Tuesday, September 29, 2009

DISCUS - 1ST


  • discus: 1st
    (1999, cd, indonesia, mello records mmp 365)

Indonesian prog-rock band Discus was one of the highlights of the latest Zappanale festival. The band had been announced a couple of times the last years, but this year, they were finally able to make it.
Discus played a well balanced and well rehearsed set at Zappanale. And I'm not even mentioning the gorgeous female singers...
I was glad that I was able to catch them live.

Discus' first album, "1st", got released in 1999, which is almost ten years ago. It's difficult to understand that the band only has two albums out...
"1st" is a very fine album. It mixes ethnic elements, lounge jazz, angular rock, and more. Despite a couple of weaker moments, the album also presents some of their best pieces.

DISCUS - ...TOT LICHT !


The second Discus album is entitled "...Tot Licht !" and got released in 2003.
Compared with "1st", "... Tot Licht" shows a band that has evolved, that has matured.
All the influences and all the different musical styles are still present, but they're mixed / incorporated in a better way.

I was told that the album has been out of print for a while already, but you should try to find it. It's an impressive album.

ZAPPOSTROPHE 115


Our Czech friends recently released issues 115 and 116 (!!) of their Zappostrophe fanzine.
Issue 115 included an article with pictures of ZpZ in Prague. It also has some pictures of the "Zapa Cafe", plus an article on Jimi Hendrix.

ZAPPOSTROPHE 116


Issue number 116 of Zappostrophe talks about The Grande Mothers Re:Invented concert in Prague. It has a huge Zappanale 20 report (with great pictures), and it has an In Memoriam piece on Les Paul.
And as you can tell by the cover, Zappanale was fun. Just ask Bohous.

MR.BUNGLE - BOWL OF CHILEY



In my opinion a website that wants to talk about Zappa, Beefheart, Sun Ra and such, should also mention Mr.Bungle.
Mr.Bungle played rock / avant-garde / metal mixed with a variety of other musical styles and released three full-length studio albums between 1991 and 1999.
However, the band's discography counts four albums.

In 1997, Rastacore Records released "Bowl Of Chiley", one of the band's demo tapes with recordings from 1987.
Mr.Bungle wasn't too happy with this and made Rastacore pull the record out of the shelves.

I think "Bowl Of Chiley" is a nice album, even if it's just for the historical value.
It has been added to the UM Files.

ADRIAN BELEW - E



The latest Adrian Belew album is called "E". It's the Adrian Belew Power Trio recorded live in the studio: Adrian Belew on Parker guitar, Julie Slick on bass, and the Eric Slick on powerful drumming.

It's quite astonishing to hear how tight this trio sounds. They have been playing together for a number of years now, and that shows.
"E" is a very impressive album. If you're into the recognisable sound of the Adrian Belew Power Trio, this is a must have.

Monday, September 28, 2009

MICHAEL CLAY & ADRIAN BELEW - A CUP OF COFFEE AND A SLICE OF TIME

I don't know if this is becoming a trend as we have had Mike Keneally performing Steve Vai compositions on the piano last year, and now we have Michael Clay bringing Adrian Belew songs on the grand piano.

Trend or not, the result is very good. The piano shows how beautiful the melodies of Adrian's songs are. The album also includes two King Crimson tunes!

Great stuff!

Available through www.adrianbelew.net

Saturday, September 26, 2009

MIKE KENEALLY UPDATE 2009 09 24

  • Dethklok will be touring again
  • the new Keneally album, "Scambot 1" will be available for pre-order one of the next days. It will be available as a standard one album edition, or as a limited edition 2CD set.

Upcoming Keneally Shows:

Dethklok
(featuring Brendon Small, Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller and Gene Hoglan)
plus Mastodon
Tour 2009
with Converge and High On Fire

October 2 Portland, OR Roseland Theater
October 3 Seattle, WA WaMu Theater
October 4 Vancouver, BC Orpheum Theatre
October 6 Calgary, AB Big Four Building
October 7 Edmonton, AB Shaw Conference Centre
October 9 Salt Lake City, UT Great Saltair
October 10 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium
October 12 Kansas City, MO Uptown Theater
October 13 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
October 14 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom
October 16 Minneapolis, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
October 17 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
October 18 Milwaukee, WI Eagle's Auditorium
October 20 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
October 21 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
October 23 Toronto, ON Sound Academy
October 24 Buffalo, NY The Fairgrounds
October 25 Albany, NY Armory
October 27 Boston, MA House of Blues
October 29 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
October 31 Washington, DC Patriot Center
November 1 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory
November 3 Norfolk, VA The Norva
November 4 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore
November 5 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
November 6 Myrtle Beach, SC House of Blues
November 7 Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
November 8 Pompano Beach, FL Pompano Beach Amphitheater
November 11 Dallas, TX House of Blues
November 12 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theater
November 13 Austin, TX Austin City Music Hall
November 14 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater
November 16 Las Cruces, NM Pan American Center
November 17 Mesa, AZ Mesa Amphitheater
November 18 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues
November 20 Los Angeles, CA Palladium
November 21 San Jose, CA Event Center

TONY MOLITERNI

2009 09 26

October 3, 2009, Tony Moliterni's 'Aceitunas Negras' will be performed by a classical trio.
Tony is the man behind Sul Divano, a band from Argentina that performs original music as well as the music of Frank Zappa and of Astor Piazzolla.
(At one of their 1997 concerts, Steve Vai and Mike Keneally were in the audience. Keneally joined the band for the encore.)

2do.Concierto Ciclo SADAIC 2009
Sábado 03 de Octubre de 2009 a las 16 hs.
Auditorio de la Facultad de Derecho
Av. Pte. Figueroa Alcorta 2263
Entrada libre y gratuita

  • Tirso de Olazabal > Homenaje recordatorio, palabras de Enrique Beloc
  • Jorge Sala > Sonatina
    [para Piano]
  • Mariano Vitacco > Cuaderno de Vera
    [para Piano]
  • Antonio Moliterni > Aceitunas Negras
    [Estreno Mundial, trío para Clarinete, Violoncello y Piano]
  • Luis Arias > Motivación o Desconstrucción
    [Estreno Mundial, para 2 teclados]
  • Mariano Etkin > Distancias
    [para Piano]

Intérpretes:
Clarinete: Griselda Giannini
Violoncello: Jorge Pérez Tedesco
Piano: Irene Amerio, Jorge Sala, Alicia Lastra, Diego Ricciardi y Bruno Mesz

Friday, September 25, 2009

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE - ARE WE EXPERIMENTAL?


The output of Kawabata Makoto and the Acid Mothers Temple is enormous. I don't have a clue as to how many albums the die-hard Acid Mothers fan owns, but it must be a lot.

"Are We Experimental?" got released on the Prophase Music label only a couple of months ago.
The album presents eleven rather short tracks on which the AMT quartet explores the boundaries of psychedelic and experimental music.

I really like this.
With the Acid Mothers Temple, you know what to expect.
Contrary to other AMT albums the compositions are kept rather short, which makes them way more powerful.
I still think that it's a pity that Kawabata Makoto doesn't add more Hendrix and Zappa in his playing. The influences and references are there. I just wish he would add more of a rock element into his playing.

As I said, I really like this.
"Are We Experimental?" is an excellent addition to the Acid Mothers discography.
If you never heard of the AMT, this might be a good place to start.

recommended listening.

http://prophasemusic.com/default.aspx

FAST 'N' BULBOUS - WAXED OOP

"Waxed Oop" is the second release by Philip Johnston and Gary Lucas' Fast 'n Bulbous Captain Beefheart Project.
Take a national steel guitar, a bass, a drum set, a trumpet, an alto saxophone, a trombone, a baritone saxophone, and you've got the instrumentation for Fast 'n Bulbous!

