Saturday, February 22, 2014

FIRST ALBUM COLLABORATION BY PETER HAMMILL & GARY LUCAS

First Album Collaboration By Peter Hammill & Gary Lucas 'Other World' CD

London, UK - Esoteric Recordings are delighted to announce the release of the first album collaboration featuring Peter Hammill, (Van Der Graaf Generator) and Gary Lucas, (Captain Beefheart, Jeff Buckley) . "OTHER WORLD" (EANTCD 1026) is released on 3rd February 2014. The fourteen track recording is a result of an invitation from Peter to Gary suggesting they might convene at the formers studio to see if some musical sparks might fly. Having first met in Aylesbury after a Hammill solo show in 1973, it was not until January 2012 that Gary arrived at the studio armed with instruments and some pieces which might be worth working on. As Peter explains in the notes below, sparks flew and against the odds, "OTHER WORLD" unfolded with seamless speed. The majority of the recordings are produced by Peter and Gary's guitars and Peter's vocal though they are aided by a couple of pieces of found sound and loops.

The duo are so pleased with the results of the recording that they intend to play live and dates are being booked for early 2014 and will be announced shortly.

PETER HAMMILL

When Gary arrived at my studio in January 2012 we didn't exactly have a grand plan about what we were about to attempt. He'd told me that he had some pieces which might be worth working on and that he'd also look forward to creating some improved sonics to which I might add something. For my part I'd prepared some looped pieces, some experimental sound washes and I, too, had a couple of bare-bone song ideas. Fundamentally, though, we probably thought we'd have done well if we managed to get an EP of some sort out of the session.

From the first note it became clear that we were on exactly the same wavelength and the project unfolded with seamless speed. After a couple of days we knew that we had the makings of the album. Of course, I still had to spend some time discovering the vocal lines and lyrics which the backing tracks hid within themselves but that, too, came about with some speed.

We've ended up, I think, with something quite strange but strangely powerful. The music ranges from some kind of roots territory to the wildest of sound collages. All of it - bar a couple of pieces of found sound - is produced by our guitars and my voice. So far, so trad.

It has, then, I suppose, some of the characteristics of a warped folk music...from another world.

GARY LUCAS

I was a Teenage Anglophile, particularly partial to psychedelic and progressive sounds from the UK, Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, Family, Third Ear Band, The Nice, the Move, the Incredible String Band, Kevin Coyne, Dr. Strangely Strange. All were music to my ears then, coming of age as I did in the mid- 60's in the rather staid and moribund musical climate of Syracuse New York.

I was such a passionate fan that I subscribed airmail to Disc and Music Echo, ZigZag, and Melody Maker in order to keep abreast of a UK scene still awash in full flower power (or so I imagined)...

I sent away for the latest singles from a UK record shop, rare English vinyl that was destined never to show up on US shores.

As the music director of Yale's WYBC in the early 70's I dj'ed a show entitled "The Sounds from England (and other delicacies)" where I wore the grooves out of my rare English record collection.

(The non-English "other delicacies" I spun on my program incidentally were Can, Amon Duul and ironically enough, Captain Beefheart and Tim Buckley).

One of my favorite albums in this period I bought solely on the cover art alone in 1969 was Van Der Graaf Generator's"The Aerosol Grey Machine ," a highly atmospheric and mysterious album which I fell in love and played to death for my listeners and friends. In 1973, I took my first trip overseas performing lead electric guitar in the European premiere of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" in Vienna with the Yale Symphony Orchestra.

On the way back home I stopped in London for the very first time, partially because I had to finally experience it live for myself--and also to hopefully get some interviews with leading musicians for "Zoo World" magazine, a hip music newspaper out of Florida attempting to take on "Rolling Stone".

Wandering into an HMV store on Oxford Street one day after arriving, about to penetrate the wilds of darkest Soho, I met a fellow enthusiast and rabid Peter Hammill fan, so much so that he had cut out a chameleon from styrofoam and installed it in the shop window to promote Peter's new solo album "Chameleon in the Shadow of Night". He was a huge fan.

