NEW YEAR'S EVE WITH ED PALERMO

Tonight at 'The Falcon' in Marlboro, NY.
The Ed Palermo Big Band, featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock.

https://www.liveatthefalcon.com/

THE RETURN OF RONDO HATTON BY SCOTT PARKER

• the recordings of frank zappa - volume five / 1974 - 1975: the return of rondo hatton
  by scott parker
      (2012, book, usa, private release)

 Scott Parker took on the task to catalog and to discuss Frank Zappa's recordings.
A couple of years ago, he reached the years 1974 (the Roxy band !!) and 1975 (with Captain Beefheart) and put the result in volume 5 of his inimitable series.
- the official releases : albums on LP, re-releases on CD, singles and samplers ;
- bootlegs on vinyl and on CD;
- the live recordings  (audience recordings, radio shows, the lot)

Again, fine artwork by Robert Ross

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT COMPILATION ALBUMS

Could it be possible that I forgot to mention that The Rudy Schwartz Project has two compilation albums out?

Both are available from Kunaki.
http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

And both of them need your attention !

• the rudy schwartz project: the best of the austin years
      (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

• the rudy schwartz project: twenty smash hits from the montréal years
      (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

CABALLERO REYNALDO - ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES

• caballero reynaldo: original album series
      (2016, 10cd, spain, hall of fame)

Caballero Reynaldo's "Original Album Series" collects 10 albums by the famous Spanish artist. Some of these are known to this blog as they contain loads of Zappa compositions.
If you don't have these albums yet, this might be the perfect opportunity to get hold of them.
All albums have been issued in a cardboard cover with the original artwork.
Impressive.

HILDEGARD LERNT FLIEGEN - CINEMA HILDEGARD

• hildegard lernt fliegen: cinéma hildegard
      (2012, cd+dvd+book, ger, unit records)

The third album of Hildergard Lernt Fliegen got released in 2012.
Quite spectacular, it contained a CD (live), a DVD, a book and a (smaller size) tourposter.
Live in Moskou and more.
With Andreas Schaerer in great shape.
One of the top acts at the most recent Zappanale festival.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

NNO + DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON DUTCH RADIO RIGHT NOW

Right now !!

http://www.nposoulenjazz.nl/colive

CHATO! - SO UND NICHT ANDERS

• chato!: so und nicht anders
      (2017, cd, ger, time-zone)

I brought this album home from Zappanale, where Chato! played a breathtaking live set.
"So Und Nicht Anders" is at least as incredible. I guess it's one of my favourite 2017 releases.

The album is funny. It's zappa-esque progressive rock, and it includes an excellent reworked version of FZ's 'Let's Move To Cleveland'.
Completely my kind of music !

Top disc.

ZAFTIG BY EDWARD KOMARA AND SCOTT PARKER

• zaftig
  by edward komara with scott parker
      (2015, book, usa, scott parker books)
  
  "The Zappa Family Trust Compact Disc Issues Guide"

In this 360-page tome, Edward Komara takes a look at Frank Zappa's catalogue. More specifically, the various albums in the compact disc format.
Each album gets a seperate entry with
- #
- title
- picture
- performers
- place(s) it got recorded
- song titles
- the cd releases
- available transcriptions
- 'here's the deal' (comments by the author)
- rating
- songs to download
- differences between the zft cd reissue and the previous cd reissues

It ends with album #100 : "Dance Me This".
There's also a name index, a song title index, a score index, and a chronological recording date index.

PAUL WHITE - THE STRANGE DREAMS OF PAUL WHITE

(handmade, hand-stamped pillowcase for the CD)

(the actual album)

• paul white: the strange dreams of paul white
      (2009, cd, uk, one-handed music)

Paul White is a London-based producer who has released a handful of solo albums.
His first album came in a special package : a handmade, hand-stamped pillowcase with a carboard fold-out album inside. Pretty.
The album itself is a collection of beats, melodies and samples. Sort of plunderphonic puzzles.
I do like it.
Track number 6, 'Alien Nature' ends with a Beefheart sample (Beefheart going 'Fast 'n' Bulbous');
Track 11, 'Sugar Free Airlines' has a Zappa sample near the end (from 'Are You Hung Up?')
And there's lots of other familiar sounding snippets. Nicely done.

From his 2011 album, "Rapping With Paul White" :


Here's a more recent clip :

WOODY HERMAN - THUNDERING HERD

• woody herman: thundering herd
      (1974, lp, usa, fantasy 9452)

I didn't know this, but the 1974 album "Thundering Herd", by Woody Herman had been re-issued on CD in 1995.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

This is the album on which Woody Herman's band performs Frank Zappa's 'America Drinks And Goes Home'.