For me, one of the most spectacular things about the music of Captain Beefheart, is the rhythm. At its best, it sounds like a train rolling by.
And that's exactly what Fast 'n Bulous is so good at. These horns make the music roll like a train.

Add fine guitar work by former Beefheart bandmember Gary Lucas, and you get a superb album.

Essential !!

MR.BUNGLE - DISCO VOLANTE


Talking about zappa-influenced music, here's "Disco Volante", the second Mr.Bungle album.
A cartoonesque mixture of styles, "Disco Volante" will surprise many.
If you're not familiar with the album, give it a try!

recommended listening.

ROXY & MORE

from Dweezil on Twitter, through Marco:

“I directed/produced the Roxy and Hogg shows. Frank Zappa’s original Roxy show will release before we drop Zappa Plays Zappa Son of Roxy”

And there's also the rumours about the release of a 1976 concert, a Ruben Reissue, and Tony Palmer wants to rerelEase "200 Motels"...

All in 2009? Now THAT would be something :-)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

MR.BUNGLE - MR.BUNGLE


It's hard to imagine that the first Mr.Bungle album will celebrate its 20th anniversary in a couple of years.
Mike Patton, Danny Heifetz, Trey Spruance and Trevor Dunn.
Produced by John Zorn.

This most certainly deserves a place over at the United Mutations files.

DWALMACAT 347

Go to

http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

Click on “Luister”.

This week on your favourite radio show:

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT – An orange’s nothing but a juicy pumpkin
THE FIERY FURNACES – Charmaine champagne
WIRE – Second length
THE SABOTEN – Whatever happened to fitness fats
DEERHOOF – Milking
THE BEATLES – Getting better
HENRY COW – Solemn music / Linguaphonie
JUAN MacLEAN – Happy house
PALAIS SCHAUMBURG – Grünes Winkelkanu
FAITH NO MORE – Midlife crisis
LOUIS ARMSTRONG – Muskrat ramble
JOANNA NEWSOM – What we have known
LORD KRISHNA VON GOLOKA – Die weisse Alm

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

ALPHONSE MOUZON - THE MAN INCOGNITO


Did you know that Alphonse Mouzon's "The Man Incognito" featured Ian Underwood, Victor Feldman & Emil Richards? All musicians that worked with Zappa!

Here's an mp3 version for you to check out:

http://rarejazz.blogspot.com/2009/09/alphonse-mouzon-man-incognito.html

A funky mix of disco and jazz...

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

STEVE VAI - WHERE THE OTHER WILD THINGS ARE


"Where The Other Wild Things Are" is the bonus download album that you get when you buy the new CD/DVD, "Where The Wild Things Are".

This is melodic, instrumental guitar playing at its best. (plus great interaction with the violins!!)
Hard to imagine that these are 'just' the leftovers...

  1. the crying machine
  2. the audience is listening
  3. the murder
  4. juice
  5. whispering a prayer
  6. apples in paradise
  7. i'm becoming
  8. beastly rap
  9. earthquake sky
  10. liberty
  11. answers
  12. for the love of god

STEVE VAI

Steve Vai with Zpz.
This is the intro to More Trouble Every Day.

SUN RA - STRANGE CELESTIAL ROAD

Here's another addition to the enormous Sun Ra discography / datafile.
"Strange Celestial Road" was released in 1982 and got reissued on CD in 1987.
Just three tracks. But that's enough to take you on a voyage...

Don't hesitate when you come across this one.

ON THE SPOT: DIVA ZAPPA

LISA LOEB - HELLO LISA

Early 2002, A&M released Lisa Loeb's "Cake & Pie" album. Not satisfied with the way that A&M handled the album, Lisa bought the rights back, reworked the album, and re-released it as "Hello Lisa".
"Cake & Pie" featured Dweezil Zappa on co-writing, arranging and guitar on a lot of tracks. Joe Travers and Lala Sloatman are also present on the disc.
As "Hello Lisa" is mostly a remasterd version of "Cake & Pie", Dweezil, Joe and Lala can be found on the list of musicians here as well.
Not bad.

Monday, September 21, 2009

THE PROPHETS OF OLD

The Prophets Of Old recorded Frank Zappa's 'Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder'.

from http://www.myspace.com/johndelunamusic:

Prophets of Old - included Bill Reyes (guitar/vocals); David Parsley (sax/vocals); Tom Fuentes (keboard/vocals) and Benny Lopez (bass/vocals) and John De Luna (drums/vocals). This band created it's own record company, East - West Records, promoted it's own records through live "on air " radio appearances and it's distributer. Distributed by Chapman, the band's Single release was "Just Can't Wait" written by Lopez/Parsley, and "Go cry on somebody else's shoulder," an obscure Frank Zappa tune. Recorded at the legendary Gold Star Studio in Hollywood, this was John's first recording experience at age 15. This group opened for the major acts of the day including the Doors; Seeds; Music Machine; Yellow Balloon; Them; Turtles and other top forty radio groups promoted by DJ's Casey Kasem and Dave Hull through L.A. radio station KRLA. The band had a standing engagement at the famous "Sea Witch" club, located next to "Dino's" on the Sunset Strip. The band drew a strong following with a fan club, membership driven base.

See also the interview at http://www.moonflowercafe.com/jdlpage1.html.

  • the prophets of old: just couldn't wait / go cry on somebody else shoulder
    (1966, 7", usa, eastside-westside es/ws 101)

-- info: Charles Ulrich

BILL EVANS - SOUL INSIDER


I got this album from my friend Till about a month ago. I listened to it for the first time when I drove from Hamburg to Bad Doberan, and it has been in and out of my CD-player ever since.
This is feel-good-music. Music that makes you feel good. It's a mixture of jazz, fusion and funk.

Bill Evans has played and recorded with Miles Davis, John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, and with Randy Brecker so I expected some 'classic' jazz or fusion stuff.
I couldn't have been more wrong. This is jazz, but mixed with some poppy p-funk. The first notes reminded me of Prince and Candy Dulfer, and that was just for starters.

"Soul Insider" offers some great, catchy tunes. They'll keep boppin' in your head all day long.
A nice surprise.

Check out Bill Evans' website for some musical snippets:

http://www.billevanssax.com/

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WAVELENGTH INFINITY _ A SUN RA TRIBUTE

"Wavelength Infinity" is a 2CD Sun Ra tribute album that featured Graham Connah, Eugene Chadbourne & Jimmy Carl Black, The Residents, NRBQ, and lots of others.
All paying tribute to the late Sun Ra.

SUN RA - STRANGE STRINGS

Two years ago, the Atavistic label re-issued Sun Ra's "Strange Strings", an El Saturn album from 1966.
This one is not for the faint hearted.
Experimental music. Capital E.

This CD reissue comes with a bonus track: 'Door Squeak'. It has Sun Ra playing a door with a squeaky hinge, joined by the Arkestra, on various string instruments.

Listening to Sun Ra is an adventure !!!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

ZAPPA NIGHT IN GEBHARDSHAIN GERMANY 2009 10 10

  • 2009/10/10 The Foolz // Polytoxicomane Philharmonie - concert 'Westwälder Hof', Gebhardshein, Germany

    = 10th Zappa Nacht

DOCTOR HONORIS CAUSA

Archie Shepp, Robert Wyatt, Anthony Braxton, Arvo Pärt, Dick Annegarn and Frederic Rzewski received the insignia of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Liège (Belgium) on September 17, 2009.

