponty version, followed by a new theme and a Tuba and Trumpet solo. On at least two occasions (Philadelphia and Lincoln) there was a longer trombone solo after the trumpet. This is followed by even more new sleazy tweaky music, a very fast repetition of the first phrase, a drum fill and a very slow “and many more!” from the horns. A fantastic reworking of a classic mothers tune.
Caravan – Performed one time in DC, by audience request and with a drums solo. After Jim’s solo there’s a short bass solo and the band goes straight into a performance of When the Saint’s Go Marching In. One of the best moments of the tour and another example that Frank and the Mother’s could do anything live.
Chunga’s Revenge – Played a handful of times through out the tour and essentially as a sleezy version of the titular tune. In each performance we get a sax solo, a trumpet solo and a guitar solo from FZ to bring the tune to a close. This time around the song is played a little faster than the studio take (and other tours). A very hot version of this too infrequently played tune (at least in the early 70s).
Cosmik Debris – This fan favorite first appears on this tour largely complete. This arrangement is obviously more horn focused and sleazier than the studio take. The lyrics to the verses are all the same, but the chorus changes with each repetition. The first chorus is the same as the studio take, but the second is “Look here, brother, I just can’t go for what you say. Well, I’ve been on the street since Tuesday, so why don’t you just go away?” and instead of the line in the out-chorus “You could make more money as a butcher” we get something like “Go spread that stuff around San Francisco”, though the exact phrasing changed night to night. Frank would occasionally experiment with vocal effects during parts of the tune. The guitar solo is always inspired, though often on the short side. This is an excellent version of an oft played tune and worth checking out.
Don’t You Ever Wash That Thing? – The Roxy & Elsewhere classic instrumental premiers on this tour in a radically different mode. The silence/drum breaks between phrases, the bridges and the quote from Penguin in Bondage would not appear until later in the next year. What we get here is one run though of the first 90 seconds of the Roxy take (minus the above material) followed by a long boogie featuring some hot FZ guitar. The tune then ends with two takes of the coda heard on the Roxy version, with a variation on the phrase between the two repetitions. This is very weird and always enjoyable version of one of my favorite FZ compositions.
Duke Of Prunes – Essentially played as on Orchestral Favorites, but with obvious differences in instrumentation. In the solo section we get a baritone oboe solo from Dumler and a guitar solo from Frank. Earle’s solo has light slide accompaniment while the horns play a composed section during FZ’s spot, like on Orchestral Favorites. A great version, if you like the orchestral take like I do you’ll like this.
Farther Oblivion – This classic of the Ponty-Mothers actually debuted on this tour. This tune is actually the original form of three different pieces of music from Frank’s career: The Steno-pool section from Greggery Peccary, The Be-Bop Tango and Cucamonga. The tune starts with an instrumental Steno-pool and is followed by a beautiful tuba solo (or in October, a Piccolo solo). On one occasion in DC, Frank played a solo after the tuba. There’s then some unique transitional music between the first solo section and The Be-Bop Tango (then known as “The Malcom McNabb”). Following the most insane tango known to man we get an equally mind boggling Bruce Fowler trombone solo. This is followed by a drum solo and the tune ends with an instrumental take of Cucamonga. These are really neat performances of these pieces and worth looking for.
Imaginary Diseases – One of the highlights of the tour and a crime that it wasn’t officially released until 2006. Played, only on this tour, in head/solo/head structure. The theme is a fantastic triumphant western-esque piece that shows how well frank could write for horns and on top of that Frank would always deliver an long, lyrical solo that’s sure to please. Check this tune out.
I’m Not Satisfied – This Freak Out tune pops up, surprisingly, a handful of times on this tour, usually as the opening number. Its played essentially as always, but with an extra emphasis on horns. A wonderful take of a classic song.
Improvisations – “We’re gonna make something up”. This band regularly delved into full blown improv and did so wonderfully. The instrumentation of this group makes all of these performances interesting. We get steel drum jams, jazz guitar oboe duets, six horns going insane at once, creepy trombone solos and whatever else Frank could do with this ensemble. These weird jams are constant highlights of the tour and reasons to collect every tape. Little Dots would also regularly venture into free improv, but it was still always bound by the themes of the piece. Plastic People from the Providence show and Tycho Brahe from the Portland date are other examples of slightly more composed improvisations form this tour. Some titles of jams, both fan made and official include: Six Horns in an Airplane Hanger, Seven, DC Boogie, Trudgin’ Across the Tundra, Kansas City Shuffle, Been To Kansas City In A Minor, Waiting For The Tenor Sax Blues and Hope That It Turns Out Wonderful.
Johnny’s Theme – Played once in Kansas City. The band does a quick run through of the theme to Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. After this someone says “And now, heeere’s Frankie.” as Frank comes on stage to intro and start the show. A super fun start to a great concert.