VANSINA / VERBRUGGEN / GUDMUNDSSON - ST. CECILIA

• vansina / verbruggen / gudmundsson: st. cecilia
      (2017, cd, bel, off records ort018 / rat records)

Improvised music by Bruno Vansina (sax), Teun Verburggen (drums) and Gulli Gudmundsson (bass), plus loops and electronics.
recorded live at St.Cecilia in Hoogstraten, BE, in 2008.

Mixed and mastered by Pierre Vervloesem.

This is the fourth album by the VVG Trio, if my info is correct.
Mesmerizing.

Great package. Beautiful music.
A coproduction between the Off Records label and Rat Records.
http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2017/03/ort018-vansina-verbruggen-gudmundsson.html

THE ZAPPA SUPPLEMENT BY SCOTT PARKER AND PHILIP LEE

• the zappa supplement : a box of history and the mud shark saga
  by scott parker and philip lee
      (2017, book, usa, private release / scott parker books)

Updated / extended version of the 2008 book.

This updated / extended version got released three months ago.
In this book, Scott Parker takes a look at one of the ever-changing but never-materialized projects of Frank Zappa: the box set release of 9, 10 or even 12 albums that he discussed in various interviews in the late 60s / early 70s.
Nice reading.
The second part of the 220-page book, however, gives a detailed history of the mud shark bootleg label, with info straight from one of the insiders.
Great info. Excellent reading.

SEBASTIEN BONNIAU TRIO - INFUNDIBULIFORME

• sébastien bonniau trio: infundibuliforme
      (2012, cd, italy, wide sound jazz production)

I only heard about this excellent release a little while ago.
The Sébastien Bonniau Trio features :

Sébastien Bonniau on vibes,
Guillaume Antonicelli on electric bass,
Attilio Terlizzi on drums.

The ensemble performs 9 beautiful compositions on this album, one of which is a set of Frank Zappa's 'Echidna's Arf (Of You) / Don't You Ever Wash That Thing'.
With a breathtaking electric bass solo.

Vibes, electric bass and drums. Wow !! Extraordinary !!
Great playing. Superb dynamics.

Pierrejean Gaucher guests on two other tracks of this disc.

Higly recommended !!

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - BLOOD FREAK

• the rudy schwartz project: blood freak - low budget video obscenity volume 2
      (2017, dvdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki) 

Volume two of The Rudy Schwartz Project's video series has just been released on DVDR-On-Demand by DC-Jam records in association with Kunaki.

Another great collection of tunes / videos (with cameos from Waldo !).
From free jazz injected doo-wop ('Blood Freak') to contemporary Canadian rap ('Stumpy').

And as a bonus, there's four tracks with video artwork / moving images by Zontar.
(including the below one - - for Beefheart freaks)

Recommended !
Available from Kunaki.
http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

NOTOPIA - CELEBRATING LIFE

• notopia: celebrating life
      (2017, cd, ger, private release)

Received my physical copy of the "Celebrating Life" album earlier today.
Great stuff.

With Mike Keneally and Jaan Wessman (on guitar and bass) as special guests.
Improvised music !!

THE WALDO SCRAPBOOKS BY SCOTT PARKER

• the waldo scrapbooks
  by scott parker
      (2017, book, usa, private release / scott parker books)

Walt Quadrato was a record store owner (Brass City Records in Waterbury, CT) and half of the Mudshark bootleg company. He passed away earlier this year.

In this book, Scott Parker has collected quite a number of articles from Walt Quadrato's collection.
It's about 200 pages and it's fun to read (although the quality of the scans does not make all articles easy to read).

FRANK TALK, THE INSIDE STORIES OF ZAPPA'S OTHER PEOPLE BY ANDREW GREENAWAY

• frank talk - the inside stories of zappa's other people
  by andrew greenaway
      (2017, book, uk, wymer publishing)

I've mentioned this book on several occasions, but I somehow forgot to add the cover to the United Mutations Archives. Probably because it's still on my desk as I keep on browsing through it.

This is the best Zappa-related book that I've read in years. It's a superb collection of interviews about my favourite topic: music !

Andrew Greenaway interviews :

• arthur barrow
• lorraine belcher chamberlain
• bruce bickford
• jimmy carl black
• terry bozzio
• napoleon murphy brock
• pauline butcher
• warren cuccurullo
• dr. dot
• roy estrada
• bob harris
• thana harris
• mike keneally
• nigey lennon
• martin lickert
• robert martin
• essra mohawk
• kent nagano
• lisa popeil
• don preston
• craig 'twister' steward
• scott thunes
• the tornadoes
• steve vai
• mark volman
• chad wackerman
• denny walley
• ike willis
• albert wing
• bob zappa
• candy zappa
• dweezil zappa

THE DARKENING SCALE - SONIC ARCHAEOLOGY

• the darkening scale: sonic archaeology
      (2017, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

The Darkening Scale is the solo project of David Janssen (from Renaldo and The Loaf). It started in 2006 when RATL was on hold.

