GARY LUCAS UPCOMING APPEARANCES

Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters
2012/05/18
10pm
The Bellhouse, Brooklyn

Gary Lucas Plays "The Golem" (1920, d. Paul Wegener and Carl Boese)
2012/06/07
8:30pm
6th Street Synagogue NYC

Gary Lucas gives a Master Class and discusses the art of songwriting
2012/06/14
noon
Musik Conservatorium Amsterdam Holland

Gary Lucas presents his 2 hour Captain Beefheart Symposium

2012/06/16
8pm
BimHuis. Amsterdam
(including the Dutch live premiere with his co-pilot Co de Kloet of "I Have a Cat")

Gary Lucas is a guest live on Co de Kloet's radio program on NTR Radio Holland
2012/06/17
time tba

Gary Lucas plays a solo concert with many special guests tba

2012/06/19
8pm
La Java, Paris

* * * Gary Lucas at Zappanale * * *

Gary Lucas presents the German premiere of his Captain Beefheart Symposium
2012/08/01
2pm
Bad Doberan, Germany - on the Mystery Stage of Zappanale 2012

Gary Lucas solo concert
2012/08/03
2:45pm
Bad Doberan, Germany - the Mystery Stage

Fast 'N' Bulbous
2012/08/03
6pm
Bad Doberan, Germany - Mainstage

Gary Lucas sits in with Captain Beefheart Tribute band Doctor Dark
2012/08/04
1pm
Bad Doberan Germany - Main Stage



Gary Lucas and Holland's Metropole Orchestra

2012/09/02
8pm
Paradiso, Amsterdam

THE GRANDMOTHERS ON TOUR

Apr-30 - Ramshead - Annapolis, MD


May-01 - The Hamilton - Washington, DC

May-02 - Infinity Hall - Norfolk, CT

May-03 - Iridium - New York, NY (2 shows)

May-04 - Iridium - New York, NY (2 shows)

May-05 - World Cafe Live - Wilmington, DE

May-06 - Rex Theater - Pittsburgh, PA

May-08 - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH

May-09 - Magic Bag - Detroit, MI

May-10 - Martyrs - Chicago, IL

May-11 - Cedar Cultural Center - Minneapolis, MN

May-12 - Bourbon Theater - Lincoln, NE

May-13 - Denver CO or Boulder CO

May-15 - State Room - Salt Lake City, UT

AKA MOON AT DE SINGER

Belgian jazz band Aka Moon turns 20 in 2012. The celebration includes a new album, a short series of concerts, and a rerelease of the first albums as a box-set on the Cypres label.

I caught the band at 'De Singer' last week. 'De Singer' is an excellent jazz club. Superb acts, nice people and a polite, open-minded crowd.

Fabrizio Cassol on saxophone, Michel Hatzigeorgiou on Fender Jazz bass and Stéphane Galland on drums.
Aka Moon played for a full house.

Technically amazing, and with visible pleasure, the band showed why they're a top jazz band.
Fabrizio Cassol's composions mix jazz with oriental flavours. His sax lines alternate between beautiful melodies and improvisational soundscapes.
Michel Hatzigeorgiou's bass teams up with Stéphane Galland's rolling drums to become a steady rhythm section, follows Fabrizio Cassol's sax in unison (!!), or plays some of the most impressive lines you've ever heard.
And Stéphane Galland's drums are omnipresent. It's like a drum solo from the beginning to the end. Stéphane Galland sets the train on the tracks. With a surplus of energy he pulls and pushes, solos and even accentuates the melody.

It was very impressive to see and hear how well these guys listen to each other. During the improvisations, the one who improvises leads and the other two follow.
A joy for the eye and the ear.

Five stars! And I don't even do ratings.

MAURO PAWLOWSKI - GROWN SAVAGE

• mauro pawlowski: grown savage
  (2012, 10", bel, musicmaniarecords mm10013)

Last week, Music Mania Records celebrated Record Store Day by releasing a beautiful recording by Mauro Pawlowski.
On "Grown Savage" Mauro Pawlowski tells a couple of stories. And that's what Mauro does best: telling stories in beautiful songs.
Mauro has got quite a discography, and it's difficult to follow him in all his different projects, but if you get the chance to lay your hands on "Grown Savage", you shouldn't hesitate.

Here's Mauro in concert on Record Store Day in Ghent & Antwerp.

R.S.D. REMEMBERED

Record Store Day.

In-store concerts and special releases have to lure people in to independent record stores.
I like the concept.

My Saturday was rather packed, so it was obvious that I wouldn't be able to catch any of the concerts, let alone that I'd be able to visit different shops.
Add to this the fact that a lot of the special releases were limited and that these wouldn't be available everywhere, so I had to make a thought-out choice.

I didn't find everything that I had on my list, but I did bring home a couple of nice albums.
Let the countdown to R.S.D. 2013 begin.

HONG KONG DONG

Hong Kong Dong is a band from Ghent, Belgium.
They released their debut album last week.

Check them out:
http://soundcloud.com/hongkongdong

BANNED IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA

French record label Oloj Records has released a compilation entitled "Underground Praha: Banned In Czechoslovakia"


Subtitled: Musical Activism Under communism, 1975-1990.
"Until the fall of the Soviet Union, popular music, and particularly rock music, was banned in Czechoslovakia. Hence, most of the bands were playing instrumental music to avoid any trouble with the government; however some of them were radically engaged against the censorship and communist regime and had to record live materials during forbidden concerts. The music was incredibly raw; a kind of free jazz rock with both psychedelic hints and punk flavors, added to screaming vocals. This set is the best way to enter the fascinating and innovative sound of the Czech counter-culture. This compilation includes DG 307, the Plastic People of the Universe, the Mch Band, Iva Bittova & Pavel Fajt, Pulnoc, Mikolas Chadima & The Extempore Band and Uz Jsme Doma."