He told me excitedly that Peter was performing a rare solo concert up at the Friar's in Aylesbury later that week. Ringing my pal ZigZag editor Pete Frame, whom I'd bonded with in NYC a few months before at a Genesis show, I arranged to come up to Aylesbury to stay with him for a few days in order to catch this concert.

On the night, Peter came on solo after a one-off instrumental set by Zox and the Radar Boys, featuring Phil Collins and Peter Banks and proceeded to blow everyone's mind with a hypnotic, stark, doom-laden suite of songs featuring his piano, acoustic guitar and that incredible other-worldly voice.

After his set I went backstage to interview him, and found him exceedingly nice and friendly.

Flash forward to London May 2005. I am seated at Royal Festival Hall with my friends, UK journalist Mike Barnes and former Propaganda vocalist Claudia Brucken, awaiting Van Der Graaf Generator's historic UK reunion concert.

In a season of standout reunion shows I either attended or performed at, including Cream at Royal Albert Hall, Brian Wilson's "Smile" at Carnegie Hall, and the reunited Magic Band (of which I was a member) at Hammersmith Odeon, this particular concert was my absolute favorite.

Peter was as compelling as ever, his powers undiminished.

Flash forward another couple years, and through the miracle of the internet we re-connect and Peter was as keen as I was to collaborate, inviting me up to Bath, where we spent a couple days recording in his home studio/laboratory.
It was a total dream for me.

Having worked closely with many great artists and vocalists, including Don Van Vliet and Jeff Buckley. Peter is right up there as a great creative partner and collaborator.
I brought several instrumental pieces to the session, as did he.

We'd never exchanged any tapes of our new music previously.

The result to my ears is just...well, listen for yourself!!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

BRASS JAW - BRANDED

One trumpet and three saxophones (alto, tenor & baritone). That's Brass Jaw.

This Glasgow-based band has already caught the attention of quite a number of jazz fans.
The quartet displays great technique with powerful playing and fine compositions.

Most of the tracks on "Branded" are original compositions, but the album also includes The Beatles' 'Drive My Car' and Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia'.

The search for bands that play the music of Frank Zappa turned up another gem.




-- thanks to Luc Reniers

ZAPPA FILMS IN ANTWERP

Cinema Zuid (Antwerp) has some extra info on the Zappa films that they will be showing on the 19th of March, coinciding with the Arf Arf Arf! festvial.






UGLY RADIO REBELLION

Ugly Radio Rebellion performs the music of Frank Zappa in Berkley (Michigan), u.s.a. on Sunday March 9, 2014, at the 'O'Mara Irish Pub'.

2555 W. 12 Mile Rd.Berkley (Michigan) 48072


Monday, February 17, 2014

THE RESIDENTS - MAXINE

  • the residents: maxine
        (2014, 2cd, usa, cryptic corporation)
Last week, the latest Residents release arrived : "The Residents Present Charles Bobuck : Maxine / CB Suite".
  • Maxine  33:30
  • Charles Bobuck - Go Home  05:53
  • CB Suite  36:58
  • Jambalaya  05:08
Beautiful experimental soundscapes. Superb stuff.



Sunday, February 16, 2014

ARF! ARF! ARF!



Arf ! Arf ! Arf !
three days of Frank Zappa extravaganza
curated by Zjakki Willems


19 March 2014
The World's Greatest Sinner - The Amazing Mr. Bickford - 200 Motels (new version)


21 March 2014
Capt. Cheese-Beard & The 7 Sisters Of Prevention feat. Robert Martin
and
Flat Earth Society feat. Mauro Pawlowski & Pierre Vervloesem in Terms Of Embarrassment


22 March 2014
Ben Watson on Zappology


22 March 2014
concerts @ deSingel
The Wrong Object
and
Brussels Philharmonic feat. Robert Martin


22 March 2014
dj's Mauro Pawlowski, Bootsie Butsenzeller, Carlo Tune Up & Louis Katorz







ZAPPATIKA & IKE WILLIS

The legendary Ike Willis will be joining Zappatika for three concerts in May.