David Janssen adds :
"Sonic Archaeology was the second Darkening Scale (originally the album was in 3 long chunks and, amazingly, Stuart Maconie played the whole of Part 1 on his Freak Zone radio programme). As with the Klanggalerie version of "The Entomology of Sound", this version of "Sonic Archaeology" is very different to the original version. Of the 15 tracks, 4 are completely new, and one, I have no memory of recording! The remainder of the tracks are drawn from "Sonic Archaeology" and "The Songs of Langtuhn Hemblu", again, many have been reworked, remixed and re-edited. One, 'Desperate Griper', has a surprising new vocalist."

I received a copy of this album as a gift from a friend at The Residents' concert in Leuven a little while ago. Beautiful package. 6-panel digipack with very recognisable (slightly frightening / disturbing) artwork by Poxodd. Looks great.
The first listening session was during the ride back home from that very same concert and I've listened to it again on numerous occasions during the last couple of months.
In the liner notes, David says : "No musical instruments were harmed whilst making this recording" which I find hard to believe. I'm not saying that it's not true. I'm just very impressed.

Electronic / adventurous music.
I think it's great.
Give it a listen (and do try track number 9 : 'T For Tuva').


Get if from Klanggalerie :
http://www.klanggalerie.com/gg252

FRANK ZAPPA 1988

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - MEATLOAF TASTE BETTER NOW

• the rudy schwartz project: meatloaf taste better now - low-budget video outrage volume 1
      (2017, dvdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

So what are you looking for?
'Weird', you say ? And 'Funny' ? 'With nods towards Frank Zappa, Captain Beefheart and The Residents' ?
Well, then I know exactly what you need !!

"Meatloaf Taste Better Now" is the first episode in The Rudy Schwartz Project's video extravaganza.

Great stuff.
If you want to play this during New Year's Eve festivities, watch out for the part where they talk Dutch (if you understand Dutch, that is) as they're talking about a banana and a certain bodily orifice.

But there's also some great guitar stuff going on, and tricky sequencer things, plus there's this beautiful tribute to Captain Beefheart called '11 Poop Hatcha Cha'.

Love it.
Available from Kunaki.
http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

ALCATRAZZ - BREAKING THE HEART OF THE CITY

• alcatrazz: breaking the heart of the city - the very bestof alcatrazz: 1983-1986
      (2017, 3cd, uk, cherry red hnebox094)

Subtitled "The Very Best Of Alcatrazz 1983 - 1986", this 3CD set includes material from the four albums that Alcatrazz released between 1983 and 1986, plus various demos.

This does mean that the box presents 7 tracks from the "Disturbing The Peace" album, an album on which Steve Vai left a clear mark, but, and that's a pity, the package does not offer any demos with Steve Vai.
Nice booklet and liner notes, though...

ALEXEI AIGUI AND DIETMAR BONNEN - UGLIEST PARTS LIVE

• alexei aigui and dietmar bonnen: ugliest parts - live
      (2017, cd, ger, obst p330.46) 

Alexei Aigui (violin) and Dietmar Bonnen (piano) should be well-known among Zappa fans. They have recorded and released quite a number of superb renditions of FZ's music.

Their latest album includes two versions of 'What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body' plus a modest version of 'Outside Now'. Love it.

Some of the pieces got recorded at the St Katharinenkirche in Hamburg in 2013 (as an appatizer for the Zappanale festival).

TERRY BOZZIO AND TODD GRIESE - NO WORK NO FOOD

• terry bozzio / todd griese: no work no food, a journey along spiritual lines
      (2017, cd, usa, private release)

"No Work No Food" is a collaboration between drummer and composer Terry Bozzio and poet Todd Griese.
The result is pretty impressive. Todd Griese recites his poems on top of Terry Bozzio's oriental-inspired compositions.

TERRY BOZZIO - REALITY & SIMPLE MOMENTS COMPILATION

• terry bozzio: reality & simple moments compilation
      (2017, cd, usa, private release)

"Reality & Simple Moments Compilation" is exactly what it says.
It's a compilation album of solo drum pieces / compositions by Terry Bozzio.

I'm assuming all of these tracks have already appeared on other releases (but I'm not sure...)

Beautiful album.

FRANK ZAPPA - HALLOWEEN 77

• frank zappa:  halloween 77 the palladium, nyc
      (2017, 3cd, usa, zappa records zr 20027k)

Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween shows were recently officially released on a USB-stick. 6 shows in total.
Show number 6, the one from October 31 1977, was the only one that got released on CD.
Fine, of course, but I would have been happy with Halloween CD box as well.

As a bonus, this 3CD set includes 4 tracks from the Oct 30 show.

WINGFIELD, REUTER AND SARKIS - LIGHTHOUSE

New release on the MoonJune Records label :

MARK WINGFIELD - guitar
MARKUS REUTER - touch guitar
ASAF SIRKIS - drums



This is nice.

