Wazoo Personnel, N-Z

Janet Neville-Ferguson

Waka/Jawaka:vocal on "It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal"
Grand Wazoo:vocals on "For Calvin"
earlier albums:Burnt Weeny Sandwich ("WPLJ"), 200 Motels (film)

Miss Janet is best known as one of the groupies in 200 Motels. She was also heard on two George Duke albums, I Love The Blues, She Heard My Cry (1975) and Liberated Fantasies (1976). She later married Zappa engineer Paul Hof.

Tony "Bat Man" Ortega

Grand Wazoo:"woodwinds" on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin"
later albums:Joe's Domage

Anthony Robert Ortega was born on June 7, 1928. He plays alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute. He has released three albums, Jazz for Young Moderns (1958), New Dance! (1966), and Rain Dance (1978). He has also played with Jean-Luc Ponty, Johnny Hartman, Lionel Hampton, Don Ellis, and Gerald Wilson.

Charles Owens

"Charles 'business course' Owens" (FZ, 9/22/72)
"Charles Owens on Miami" (FZ, 9/23/72)
"Charles 'up & down' Owens" (FZ, 9/24/72)

Grand Wazoo tour:soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet

Charles M. Owens was born on May 4, 1939, in Phoenix, Arizona. He has released three albums, Two Quartets (1979), Charles Owens Plays the Music of Harry Warren (1980), and Eternal Balance (1999). He has also recorded with Buddy Rich, Paul Humphrey, John Mayall, Marvin Gaye, Grover Mitchell, Gladys Knight, John Carter, Miles Davis, Mercer Ellington, and Jeannie and Jimmy Cheatham. He teaches in the Jazz Studies Program in the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology.

Dave Parlato

"David 'what can I say?' Parlato" (FZ, 12/2/72 late)

Grand Wazoo tour:bass
Petit Wazoo tour:bass
later tours:1975 (Royce Hall)
later albums:Zoot Allures, Sleep Dirt, Orchestral Favorites, Läther, Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa, Quaudiophiliac

David Charles Parlato was born on October 31, 1945, in Los Angeles, California. He has recorded with L. Subramaniam, Paul Horn, Warne Marsh, and Don Ellis. Although he never went on the road with FZ again, Parlato did play in the Royce Hall concerts that were recorded for the Orchestral Favorites album. He also played on two studio recordings: "Zoot Allures" (Zoot Allures) and "Filthy Habits" (Sleep Dirt).

Joel Peskin

Waka/Jawaka:tenor sax on "Your Mouth"
Grand Wazoo:"woodwinds" on "Eat That Question" and "Blessed Relief"

Joel Peskin has also recorded with Robby Krieger, Weird Al Yankovic, Lowell George, Doobie Brothers, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John, Beach Boys, Diane Schuur, and Natalie Cole. He also played on the soundtrack of That Thing You Do. He is pictured playing the flute on Grand Wazoo. He also plays clarinet, all saxes, and oboe, but I don't know whether he played these instruments on Grand Wazoo. For more information, see Joel Peskin's archived website.

Kris Peterson

Waka/Jawaka:vocal on "Your Mouth"

Kris Peterson released one single "Mama's Little Baby (Is a Big Girl Now)" (1968) on Capitol and one album A Child's Dream (1972) on Richie Havens' Stormy Forest label. She has also performed or recorded with Jobriath, Parliament-Funkadelic, Detroit Cultural Workers and Artists Caucus, and Blue Spirit Tribe.