They will be performing the music of Frank Zappa in NL & the UK.




TORINO GUITAR QUARTET - CODEX



The Torino Guitar Quartet recorded Frank Zappa's 'The Black Page' (beautiful !!) and 'Peaches En Regalia' (incredible !!) on their "Codex" album.
Superb versions. Fine arrangements & incredible playing.
The same album also includes pieces by Dusan Bogdanovic, Kevin Volans, Bill Evans, King Crimson and Chick Corea.

A superb addition to The Others Of Invention.

-- thanks to Luc Reniers.for pointing this one out to me











Saturday, February 15, 2014

HERMETO PASCOAL - LIVE AT THE MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL

The 1979 Montreux concert by Hermeto Pascoal.
Pure magic.



BARBARA RAIMONDI - ACCOPIAMENTI GIUDIZIOSI

Italian jazz singer Barbara Raimondi offers a fine version of Frank Zappa's 'Oh No' on her "Accopiamenti Giudiziosi" album.
Performed as a trio with Furio Di Castri on double bass (remember Furio from his "Zapping" project and from his collaboration with Gianluca Petrella !!) and Enzo Zirilli on drums.

Released in 2008.



-- info : Luc Reniers


Thursday, February 13, 2014

DWALMACAT 550

check out episode 550 of the Dwalmacat radio show :

http://old.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-550/

PEOPLE LIKE US – Music of your own
BL*TCH 13 – A husband
ALBERT MARCOEUR – Eveil matin suivi d’un apéritif dansant / Téléphone privé
THE WIRTSCHAFTSWUNDER – The girls of the Navy
MARIOLA BRILLOWSKA & FELIX KUBIN – Cola la
FRANK ZAPPA – Let me take you to the beach
THE FALL – Words of expectation (Peel sessions)
BL*TCH 13 – Stratospheria
THE OSCILLATION – Gamelan mindscape
PLANNING TO ROCK – Let’s talk about gender baby
TOM BROWNE – Funkin’ for Jamaica
RUTH – She brings the rain
CARIBOU – Drumheller
SONIC YOUTH – New Hampshire
TURNING SHRINES – 23 Stilling St
THE THE – Three orange kisses from Kazan
BL*TCH 13 – Cannibal site

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

SONY LEGACY ANNOUNCES JOE SATRIANI 15 CD BOX SET


announced for april 2014.
a 15 CD-box, including one album with unreleased / bonus material.


* not of this earth (1986)
* surfing with the alien (1987)
* flying in a blue dream (1989)
* the extremist (1992)
* time machine (1993)
* joe satriani (1995)
* crystal planet (1998)
* engines of creation (2000)
* strange beautiful music (2002)
* is there love in space? (2004)
* super colossal (2006)
* professor satchafunkilus and the musterion of rock (2008)
* black swans and wormhole wizards (2010)
* unstoppable momentum (2013)
* additional creations and bonus tracks





Tuesday, February 11, 2014

MAMBO - BERTIER

  • mambo: bertier
        (2013, lp, bel, honest house)
Mambo's debut album, "Bertier", needs your attention.
Not only do I love the album cover, the music is even better.

Math-rock.
Charactarized by complex, atypical rhythmic structures, counterpoints, odd time signatures, angular melodies, and extended, often dissonant, chords. (says Wiki)

This is great !!

This 10-track instrumental vinyl release sure is the discovery of the month.