HILDEGARD LERNT FLIEGEN - ...VOM FERNEN KERN DER SACHE

• hildegard lernt fliegen: ... vom fernen kern der sache
      (2009, cd, ger, unit records)

"... Vom Fernen Kern Der Sache" is the second album by Hildegard Lernt Fliegen, fronted by vocal acrobat Andreas Schaerer.
Jazz and fun.
The band performed at the Zappanale festival earlier this year.
A great concert (and a fine discovery).
Great package. Beautiful sounds.
Data has been entered into the United Mutations Archives.

Here's one of my favourite tracks : 'Seldom Was Covered With Snow And An Old Oak",
Track 6 on "...Vom Fernen"
Performed live :

NONA HENDRYX & GARY LUCAS - THE WORLD OF CAPTAIN BEEHEART

• nona hendryx and gary lucas: the world of captain beefheart
      (2017, cd, usa, knitting factory)

February 17, 2013, Gary Lucas presented "The World Of Captain Beefheart" at the 'Paradiso' in Amsterdam, NL. The concert featured The Metropole Orchestra and special guest Nona Hendryx.

This event evolved in a five-piece band performing the music of Captain Beefheart.

• Nona Hendryx : vocals
• Gary Lucas: guitars
• Jesse Krakow: bass
• Jordan Shapiro: keyboards
• Richard Dworkin: drums

And now, there's the album. Out on the Knitting Factory record label.
Superb.
Great package. Excellent liner notes. Amazing music.

Essential !!

WALTER SEXTANT - LIVE

• walter sextant: live
      (2017, cdr, france, private release)

Walter Sextant is :

• Simon Portefaix – Batterie / Percussions
• Guillaume Pique – Trombone
• Gregoire Oboldouieff – Basse électrique
• Remi Savignat – Guitare / Composition
• Reno Silva Couto – Saxophones / Percussions
• William Laudinat – Trompette / Machines

Their second album is a recording of a live concert that the band did August 2016.
"Live" presents five tracks, including two Frank Zappa compositions : 'Little Umbrellas' and 'Twenty Small Cigars'. The other compositions are by Remi Savignat.
Great stuff.
Available on CDR and as a download through Bandcamp.

PLUS INSTRUMENTS & INTIGE TALUURE - NEWTONS FLAT FIDELITY VOL.2

• plus instruments / intige taluure : newtons flat fidelity vol.2
      (2017, k7, bel, bananafishin' records 008)

Somewhere in 2016, Intige Taluure (Belgian experimental music duo Jay Phlitman and Kim Kang) started a new project called "Newtons Flat Fidelity".
For each new project, they would invite a like-minded musician to finish a couple of compositions that they had started, and vice versa.

For Volume 2, Intige Taluure invited Truus de Groot (better known in the alternative / DIY music scene as Plus Instruments).

The release has been made available on k7 (cassette) in a limited edition of 75 pieces. Cover art by Bosko Hrnjak !
Haven't heard the actual tape yet as my k7-player is hidden in the closet, but the data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.
If you want a copy of this k7, you'd better hurry. They'll be gone soon.
Contact the band through Facebook.

THE MECHANICS - ARE DANCING IN YOUR HEAD

• the mechanics: are dancing in your head    (2017, cd, bel, oorwerk 004)

The Mechanics are a Belgian experimental music ensemble. It features Mauro Pawlowski, Rudy Trouvé, Jean-Yves Evrard, Roman Hiele and Eric Thielemans.
I always try to keep an eye out for what Mauro Pawlowski and Rudy Trouvé are doing. These guys don't stop to amaze me. On this "The Mechanics Are Dancing In Your Head" album, they join forces. Nothing wrong with that  :-)

The album title refers to Ornette Coleman's 1977 release "Dancing In Your Head".
On the first track, 'Ode Aan Ornette' (Ode To Ornette), Rudy Trouvé yells "Jazz Ain't Dead, It Just Kinda Smells Funny." There are worse places to quote Frank Zappa.  :-)

Experimental rock.
Great stuff for Christmas. Or any other day, that is.

Here's 'Ode Aan Ornette', performed live at the Jazz Middelheim festival.

POLYGONDWANALAND 45RPM 2LP

Remember the King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard "Polygondwanaland" release ?
The album that everyone could release as his own project ?

Here's another edition. A 45rpm 2 LP set :

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/howlinwolf/king-gizzard-andthe-lizard-wizard-polygondwanaland

ADAM NEELY - TIME // MOTION // WINE

Jazztronic music by Adam Neely


https://adamneelymusic.bandcamp.com/album/time-motion-wine

ASS AND HAMMER - SUNHINE SUPERSHITS

• ass and hammer: sunhine supershits!
      (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

Ass And Hammer is another moniker for Joe Newman. If you thought that you had seen his weirdest side when listening to The Rudy Schwartz Project, you need to give Ass And Hammer a try.