DWALMACAT 467

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister” to enjoy

• ENRIQE MORENTE & LAGARTIJA NICK – Omega
• CAMARON – Como el agua
• LOS FABULOSOS CADILACS – Matador
• JASON RAWHEAD – Bug
• ZAMBRA GITANA – Zambra de manolo Amaya
• ZAMBRA GITANA – Fiesta gitana por bulerias
• LOS MUSICOS DORADOS – Kingsize brass
• CHAVELA VARGAS – Luz de luna (“Kika”)
• THE CLASH – Spanish bombs
• MICHAEL NYMAN – De Granada a la luna
• WILLY DEVILLE – Demiasiado corazon

ZAPPAFRENZY UPDATE

For those of us who love to browse through picture sleeves and labels, the Zappafrenzy website has done another major update: the Discreet singles.

http://www.zappafrenzy.com/non-z_singles/non-z_singles.html#discreet

TERRY BOZZIO - LIVE IN JAPAN 2007

• terry bozzio: live in japan 2007
  (2012, 2cd, usa, drum channel)

Terry Bozzio played the drums in Zappa's band. The same band that had Patrick O'Hearn and Eddie Jobson. Terry Bozzio can be heard on Zappa's "Zoot Allures", on "Zappa In New York", and on the fabulous "Lather" album. That should be enough to earn your place in the music history.
Later, Terry was part of U.K. and of Missing Persons and he recorded with Jeff Beck, The Brecker Brothers and Steve Vai, to name just a few.
The next landmark came in 1996 when he released his first solo drum music albums.

In the meantime he has done various other projects, but his solo drum music really stands out. He has been writing and performing solo drum music, and he has been adjusting and expanding his drum kit to something that looks like it could only be played by an extraterrestrial.
I love it.

I have seen Terry Bozzio performing solo on a couple of occasions (Tilburg, Zappanale, Brugge), and I've seen him performing with the dutch Metropole Orchestra and I was blown awy each and every time. OK, I was a bit too tired at his Zappanale gig, but give me a chair and give me a Terry Bozzio solo concert and I'll be happy for quite a while.

"Live In Japan 2007" got recorded in Tokey, Nagoya and Osaka. Beautiful compositions and an excellent recording. It sounds like you're in row number two.
This is superb.
I was rather disappointed that I couldn't get hold of Bozzio's "Seven Nights In Japan" 14CD / 3DVD box that got released a couple of years ago and this 2CD set proves that the box should stay on my want-list.
I am very glad with this "Live In Japan 2007" 2CD set.

SUN RA ARKESTRA - MYRON'S BALLROOM

• sun ra arkestra: myron's ballroom - audio series volume one
  (2006, 3cd, usa, transparency 0236)

I just added the data for Sun Ra's "Myron's Ballroom" to the U.M.Archives. "Myron's Ballroom" got released in 2006 by Transparency. Transparency already had released a small number of Sun Ra DVDs, and this was their first Sun Ra audio release.
The album offers an audience recording of a 1981 concert that Sun Ra did at 'Myron's' in Los Angeles. You get 184 minutes (on 3 CDs) of cosmic jazz. It's the entire gig with performances of classic Sun Ra tunes next to free jazz improvisations.
The Arkestra features Marshall Allen, Danny Ray Thompson, John Gilmore, Michael Ray and the out-or-this-world June Tyson.

Here's some footage from the Chicago Jazz Festival. Also from 1981. It'll give you an idea of what the band sounded like.

NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK INTERVIEW BY THE GRATEFUL WEB

The Grateful Web did an interview with NM Brock.

http://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/way-it-was-meant-be-interview-napoleon-murphy-brock

and if you scroll all the way down, there's a link to the mp3 audio file of the interview.

Nice.

HELMERSON, BELLER & MINNEMANN

• anders helmerson with marco minnemann & bryan beller: triple ripple
  (2011, cd, france, musea)

 Marco Minnemann and Bryan Beller contributed to the latest Anders Helmerson album: "Triple Ripple". The data got added to the United Mutations Archives.

 

Progressive fusion, according to the website.
Here's some sort of sample:

RANDY'S BLOG

You can follow Randy's whereabouts at http://randyresident.tumblr.com/ .

There's some nice stories about the early days of The Residents too.
-- info: Ive H.

DAVID FIUCZYNSKI

Listen to fusion guitarist David Fiuczynski's Sun Ra tribute here:

http://www.rarenoiserecords.com/jukebox/fiuczynski/pmj/

-- info from the Saturn newsgroup

ZAPPA TRIBUTE BY THE METROPOLIS ORCHESTRA 2012 05 12

The Metropolis Orchestra will  be doing a Zappa tribute concert on 2012 05 12 in Milan, Italy.

http://www.metropolisorchestra.com./

THE MUFFIN MEN - POWDERED WATER

• the muffin men: powdered water
  (2012, cd/dvd-promo, uk, private release)

"Powdered Water" is a promotional release by my favourite band from Liverpool: The Muffin Men. The album collects memories of the MM's April 2011 european tour: there's an audio disc with fragments from the Berlin, Ahlen and Liverpool gigs, and there's a DVD with a complete tour report: from the Liverpool rehearsal, through Belgium, to Germany and back to the U.K.
Beautiful, and very funny as well.

http://www.muffinmen.co.uk

BUSDRIVER - FEAR OF A BLACK TANGENT

• busdriver: fear of a black tangent
  (2001, cd, usa, mush records mh-239)

Busdriver sampled Frank Zappa and John Lennon in 'Sphinx's Coonery' on his "Fear Of A Black Tangent" album from 2001.
It's only a couple of seconds, but the track starts with Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia'.
Give it a listen:

OCTAFISH

There's nothing like a dose of Octafish...
Raimund Gitsels (electric violin) recently joined the band. Check it out!
Recorded live in 2011.