Out on Mandaï.
www.mandai.be

Bouncy quartet from belgium made up of members of Casse Brique, Volt Voice or Frank Shinobi, Mambo combines sonic energy with time-signature-laden mathematical rhythms. As you will hear, their influences dip into The Redneck Manifesto and Honey for Petzi keeping nonetheless a highly identifiable trademark. Currently working on new tunes, Mambo has just released a 10-track instrumental album, “Bertier”, available both as a download or LP. Give it a spin urgently, it might well be the new sensation out of HH-stamped productions this year!

http://mambobertier.bandcamp.com/album/bertier-out-now



MARBIN ON TOUR


marbin



02/15/14 - 07:00pm @BB's Jazz, Blues, and Soups
02/16/14 - 04:00pm @Huey's Midtown Memphis TN
02/17/14 - 08:00pm@Maxine's Hot Springs AR
02/18/14 - 10:00pm@The Abbey Underground Denton TX
02/19/14 - 09:00pm@Super Happy Fun Land Houston TX
02/20/14 - 07:30pm@Rear Window Listening Room Ganado TX
02/21/14 - 09:00pm@Swan Dive Austin TX
02/22/14 - 09:00pm@Whiskey Chasin Dance Hall and Saloon Coleman TX
02/24/14 - 08:00pm@Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery Silver City NM
02/26/14 - 08:00pm@Taos Mesa Brewing Taos NM
02/27/14 - 07:30pm@Wildwood Sounds Concert Series Del Norte CO
02/28/14 - 08:30pm@Carbondale Beer Works Carbondale CO
03/01/14 - 07:00pm@Stage Stop Rollinsville CO
03/02/14 - 10:00pm@The Astoria Fort Collins CO
03/03/14 - 09:00pm@Quixote's Denver, Colorado CO
03/04/14 - 07:30pm@Jives Colorado Springs CO
03/05/14 - 08:00pm@Cowgirl BBQ Santa Fe NM
03/06/14 - 08:00pm@High Desert Brewing Co Las Cruces NM
03/07/14 - 09:00pm@Leftwoods Amarillo TX
03/08/14 - 09:00pm@Vintage 89 Guthrie OK
03/09/14 - 09:00pm@Hopkins Icehouse Texarkana AR
03/11/14 - 09:00pm@Squid & Whale Eureka Springs AR
03/12/14 - 08:30pm@Cimarron Tusla OK
03/13/14 - 09:00pm@Californos Kansas City MO
03/14/14 - 08:30pm@The Mission Jefferson City MO
03/15/14 - 09:00pm@Iowa City Yacht Club Iowa City IA
03/16/14 - 06:00pm@Mahoney's Irish Pub Cedar Rapids IA 


RANDY BRECKER UPDATE

Randy Brecker is featured on the new Lenny Sendersky / Tony Romana album, "Desert Flower".
Out on LeTo Records.

Sophie from CD "Desert Flower" LeTo Records 2013

Lenny Sendersky alto sax
Tony Romano guitar
Randy Brecker trumpet
Steve LaSpina bass
Matt Kane drums 



FRANK SIDEBOTTOM

The late Chris Sievey was known to the world as Frank Sidebottom.
Musician and comedian Frank Sidebottom did concerts, radio-shows and got to be seen on tv every once in a while as well.


Sidebottom reworked and recorded Don Van Vliet's 'Mirror Man' and 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy'. Both tracks got released on vinyl in 1988 on his "13:9:88" album.
The tracks can also be found on a couple of compilations.
Here's some of his fabulous album covers :


The first Frank Sidebottom album !

The second Frank Sidebottom album, with 'Gimme Dat Harp Boy' and 'Mirror Man'.

Here's the 1999 compilation CD. With both of the Beefheart songs.

Another compilation CD. Ten years later. Again with both Beefheart songs.

And this is the ultimate Frank Sidebottom box set, collecting all his vinyl releases (a number of 12"s, a 10", and both of his albums) on CD, plus a DVD


ROBERT MARTIN UPDATE

Bobby Marquis will be doing another interview with Robert Martin at his "Pure Radio Kaos" radio show on CKCU-FM on Wednesday February 19, 2014.

15:30 - 16:30 h EST

BABILS - WAH!