The event was followed by an evening concert in which the music of the recipients was performed by various ensembles (sometimes featuring the recipients themselves) at the Salle Philarmonique de Liège.

more info soon.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

ZAPPATIKA IN PARIS, ONE YEAR AGO

The launch party for ZAPPATiKA's debut album , The Short but Legendary Flight of the Dodo, was held a year ago (September 2008) in Paris, France, hosted by those wonderful Fils de L'invention it and turned into an acoustic Zappa tribute with a huge singalong from the packed audience of French FZ freakz ~ it was a truly memorable evening !

The whole gig was recorded by a great young team of film-makers Le Labostrophe and this is the first track from their editing suite - The Torture never Stops as you have NEVER seen it before !

N-joy
;-)

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=61721624
--

WALT FOWLER & VINNIE COLAIUTA

Former Zappa sidemen Walt Fowler and Vinnie Colaiuta perform on David Garfield's "Giving Back", from 2005.

-- Jan van Kemenade

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - EDDY LOVES FRANK


"Eddy Loves Frank" is Ed Palermo's fifth album, and it's his third album on which he performes the music of Frank Zappa.
Have you heard his previous albums?
Well, this one's even better.

A great choice of tunes, superb arrangements and excellent perfomances.
This is big band zappa music like you've never heard before.

  1. night school
  2. echidna's arf (of you)
  3. regyptian strut
  4. don't you ever wash that thing ?
  5. dupree's paradise
  6. what's new in baltimore
  7. let's move to cleveland
  8. america the beautiful (s.ward, k.bates)

The six plus minutes of 'Night School' are so good... It's like listening to the original track from "Jazz From Hell" with the big band adding accents, big band lines, and with Ed Palermo playing a great solo over the intro. Fabulous. Big Band From Hell.

Or what about the almost ten minutes of 'Echidna's Arf (Of You)'. Another excellent and very rich arrangement, highlighting the various melodies and riffs in this beautiful composition.

You get the picture. This is top.
"Eddy Loves Frank" is one of the best albums I've heard this year !

ESSENTIAL!!

My favourite track is 'What's New In Baltimore'.
You know what they always say: 'No-one plays Zappa like Zappa', well, let me change that in 'No-one plays Zappa like Zappa or Palermo'.

www.cuneiform.com

www.mandai.be

BROKKEN-AFTERNOON IN AMSTERDAM 2009 09 27


September 27, Corrie van Binsbergen's Brokken-afternoon will present concerts of the Brokkenfabriek band, and of Narcissus, a project that features Robin Verheyen (who performed and recorded with Alex Maguire and The Wrong Object).

DINK BRIDGERS

The above picture is the cover of my copy of "Oh Come On, It's Supposed To Be Weird", and it includes my song selection from Dink Bridgers' website.
As you can imagine, it includes the tracks that Dink recorded with Ray White and with Eric Drew Feldman.

These tracks (and more) are available from Dink through his website.

Check out http://www.dkbridger.com/dkmindsweeper.html
I love it.

PRESENT -- SEPTEMBER UPDATE

FRANCE
Sunday - September 20th - ROCK IN OPPOSITION France
http://www.rocktime.org/rio
http://www.myspace.com/rockinopposition

Friday - September 25th 2009 - BOURGOUIN-JAILLEU (Lyon)
http://www.lesabattoirs.fr/

BELGIUM
Tuesday - September 22th 2009
BRUSSELS - Abbaye de Forest
http://www.totalzoo.com/present/html/concerts.htm

GERMANY
Sunday - September 27th 2009 - FREAKPARADE FESTIVAL 2009 - WÜRZBURG
http://www.artrock-festival.de/

New CD / DVD "BARBARO (ma non troppo)" will be available mid- september
Ad Hoc Records USA : http://www.adhocrecords.com/

ALL INFO
http://www.totalzoo.com/present/html/concerts.htm
http://www.totalzoo.com/present/
http://www.myspace.com/present1313

DWALMACAT 346

This week on the Dwalmacat radio show...

go to http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

click on “Luister”

and listen to

MATMOS – Yield to total elation
NEGATIVLAND – Perfect scrambled eggs
THE FALL – Riddler!
STAFF CARPENBORG – The every day’s away down to the suburbs
QUINCY JONES – Chega de saudade
CRASS – Securicor
THE FIELD – The little heart beats so fast
PAVEMENT – Father to a sister of thought
ISTHMUS IN IRK – Say it never to me
GRAND FUNK – Some kind of wonderful
JOHN LURIE – Car Florida
DAEVID ALLEN – Fastfather
DREADZONE – Skeleton at the feast

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

PROJECT/OBJECT & SCHOOL OF ROCK // BENEFIT SHOW

A BENEFIT FOR CHERI JIOSNE - SEP 27 - SULLIVAN HALL NYC

Hello folks

Hoping this message finds you well.

While there have been real high points and really great moments --It's been a very hard year for me and my loved ones, most of you know about the tragic & sudden loss of my mom in July, 10 weeks ago today. Many of you also know that day arrived against a backdrop of very tough times -- my other half and love of my life Cheri Jiosne has been fighting breast cancer for almost a year now.

She is doing as well as one can, in fact better I think - she looks great, feels great and is several months into an intense program combining various schools of herbalism, holistic methods, Qi gong, Acupuncture and diet with a low dose Alternative Chemo program called IPT.

It's ironic (or not) that the current national debate has been about health care -- we too are amongst the millions of Americans without health care insurance. The small amount she had at one of her jobs ran out -- and we are dealing with this out of pocket. We are looking at creative ways to keep paying the bills, and one idea was to do a benefit in NYC.

So the first one will be:

Sun Sept 27 2009
Sullivan Hall
214 Sullivan St NYC

THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA.
7pm doors 8pm show / $15adv $20dos. / 18 + / Under 18 w/parent

The acts onstage will be :

PROJECT/OBJECT ACOUSTIC
(with Andre Cholmondeley, Dave Johnsen, Robbie Mangano, Jordan Shapiro, Eric Slick and SPECIAL GUESTS including Candi Jiosne)

and

THE SCHOOL OF ROCK ALLSTARS
(performing the best of Zappa with a full electric band!!)

I feel this is extra appropriate since Project/Object once raised over 10,000 for prostate cancer research, when we sold out Irving Plaza - one of the greatest venues around - on Halloween 2001. The connectedness of Good Karma is also in play -- as the Irving Plaza show was co-produced with NYC rock radio station Q-104.3. At the time, the GM of the station was a huge Zappa fan - Matt Ross, who got behind the show in a massive way.

As a result of doing the Irving Plaza show, Matt became and still is a close friend of the band --and subsequently he met Paul Green, they began to work on ideas together and now Matt is the CEO of School Of Rock. Everyone in Project/Object has been connected to Rock School in one way or another -- we have all taught, run rehearsals, or attended there. It's all connected.

For those who would like to help -- but cannot come to New York:

-- we have a pay pal account as well as a PO Box you can send a donation check/money order to. Here are other options:

You can go to paypal.com and make payments to projectobject@earthlink.net .

You can send a check or money order written to CHERYL JIOSNE to:

Cheri Jiosne Cancer Fund
PO BOX 16672
Asheville NC
28801

Thanks! No amount is too small.....Stand by for further info and please forward this to anyone you think would be interested.

Thanks so much for all your support, in so many ways through the years. She is a fighter and we will make it thru this difficult time, with victory over this!

André Cholmondeley
Project/Object etc

TOUR MANAGER/TECH: Adrian Belew Power Trio / adrianbelew.net

GUITAR: Project/Object, Delicious / projectobject.com

ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO FALL TOUR

My day job -- sorely needed in this economy...and with no health care....ouch.!!
October -- we will hit the west coast -- stay tuned fro an email soon with dates. Hope to see you then.
adrianbelew.net

-- andre' cholmondeley

POSITIVE CATASTROPHE - GARABATOS VOLUME ONE


This 10-piece big band started out as a collaboration between Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet) and Abraham Gomez-Delgado (percussion). The duo also signed for all of the compositions.
The music is probably best described as spacy latin big band jazz.
"Garabatos Volume One" presents beautiful melodies, latin rhythms and fine improvisations that remind me a lot of my favourite Arkestra.