THE VIGNOLA COLLECTIVE - GYPSY GRASS

• the vignola collective: gypsy grass
  (2009, cd, usa, dare records drr-200208-2)

Around 2007, Frank Vignola recorded Frank Zappa's 'Lemme Take You To The Beach'. The recording was made available as a donwload.
The track can also be found on the 2009 release: "Gypsy Grass".
Get ready for a gypsy jazz version of 'Lemme Take You To The Beach'. The guitar really brings the melody up front. This is great!
Frank Vignola on guitar & Casey Driessen on violin.

SUN RA RESEARCH VIBRATIONS FROM AN ASTEROID

Sun Ra & June Tyson November 1991 Oakland, Ca. Vibrations From An Asteroid & Stompin' at The Savoy.

WINNE - ZONDER STRIJD

• winne: zonder strijd
  (2009, cd, ger, universal / top notch 270335-4 tn0901cd)

W.I.N.N.E. is a dutch rapper (from Rotterdam). On his "Zonder Strijd" album from 2009, he uses a Zappa sample ('Uncle Remus') throughout his 'Winne' track.
This is pretty good, actually. I like the lyrics and his use of samples.
And I'm talking about the album, not just the 'W.I.N.N.E.' track.

LISA POPEIL INTERVIEW ON CKCU RADIO

May 16, Bobby Marquis will do an interview with Lisa Popeil.

Lisa is a top voice / vocal coach, giving master classes all over the world.
She rehearsed & did a couple of concerts with the Zappa band in 1981.
You can hear her on Zappa's "Ship Arriving Too Late...".

She also made a solo album (in 1983). It featured Steve Vai on guitar.

LISA POPEIL INTERVIEW
wednesday may 16 2012, 15:30 - 16:30 on CKCU-FM PURE RADIO KAOS

JOE SATRIANI - SATCHURATED: LIVE IN MONTREAL

• joe satriani: satchurated - live in montreal
  (2012, 2cd, eu, epic)

Joe Satriani's latest release is a recording of his 2010/12/12 Montreal concert. It will be available as a 3D blue-ray movie and as a standard 2 DVD set. The old fashioned 2 CD audio set got released earlier this week. Hence the little sticker on the jewel case: "Soundtrack to the live 3D film Satchurated: Live In Montreal".


The album title is a nice play on words, but it does indeed raise the question: are we sat(ch)urated, or are we getting more of the same?
The be quite honest: I really like this album. I like the melodic guitar lines, the flashing guitar notes. The addition of a second guitarist and of Mike Keneally on keyboards makes it sound like a real rock band. On the other hand, some of it is a bit predictable.
In all, "Satchurated" is an excellent album. I consider it a fine addition to the Joe Satriani discography. As I didn't catch the band in concert last time, I'll probably get the DVD as well.

Watch the below clip, and see Mike Keneally wearing his Residents t-shirt !!!

WADADA LEO SMITH & BLIXT

WADADA LEO SMITH'S GOLDEN QUINTET
&
BLIXT
(Bill Laswell / Raoul Björkenheim / Morgan Ågren)

will appear
SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2012
at the 28th
Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville (FIMAV)
Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada

GAIL ZAPPA SEZ

... we are working on something that brings an even larger experience to the True FZ Fan – more fulfilling and more pro-active and participatory and even a little bit educational. I am planning to announce by Mothers Day. Our Mothers Day, which is 10 May.

http://www.zappa.com/gzsez/questions/re-roxy/

DON PRESTON - FILTERS, OSCILLATORS & ENVELOPES 1967 - 75

• don preston: filters, oscillators & envelopes 1967-75
  (2011, lp, bel, sub rosa sr334)

I received my copy of the new Don Preston album yesterday. The vinyl version of the album presents two tracks.

The first one is from 1967 and it's entitled 'Electronic'. It was generated on a home-made synthesizer and a series of oscillators (40!!) and six filters. 'Electronic' is a 15-minute experimental piece, with pulsating rhythms and extraterrestrial sounds. It got recorded at the time when The Mothers were playing at The Garrick. It's hard to imagine that it's over 40 years old...

The second composition consists of 7 pieces that were composed around 1975. These are called 'Analog Heaven #1' up to 'Analog Heaven #7", and were performed on a modular Moog synthesizer. Beautiful soundscapes that will take you on an electronic journey.

The CD contains one extra track, 'Fred & Me', which is a collaboration between Don Preston and percussionist Fred Stoflett. It's a composition that will bring you in a meditative state of mind. Nice. Very nice. As it was recorded in 1982, the CD has a different date in the title: "Filters, Oscillators & Envelopes 1967 - 82".

"Filters, Oscialltors & Envelopes" is a remarkable release. It will appeal to fans of experimental and electronic music. It shows yet another side of Don Preston's musical genius.

Essential listening.

Did I tell you that the vinyl version also comes in a limited (and very beautiful) marbled white vinyl edition?

http://subrosa.itcmedia.net/en.html

VARIOUS ARTISTS - PAUL BUFF PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAL AND ORIGINAL SOUND STUDIO ARCHIVES

• various artists: paul buff presents highlights from the pal and original sound studio archives
  (announced, 5cd-box, usa, crossfire publications)

Greg Russo's Crossfire Publications label is about to release a 5 CD box of Cucamonga recordings. It will be a selection of the Pal and Original Sound studio recordings, featuring Paul Buff and Frank Zappa as musician, engineer and/or writer on a lot of these recordings.
Just click on the above album title to get the track listing.