  • babils: wah!
        (2014, cd, bel, camera obscura)
Combining jungle rhythms and asthonishing noises, adding incantatory vocals to a funky beat... That's Babils.
On their latest album, "Wah!", the emphasis lies on psychedelic soundscapes.

Essential listening for fans of experimental music.

Hypnotizing.

Available from www.mandai.be

Here's a track from their previous album, "The Joint Between" :


Monday, February 10, 2014

THOMAS JUNG SOLO ALBUM

Thomas Jung used to play the keyboard in SheikYerbouti, a German band that performed the music of Frank Zappa.
Actually one of the best bands to perform the music of Frank Zappa.

Thomas is about to release a solo album entitled "Painting The Sun". It will be presented on the 10th of May at his first electronic music live concert at the Kulturhistorisches Museum in Neuerkirch, DE.


SOUND LIBERATION - DAYS

March 2014 will see the release of a new Sound Liberation album.
As you should know, Sound Liberation performs the music of Gene Pritsker, a composer without musical boundaries. Gene Pritsker blends soulful rhythm 'n blues with chamber music strings and hip-hop rhymes. And he might add some bop jazz guitar lines on the spot.

"Days" collects compositions from different projects. There's music from the "Money" hip-hop-chamber opera, there's remixe of previously released songs, some hip-hop jams based on orchestral samples, and even a couple of live concert recordings.

My favourite track is 'What Shall I Do, a beautiful song that features the supeb voice of Chanda Rule, accompanied by a string quartet and a guitar.
Worth checking out.

Here's the poppy 'Breath':



www.composersconcordancerecords.com

www.genepritsker.com



Sunday, February 9, 2014

DWALMACAT 549

This week's Dwalmacat radio show


SMEGMA - I can't look straight
GUDRUN GUT - Girl boogie
CICCONE YOUTH - Children of Satan / Third fig
WHITEY - Y.U.H.2.B.M.2.
DE DAMES RIMICO - Barend waar ben je nu toch weer?
VOMIT LUNCHS - Hmmmmmmmmmmm!
PEOPLE LIKE US - Fom Fom
TI-THO - Traumtänzer
THE CRAVATS & PAUL HARTNOLL - Seance
THE CAMBERWELL NOW - For those in peril on the sea
CHARLES HAYWARD - Cold blue sun
HOTEL MOTEL - Sucker man
TOM TOM CLUB - Genius of love
UNIVERS ZERO - L'étrange mixture du docteur Scwarz
BROADCAST - Sixty forty
RENEE - Come closer
PERE UBU - Waiting for Mary

CRITERIUM3

Criterium3 =
  • Peter Verhelst : guitar
  • Chris Mertens : bass
  • Herman Pardon : drums