This is a very impressive debut and it comes as no suprise that the included "Travels" suite is dedicated to the late Sun Ra.
Excellent stuff.

Recommended listening.

www.cuneiform.com

www.mandai.be

AKA MOON

Saw Aka Moon in concert the other day.
In Mol, at the Duvel Jazz Festial.

Superb.
The band will be releasing a new album in December, and a DVD early next year!

WARREN CUCCURULLO - PLAYING IN TONGUES


Doubleyousee's (W.C. = Warren Cuccurullo) career does look a bit weird. He played with Zappa in the late seventies, played with The Missing Persons and with Duran Duran.
Warren also has some outspoken opinions on sex, religion, the 9/11 attacks, and more.
His previous solo album dates from 2003, so I was glad to hear that he was working on something new.

"Playing In Tongues" is great. It's subtitled "Holographic Jesus And The Cee Gee Alien Attack", which sort of gives away that this is not your average rock album...

The music on this album is great. This is Warren Cuccurullo doing what he is best at: making music.

Here's a little piece from a 1994 interview with Andrew Greenaway:

AG: In a 1990 interview you described yourself as a "mini-FZ" in the light of your experiences with Missing Persons and DuranDuran. How come?

WC: I'm becoming a maxi-Frank now! His influence is so strong - I find my capacity for work is endless. I've just organized a 15-piece orchestra for a Duran Duran Unplugged show. My experience with Frank is my most valuable asset.

And it looks like Zappa's influence is bigger than ever.
Great music, funny lyrics and hilarious stories.
I have the same feeling with Vai and with Keneally. They're making some great music, and you can tell that they played with, and learned a lot from Frank Zappa.

The album features Terry Bozzio, Dale Bozzio, Al Malkin and Peter Wolf as special guests.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
(released on Zappa records in the U.S.A., and on Edsel in Yurrip)

TALIBAM! & JEALOUSY PARTY


Italian underground label Wallace Records (http://www.wallacerecords.com/home.htm) releases music with a punk attitude. The label has been around since 1999, so they're celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. Congrats !!
Last year, Wallace Records released a 10" vinyl album. It was a split record, including one track by Talibam! and two tracks by Jealousy Party: volume 5 in their PhonoMetak Laboratories series.

Talibam! is a duo: Matt Mottel: synthesizer, and Kevin Shea: drums

from their MySpace site:
Hailing from New York City, TALIBAM! has been making their presence felt since 2003 with a prolific number of live gigs, self-released cdr's & label releases. Since 2006, Matt Mottel (synthesizer) and Kevin Shea (drums) have toured Europe nine times & released 19 albums. They have releases on ESP, Roaratorio, Bo'Weavil Recordings, Azul Discografica, Moist Lips Records, Stop Scratching, No=Fi Recordings, Evolving Ear, Pendu Sound Recordings, Wallace Records, Holiday Records, Thors Rubber Hammer, Ecstatic Peace, MT5 Tapes, Fair School, Kitty Play Records, Gaffer Records, Blackest Rainbow, & others.
The music is a mixture beween trash / noise and free jazz. You can sample it at:

http://www.myspace.com/talibam

The Jealousy Party is an italian eight-piece band that mixes experimental music with electronics.

http://www.myspace.com/thejealousyparty

If you're into the blending of noise with free jazz and electronics, you should check this out.

www.mandai.be

Monday, September 14, 2009

THE ULTIMATE STEVE VAI CHARITY AUCTION

Special Announcement: The Ultimate Steve Vai Charity Auction

THE ULTIMATE STEVE VAI CHARITY AUCTION

This is a once in a lifetime package for a special Steve Vai Fan!

Steve will be auctioning a complete replica of his entire rig (many of the items used on tour) as part of the charity auctions taking place in conjunction with the release of the new DVD/CD and screening party on September 15th in Hollywood. You get everything shown in the photo, including Steve! The rig contains many of the original items Steve used on the String Theories tour that was captured live in the "Live in Minneapolis: Where the Wild Things Are DVD". (*denotes original String Theory tour items)

(1) Original Steve Vai owned Jem ("Bad Horsie I"I guitar used on the Fire Garden tour)
(2) Carvin Legacy II heads
(2) 4x12 Carvin Legacy cabinets*
(1) Bad Horsie Wha Wha pedal*
(1) Little Alligator Volume pedal*
(1) Ibanez Jemini distortion pedal
(1) Digitech Whammy pedal*
(1) Original SV TC -G force*

All rig components are wired with premium DiMarzio cables.

But that's not all. Steve will write and record an original song dedicated to the highest bidder, and will be sold on iTunes, with all proceeds going to Hollywood Arts. http://www.hollywood-arts.org The highest bidder will also get a very special thank you in the next Vai record; a commemorative DVD plaque, a 1-hour private lesson with Steve (Steve will come to the winner's house if they are located in Los Angeles); and the winner will be invited to an EVO experience (including concert tickets) in the town of their chose on the next tour.

The auction begins today - Monday September 14th at 3:45pm PDT. Visit Vai.com for a link to the auction.

Click here to read more and see a larger image! http://www.vai.com/wildthings/auction/

SHEIK YERBOUTI - UNVERSCHÄMTHEIT VOLUME 2


The latest series Zappanale concerts got kicked off by Sheik Yerbouti with an acoustic performance in Hamburg on August 11, 2009. (amplified acoustic instruments) The concert was really good, and special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock added the little extra to make it even better.

Sheik Yerbouti also presented their latest album at this concert: "Unverschämtheit - Volume 2", a compilation of recordings from 2003 until 2007. All of the tracks feature The Horny Hornz, the horn section that has performed with Sheik Yerbouti every once in a while.

Great stuff. An essential release for the Zappa addicts.

Here's a little video snippet that my friend Luuk shot in Hamburg:

'I'm The Slime' without Napoleon, but it does give you a glimpse of what it was like.

YOUNGBLOOD BRASS BAND - UNLEARN

The Youngblood Brass Band got founded by Nat McIntosch (sousaphone) and Dave Henzie-Skogen (vocals, percussion) in 1994. The band combines the sounds of traditional New Orleans brass bands, the midwest drum & bugle marching bands, funk and hip hop into a powerful mixture that is typical for the Youngblood Brass Band.

"Unlearn", the band's second release, features Ike Willis on supberb vocals on track four: the laid-back "Something", a McIntosh composition.

Very nice, and Ike's contribution is great. It's a pity that he can only be heard on one track.

BUY OR DIE

a message from RalphAmerica:

Residents Friend,

There are 2 days left for you to pick up (preorder) the first of the Buy or Die tees. These are screenprinted, as the original shirts were, and we are only making as many shirts as are preordered. So if you preorder one of these, you're sure to get one!

Please stop by http://ralphamerica.com to have a look at the shirt design (nothing says Buy or Die like a guy holding a knife to someone's throat!) and pick one of these lovelies up before it's too late.

Thanks, and we'll see ya at the Ralph store, where you can pick up plenty of other Residential Rarities.

The Ralph Gang
http://ralphamerica.com

Saturday, September 12, 2009

NEW PERE UBU ALBUM ON RECOMMENDED RECORDS

Recommended Records has released a new Pere Ubu album, "London Texas", ReR PU01.

"... A great live recording of the sadly short-lived version of the band that existed between the arrival of Eric Drew Feldman and the departure of Chris Cutler."

