Frank Zappa - 1991 "Make a Jazz Noise Here"

Make a Jazz Noise Here is a live double album by Frank Zappa. It was first released in June 1991, and was the third Zappa album to be compiled from recordings from his 1988 world tour, following Broadway the Hard Way (1988) and The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life (1991). The album's cover art was made by Larry Grossman.

The album consists largely of instrumentals. Besides many of Zappa's own compositions, there are also some arrangements of Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók themes by his bassist, Scott Thunes. The album showcases Mike Keneally on guitar and keyboards. The drummer is Chad Wackerman, a highly regarded musician in the jazz world (he has frequently played with jazz guitarist Allan Holdsworth). A notable contribution to the mix is made by the brass section of the group: Walt Fowler (trumpet), Bruce Fowler (trombone), and saxophonists Paul Carman, Albert Wing and Kurt McGettrick. Ike Willis plays guitar and sings, along with keyboardist Bobby Martin. Ed Mann provides all the percussion and various other sounds, complementing the addition of the Synclavier, which Zappa brought on tour for the first and only time (In the midst of the 1988 tour, Zappa fired the bulk of his band and cancelled the remaining tour primarily due to infighting between specific band members). In the liner notes, Zappa states that the album features no overdubs.

The third and final live album put together from recordings of Frank Zappa's 1988 concerts, the two-CD set Make a Jazz Noise Here focuses on the composer's instrumental pieces -- which are not necessarily jazzy, by the way. As for the three vocal tracks included ("Stinkfoot," "Stevie's Spanking," and "Advance Romance"), they all feature interesting solos. The set presents old favorites, like the medley "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"/"Harry, You're a Beast," "King Kong," and "The Black Page." They are well-performed, but considering the number of versions of each of them available on other recordings, they hardly constitute the main interest of this album. Zappa included more obscure tracks. Some of them had not been performed on-stage for quite a long time. Of these, "Big Swifty," "T'Mershi Duween," "Dupree's Paradise," and "Eat That Question" all turn into memorable moments. Scattered throughout the album, listeners also find a few newer compositions, some more spontaneous than others. "Fire and Chains," "When Yuppies Go to Hell," and "Star Wars Won't Work" don't represent key pieces in Zappa's works, but they add an element of surprise to the whole. Make a Jazz Noise Here contains very little stage antics and inside jokes; it concentrates on virtuoso performances of some of Zappa's best instrumental tunes.

Track listing:

CD 1:
01            Stinkfoot        7:40
02        When Yuppies Go To Hell    14:36
03        Fire And Chains    3:57
04        Let's Make The Water Turn Black    1:36
05        Harry, You're A Beast    0:47
06        The Orange County Lumber Truck    0:42
07        Oh No    4:43
08        Theme From "Lumpy Gravy"    1:12
09        Eat That Question    1:55
10        Black Napkins    6:56
11        Big Swifty    11:13
12        King Kong    13:11
13        Star Wars Won't Work    3:33

CD 2:
01        The Black Page (New Age Version)    6:45
02        T'Mershi Duweeen    1:42
03        Dupree's Paradise    8:35
04        City Of Tiny Lights    8:01
05        Royal March From "L'Histoire Du Soldat"  1:00
06        Theme From The Bartok Piano Concerto #3  0:43
07        Sinister Footwear 2nd Mvt.    6:19
08        Stevie's Spanking    4:26
09        Alien Orifice    4:15
10        Cruisin' For Burgers    8:28
11        Advance Romance    7:43
12        Strictly Genteel   5:37

Personnel:

    Frank Zappa – lead guitar, synth, vocal
    Ike Willis – rhythm guitar, synth, vocal
    Mike Keneally – rhythm guitar, synth, vocal
    Bobby Martin – keyboards, vocal
    Ed Mann – vibes, marimba, electronic percussion
    Walt Fowler – trumpet, flugel horn, synth
    Bruce Fowler – trombone
    Paul Carman – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone
    Albert Wing – tenor saxophone
    Kurt McGettrick – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet
    Scott Thunes – electric bass, minimoog
    Chad Wackerman – drums, electronic percussion
    Sampled voices of Senator Hawkins, Senator Holings and Johnny "Guitar" Watson