  We express the colored Jones polynomial as the inverse of the quantum
determinant of a matrix with entries in the $q$-Weyl algebra of $q$-operators,
evaluated at the trivial function (plus simple substitutions). The Kashaev
invariant is proved to be equal to another special evaluation of the
determinant. We also discuss the similarity between our determinant formula of
the Kashaev invariant and the determinant formula of the hyperbolic volume of
knot complements, hoping it would lead to a proof of the volume conjecture.