PAUL BUFF PRESENTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAL AND ORIGINAL SOUND STUDIO ARCHIVES

5 CDs • 156 tracks (58 with Frank Zappa contributions) • 40-page color booklet •
Reproductions of original 45 RPM labels • Many tracks making their CD debuts

$35 plus $10 shipping to any location

The first 200 pre-orders will receive both Tornadoes CDs ("Now And Then" and "Charge Of The Tornadoes"). These CDs contain a total of 11 tracks engineered by FZ, and none of them are on the set above.

Approximate Release Date: May 28, 2012
PayPal payments can be sent to gregrusso@verizon.net

Here's what Greg adds:
I am taking pre-orders RIGHT NOW!
The DVD-sized box will have a 40-page color booklet (also DVD-sized), and the CD labels will be reproductions of the original Paul Buff record labels (Pal, Yukon, Plaza, Emmy, Vigah!).

THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS IN CONCERT IN COLOGNE 2012 05 02

THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS

• PAUL HUBWEBER Trombone, Vocals


• ALEX MORSEY Double Bass, Sousaphone, Guembri, Vocals


• SIMON CAMATTA Drums, VoCals


• GERHARD HORRIAR Vocals, Narration

Mittwoch, 2.Mai 2012,
ArTheater,
Ehrenfeldgürtel 127
50825 Köln
http://artheater.info/11/index.php?rt=termine&in_date=2012-05-01%2000:00:00

R.I.P. ART JENKINS

Art (Arnold) Jenkins, a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra for 36 years, left the planet on April 13, 2012, a mere five days before his 79th birthday. He was a vocalist, lyricist, composer, poet, percussionist, and a deeply valued and respected member of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Art's vocals ranged from the classic big band variety to the avant-garde outer space offerings that he did using a space megaphone, which Art referred to as his "secret weapon".

Art Jenkins first joined the Sun Ra Arkestra in 1960 and his first recording as a member of the Arkestra was "Secrets of the Sun" in 1962. He was on 7 more recordings with the Arkestra through 1971. Art then took a break from the rigors of rehearsing and touring with Sun Ra, but he returned to the Arkestra again in 1988 and never looked away again from the creative and omniversal challenges of being an active Sun Ra Arkestra member. He recorded 7 more times with the Arkestra during his second stint, the last two being "A Song for the Sun" and "Music for the 21st Century" (both on the El Ra Records label).

Beyond the Arkestra, Art Jenkins self-produced the "Under the Sun" CD showcasing the quartet that he led between Arkestra engagements. He also demonstrated his lyrical skills with his moving composition on the "King" chart dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, which was recorded by the Brooklyn Repretory Ensemble on the "Pragmatic Optimism" CD (on the 360 Music label).

During a lifetime devoted to jazz, Art Jenkins performed at jazz festivals, concert halls, dance halls, night clubs, and on radio and TV shows. His energy and creativity will not be forgotten, but his presence will surely be missed by the legions of Sun Ra Arkestra fans and by the remaining members of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

-- Greg Drusdow (at the saturn newsgroup)

AKA MOON TURNS 20

from the AKA MOON website:

In 2012 Aka Moon will celebrate their 20th birthday with the recording a new trio album. The album will be released at Cypres Records in March 2012, followed by a series of concerts

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, AKA MOON releases a new trio album (March 2012), followed by a series of concerts. After inspiring collaborations over the past years, AKA MOON is looking forward to refocus on their strength as a trio. The anniversary year will be crowned with a special event and a collectors box with re-issues of former AKA MOON albums, which appeared originally at the Carbon 7 label.

APRIL 2012
•19/04 | Aka Moon trio | Vooruit, Gent (BE)
•20/04 | Aka Moon trio | Stichting Jazz, Groningen (NL)
•21/04 | Aka Moon trio | De Singer, Rijkevorsel (BE)
•24/04 | Aka Moon trio | New Morning, Paris (FR)
•26/04 | Aka Moon trio | Casino, Sint-Niklaas (BE)

MAY 2012
•11/05 | Aka Moon trio | Jazz Liège, Liège (BE)
•26/05 | Aka Moon trio | Jazzmarathon / Kultuurkaffee@Klein Mercelistheater, Elsene (BE)

NOVEMBER 2012
•16/11 | Aka Moon trio | Paradox, Tilburg (NL)

MULATU ASTATKE

Yesterday, 2012 04 14, Mulatu Astatke performed at the C-MINE JAZZ festival in Genk, Belgium.
60 minutes of Ethiopian jazz.
Really good. I enjoyed it a lot.

As it happens, an audience recording of this concert turned up at DimeADozen.

http://www.dimeadozen.org/torrents-details.php?id=401628

Here's a track from the Heliocentrics / Astatke collaboration from a couple of years ago. From the release that put Mulatu Astatke back in the spotlights: "Inspiration Information Vol.3".

JACOPO GIUSTI - PLAY ONLY WHAT I LOVE

• jacopo giusti: play only what i love
  (2011, cd, italy, discolaser)

Jacopo Giusti's "Play Only What I Love" album arrived last week. You should know Jacopo as the drummer for the excellent Fattore Zeta band, the italian jazz ensemble that specialises in playing the music of Frank Zappa. You might also have come across Jacopo's name while reading about Electric Bongo Fury, the duo that consists of Jacopo Giusti on drums and Nicol Franza on electric guitar. Electric Bongo Fury recorded an album of Frank Zappa compositions in 2008.

"Play Only What I Love" is Jacopo's first solo album. As one might expect, the drums have a prominent place on this disc. Six of the eleven composition that are presented on this CD were composed by Jacopo Giusti. There's prog rock, soundscapes, experimental jazz and Zappa. My favourite piece is 'Serious Music For Drums & Low Budget Percussion", Jacopo's tribute to contemporary composers Edgar Varèse and Frank Zappa. It's a great piece about the rhythmic and melodic approach to drums, explained by Jacopo in words and in music. I love it.
Fellow melomaniacs will glad to hear that the album also includes a couple of excellent coverversions: there's Emerson, Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, Max Roach, and, of course, Frank Zappa.
The Zappa pieces, 'Lobster Girl' and 'Them Or Us', are fabulous.