STEVE VAI DVD SCREENING ON SEPTEMBER 15

New Steve Vai album on CD, DVD and Blue Ray:

http://bandmerch.seenon.com/detail.php?p=108770&v=stevevai&ecid=PRF-SM-700305&pa=PRF-SM-700305

Come to the Benefit Screening in Hollywood on 9/15!

Steve Vai announces a premier screening of his concert film Live In Minneapolis - Where The Wild Things Are at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on September 15th. Attendees will have the rare opportunity to view the concert on the big screen. The screening will kick off with a 6 minute groundbreaking Mass Animation animated short Live Music - a worldwide collaboration by digital animators using a unique application built on the Facebook platform. Live Music stars Steve Vai and Ann Marie Calhoun. Steve and his band will then introduce the concert film.

The screening will be open to the public and proceeds from the event will benefit Hollywood Arts, an arts academy that provides creative and commercial art instruction to homeless and at-risk youth. Vai has been a member of the board of directors for Hollywood Arts since 2007. For more information, visit http://www.hollywood-arts.org/

"I'm thrilled to be sponsoring this event in support of such a vital organization as Hollywood Arts." said Vai. "I have personally seen how this institute has mended broken spirits and changed the quality of people's lives while cultivating them to become valuable contributors in building a healthier society."

Music celebrities from all walks are donating items for a silent auction that will be held at the Egyptian Theatre on the night of the screening. There will also be an Ebay auction to help raise funds and awareness for Hollywood Arts. Visit Favored Nations to view photos and info on Ebay auction items. See below of a list of auction contributors.

The schedule for the event is as follows:

Location: The Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd.
  • 4:00 p.m. - EVO Experience
  • 6:00 p.m. - Red Carpet Reception, food, drinks, and silent auction
  • 7:30 p.m. - Steve and String Theories band introductions
    - Animated short ("Live Music" starring Steve Vai and Ann Marie Calhoun)
    - "Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are" (Pt. 1)
  • 9:45 p.m. - Silent auction closes
    - "Live In Minneapolis: Where The Wild Things Are" (Pt. 2)

General admission tickets are $25.00 and all ages are welcome. The silent auction is open to the all attendees. A limited number of tickets are available to the EVO Experience - a private Q & A discussion with Steve. EVO Experience tickets are $199 each. For more information about the EVO Experience, go to

http://www.vai.com/News/evo2009/

Friday, September 11, 2009

SUN RA AND HIS MYTH SCIENCE ARKESTRA - WHEN ANGELS SPEAK OF LOVE


Here's another re-release of an early (1966) Sun Ra Saturn album.
Sun Ra & the Arkestra, live in NYC in 1963!
It's free jazz. Sun Ra didn't like the term, but that's what it sounds like to me.
It's fast, it's free, it's far out... it's f*** great.

SUN RA & AMOUGIES

Did you know that Sun Ra & his Solar Myth Arkestra were to be performing at the Amougies festival?
Somehow, that didn't happen, but Sun Ra did deliver his "Solar-Myth Approach" recordings to BYG/Actuel label.
The BYG label didn't survive the loss of money of the Amougies festival.
Forunately, the Sun Ra recordings got released on Charly records by Jean-Luc Young (the "Y" in the BYG label).

SUN RA & HIS SOLAR-MYTH ARKESTRA - THE SOLAR MYTH APPROACH VOL.1 & 2


Recorded in 1970 / 1971, The Solar Myth Approach presents a mix of soundscapes and free jazz.

The albums got released seperately on the French BYG label in 1971. They have been re-released both as single albums and as a double album.

Not for the faint-hearted, but very interesting.

SUN RA - SOUND OF JOY


Originally released in 1968, "Sound Of Joy" got re-released in 1994, with two bonus tracks.
The album was originally intended for the Transition label, which did not survive long enough to release it.
Recorded in 1957, it presents some fine, big band jazz.
from Wikipedia:
"Sound of Joy" is an album by Sun Ra and his Arkestra. It features the Arkestral lineup during the last few months of 1956, after trombonist Julian Priester left to join Lionel Hampton, [[Charles Davis (saxophonist)]Charles Davis]] became a regular member of the band, and Victor Sproles took over on bass. It was intended as the follow-up to "Jazz By Sun Ra" but Transition Records ceased to operate before it could be released.
Four of the tracks were included on Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra Visits Planet Earth, released in 1966. The entire LP was eventually released in 1968 by Delmark Records, who also re-issued Jazz by Sun Ra. Two ballads, written by Sun Ra and sung by Clyde Williams, were left off the original album, however, because the president of Delmark Records, Bob Koester, "felt they didn't fit with the other pieces on the session." The songs were reinstated when the album was re-issued on CD in 1994.

WATCH LED BIB PERFORM AT THE 2009 MERCURY PRIZE ON BBC TV

Avant-garde / jazz quintet Led Bib got nominated for the Mercury Prize.
Watch their performance at BBC TV, earlier this week:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/musicevents/mercuryprize/2009/nominations/ledbib/

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

CAPTAIN CHEESE-BEARD & THE 7 SISTERS OF PREVENTION

a message from the Captain himself:

Hello everyone,

Capt. Cheese-Beard and the 7 Sisters of Prevention, just back from Germany
where they played the infamous Zappanale festival, will be playing,
supported by the Benito Boys (CAN), their one and only showcase in Brussels
for 2009.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 IN BRUSSELS

Where will this delightful event take place?
In the brand spanking new Indigo Studios.
This new club can hold up to 600 people and of course we would be ecstatic
if we manage to fill it so;
CALL UP YOUR MOTHERS (of invention), your Fathers (of recession), your
Uncles (of deflation) and your aunts, (of consumption), anybody with love
for music and help us rock the place.

The idea is to shoot a live video for DVD release.
Income is €10
Start: 20:30

Address;
INDIGO STUDIOS
Art n' Motion sprl
Van Volxem avenue, 388
1190 BRUSSELS

BOGUS POMP CORRECTION

Somehow I messed up my cut & paste job in the data for the latest Bogus Pomp CD (last year's Hamburg concert with NMB).
This album is NOT a limited CDR release !!
It's a real, factory-pressed CD, and I'm sure that it'll be available from various Zappa oriented outlets soon.

ED PALERMO BIG BAND IN CONCERT TONIGHT


Tuesday, September 8, 2009

NEW CD BY NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK

An historical CD will be released in December 2009 entitled “This is What Frank Zappa Heard - Just in Case You Were Wondering - Live at the Red Noodle in Waikiki, Hawaii”.

On August 8th, 1973, Frank Zappa was alerted by his road manager, Marty Perellis, that an incredible band with an extraordinary lead singer was performing downtown to a standing room only audience … and that it might be wise that he come and see this for himself.

When Zappa went to the club and watched the show, he saw a young talent sing, dance, play sax, flute and keyboards, in a manner that clearly made it appear that he was having more fun than even the other patrons in the club.

After two hours of observing and listening to this young man and his very disciplined band of musicians, he introduced himself as Frank Zappa, and the young man introduced himself as Napoleon Murphy Brock. The next words out of Zappa’s mouth were, “You are my new lead vocalist.” (Check napoleonmbrock.com – INTERVIEWS - for more details of these conversations.)

The rest is history, as these releases attest to:

  • APOSTROPHE
  • ROXY & ELSEWHERE
  • ONE SIZE FITS ALL
  • BONGO FURY
  • YOU CAN’T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE – LIVE IN HELSINKI FINLAND
  • THE DUB ROOM SPECIAL (DVD)
  • A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME (DVD)
  • SHEIK YERBOUTI (All Background Parts)
  • THE EVIL PRINCE (From “THINGFISH)
  • Grammy Award Winning Performance ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA (DVD-2006)


PLEDGE FORM FOR PRE-ORDERING
“THIS IS WHAT FRANK ZAPPA HEARD – JUST IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING”

PLEASE SEND NO MONEY: This is a form for pre-ordering this historic CD. IF YOU PRE-ORDER, THERE WILL BE NO SHIPPING CHARGE. (The CD will be autographed upon request.)