The aforementioned Rudy Schartz added :
It is with great sadness that I must announce that, due to irreconcilable artistic differences, Waldo and I have parted company. We've tried to iron things out over the past few months, but specific conflicts of vision have made us both realize that it would be best to pursue our careers independently. After the decision was reached, I learned that, behind my back, the worthless son of a bitch had been recruiting away key members of The Rudy Schwartz Project to form his new ensemble, "Ass and Hammer". Needless to say, I was livid. As best as I can tell, "Ass and Hammer" will be primarily a cover band, but not much more is known right now. I'm sure additional details will be forthcoming. In the meantime, Waldo continues to make his rent payment, and I anticipate we will be living under the same roof for the remainder of his lease. We've agreed to arrange our sandwich condiments on separate racks in the refrigerator door, and not to discuss Burt Mustin under any circumstances. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

12 tracks.
All twisted and quirky coverversions.
Laced with musical references.
Hilarious !!

http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

PEKALA / KORDVLASINSKA / PEKALA - UTWORY NA PERKUSIE I URZADZENIA ELEKTROAKUSTYCZNE

• pekala / kordylasinska / pekala: utwory na perkusje i urzadzenia elektroakustyczne
      (2016, lp, poland, lado abc)

Polish duo Milosz Pekala and Magdalena Kordylasinska-Pekala performed a number of contemporary classical pieces, including Frank Zappa's 'The Black Page #1', on Polish radio in 2015.
The session got released on CD by the Lado ABC record label in 2016.

• pekala / kordylasinska / pekala: werke für schlagzeug und elektroakustische geräte
      (2017, lp, ger, gagarin records gr 2037) 

In 2017, the German Gagarin re-released 5 out of the 7 compositions on vinyl.
Both editions include 'The Black Page #2'.
The duo's rendition of Zappa's percussion piece is quite remarkable. It sounds like it's being performed on homemade instruments. Don't get me wrong, it sounds superb, but it's performed on percussion instruments rather than on the drums. At least, that's what it sounds like. Amazing.

LOCUST FELLOW & FRIENDS - CURSE OF THE BALEFUL CALLER

• locust fellow & friends: curse of the baleful caller
      (2016, lp, ger, psychofon records)

This album is a bit over a year old and it's fabulous.
There's also 100 copies on blue splatter vinyl and it's still available (from Psychofon Records).
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

https://www.psychofonrecords.com

ORCHESTRA TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP - LENTILLERES

• orchestre tout puissant marcel duchamp: lentillères / elephants
      (2014, 7", ger, red wig 012)

L'Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp.
It makes one wonder how a band with a name like this will be able to get their international career launched...

But they sounded pretty good at Zappanale. And the records that they made do confirm this.

"Lentillères" got published in 2014. It was their 2nd 7" release.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

ORCHESTRE TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP - ODD MARY

• orchestre tout puissant marcel duchamp: odd mary / p'tit nouveay / mick
      (2010, 7", ger, red wig 006)

Adding data to the United Mutations Archives does actually mean that I'm trying to tidy up the house...

OTPMD performed at Zappanale recently.
They released their first 7" in 2010, called "Odd Mary".
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

The below snippet might show why I enjoyed their Zappanale concert.

GIZMODROME - GIZMODROME / RIFF TRACKS - THE INSTRUMENTALS - VOL.1

• gizmodrome: gizmodrome & riff tricks - the instrumentals - vol.1
      (2017, 2cd, japan, ear music / ward records)

Just when I was asking myself why no record label had been smart enough to put the original and the instrumental Gizmodrome album in one package, here comes the Japanese Ward Records label with a 2 CD set. It's a pity that it doesn't contain any extras (read bonus tracks) as this has become a trademark for some Japanese releases, but still a fine package / combination.

THE BEN LEVIN GROUP FEATURING MIKE KENEALLY

Superb track from The Ben Levin Group, featuring Mike Keneally on the guitar !!

Order it here :




Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

SAM

SAM stands for Slick, Alexius, Menningman.

= Julie Slick (from the Adrian Belew Power Trio), Peter Alexius and Marc Menningmann.

Marc Menningmann explains :
Some years ago, Peter Alexius took me to a concert of the Adrian Belew Power Trio and I immediately fell in love with the brilliant bass playing of Julie Slick. Several concerts later we decided to bring Julie to Germany someday, make a record with her and play some concerts. And here we are, SAM, the trio Julie Slick, Peter Alexius and Marc Mennigmann.

The trio (plus Sven Kosakowski (drums) and Zaki Kiokakis (guitar) spent one week in the studio (in Germany in 2013) and recorded 11 hours of improvised music.
The best moments were collected on two releases:

• sam (slick, alexius, menningmann): another life
      (2013, download, --, bandcamp) 

and

• sam (slick, alexius, menningmann): yet another life
      (2013, download, --, bandcamp)

Later, Peter Alexius and Marc Menningman continued as Notopia.