ARISTOCRATS ARE TOURING EUROPE

THE ARISTOCRATS
"CULTURE CLASH" TOUR
WINTER 2014

Guthrie Govan : guitar
Bryan Beller: bass
Marco Minnemann: drums


February 6th - Bilbao, SP - Cafe Antkozia
February 7th - Madrid, SP - La Sala Live
February 8th - Valencia, SP - Sala Loco
February 9th - Barcelona, SP - Luz de Gas
February 11th - Nice, FR - B Spot
February 12th - La Valette du Var, FR - Le Vox
February 14th - Paris, FR - Le Zebre
February 15th - Eeklo, BE - JH de Route
February 17th - London, England, UK - The Garage
February 18th - Bristol, England, UK - The Fleece
February 19th - Leamington, England, UK - The Assembly
February 20th - Manchester, England, UK - Band on the Wall
February 21st - Newcastle, England, UK - The Cluny
February 23rd - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - Liquid Room
February 24th - Dublin, IE - The Grand Social
February 26th - Tilburg, NL - Paradox
February 27th - Verviers, BE - Spirit of 66
February 28th - Zoetermeer, NL - De Boerderij
March 1st - Esch Sur Alzette, LUX - Kulturfabrik
March 2nd - Munich, DE - Backstage Werk
March 4th - Berlin, DE - Kesselhaus
March 5th - Hamburg, DE - Fabrik
March 9th - Dortmund, DE - Domicile
March 10th - Cologne, DE - Kantine
March 11th - Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE - Das Haus
March 12th - Reichenbach, DE - Bergkeller
March 13th - Dresden, DE - Tante Ju
March 15th - Warszaw, PL - Progresja
March 16th - Krakow, PL - Lizard King
March 17th - Olomouc, CZ - Jazz Tibet Club
March 20th - Milano, IT - Live Forum
March 21st - Rubigen, CH - Muhle Hunziken
March 22nd - Castegnato (Brescia), IT - Gasoline Road Bar
March 23rd - San Giovanni alla Vena, Pisa, IT - Blitz Live Music Pub
March 26th - Verona, IT - Officina degli Angeli
March 27th - Moncalieri (Torino) IT - Audiodrome
March 29th - Larvik, NO - Larvik Guitar Festival
April 4th and 5th - Athens, GR - Athina Live Club
April 7th - Roccaforzata (Taranto), IT - Saloon Public House
April 8th - Caserta, IT - City Life
April 9th - Rome, IT - Planet Roma
April 11th - Istanbul, TR - Roxy Club
April 13th - Herzliya (Tel Aviv), ISRAEL - Zappa-club Herzliya

VAI ACADEMY




DOCTOR NERVE TO TOUR EUROPE IN 2014

Doctor Nerve - Live in Europe 2014
  • RIO Festival, Albi - Sep 19 - Cap' Découverte
  • Avignon, FR - Sep 20
  • Munich, DE - Sep 25
  • Würzburg, DE - Sep 26 or 27

-- info: Stevie

SUN RA RESEARCH SANTA CRUZ CA APRIL 9, 1989

Sun Ra Research Santa Cruz, Ca. April 9, 1989. Sun Ra, Knoel Scott & John Hinds. From the Sun Ra Research movie, Sun Ra Space Time Continuum.



Sun Ra Research Santa Cruz, Ca. April 9 1989 from peter hinds on Vimeo.


NEW SUN RA ALBUM ON THE ROARATORIO LABEL

The Roaratorio label will be releasing "Other Strange Worlds", a new Sun Ra release, presenting material from 1965.

Read more here :
http://www.roaratorio.com/33.html



NRBQ

The January 24, 2014, Philadelphia concert of NRBQ at the 'Underground Arts' featured Marshall Allen, Knoell Scott and Akatune as special guests.
Needless to say that the setlist included a number of Sun Ra compositions.


SOUND COLOUR VIBRATION INTERVIEWS MICHAEL RAY

Michael Ray, trumpet player of the Sun Ra Arkestra, gets interviewed by SCV :

http://soundcolourvibration.com/2011/05/03/sacvs-interview-with-michael-ray-of-the-sun-ra-arkestra/



SWANN - SHOW ME YOUR LOVE

French folk artist Swann recorded Frank Zappa's 'Bobby Brown (Goes Down)' and released it on her "Show Me Your Love" 10" vinyl EP.
Nice. Very nice.

Another fine addition to The Others Of Invention, artists performing the music of Frank Zappa.
http://www.united-mutations.com/z/frank_zappa/fz_ooi_albums.htm


Out on the Atmosphérique record label.


FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA - FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA WIRD 10 UND FEIERT!

Fido Plays Zappa is celebrating its 10th anniversary by releasing a USB-stick with their complete recent Gare Du Nord concert !!
An amazing idea.

I received the stick last week and really enjoyed the plus 100-minute show.
Great stuff.
If you're into Zappa's music, you definitely need to see this.
Great songs, fine arrangements.
And they make it all look so easy...

Highly recommended !!