This was taped on TEAC 4 Track Reel to Reel on August 8th, 1973 and will be released in December 2009. This CD performance has been digitally enhanced will put you at the next table to where Frank was sitting, and you will experience what Frank Zappa experienced and what later was described as “the audition of a lifetime”.

Just fill out the form below, and mail - or e-mail it - to the following address: nmubrock@pacbell.net or napoleonmbrock.com

Or: Napoleon Murphy Brock, P.O. Box 817, San Jose, California 90187

NAME ______________________________Number of CDs @ 15 Euros each ________

STREET ADDRESS / CITY/STATE or COUNTRY E-MAIL ADDRESS

SUN RA - FEATURING PHAROAH SANDERS & BLACK HAROLD


A couple of months ago, the ESP label re-issued the "Sun Ra Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold" album. That's a good enough reason to take a closer look at some more Sun Ra stuff.

"Sun Ra Featuring Pharoah Sanders & Black Harold" takes a look at the Arkestra in 1964, with then-members Pharoah Sanders and Black Harold as Pharoah Sanders replaced John Gilmore while the latter went on tour with Art Blakey.

This falls into the category of experimental and improvised jazz. Not the easiest kind, but quite impressive.
The origianal album got released in 1967 on the Sun Ra label. This disc presents the enhanced audio, and includes 45 minutes of previously unreleased material.

www.espdisk.com

SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA - MUSIC FROM TOMORROW'S WORLD


In 2002, the Atavistic label released portions of two Sun Ra concerts on CD in their "Unheard Music" series.

The concerts were from 1960 and feature Sun Ra and his Arkestra in concert in Chicago.
The first 7 tracks are taken from a 'Wonder Inn' concert and includes standards such as ' 'S Wonderful', 'It Ain't Necessarily So' and 'How High The Moon'.
Great arrangements & great solos all over.

Tracks 8 to 17 are from another venue and include 'Majestic 1' up to 'Majestic 4', a new set of compositions. The sound quality isn't too good, but it's great to hear these fine compositions.

"Music From Tomorrow's World" is an impressive record, intended for the Sun Ra freaks.

SUN RA - LANQUIDITY


Sun Ra's "Lanquidity" originally got released in 1979. Evidence remastered the album and released it on CD in 2000.
This actually is one of my favourite Sun Ra records. It has a very laid-back atmosphere and includes lots of dreamy, spacy and fusion elements.

Essential listening.

Monday, September 7, 2009

K-BRANDING - FACIAL


After a number of limited CD-R releases, K-Branding finally cut their first record.

Described as jazzcore voodoo noise, "Facial"offers 10 tracks in which tribal rhythms set the tone. Add noise guitar, a fuzz bass, distant vocals and lots of spacy effects and you get an interesting combination that results in almost trance-like music.

Interesting.
Not really my cup of tea, but interesting.

You can check it out yourself at
http://www.myspace.com/kbranding

available from www.mandai.be

ANOTHER CAPTAIN BEEFHEART VIDEO COMPILATION AT ZAPPATEERS

Thanks to the efforts of a number of Zappateers, another fine Beefheart compilation has been made available at www.zappateers.com

Captain Beefheart
"If You Got Ears 1966-1973 : Zappateers Edition" - PAL DVD


1. 1966-05-24 Dick Clark : "Where The Action Is" 3.56 (jazzfan)

01. Who Do You Think You're Foolin'?
02. Diddy Wah Diddy
-----------------------------------------

2. 1968-01-27 Midem Festival, Cannes, France 6.53 (Mr. Anonymous)

01. Electricity
02. Sure Nuff'N'Yes I Do
-----------------------------------------

3. 1968-05-04 "If You Got Ears" Rome Pop Festival, Rome, Italy 1.10 (Mr. Anonymous)
-----------------------------------------

4. 1969 Trout Mask Photo Shoot 2.27 (BC - hothcanada)
-----------------------------------------

5. 1969-10-28 Actuel Pop & Jazz Festival, Mont de I'Enclus, Amougies, Belgium 5.33 (LudzNL)

01. She's Too Much For My Mirror
02. My Human Gets Me Blues
-----------------------------------------

6. 1969-12-06 - 1969-12-07 Trout Mask Promo 5.08 (BC - hothcanada)

01. Old Folks Boogie
02. Hair Pie
-----------------------------------------

7. 1970 Lick My Decals Commercial 1.09 (Mr. Anonymous)
-----------------------------------------

8. 1971-01-15 "Tubeworks" WABX TV, Detroit, MI, USA 17.50 (trashamericanstyle)

01. When Big Joan Sets Up
02. Woe Is Uh Me Bop
03. Bellerin Plain
04. Instrumental For Feet & Fingers
-----------------------------------------

9. 1972 Spotlight Kid Commercial 0.57 (trashamericanstyle)
-----------------------------------------

10. 1972-04-12 "Beat Club", Bremen, Germany 5.26 (Pittylabelle)

01. I'm Gonna Booglarize You
-----------------------------------------

11. 1972-04-15 Bataclan, Paris, France 2.57 (N/A)

01. Click Clack
-----------------------------------------

12. 1973-04-17 "Old Grey Whistle Test" Rainbow Theater, London, England 3.57 (Mr. Anonymous)
01. Big Eyed Beans From Venus
-----------------------------------------

PUNOS MUSIC RECORDS

Are you familiar with Punos Music Records?

Well, you should be.
It's Nick Didkovsky's record label, Nick Didkovsky being the mastermind behind Doctor Nerve.
And the website reads "the label's mission is to release Nick's more extreme musical projects.", so that's good news for all of us.

The latest release on Punos Music Records is Doctor Nerve's "The Monkey Farm".
Find more info over at the Punis Music Records website:

IKE WILLIS TO TOUR WITH POJAMA PEOPLE


Zappa Alumnus Ike Willis To Tour With Pojama People

8/17/2009 - Eugene, OR - Known for his uniquely identifiable baritone voice, former Zappa alumnus Ike Willis will be touring with Eugene ensemble Pojama People. Willis worked with music legend Frank Zappa from 1978 to 1993, and can be heard on such notable albums as Joe's Garage (he was "Joe"), Thingfish (he was "Thingfish") and Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life (he was "The Walrus"). Vowing to keep the music of Frank Zappa alive, he has teamed up with Zappa tribute band Pojama People for a series of upcoming US shows."

We're going to be doing all the old Frank Zappa favorites, along with stuff from 'Joe's Garage'," says Ike. "Basically, we span all of the eras."

Pojama People features Alli Bach (vocals, percussion, winds, terpsechorean ejectamenta) and Glenn Leonard (drums and "I Was There" musical direction). Rounding out the unit are Portland's Brian Casey (bass) and Ted Clifford (keyboards). Spawned from Zappa tribute ensemble Project/Object, drummer Glenn Leonard (who had played 7 national tours with Project/Object) decided to start his own band to honor the late, great Mother. "I moved from Philly to Oregon in order to marry Alli and start a new Zappa project on the west coast with Ike Willis," Glenn related. "Alli and I met up every time Project/Object played in Eugene, where she would guest doing interpretive modern dance to various FZ songs or improvisations. She joined the tour as a guest in 2004 from Portland to San Francisco where she was featured doing 'The Black Page' on tap! At that point, I knew she was the woman for me. A cross-country romance bloomed and by 2006 I moved to Eugene."