Don Preston

Waka/Jawaka:piano and mini-moog on "Waka/Jawaka"
Grand Wazoo:mini-moog on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin"
earlier tours:1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 (LA Philharmonic concert), 1971
later tours:1974 (anniversary tour)
earlier albums:Absolutely Free, Cruising With Ruben And The Jets, Uncle Meat, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Fillmore East, Just Another Band From LA
later albums:Roxy And Elsewhere, YCDTOSA 1/3/4/5/6, Playground Psychotics, Ahead Of Their Time, Lost Episodes, Mystery Disc, Quaudiophiliac

Donald Ward Preston was born on September 21, 1932, in Flint, Michigan. He joined the Mothers of Invention in 1966, and appeared in the films 200 Motels and Uncle Meat. Preston has released several albums under his own name, including Vile Foamy Ectoplasm (1993), Hear Me Out (1997), and Transformation (2001). He has also recorded with Flo and Eddie, the Grandmothers, the GTOs, Carla Bley, Michael Mantler, Bobby Bradford, John Carter, the Residents, and Robby Krieger. For more information, see Don Preston's archived website.

Tom Raney

"Tom 'with one smashed hand' Raney" (FZ, 9/24/72)

Grand Wazoo tour:vibes, congas, tympani, gong
later tours:1975 (Royce Hall)
later albums:Orchestral Favorites, Läther, Quaudiophiliac

Tom Raney played on the soundtracks of Escape From L.A. and The Color Purple.

Ray Reed

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Phantom"
"Ray Reed on dry wit" (FZ 9/23/72)

Grand Wazoo tour:tenor sax, clarinet
later albums:Studio Tan, Orchestral Favorites, Läther, Quaudiophiliac

Ray Reed also recorded with Stan Kenton, Blood Sweat & Tears, Supersax, Ladd McIntosh, Murray Ross, and American Jazz Philharmonic.

Johnny Rotella

Grand Wazoo:"woodwinds" on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin"
earlier albums:Freak Out!, Lumpy Gravy
later albums:Studio Tan, Läther

Saxophone and clarinet player Johnny Rotella also recorded with Stan Kenton, Tommy Dorsey, Don & Dewey, Tim Buckley, Steely Dan, Harry Nilsson, Country Joe McDonald, and Pure Prairie League.

Ken Shroyer

"Kenny 'liquid delight' Shroyer" (FZ, 9/16/72)
"Direct from Jim and Andy's, Kenny 'liquid delight' Shroyer" (FZ, 9/22/72)
"Ken Shroyer on trombone and sweater backwards" (FZ 9/23/72)
"Kenny 'always jovial' Shroyer" (FZ, 9/24/72)

Waka/Jawaka:trombone and baritone horn on "Waka/Jawaka"
Grand Wazoo:"brass" on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin", multiple trombones on "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus", contractor and spiritual guidance"
Grand Wazoo tour:trombone
earlier albums:Lumpy Gravy
later albums:Quaudiophiliac, Joe's Domage

Ken Shroyer has also recorded with Stan Kenton, Dizzy Gillespie, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, James Brown, Carmen McRae, Phil Spector, the Monkees, Mel Tormé, and Michael Franks.

Jeff Simmons

Waka/Jawaka:Hawaiian guitar and vocal on "It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal"
earlier tours:1970
later tours:1974
earlier albums:Chunga's Revenge
later albums:Roxy And Elsewhere, YCDTOSA 1/6, Playground Psychotics

Jeff Simmons released two solo albums, Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up (1970) and Naked Angels (1971).

Jay "Dunt" Sloatman

Petit Wazoo tour:roadie

Jay "Dunt" Sloatman is the eldest of Gail Zappa's three younger brothers. He is credited ("Technical") on Apostrophe. FZ refers to "Dunt's ex-wife" on Roxy & Elsewhere. The two-headed roadie depicted on the cover of Over-Nite Sensation is Dunt and Paul Hof.

Ernie Tack

Grand Wazoo:"brass" on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin"

Trombonist Ernie Tack has also recorded with Oliver Nelson, Doc Severinsen, Carmen McRae, Louie Bellson, Mike Barone (Gary's brother), Pete Jolly, Jimmy Smith, Ray Conniff, the Beach Boys, Nancy Wilson, and Neil Diamond. He played in the Tonight Show band.