NOTOPIA

"NOTOPIA is a project to celebrate life. It is about friendship, about music, about doing the things you like to do, and about living your dreams.

The three friends behind the idea of NOTOPIA are guitarist Peter Alexius, drummer Sven Kosakowski and pianist Marc Mennigmann. We build the core of NOTOPIA, adding our friends as guests to complete our musical visions. All songs are instant collective compositions. We simply don’t know what will happen during a studio session, as there are no planned tunes to play, no prepared lead sheets, scores or chords. We talk with our instruments, have a conversation through the music that happens. And we always have a good time. As I said, this is about friendship and music…

NOTOPIA is an evolution of the SAM Project, a recording project Peter, Sven and Marc did with female bass legend Julie Slick in 2012."

While touring Europe, Mike Keneally and Jaan Wessman took part in a recording session with Notopia. The result got released on CD as "Celebrating Life" and can be found here :
https://sam-music.bandcamp.com/album/celebrating-life

20 improvised tracks. I've only listened to a couple of them so far, but it sounds very impressive.



The same recording session also generated "2 Pianos", two improvisations between Mike Keneally and Marc Menningmann.
Download-only.
Beautiful.
Check it out here:
https://sam-music.bandcamp.com/album/two-pianos

GIZMODROME - RIFF TRICKS - THE INSTRUMENTALS - VOL.01

• gizmodrome: riff tricks - the instrumentals - vol.1
      (2017, cd, ger, ear music 0212450emu)

"Riff Tricks" is sort of the instrumental version of the previously released self-titled album.
It has the same fun / quirky feeling and I might even add that I like it even better.

Here's some comments by Adrian Belew, who played with Zappa, Bowie and King Crimson.
Let me say that again : who played with Zappa, Bowie and King Crimson...

https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/09/supergroup-gizmodrome-stewart-copeland-adrian-belew-more-share-their-self-titled-debut-album-stream/

8 tracks: 6 instrumental remixes, one remix with vocals, and one song from the album with alternate vocals.

A nice addition to the Gizmodrome album.

MIKE KENEALLY

from Mike Keneally's newsletter : 

My friends!

MIKE KENEALLY BAND with CHAD WACKERMAN AT BAKED POTATO DEC. 29

I'll be at the Baked Potato in LA for one final 2017 show on Fri. December 29. This will be a special Mike Keneally Band show with Bryan Beller, Rick Musallam, and Chad Wackerman on drums who we are honored to share the stage with for these two sets. I very rarely get the opportunity to play with Chad – this will be only the fourth time since 1988 – so I'm looking forward to this greatly. We'll be doing some songs of mine that haven't been played in the USA for quite a few years…along with tunes by Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa and Pavement, plus a healthy dose of pure improv. I'm excited. Tickets await you at this juicy weblink.

JOE SATRIANI/G3 - ON THE ROAD NEXT YEAR with JOE TRAVERS

January 11 marks the beginning of the next round of heavy Joe Satriani activity. The band this time consists of Joe S., me, Bryan Beller, and none other than Joe Travers on drums! For as long as Bryan and I have been playing with Joe T., this is the first time we'll be doing anything close to this quantity of worldwide touring with him, and I'm looking forward to sharing this experience with him as he's one of my most favorite people. I'm very glad that so many new listeners will be experiencing his absurdly awesome drumming.

We'll be playing (as the youngsters say) "a heck of a lot" in 2018, starting with a bunch of G3 touring in the US and Europe. For the US leg (January 11-February 25) the other "G"s on the bill will be John Petrucci and Phil Collen from Def Leppard; in Europe (March 16-April 30) our bill-mates will be Petrucci and Uli Jon Roth. Will these be the guitar events of the seasons? Simply put, yep!

A couple of weeks ago we had a week of rehearsals, breaking in the new tunes from Joe S.'s new record What Happens Next and working Mr. Travers into the band. It's a very different show we'll be presenting this time around and it'll be a stone pleasure bringing it to a bunch of you. All the info you need to know 'bout these shows has been gathered up for you at this handy web portal. More dates for the rest of the year will be announced soon.

Let me wrap up with a couple of recent items of note –

NOTOPIA

Last year while I was in Europe, right after touring with Jaan Wessman and Schroeder as The Mike Keneally Report, Jaan and I joined our friends Marc Mennigmann (keyboards), Peter Alexius (guitar), and Sven Kosakowski (drums) – the three of them are the nexus of an ongoing music project called NOTOPIA. The five of us convened for a couple of days of improvising inside of Goldsound Studio in Hohenlimburg, Germany. Marc then spent many intense months forming the best of the sessions into a wonderful album called Celebrating Life.

I asked the extraordinary Peter Hammill if he'd be interested in creating vocal tracks to go along with a couple of industrial-ish drones we'd laid down in the studio, which he did almost immediately upon being asked, and to absolutely astonishing effect. The album also contains outstanding vocal contributions from Mimi Ventura and Divinity Roxx. It is a special release indeed.