Pojama People have completed five west coast tours since August 2006. Most recently the group released their debut CD 'footsie notes', which is based on improvisations with Ike Willis (who plays guitar as well as sings). "Glenn's our old drummer from Project/Object," recalls Ike. "He was with us for three years. He decided to move to Eugene and start his own band. Also, I lived in Oregon for 17 years. I moved there after the last tour I did with Zappa. Glenn is one of the family, and when he put Pojama People together... when any of my brothers need help I answer the call!"

Pojama People featuring Ike Willis will be performing at the following locations:
Songs to be performed by Pojama People on this tour include: "Dangerous Kitchen" (with Glenn on piano), "The Tap Page" (Alli doing the Black Page via tap dance), "Tell Me You Love Me", "Help I'm Iraq", "Trouble Every Day", "Inca Roads", "Black Napkins", "Outside Now", "Sy Borg", "Watermelon In Easter Hay", "Willie The Pimp", "Zomby Woof", "I'm The Slime", "Lucille" to name a few.

The music of Frank Zappa still remains important to Ike Willis; "I've been playing Frank's music for over 30 years now, and I spent half my life with him. We met when I was 19 years old, when I was in college. I played and toured with him on and off from 1978 on. I recorded with Frank the entire time from 1978 up until he passed away." Along with the debut of the Ike Willis Project this fall, Ike has his three solo CDs available for purchase through http://www.itsaboutmusic.com/

For more information on Pojama People:

BOGUS POMP & ZAPPAWEEN XIV

the message from Fred Hemmer:

OK guys and girls, time for our annual trek to Mecca…………….. I mean Zappaween!

This is the deal: October 31, yes actually Halloween!, at the State Theater. The boys will be performing their usual three plus hours of variety music, Yes, they will do some Frank Zappa stuff! Can you believe it? We owe these guys!

Ok, one more thing, we need sponsorship! As in the past, people ask me why certain people get in before others and/or why some get the first row seats.

If you want to secure great seating and give support for the guys who provide outstanding music to us other folks let me know.

Here is the deal:

$100 gets you two seats and two t-shirts. You will get in the venue before others so the seat selection can be important. Especially if you want the most coveted first row balcony seats. I will fill requests in the order I receive money. The best buy going!

If you want to secure your place in Zappaween history, send a check to:

Fred Hemmer
Payable to: Bogus Pomp Fund
11970 7th St East
Treasure Island, FL 33706

BOGUS POMP - ZAPPA SPIELT FÜR BACH


Last week, I told you about the fine Project/Object concert that kicked off my Zappanale trip. Two days later, Tuesday, August 11, had me driving to Hamburg to team up with some friends for the Sheik Yerbouti concert.

One year earlier, Bogus Pomp had performed in the very same Katherinen Kirche. Also performing works of Frank Zappa, and also with special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock.

To my pleasure, the society that co-organised the concert with the Arf Society, has released last years concert on CD. All in aid for the Bach organ that has be rebuild.
Now, whatever the reason, this is one great release.

I remember that his was a great concert, but that the sound in the church was horrible. Well, maybe not from where I was seated (4th row somewhere), but the people in the back had a hard time with the bouncing sounds...
The sound on this CD, however, is great. No disturbing echoes or noises. This is the clear soundboard.

The choice of compositions is great, and the performance is excellent.

  1. overture to a holiday in berlin / mom & dad
  2. holiday in berlin / full-blown
  3. it must be a camel / little umbrellas
  4. the idiot bastard son
  5. amnerika
  6. sleep dirt
  7. twenty small cigars
  8. uncle meat
  9. black napkins
  10. oh no
  11. uncle remus
  12. we ar only in it for the money medley
  13. sofa no.1
  14. stictly genteel
  15. little house i used to live in / king kong

Highly recommended !

SUN RA - SUN SONG


Here's another classic Sun Ra release.
"Sun Song" is a re-release of the very first Sun Ra album. At first, it was entitled"Jazz By Sun Ra", and it got released in 1957!

Sun Ra, John Gilmore, Julian Priester,... in 1957!

This is a perfect match to "Visits Planet Earth" and "Interstellar Low Ways", as it lets you hear how Sun Ra's music sounded it the fifties.
Beautiful Sun Ra compositions, combined with some great jazz tunes like 'Possession' (Harry Revel) and 'Lullaby For Realville' (Richard Evans), make this an extraordinary release.

Another essential Sun Ra release.

JEFF AUG

Remember the Jeff Aug album that I talked about a little while ago?

You can hear the NPR "Weekend Edition" with Jeff Aug here: www.nprmusic.org
And Jeff should be proud as this new album is #1 on singer songwriter on iTunes in the U.S.!

And don't forget that Jeff Aug will be supporting Soft Machine on their October tour in Belgium - Holland - Germany.

BIRDSONGS OF THE MESOZOIC - DAWN OF THE CYCADS


  • birdsongs of the mesozoic: dawn of the cycads
    (2008, 2cd, usa, cuneiform)

Last year, Cuneiform released "Dawn Of The Cycads", the latest Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic album.
"Dawn Of The Cycads" it's not really a 'new' album. It's sort of a deluxe re-release as it collects the complete Ace Of Hearts recordings with an impressive amount of bonus material. In other words: the complete Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic output from 1983 until 1987:

  • the "Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic" EP
  • the "Magnetic Flip" LP
  • the "Beat Of The Mesozoic" CD

Audio extras include 3 bonus tracks from the mid-80s, and a very impressive (8 tracks) concert recording from 1987.
Other extras can be found on the second disc: pictures of flyers, posters, setlists, press packages, scores (!!) and more. An archivist's dream.

Describing the music of Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic isn't easy. The themes and melodies sound like contemporary classical music, but are performed on guitar, synthesizer and drums. On top of these themes, you get various movements and/or improvisations.
I like it a lot.

"Dawn Of The Cycads" is the perfect introduction to Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic.
Recommended!

The album is available from:

http://www.cuneiform.com/

http://www.mandai.be/

Sunday, September 6, 2009

ZAPPAWORLD

Since April 2009, Antwerp has a new club / eventplace. It's called "Zappa".

There's also a (new) organisation linked with this club, called "Zappaworld".
www.zappaworld.be

And to make things even more confusing, Antwerp might have a "Zappa-event" next December, but this would be about Frank Zappa...

SUN RA AND HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA - VISITS PLANET EARTH / INTERSTELLAR LOW WAYS


In an attempt to add some more data to the Sun Ra discography, over at the UM Files, I'd like to present you "Visits Planet Earth / Interstellar Low Ways".
The beautiful package actually is a re-release of two early Sun Ra albums. Both were released on Sun Ra's Saturn label. The first one from 1966, the second one from 1967.

The recordings on this disc are from concerts that took place in Chicago about 50 (!!) years ago. Sun Ra had already written some classic tunes (Saturn, Planet Earth, Interplanetary Music, ...) and the Arkestra sounds great.
This is the classic 50s big band, but with the extra Sun Ra touch.
Classic Sun Ra big band stuff.
Conventional, yet full of suprises.

An essential set in the Sun Ra discography.

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE HAS NEW ALBUM OUT

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO has a new album out.
It's called "Are We Experimental?", and it's out on Prophase Music.

  • acid mothers temple & the melting paraiso u.f.o.: are we experimental?
    (2009, cd, usa, prophase music pm 003 cd)

Friday, September 4, 2009

SUN RA - SPACE IS THE PLACE


The actual title of this album is "Soundtrack To Space Is The Place", the movie that Sun Ra co-wrote, that he starred in, and that he wrote the music for.
The music is very impressive. It goes from the classic Sun Ra tunes to spacy, almost psychedelic, jazz.
For my taste, this album belongs in the same category as the "Somewhere Else" album that I recently mentioned. Essential listening.
Want to try some Sun Ra? Start here!