Jacopo Giusti made an exellent solo album. He wrote some fine music and picked some excellent pieces from his favourite composers. And it's not just Jacopo, participating musicians do a great job as well.

Recommended listening !

Here's a nice little movie about Fattore Zeta's gig in Paris. Jacopo Giusti on drums.

ZAPPA SAMPLE ON STONES THROW PODCAST 64

• various artists: stones throw podcast #64 by peanut butter wolf
  (2011, podcast / download, usa, stones throw)

The Stones Throw Records label releases podcasts on which it showcases new releases, or on which their artists can experiment with sounds and beats.
Podcast number 64 opens with Madvillain's 'Avalanche & Victory Lap'. The track includes a Zappa sample from 'Lumpy Gravy'.

The sample can be heard after one minute.

JEAN-MICHEL JARRE SAMPLED ZAPPA

• jean-michel jarre: zoolook
  (1984, lp, france, disques dryfus)

I remember buying Jean-Michel Jarre's "Zoolook" album shortly after it came out. Not that I was into the music that he was making at that time, but the album did feature former Zappa guitarist Adrian Belew on guitar, so I had to hear it.
And it was only last week that I read (at Zappateers) that the track 'Diva' includes a Zappa sample. If you listen closely, you can hear Suzy Creamcheese say "Bizarre" in a slightly sped-up version.

I am not convinced that Jean-Michel Jarre knew about this at the time, as it might have been some sort of preset sample on the Fairlight synth he was using.

First time after 14 seconds, and yes, that's Laurie Anderson on vocals.

U.K. WORLD TOUR

April 2011, U.K. (Wetton/Jobson) reunited and did concerts in Tokyo, San Francisco, New York en Boston.
In 2012, U.K. will be doing a reunion world tour. The fist concert will take place on May 1, 2012, in Chicago.

Jobson / Wetton / Bozzio will kick off the tour in the USA;
Jobson / Wetton / Machacek / Husband will continue the European leg at the end of May;
and
Jobson / Wetton / Bozzio will take the tour to Japan in June !!

Check the following site for line-up & dates:

http://ukreunion.com/

THE ARF DOSSIER 71

Last week, issue number 71 of The Arf Dossier arrived. Another packed issue with Zappa related info: new releases by FZ and DZ, two Grande Mothers concert reviews, a fine review (with pics) of the recent Yellow Snow Festival, a mention of the new Zappa bootlegs, and more.

• leserpost & more


• the hot platters heaven from the arf office by peter görs, fritz fuchhofer and volkmar mantei


• the (absolutely) bad news (about roy estrady)


• the grande mothers - european tour 2012 by zappacat


• the grande mothers - 11.02.2012 salzwedel "hanseat" by joachim mikolajczyk


• norway the hard way - the yellow snow festival 2012 by steffen schindler (pictures by max schindler)


• the yellow snow festival - historical facts added by kjeld-willy hansen


• news from belgium - live from United Mutations


• the grandsheiks by zappacat


• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope by burkhard schempp and peter görs


• the vinyl bootleg releases by burkhard schempp


• ullis ecke by ulli schäfer

DWALMACAT 465

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister” to enjoy the latest Dwalmacat:

• AKSAK MABOUL – Inoculating rabies


• THE CHAP – Hands free


• NENEH CHERRY – Buffalo stance


• THE TING TINGS – Give it back (demo)


• THE CRAVATS – Firemen


• ONEIDA – All arounder


• STAN GETZ & LUIZ BONFA – Samba de duas notas


• HEMATIC SUNSETS – Junge Rümpfe


• THE CHAP – We are nobody


• SPIKE JONES – The nutcracker suite


• STEROID MAXIMUS – Quilombo!


• STEVEN BROWN – Samba in the subway


• TINDERSTICKS – Show me everything


• ART ZOYD – A drum, a drum (excerpt)

GARY LUCAS & THE METROPOLE ORCHESTRA

September 2012, Gary Lucas will be doing a special project with the Dutch Metropole Orchestra. It will include a concert at 'Paradiso' in Amsterdam, NL.

CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE

a message from Chris Opperman

Just wanted to let you know that my piece "Kagemusha" will have its world premiere by the Berklee College of Music Symphonic Winds on April 26th. The concert will be broadcast live from Concert Window and you'll be able to tune in at 2:15am April 27th Zappanale time at www.concertwindow.com.

Hope some of you can hear this piece! :)

PIERREJEAN GAUCHER - - MUSIC FOR POLITICAL DUETS

Music composed for excerpts of political talk shows (from INA archives). Inspired by the music from the album "La Fontaine Et Le Gaucher", released in 2005.

FRANK ZAPPA CONTRIBUTED TO TOMMY FLANDERS 7"

http://www.zappafrenzy.com/ did it again.

Here's another release of which most of us thought that it didn't exist:

Tommy Flanders' 'Friday Night City/Reputation', a 7" from 1967.
It exists as a promotional 7" only.
Frank Zappa plays guitar on both tracks.

http://www.zappafrenzy.com/singles/Singles_with_Frank_Zappa_contribution/1967-Tommy_Flanders-Friday_Night_City-Reputation/Tommy_Flanders-Friday_Night_City-Reputation.html

NEW ON LEO RECORDS

• alexey kruglov / alexey lapin / oleg yudanov: impulse
  (2012, cd, uk, leo records cd lr 634)


• the aardvark jazz orchestra: evocations
  (2012, cd, uk, leo records cd lr 637)


• tim dorofeyev's project: north and east
  (2012, cd, uk, leo records cd lr 639)

http://www.leorecords.com/

ZAPPATHON 2012

Another year, another Zappathon !!