I played guitar for the vast majority of the sessions, but at one point I joined Marc at his keyboard station for two improvisations, which Marc fashioned into a separate release, Two Pianos. Together these two releases do a remarkable job of capturing the friendship and creativity at play in the studio. I hope you "enjoy the holy heck" out of them.

PANZERBALLETT – XMAS DEATH JAZZ

Just in time for this very special season, the brutally brilliant Panzerballett from Germany, featuring the ferocious and brilliant guitarist Jan Zehrfeld, has created a remarkable album called Xmas Death Jazz, containing extremely powerful and inventive new versions of some of your holiday favorites. I was most grateful to be asked to sing on "Let It Snow," which is legitimately one of my favorite Christmas tunes, and it was great fun to record my tracks at Double Time studios with Jeff Forrest, the engineer on my very earliest solo albums. You won't believe Jan's arrangement of this song, and you would do well to invite the magic of Xmas Death Jazz into your life, which also features guest performances from Mattius IA Eklundh and Jen Majura. Here's a page that Anthony Garone of Make Weird Music put together to celebrate the album.

BEN LEVIN/MIKE KENEALLY COLLABORATION

Finally, I was delighted that, last year while I was on the road with Beer For Dolphins, the quite unbelievably talented Ben Levin from Bent Knee made it his mission to find me somewhere on the road, set up his portable recording rig and capture some guitar work. We ended up meeting at the Rhode Island home of my friend David Brady on a Sunday morning, before BFD had to undertake a very long drive that day. With very little time to spare, Ben showed up, set up, and a sufficient quantity of guitar craziness was captured. I had no real idea what Ben would do with it – and what he ended up doing was THIS amazingly intense track, "The Gods Are All Right." Ben also did the animation for this video. It's phenomenal work. He is a creative powerhouse and I'm delighted to have done this collaboration with him, and hopeful that it leads to more. The track is available here.

DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH

Yes the gods are all right and you folks are all right too, for reading this and for continuing to hang with my own ongoing story. Thank you for everything, happy holidays and let's all do what we can to have a fantastic 2018.

A big tall thank you also to Scott Chatfield for keeping these Keneallists going out to you for all these years, and for everything the "heck" else he does. Salute!

Now let's all have a good time!

Love to you and you and yoooouuuuu,
Mike

GIZMODROME - S/T

• gizmodrome: gizmodrome
      (2017, cd, ger, ear music 0212193emu)

Vittorio Cosma and Stewart Copeland have been playing together for a number of years. When they got the proposition to make a record deal, they invited Adrian Belew and Mark King to participate.

The result is called Gizmodrome and it counts 12 tracks.
Adrian Belew plays a great lead guitar. Very recognizable. Very Belew. Very Parker Fly.

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - SALMON DAVE

• the rudy schwartz project: salmon dave
      (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

The Rudy Schwartz Project's "Salmon Dave" got released on cassette in 1988, picked up and re-released (as a reworked version)  by the German Musical Tragedies record label, and finally released as a download-only album by DC-Jam Records in 2012.

And since about a month, this latest edition can be purchased from Kunaki as a CDR-on-demand.
Twenty tracks instead of the original 23, but with stunning (new) artwork.

For me, "Salmon Dave" is one of the best RSP albums. It has some excellent original tunes (with lots of sequencer wizardry), some great cover tunes; and it's so much fun to listen to !

Want to know what the fuzz is about ? Order a copy !
http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

FREAK ACCIDENT - THA MORE CON-FUSING THE BETTER

• freak accident: tha more, con-fusing tha better
      (1999, cd, bel, private release)

A couple of months ago, the Muze Jazz Club in Heisden-Zolder (BE) announced a reunion concert of Freak Accident. Unfortunately, the concert could not happen, but the same announcement mentioned that the band was influenced by the music Frank Zappa, and that they had released an album in 1999.
Reason enough to investigate.

I was happy to find the album on Bandcamp, but I'm even more happy to have found a copy of the actual CD.



Freak Accident was a Belgian 5-piece band. The third place in the Limbomania music contest in 1997 got them a record deal : "Tha More Con-Fusing Tha Better". The band was fronted by Marco Cirone, who you also might know as the guitar player from The Muze Jazz Orkest. The latter toured with a Zappa program in 2013.

The album is pretty good. In good Zappa-tradition, all the compositions are linked and tell a bizarre story.
Zappa-esque progressive rock with lots of humour. Love it.

Recommended listening !!

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - THEY SAVED GRANDPA'S GAUZE

the rudy schwartz project: they saved grandpa's gauze     (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

Another fine CDR-on-demand reissue from The Rudy Schwartz Project.
"They Saved Grandpa's Gauze" got released in 2016, but as a download-only album.
It's good to see that it's has been made available on CD !