Available as full movie on usb-stick (16gb, including audio & bonus-tracks), full movie download (3gb) or audio-only.

recorded live 21.3.2013 at gare du nord basel & elsewhere,
including bits & pieces of fido's last decade 2003-2013

dave muscheidt: vocals
oli friedli: piano
martin medimorec: vibraphone, marimba, percussion
stef strittmatter: guitar & vocals
pascal grünenfelder: bass & vocals
remy sträuli: drums & vocals
dave blaser: trumpet & flugelhorn
alex hilbe: alto & baritone sax
ueli pletscher: tenor sax
christof huber: trombone

cameras: sergio cassini & crew
editor: andy christen
audio: dave muscheidt, megapeng
sound & tec: regine wetterwald, soundpool

all music written by frank zappa, arranged by pascal grünenfelder & fido

1. filthy habits
2. camarillo brillo
3. muffin man
4. evelyn a modified dog
5. black napkins
6. the piano question
7. eat that question
8. let's move to cleveland
9. dupree's paradise
10. don't eat the yellow snow
11. nanook rubs it
12. st. alfonzo's pancake breakfast
13. father o'blivion
14. echidna's arf (of you)
15. don't you ever wash that thing
16. jewish princess
17. teenage wind
18. zomby woof
19. zoot allures
20. uncle remus
21. san ber'dino
22. flakes
23. harder than your husband




ELO DA CORRENTE - - - - ZAPPA SAMPLE ??

what do you think ?
Are they using a Zappa sample ?

FURIO DI CASTRI & GIANLUCA PETRELLA - UNDER CONSTRUCTION

About five years ago, I got pointed in the direction of Italian trombone player Gianluca Petrella. Around that time, he had an ensemble called Gianluca Petrella & The Cosmic Band with whom he performed the music of Sun Ra.
There's this excellent radio show (July 21, 2008, FM broadcast on Italian Radio Tre RAI) that everyone needs to hear. It's brilliant.
This was my introduction to Gianluca Petrella.

Around the same time, I bought a CD entitled "Zapping", a project by Furio Di Castri that featured Furio Di Castri (bass), Nguyen Le (guitar), Joel Allouche (drums), Mauro Negri (alto sax & clarinet), Rita Marcoutulli (piano) and Eric Vloeimans (trumpet). This was a great album. All of the compositions were written with Frank Zappa in mind, plus the ensemble did a fine version of 'Twenty Small Cigars'.
Mauro Porzi added that the album was in fact predated a couple of years by a concert that also featured Stefano Bollani and Gianluca Petrella !!

So imagine my surprise when Luc Reniers told me that Furio Di Castri and Gianluca Petrelli had recorded an album together on which they had recorded a Zappa composition.
In 2004.
"Under Construction" is a fine album. Furio Di Castri on bass and electronics and Gianluca Petrella on trombone.
Icing on the cake is another excellent version of 'Twenty Small Cigars'.



VLEK - SPECK

If you're into Dutch improvised music, you should be familiar with Palinckx. The band Palinckx was build around Jacq and Bert Palinckx and released 2 LPs and 11 CDs between 1984 and 2006.
More recently the Palinckx brothers have created Vlek, a Dutch improvised music septet that has its roots in 1970's psychedelic and progressive music.

Edward Capel (sax, clarinet), Jeroen Doomernik (trumpet), Hans Sparla (trombone), Jacq Palinckx (guitar), Bart van Dongen (keyboards and electronics), Bert Palinckx (double bass) and Pascal Vermeer (drums) are Vlek.
Their first album, "Speck", got released last year and is a lot of fun.

A new album is in preparation and should be out in a couple of months.



FRANK ZAPPA PROMOTIONAL CDS

These pictures have been up at the United Mutations Archives for quite a while, but somehow the didn't show.
HTML errors have been corrected...

















STEVE VAI IN CONCERT

Steve Vai has scheduled one show in Israel and two shows in NL, in his "An Evening With Steve Vai" series.