Yes, WUSB radio will be airing another Zappathon :

April 15 from noon until midnight on WUSB-FM 90.1
http://wusb.fm/

A 12 hour extravaganza that's become a way of life at WUSB-FM. Join John Tabacco, Mr. Edison, Nigey Lennon and a cavalcade of others as we celebrate the musical legacy of one of a kind composer, guitarist, film maker, social satirist, and all around creative dynamo, Frank Zappa.

MARKUS STAUSS IN CONCERT IN AMSTERDAM ON 2012 04 15

http://www.fazzulmusic.ch/english/news.php?4v=4:1296

The trio

• Alex Schaub: Bass, Percussion, Sampler


• Frances-Marie Uitti: Cello


• Markus Stauss: Tenor & Soprano sax

will play free improvised music on Sunday, April 15, 2012, at 21:00 (doors 20: 00) in Amsterdam, NL:

The Waag
Nieuwmarkt 4
1012 CR Amsterdam

BELGIAN SUB ROSA RECORD LABEL RELEASES NEW DON PRESTON ALBUM

• don preston: filters, oscillators & envelopes 1967-82
  (2011, lp, bel, sub rosa sr334)

Out on the Sub Rosa label.
Available on vinyl & on CD.

Don Preston a key musician within Frank Zappa's oeuvre. His presence has marked
The Mothers' major records from 1966 to 1974. His touch was already there before
the arrival of Ian Underwood, and it continued after Ian left.
In the mid-'60s, Preston started developing an electronic instrument, using a home-made synthesizer and a series of oscillators and filters. Out of this instrument came the pieces
presented here.

Bob Moog himself said about his solos:
"That's impossible. You can't do that on a Moog."

SR334 CD
SRV334 LP
INITIAL 150 COPIES ARE AVAILABLE ON MARBLED WHITE VINYL

more infos + order >
http://subrosa.itcmedia.net/en.html

THE SUN RA ARKESTRA IN CONCERT IN PHILADELPHIA AND WESTERLY

info from the saturn newsgroup

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen will make two appearances in April - one in the Chestnut Hill district of Philadelphia and another celebrating Duke Ellington's birthday in Westerly, RI. Details are below:

Friday, April 27, 2012, 6:00 - 8:00 pm,
Woodmere Art Museum,
9201 Germantown Ave.,
Philadelphia, PA.
Tickets are $20 ($10 for museum members).
http://www.woodmereartmuseum.org

Sunday, April 29, 2012, 7:00 pm,
The Knickerbocker Cafe,
35 Railroad Ave.,
Westerly, RI. Tickets are $23 in advance and $25 at the door.
http://www.theknickerbockercafe.com

THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS IN CONCERT IN COLOGNE ON 2012 05 02

2012/05/02 concert 'ArTheater', Cologne, Germany

THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS

• PAUL HUBWEBER Trombone, Vocals


• ALEX MORSEY Double Bass, Sousaphone, Guembri, Vocals


• SIMON CAMATTA Drums, Vocals


• GERHARD HORRIAR Vocals, Narration

Mittwoch, 2.Mai 2012,
ArTheater,
Ehrenfeldgürtel 127
50825 Köln

HUMBLE GRUMBLE IS PREPARING A NEW ALBUM

Humble Grumble is preparing a new CD, and you can give a hand.

The band has started a crowd-funding project to be able to finance the mastering of the new CD which should be released in May.

I considered it a pre-order & hope they get the new album out in time for Zappanale!!

Follow the link, and support Humble Grumble !

http://www.rockethub.com/projects/5736-humble-grumble-cd-recording-and-mastering

JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS

Joe Deninzon's Stratospheerius has a new album out: "The Next World".

http://www.joedeninzon.com/

Here's a live fragment. And, yes, that's an electric violin Joe's playing.

MY BROTHER WAS A MOTHER : TAKE 2

my brother was a mother: take two - the zappa family album
by patrice 'candy' zappa
(2011, book, usa, hot canoli books)

A couple of months ago Frank's younger sister Candy, released another Zappa Family Album book, entitled "My Brother Was A Mother : Take 2".

Family photos, recollections from fans meeting FZ, and an excellent interview that Larry Rogak did with FZ.

Nice.

GORDON BENNETT'S ROBOTS

Yesterday, I mentioned Razl's excellent "Rotonova" album. The robots that are pictured on the album cover are by Gordon Bennett.
These are not 'real robots'. They're sculptures made from old parts & junk.
Incredible!

visit http://www.bennettrobotworks.com/ for more.

Here's Shelton3 :

RAZL - ROTONOVA

• razl: rotonova
  (2008, cd, spain, martian sheep records)

Raúl Huelves (Razl) was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1973. He's a composer and a guitarist, and he has two albums out.
His first album was called "Rotonova" and it got released in 2008 on Razl's Martian Sheep Records label. "Rotonova" is an impressive record. Mostly instumental, it mixes jazz with progressive rock. Right up my alley.
Great music, performed by excellent musicians.

The line-up includes two of my favourite musicians: Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller.
This is top.
And it comes in a great package. Artwork by Juanjez and Gordon Bennet !

Recommended listening !!

The following clip was made to promote Razl's second album, "Microscopic", from 2011,but it'll give you a good idea of what his music sounds like.
So check it out !

The albums is available from CDBaby, a.o.

THE TONE STONIES - ABSOLUTELY FREAKS

• the tone stonies: absolutely freaks
  (2011, cd, usa, private release)

On "Absolutely Freaks", San Francisco band The Tone Stonies cover a bunch of early Mothers tunes (and a Beefheart one as well). It's fun, and a nice addition to the Others Of Invention series.