The presentation of the disc is awesome. Great cover, great pictures, and a very informative story on Sun Ra's lectures on the Berkeley University in 1971 and how this lead to the "Space Is The Place" movie.
Recommended!

FIRETIME - ROTAN


I saw Firetime opening for Project/Object at De Effenaar in Eindhoven last month.

The band played a very short set (or maybe I was just too late) of instrumental, high-energy, guitar-orientated fusion / rock.
I liked it a lot, and so did the rest of the crowd.

Their "Rotan" album includes 11 tracks with funny names like 'Vlahoofd' or 'Nymphzwier'. It's a bit over 50 minutes long and it's quite good.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/firetimespace

Or at the Laterax label website: www.laterax.com

Thursday, September 3, 2009

DWALMACAT RADIO 344

Go to http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

and click on “Luister”

JAMES vs THE SABRES OF PARADISE – Arena dub
DANNY ELFMAN – Peewee’s breakfastmachine
BROADCAST – DDL
DAN LACKSMAN – Rock machine
SPIZZENERGI – Soldier soldier
CAMPINGSEX – Selbstmord
DANSE SOCIETY – Dolphins
DUKE ELLINGTON & IVIE ANDERSON – There’s a lull in my life
CALEXICO – Pepita (Iso 68 remix)
SMEGMA – Happy baby rhumba
THE SEA AND CAKE – Bird and flag
GONG – Pussy (live au Bataclan)
NO-COWBOYS – Nervous / Happy valley

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

PROJECT OBJECT AT THE EFFENAAR IN EINDHOVEN 2009 08 09


About three weeks ago, I started my Zappanale preparation in the best possible way: I went to see Project/Object in concert in Eindhoven.
I arrived in Eindhoven around 4 p.m., had a drink & a meal with some fellow Zappateers, was able to catch the soundcheck, had a chat with Jeff Hollie who came to watch the show (sax on "Joe's Garage", and close friend of Ike),... I had a great time, and the concert hadn't even started.
A couple of hours later, opening band Firetime was warming up the audience. They did a great job.
And then, Project/Object came on stage and showed how Zappa's music can sound:

Robbie "Seahag" Mangano - bass, vocals
Eric Svalgard - keys, moog, vocals
Eric Slick - drums, vocals
Andre Cholmondeley - guitar, vocals, samples
Ike Willis - guitar, vocals
Don Preston - keys, moog, vocals

The cryptic setlist looked like this:

Electric Madness, Mammy Anthem, Society > Beautiful > Beauty, T'Mershi > Trouble, Andy, Duke, Idiot, Florentine > 50/50, Swifty, Go Cry, Wet T, Greasy > Outside, RDNZL, Dumb All Over, Cosmik, Echindna > Wash
Wild

And, good grief, the band was in great shape. Sharp, witty, and a great selection of tunes.

Despite the sound being way too loud, it was a fabulous show. (It did sound perfect when I used my earplugs, but it ruined the audience recordings that were made ...)

You can watch some (5) fragments over at Reinbo11's YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Reinbo11



Echidna's Arf


RDNZL


Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder


The incredible Robbie Seahag on bass !!!


Florentine Pogen

These guys were ready for Zappanale, and so was I...

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

KOENJI HYAKKEI - NIVRAYM


Koenjihyakkei or Koenji Hyakkei is a Japanese avant-garde / progressive rock band.
The music of Koenji Hyakkei is often referred to as Zeuhl, which is a Kobaïan word, and Kobaïan is the language that Christian Vander invented for his band Magma.
In short, Zeuhl is used to describe the music of bands like Magma, Art Zoyd, Univers Zero and Ruins, to name a few. In fact, bandleader and drummer Tatsuya Yoshida was also the man behind Ruins.

"Nivryam" was the band's third album. It got released in 2001 on the Magaibutsu label.
A little while ago, Skin Graft Records re-released the album. The exceptional thing about this re-release is that music was added to the original recording. Present-day members Komori Keiko, Yabuki Taku and AH added sax, keyboards and vocals to the original music.

To be honest, I never heard the original release, but this re-release is mind-blowing.
Angular rhythms and melodies, impressive vocals in a made-up language.
Koenji Hyakkei produces an impressive mixture of very powerful and melodic progressive rock, avant-garde and fusion. Zeuhl, but also a lot of unmistakable Zappa-influences.
Fans of Zappa, Keneally, or Mats & Morgan should really check this out.
Very energetic. I love it.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!
Available from / distributed by Mandaï - http://www.mandai.be/

ZAPPANALE IN 2010

a message from the Arf Society concerning next year's Zappanale:

Dear friends of our small but unique festival,

there's no time to look back on what happened this year, there's need to
look forward to what happens next year! We all had so much fun this year that
we decided as soon as possible to make it again:

Zappanale 21
13.08. - 15.08.2010

We are thinking about to have another two days before, starting on 11.08.2010.
More information t.b.a. soon.

JOHN TRUBEE 2009 09 01

Trubee says: "OK, tell me how & where I am wrong about this... "


Stealing The Play
Copyright 2009 John Trubee

Imagine a schoolyard, the one in which we used to play as children--and in which we still ought to play as adults if we choose to live life completely.

Imagine a clot of the worst of our schoolmates approaching us to ask us to refrain from playing, and to instead sit in the bleachers and watch them play.

Imagine this arrogance trumped by the further arrogance of them next demanding pay from us for the honor of watching them play—play as we used to play, until we stupidly complied in handing our play over to these bratty thugs.

Imagine us growing fat and listless as we cease engaging in play, fun, and adventures, instead choosing to become pale, inert, listless spectators of life, observing our bratty inferiors monopolize all the fun, joy, sex, play, and excitement which we used to possess as our birthright as children of the earth.

Imagine us insanely revering the brats who stole our play, wasting vast portions our time, energy, and money focusing on their lives instead of our own.

Imagine us bonding with strangers by mutually discussing the activities of the bratty thieves of our play instead of our own activities and accomplishments which admittedly are few because we have pissed away too much of our time and energy focusing on the thieves of our play and because we sat passive and listless, merely spectating as the bratty thugs lived the best aspects of our lives for us.

This is my perspective on the entertainment industry and our relationship to it.



John Trubee
PO Box 4921
Santa Rosa, CA 95402 USA

SCHRIJVERS IN CONCERT



  • 2009/09/11 "Schrijvers In Concert" with Remco Campert, Toon Tellegen & Corrie van Binsbergen and band - concert 'Thomaskerk', Amsterdam, NL

Starting the new season, Corrie van Binsbergen kicks off with another "Writer In Concert" performance. Writers Remco Campert and Toon Tellegen will read fragments of their work, accompagnied by Corrie van Binsbergen and band.
Fun !

SUN RA - SOMEWHERE ELSE

Released in 1993 on Rounder Records, "Somewhere Else" presents recordings that Sun Ra & his Akrestra did in two New York City studios in 1988 & 1989.
The first thing that one will immediately notice, listening to this album, is the very fine quality of the recording. A lot of Sun Ra albums originate from live recordings and / or rare material from the 50's or 60's, resulting in interesting albums, but not always of the highest audio quality. This is not true for "Somewhere Else". The sound is great.

The music on this disc is superb. It's a perfect mixture of cool jazz, big band swing, fine arrangements and outer space solos. It even includes the fine vocals of June Tyson in 'Stardust For Tomorrow' and 'Everything Is Space'.

And last and certainly not least, "Somewhere Else" features Don Cherry (!!), John Gilmore and Marshall Allen, which makes this an historical event.

Highly recommended !!
An essential (outer space) element of your music collection.