Ian Underwood

"My name is Ian Underwood and I'm the straight member of the group." (Ian Underwood, "Ian Underwood Whips It Out")
"Mr. Wayne--let me hear you repeat it--Wayne Buttram Ephraim Baby-Ulrich Underwood, the world's only trained Australian dingo who now plays a Hammond cut down to a B-3" (Jeff Simmons, 11/20/70)
"Mr. Wayne Buttram Baby-Ulrich Hashimoto-Mama Underwood" (Jeff Simmons, 12/6/70)
"Baby-Ulrich has to get his guitar out, take just a moment" (FZ, 12/6/70)
"The King of the Keyboard himself, Ian Underwood" (FZ, 9/22/72)
"Ian Underwood is in Los Angeles, trying to get Burt Bacharach's telephone number." (FZ, 10/29/72)

Grand Wazoo tour:piano, synthesizer
earlier tours:1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
later tours:1973
earlier albums:We're Only In It For The Money, Cruising With Ruben And The Jets, Uncle Meat, Hot Rats, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, Chunga's Revenge, Fillmore East, 200 Motels, Just Another Band From LA
later albums:Overnite Sensation, Apostrophe, YCDTOSA 1/3/4/5/6, Playground Psychotics, Ahead Of Their Time, Lost Episodes, Mystery Disc, Quaudiophiliac, Joe's Domage

Ian Robertson Underwood was born on May 22, 1939, in New York. He has also recorded with Flo and Eddie, Jeff Simmons, the GTOs, Essra Mohawk, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ambrosia, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Diane Schuur, Chunky Novi & Ernie, Manhattan Transfer, Ernie Watts, and Peggy Lee. He married Ruth Komanoff circa 1970. They are now divorced.

Ruth Underwood

"Ruth 'also jovial' Underwood" (FZ, 9/24/72)

Grand Wazoo tour:marimba, bongos, timbales, temple blocks, piccolo snare, field drum, concert bass drum
later tours:1973, 1974, 1976 (Christmas shows)
earlier albums:Uncle Meat, 200 Motels
later albums:Overnite Sensation, Apostrophe, Roxy And Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, Zoot Allures, Zappa In New York, Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt, YCDTOSA 1/2/3/4/6, Lost Episodes, Läther, Frank Zappa Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa, Have I Offended Someone?

Ruth Komanoff Underwood has also recorded with Ambrosia, George Duke, Billy Cobham, Alphonso Johnson, Hamilton Face Band, Jasun Martz, and Eye to Eye. She married Ian Underwood circa 1970. They are now divorced.

Ernie Watts

Grand Wazoo:sax solo on "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus"
earlier albums:King Kong (Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa)

Ernest James Watts was born on October 23, 1945, in Norfolk, Virginia. He plays tenor saxophone. He has released at least a dozen albums under his own name, as well as recording with the Rolling Stones, John Mayall, Oliver Nelson, Cannonball Adderley, David Benoit, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Quartet West, Spencer Davis Group, Paul McCartney, James Brown, Ray Manzarek, Carole King, Buddy Rich, Barbra Streisand, Quincy Jones, Joe Sample, Herbie Hancock, Arlo Guthrie, James Taylor, Steely Dan, Dr. John, Doc Severinsen, B. B. King, Alphonse Mouzon, Sadao Watanabe, Tom Scott, Stanley Clarke, and Dave Mason. He played in the Tonight Show band.

Frank Zappa

Waka/Jawaka:guitar on "Big Swifty", "Your Mouth", and "Waka/Jawaka"; percussion on "Big Swifty"; acoustic guitar, electric bed-springs, and uncredited vocals on "It Just Might Be A One-Shot Deal"
Grand Wazoo:lead guitar on all songs, vocals on "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus", percussion on "Eat That Question"
Grand Wazoo tour:lead guitar
Petit Wazoo tour:lead guitar, vocals

Bob Zimitti

Grand Wazoo:percussion on "Grand Wazoo" and "Calvin"

Bob Zimitti has also recorded with Sam Harris, Barbra Streisand, David Benoit, Albert King, Tony Williams, and Leonard Cohen.


Wazoo Personnel, Altschul through Migliori


The Planet Of My Dreams
Grand Wazoo
Petit Wazoo