1. hungry freaks daddy (frank zappa)


2. you're probably wondering why i'm here (frank zappa)


3. i'm not satisfied (frank zappa)


4. femme fatale (lou reed)


5. ain't got no heart (frank zappa)


6. laugh laugh (ron elliott)


7. the crystal ship (the doors)


8. my head is my only house unless it rains (don van vliet)


9. shapes of things (p.samwell-smith, k.relf, j.mccarty)


10. you didn't try to call me (frank zappa)


11. how could i be such a fool? (frank zappa)


12. any way the wind blows (frank zappa)


13. stuff up the cracks (frank zappa)

http://www.tonestonies.com/

THE TORNADOES - CHARGE OF THE TORNADOES

• the tornadoes: charge of the tornadoes
  (2006, cd, usa, crossfire publications)

Down in Studio Z in Cucamonga, in 1962, Dave Aerni produced a number of tracks for The Tornadoes. Frank Zappa engineered some of these tracks.
"Charge Of The Tornadoes" collects these tracks, and more.

This is early sixties surf music.
If you're into this kind of music, or if you want to delve deeper into the musical adventures of Dave Aerni and Frank Zappa, this is a must-have.

& you should also check out the other Crossfire releases.

http://www.crossfirepublications.com/

As a nice bonus, this disc also includes a couple of songs that got recorded at The Tornadoes' concert at Zappanale in 2004.

THE ASPHALT ORCHESTRA

TOMORROW, April 5 Bang on a Can's radical neo-marching band Asphalt Orchestra brings its stage show Unpack the Elephant to Connecticut College in New London, CT!

This hot-off-the-press show directed by Mark DeChiazza and Andrew Robinson brings the inventive and eclectic spirit of the renegade group to the stage featuring music by Frank Zappa, David Byrne and Annie Clark, Björk, and new music by members of the ensemble.

GARY LUCAS IN CONCERT IN NYC ON APRIL 17

GARY LUCAS SOLO @ JOE'S PUB NYC
TUESDAY APRIL 17th
9:30PM

HOT FUR - HOT FUR

• hot fur: hot fur
  (2005, cd, france, musea records)

Last year, I got the opportunity to see Hot Fur perform at Zappanale. Hot Fur is Lior Frenkel's progressive rock band.
This self-titled disc is the band's first album. It got released on the French Musea Records label in 2005.

If you like a nice mix of Zappa in your progressive rock, you'll like this one.

Here's the first track from "Hot Fur": 'Adventure In Space':

SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA - LIVE AT MONTREUX

• sun ra & the cosmo swing arkestra: live at montreux
  (2003, 2cd, italy, universe 075/2)

"Live At Montreux" got released in 1976 on Sun Ra's private Saturn label. The album has been re-released on various labels, including Universe.
Again, as with the other italian Universe releases: a great album in a perfect cardboard package.

Recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1976, the album shows what avant garde jazz / experimental big band jazz is all about.
Wild, melodic, energetic, mixing sounds and musical styles.
Essential listening.

I added the cover of the Universe CD-reissue to the Sun Ra discography over at the United Mutations Archives.

SUN RA - THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SUN

• sun ra: the other side of the sun
  (2000, cd, italy, universe uv 017)

"The Other Side Of The Sun" is a Sun Ra album from 1979. Inititally, it got released on the Sweet Earth label, but in 2000 it got picked up by Universe. If my info is correct, Universe released it on vinyl, on CD in a jewelcase (= the US edition), and on CD in a cardboard cover (= the italian edition).
All these different editions have the same five tracks in common. Side One kicks off with a couple of easy jazz tunes: 'Space Fling', and 'Flamingo'. Both sound very laid back. Track three is a superb 10-minute version of the classic 'Space Is The Place'.
Side two takes the listener to 'the other side' with 'The Sunny Side Of The Street' and even a bit further with the beautiful, experimental big band version of 'Manhattan Cocktail'.

Data have been added to the Sun Ra discography over at the United Mutations Archives.

MEET SALIM GHAZI SAEEDI

Salim Ghazi Saeedi has got a new album out, and he made an introduction on YouTube.

Nice.

AKA MOON - THE CARBON 7 COMPILATIONS VOLUME 2

• aka moon: the carbon 7 compilations - volume 2
  (1998, cd, bel, cabon 7)

In its 10 years of existance, the Carbon 7 record label did put out a couple of compilation albums as well. The first one, Volume 1, presented a sample from the various Carbon 7 releases. The second one, Volume 2, focused on one band: Aka Moon.
The sampler included eight tracks of which the last one was an unreleased, bonus track.
Album cover and data have been added to the United Mutations Archives.

Here's a recent recording:

GIPSY LOVE

Gipsy Love was Peter Wolf's band. This was before he came to the United States and joined Zappa's band.
Gipsy Love made two albums. Thanks to Luc Reniers, I was able to add data for both of these albums to the United Mutations Archives.

ZAPPA IN DER SPIEGEL ONLINE

http://einestages.spiegel.de/static/authoralbumbackground/23560/_er_hatte_eine_botschaft.html

-- info: mosemoses

PAINFUL, EMBARASSING OR BOTH

German website 1und1 has an impressive list of album covers:

http://home.1und1.de/themen/unterhaltung/bildergalerien/bilder/808dnpg-die-peinlichsten-platten-cover#.A1000147

-- info: mosemoses

WE FELT LIKE FLYING

Drummer Imre Kőszegi recollects what it was like to play with Frank Zappa.
Budapest 1991.

http://frankzappa.blog.hu/2011/12/15/we_felt_like_flying_imre_koszegi_remembers

-- info from Balint's http://frankzappa.blog.hu

JIM FIELDER

Jim Fielder played rhythm guitar with the Mothers Of Invention from fall 1966 through february 1967. He took part in the recording of the "Absolutely Free" album, but Zappa had all his credits omitted from the cover because Jim had moved on to Buffalo Springfield.