Little Dots – One of Frank’s all time strangest piece’s, played only on this tour. It sound’s just like free jazz improv until you hear it perfectly repeated at the end of the tune. The tune always starts with a tweaky bass and drum duet before Tony comes in with a beautiful slide guitar riff, that differed from night to night. From here on anything could happen. The best takes have a variety of solos in the second half of the tune and eventually drift away from the beginning riff, but occasionally there would just be a single solo. These aren’t bad performances, but my favorites are the ones that mutate into something else. Frank put it best when he said “The next item on our agenda is a song that sometimes gets beyond control. Hopefully, this is one of those times.” This is a really cool and unique tune and it’s a shame it took nearly 50 years to see it get released. Additionally, the Binghamton performance is special in that it features audience participation. Frank could cue the crowd to do some light jazz snapping and the masses were also taught to sing along with the trombones. Definitely a standout performance.
Louie Louie/Plastic People – Performed one time in Providence. FZ announces they’re gonna make something up but then in a moment of silence fan of course ask for Louie Louie. Frank hears, obliges and starts us off and the band quickly joins in. He sings a few bars of Plastic People and then they jam away for 15 minutes, so we get a lot of improv anyway. a fun live moment and a highlight of the Providence tape.
Montana – This timeless classic premiered on this tour mostly complete. It’s only missing the “Mighty Little” post solo section and instead of that we get a repetition of the intro. Pretty much every melody part is played by the horns in this arrangement, and the intro has a chugging bass line giving the whole tune a totally different feel. FZ would occasionally experiment with vocal effects on parts of the song. The lyrics were largely the same, but the “I wouldn’t have no boss” verse is instead: “My horse is little but mighty, so I ride him on the middle. And he’s known to the world as Mighty Little.” The farmer’s tweezers were sometimes Zircon-encrusted, but Frank would occasionally ad lib this line. FZ’s solos are nice but they never go too far out. Despite that I still love this version of this tune, it’s got a totally sultry, sleazy feel different from every other band. The Halloween late show performance is almost a different song because Frank spontaneously rewrote large chunks of the lyrics to be about a shouting t-shirt vender among the crowd. An easy highlight of the tour.
Rollo – This tune, only played on this tour, is in three pieces. The first section has lyrics about “the kinda dog you see when you drive around in a circle” and includes a riff that was worked into San Ber’dino. Between the two verses is a short woodwind solo and a riff latter incorporated into Zomby Woof. The second section is the end of Saint Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast, arranged with each line traded between instruments. Following this we get an oboe solo and a hot slide solo and the song ends with an instrumental piece later reworked into the end of live performances the Yellow Snow Suite. This amalgam is a big reason I come back to this tour so regularly. I can give or take the lyrics but I love all the composed music of the tune, and I always dig Tony’s solo. It’s also one of Frank’s most interesting cases of reusing musical ideas and conceptual continuity.
Son of Mr. Green Genes – Played starting in December, meaning the band likely learned the piece during their break in late November. The song’s in head/solo/head structure this time around and it’s in a really strange arrangement too. It starts with some of the horns playing just the bass part for a surprisingly long time before the full melody comes in. From that point on it’s a fairly normal arrangement, with a handful of horn solos before Frank comes in with a final guitar jam. Tony’s slide provides fantastic accompaniment and raises this take of this tune out of mediocrity. The ending is very nice too, with Tony joining in on the full theme and overall more balanced instrumentation. Not the best version of this song, but still worth checking out.
Tycho Brahe – Another one time performance, where FZ tells a story about the “little danish astronomer” while the petit wazoo provide improvised accompaniment. FZ gives some historical info about Tycho before telling his story, which he made up during the soundcheck. It’s a pretty amusing story, with really pleasant background music that starts comically close to Duke of Earl. Frank ends the affair with a beautiful guitar solo. A real fun moment and another reason to check out the Portland shows. “I can dig it Tycho”
Waka/Jawaka – Performed one time as an encore on Halloween. This tune starts with Frank alone playing the bass line and after a few repetitions the horn section comes in with riff and then the main theme. First we get an excellent sultry trumpet solo and a jamming guitar workout from FZ. Following the solos we return to the main theme. The piece ends with a hard jump to a moody guitar coda, while FZ says goodnight to the crowd. This version has prominent rhythm guitar through the solo section and sounds a bit sleazy, like most of this bands material. This take lacks the guitar-trumpet duet on the studio album, and the rest of the composed music before the return to the opening theme. Still this is a very nice version of one of FZ’s rarest tunes. It’s a bummer it wasn’t played more on this tour, or brought back for the Xmas 76 shows or the 88 band.
When The Saints Go Marching In – Performed one time in DC, immediately after the solos in Caravan. It’s an excellent, cheesy version and works great as an end to the mock big band medley of it and Caravan.
Willie the Pimp – Played one time on Halloween, by audience request. It starts with a pretty fast performance of the classic guitar riff, and shortly thereafter the horns join in on a bouncer version of the same riff. After a few repetitions Frank bursts in with his guitar but he doesn’t seem too inspired and passes the baton to Tony for a nice slide solo. This eventually morphs into a quality trombone solo and after this the riff reappears and FZ is ready to solo. This workout is much better than his first attempt, and surprisingly methodical for Willie the Pimp. After a few minutes of calm guitar, FZ cues a trumpet to start soloing and were treated to another excellent brass solo from this band. After this the band slows down and Frank introduces the next song, Montana. Far from the best Willie, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Little Dots Solo Table:
Life On The Road 