2014/03/26 'Culture Palace', Tel Aviv, Israel

2014/05/08 'De Melkweg', Amsterdam, NL
2014/05/09 'Markant', Uden, NL


http://www.vai.com/tourdates/


ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND - FAMILY 2012

Two years ago, Wonderland Records released this 4 DVD set in a limited edition of 300 (!!) copies.
"Family 2012" is attributed to the Allman Brothers Band, but it actually is a collection of concerts by the Allman Brothers and by their spin off bands, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Gov't Mule.

I remember Michael Krampe telling me to check out The Allman Brothers Band and their fabulous guitar players some ten or so years ago.
"Family 2012" sure proves him right.

Disc number four includes Gov't Mule's 2012/06/02 Mountain Jam concert where the band played Frank Zappa's 'Trouble Every Day'.
So besides being another musical treat, this 4 DVD box also gets its place in The Others Of Invention (artists performing the music of Frank Zappa)

Tedeschi Trucks Band





Saturday, February 8, 2014

"A JOURNEY INTO JAZZ" BY LEE SANTA


Subtitled "Anecdotes, Notes and Photos of a Jazz Fan", "A Journey into Jazz" let's you make the acquaintance of Lee Santa's musical taste.
And, yes, that's Sun Ra on the cover of the album !!

Out on Round Bend Press Books.


Monday, February 3, 2014

JAMES COANE - BLUEWORK




Singer / songwriter Dr. James Coane performs traditional folk songs next to contemporary rock standards and original compositions.
Besides 'Creep' and 'Blackhole Sun', "Bluework" also includes renditions of Joni Mitchell's 'A Case Of You', Lowell George's 'Willin'', and Frank Zappa's 'Dirty Love'.

Quite nice.


Sunday, February 2, 2014

THE NORWEGIAN WIND ENSEMBLE - THE BRASS FROM UTOPIA

February 2012, The Norwegian Wind Ensemle performed the music of Frank Zappa at the Yellow Snow Festival in Larvik, Norway. It was the first time that I had heard of this ensemble.
As audience recordings turned up, it was clear that this was a top band. These guys (and girls) knew how to play.

So when word got out that the Norwegian Wind Ensemble was to release an album, this was considered by many as excellent news. And, the band got the ZFT stamp of approval. The new album was to be part of the Zappa Plays Zappa merchandise stand during the November / December European leg of the 2013 tour.

Unfortunately, the ZpZ tour-deal did not happen. Even worse, the Norwegian Wind Ensemble's website was not aimed at international visitors and customers. Ordering from abroad was not an option.

A number of e-mails later, and thanks to the interferance of Thomas, this got resolved a couple of weeks ago. As a result, I have been playing one superb album at least twice every day for the last week.
This is truly superb.

"The Brass From Utopia".
An avalanche of sound.
Dazzling fireworks.
Controlled power.
It's all there.

It might be February 2014 now, but this is without questioning the best album that got released in 2013.

Fluent at one moment, short and accentuated the next.
I love it.
Stian Aareskjold did all the arrangements and he did a fantastic job.
Thank you.

You need to hear this and you need to hear this now.

http://www.dnbe.no/hjem

To give you an idea, here's a little live fragment, recorded by Clint :



Saturday, February 1, 2014

THE WRONG OBJECT IN CONCERT IN LIEGE 2014 03 14


The Wrong Object @ L'An Vert
Liège (BE)
Friday, March 14, 2014.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

GARY LUCAS AND PETER HAMMILL

Street date for the new Gary Lucas / Peter Hammill album, "Otherworld", is February 3 !!


FRANK ZAPPA LOVE SONGS

Bobby Marquis' Pure Radio Kaos radio show will focus on "Frank Zappa Love Songs" on Wednesday February 12, 2014.
From 15:30 until 16:30 h on CKCU-FM radio.

THE TUBES - GOIN' DOWN

Don Van Vliet (AKA Captain Beefheart) contributed to The Tubes' "Now" album that got released in 1977.

The same album also included The Tubes' version of Don Van Vliet's 'My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains'. A great version.
This track can also be found on "Goin' Down", the 1997 compilation album.

Data have been added to the United Mutations Archives.