Here's a question I got from Don Kirk:

Is Jim still alive and where is he now?

When Jim was in HS he and I tried for several months to get a band going. Either my dad and I, or I would pick him up at his parents house and bring him to my house in East Anaheim. I was not the best Sax/Keyboard player and I not only lost Jim, but another Bass Player Gary Guidice left my group for work with Dick Dale & The DelTones. Having grown up in Anaheim, I knew and subbed with many recording artists over the years; but lost track of "most" of them; including Jim.

-- Don Kirk

FRANCISCO MORA CATLETT

Former member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Francisco Mora Catlett has a new 2 CD set just out entitled "Andromeda m-31" with Craig Taborn & others.

-- info: Peter Hinds

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION US TOUR STARTS IN APRIL

The Grandmothers of Invention 'Roxy and Elsewhere and More' US Tour To Begin April 2012

3/30/2012 - Los Angeles, CA - Much to the elation of music fans on the US East Coast, for the first time in America, three legendary former members of the Mothers of Invention are playing a series of selected concerts as The Grandmothers of Invention starting in April 2012. The Grandmothers of Invention recently performed to wildly enthusiastic audiences in Europe and now plan to bring their special blend of musical mayhem to the US shores.

“This is going to be the most exciting tour of my entire career!” - Don Preston

The Grandmothers of Invention, showcasing the talents of Mothers of Invention/Zappa alumni:
Napoleon Murphy Brock (MOI member 1974-1984) lead vocals, tenor sax, woodwinds and dancing
Special guest Don Preston (MOI member 1966-1974) vocals, keyboards and transformations
Tom Fowler (MOI member 1973-1978) bass and chair dancing
Chris Garcia - drums, percussion, marimba and vocals
Miroslav Tadic - electric guitar (from April 24 thru May 2)
Robbie Seahag Mangano – electric guitar (from May 3 thru May 15)

The Grandmothers of Invention promise a night of thorough entertainment, featuring virtuosic playing, bizarre humor and the performance of many Zappa/Mothers beloved compositions; not only re-creating the music as was originally written and produced, but also breathing new life into it as well! Get ready to hear such Zappa penned classics as “I Am The Slime”, “Muffin Man”, “Florentine Pogen”, “Andy”, “Trouble Everyday”, “Village Of The Sun” and many, many more.

“Once again, after all of these years, be able to witness this music preformed as it was intended. TOTAL MUSIC THEATER.” - Napoleon Murphy Brock

The Grandmothers of Invention tour dates:

Apr-24 – Stubbs – Austin, TX
Apr-26 – Tipitinas @ at French Qrtr – New Orleans, LA
Apr-27 – Smith's – Atlanta, GA
Apr-28 – Cat's Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Apr-30 – Ramshead – Annapolis, MD
May-01 – The Hamilton – Washington, DC
May-02 – Infinity Hall – Norfolk, CT
May-03 – Iridium – New York, NY (2 shows)
May-04 – Iridium – New York, NY (2 shows)
May-05 – World Cafe Live – Wilmington, DE
May-06 – Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA
May-08 – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
May-09 – Magic Bag – Detroit, MI
May-10 – Martyrs – Chicago, IL
May-11 – Cedar Cultural Center – Minneapolis, MN
May-12 – Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE
May-13 – Denver CO or Boulder CO
May-15 – State Room – Salt Lake City, UT

The Grandmothers of Invention have signed with Robert Duffey Management and plans for a full scale tour of the West Coast is currently in the works.

For more information: www.grandmothersofinvention.com

SUN RA AND HIS INFINITY ARKESTRA - IT'S AFTER THE END OF THE WORLD

• sun ra and his infinity research arkestra: it's after the end of the world - live at the donaueschingen and berlin festivals
  (2003, cd, usa, universe)

I recently acquired Sun Ra's "It's After The End Of The World" on CD. The original vinyl album is from 1971 and got released on the french MPS label, but this CD was put out by Universe in 2003 as a cardboard, fold-out album. Beautiful. It looks exactly like a miniature LP. It even has the innersleeve and all.
The album was recorded in concert in Donaueschingen and in Berlin in late 1970.
The avant-garde jazz scene was flourishing at the time, and the Arkestra was pushing the boundaries even further.

The "Black Myth / Out In Space" album (released in 1998) includes the same material (and even a bit more as it's a 2CD set).
Still, "It's After The End Of The World" is a fabulous release, and it fits in nice next to the other Universe Sun Ra CDs.

SUN RA - SUN SONG

• sun ra: sun song
  (2003, cd, japan, p-vine records pcd-22037)

Sun Ra's first album, "Jazz By Sun Ra", got released in 1957 on the Transition label. Later, the album got re-released on the Dellmark label as "Sun Song".
The Delmark CD release (1990) included one bonus track.
Above, you find the picture of the japanese re-issue from 2003. On the P-Vine Records label. With the same bonus track.
A classic.

MONDO HOLLYWOOD SOUNDTRACK GETS A RE-RELEASE

• soundtrack: mondo hollywood
  (1967, lp, usa, tower / capital)

"Mondo Hollywood" was a documentary film by Robert Carl Cohen about the weird people that lived in Hollywood in the early sixties. It also includes various fragments of the famous L.A. freak scene, hence the picture of Carl Franzoni and Vito Paulekas on the album cover.
Initially, The Mothers appeared in the movie, but when their then-time manager (Herb Cohen) tried to get some financial compensation, The Mothers' section was cut out...

The soundtrack LP got released in 1967 and although it didn't feature The Mothers, it does include Bobby Jameson's 'Vietnam'.

The soundtrack has been re-released on both LP and CD on the Reel Time label.