Includes the pseudo-hit 'My Pal Foot Foot' !!

Here's 'My Pal Foot Foot' as performed by The Shaggs :

ZAPPA ALBUMS ON COLOURED VINYL

from Zappateers

Newbury Comics is re-releasing three Frank Zappa albums on coloured vinyl !!

"Hot Rats" on pink and purple splatter
https://www.newburycomics.com/products/frank_zappa-hot_rats_exclusive_lp?variant=1018318061580
Limited edition of 750 copies, on Zappa Records.

https://www.newburycomics.com/products/frank_zappa-apostrophe_exclusive_lp?variant=1018318848012
"Apostrophe" on some sort of yellow snow vinyl
Limited edition of 500 copies, on Zappa Records.

https://www.newburycomics.com/products/frank_zappa-over-nite_sensation_exclusive_lp?variant=1018318323724
"Over-Nite Sensation" on clear on orange vinyl
Limited edition of 500 copies, on Zappa Records.

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - WINTER DANCE OF THE KOALA SPERM HARVEST

• the rudy schwartz project: winter dance of the koala sperm harvest
      (2017, cdr-on-demand, usa, dc-jam records / kunaki)

Originally released in 2014 as a download-only album (although promotional CDR-copies have been spotted) and now finally available as a CDR-on-demand release : "Winter Dance Of The Koala Sperm Harvest".

This is a beautiful re-issue. Great music in a fine package.
To quote the first track on the album : "Do you wanne hear some Schönberg, or Neil Diamond?"

Superb. Available from Kunaki.

http://kunaki.com/mSales.asp?PublisherId=148137

TANINO LIBERATORE

Ranx (or RanXerox), the comic book character that was the inspiration for Frank Zappa's "The Man From Utopia" album cover, turns 40 in 2018.

The latest issue of dBD, the French comic book magazine, has Ranx on the cover and an 8-page interview with Tanino Liberatore (the artist) inside the mag.
The article starts quoting Frank Zappa and the illustrations include both the front and the back cover of "The Man From Utopia".
There's a nice chapter on how he met FZ.

Anyone visiting Paris should know that Tanino Liberatore has an expo at Galérie Glenat until Dec 30, 2017.
http://www.galerie-glenat.com/liberatore-2/

PHISH

December 28 through 31, Phish will be performing at Madison Square Garden in NYC.

All four shows will be broadcast live on the internet.

http://webcast.livephish.com/

JACO PASTORIUS

Second track from Jaco Pastorius' first solo album.
Featuring The Brecker Brothers.
From 1976.

-- info: André Oomen

KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

Remember the new and free King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard album ? Polygondwanaland ?
The album that is not just available for free, but that you can reproduce in any which way you want ?

Well, Exagrecords is doing a release on yellow vinyl !
In support of a good cause !
Limited edition (and almost gone !!)

Check it out here :

http://exagrecords.bigcartel.com/product/king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-polygondwanaland

MICHAEL BRUCE

from Glass Onyon PR :

Original Alice Cooper Group Guitarist/Songwriter Michael Bruce “No More Mr. Nice Guy” Biography Limited Edition Box Set

London - Much to the excitement of Alice Cooper group fans worldwide, Gonzo Multimedia will be releasing Michael Bruce's critically acclaimed biography “No More Mr. Nice Guy” in a Limited Edition Box Set! The Box set contains a signed certificate, book, 1996 interview CD, and reproduction of Alice Cooper group memorabilia. Limited to 250 Units, and signed by Michael Bruce.

Written by Alice Cooper group guitarist, keyboard player and main songwriter, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” is an anthology of the band that encapsulated the decadent spirit of the 1970s. Following the group on their journey from Arizona garage band to eventual rise to stardom, it reveals the truth behind the drinking and the rock 'n' roll. This “true life” story includes the hangings, the executions, the ghoulish makeup, the egos and of course, the rock 'n' roll. Revised and updated it includes previously unseen photographs and memorabilia.

“Its not often we get a chance to redo, remake or in this case re-release a book.....my book. It is with much thought, great enjoyment, many thanks and heartfelt appreciation for family, friends and fans that I present the re-release of 'No More Mr Nice Guy.' A compilation of hilarious rock 'n' roll stories and life events that made me the man I am today.” - Michael Bruce

This release comes on the heels of the recent highly publicized Alice Cooper group reunion concerts in the UK!

RUSS STEDMAN - STUFF THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO

• russ stedman: some stuff that happened a long time ago
      (2017, download, --, bandcamp)

"Some Stuff That Happened A Long Time Ago" is a new album with some older unreleased songs by Russ Stedman.
Actually, the album presents tracks that were recorded in 1986 and 1987.

Nice.
Available on Bandcamp.

HALL OF FAME RECORDS SAMPLER

New (free) sampler on the Hall Of Fame Records label.

https://halloffame.es/tienda/recopilatorio-2017/