Thursday, May 30, 2019

ORCHESTRE FRANCK TORTILLER - SHUT UP 'N SING YER ZAPPA

There's a brand-new Zappa tribute album out by the Orchestre Franck Tortiller. The title might be a misleading as it's an Orchestre and not really a vocal choir but the picture on the album cover does give enough clues of what to expect.

"Shut Up 'N Sing Your Zappa" is a very fine album. There's only six tracks on this 60-minute plus albums but they're beautifully arranged by Franck Tortiller with lots of fine details and enough room for some great solos.
Love those horns !!

franck tortiller: vibraphone
matthieu vial-collet: vocals, guitar
pierre bernier: saxophones
maxime berton: saxophones
abel jednak: saxophones
joël chausse: trumpet
rémy béesau: trumpet
tom caudelle: euphonium, bass trumpet
léo pellet: trombone
yovan girard: violin, vocals
pierre-antoine chaffangeon: fender rhodes piano
pierre elgrishi: bass
vincent tortiller: drums

all compositions by frank zappa, arranged by franck tortiller
  1. brown shoes don't make it
  2. montana
  3. mother people / igor's boogie
  4. joe's garage
  5. florentine pogen
  6. andy


THE SONS OF KEMET


Meet The Sons Of Kemet.



Wednesday, May 29, 2019

CHESTER THOMPSON UPDATE


Former Zappa, Weather Report and Ahmad Jamal drummer Chester Thompson has a new album out : "Steppin'".
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


This is the third album by the Chester Thompson Trio.

There's also :



and


plus, of course,  his solo release "A Joyful Noise" from 1991.



CHRIS OPPERMAN AND KURT MORGAN


There's only three days to go to back Chris Opperman's "Chamber Music From Hell".

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell

Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan follow in their hero Frank Zappa's footsteps to bring you something both beautiful and strange.


ANOTHER ED PALERMO UPDATE


As far as I can tell, Ed Palermo's latest album "The Ed Palermo Big Band : A Lousy Day In Harlem" is not getting distributed in Europe.

A digital copy is available through Bandcamp.
CD's can be ordered at CDBaby.

No Frank Zappa compositions on "A Lousy Day In Harlem", just excellent big band jazz.




GERONIMO BLACK - FREAK OUT PHANTASIA

50 years ago, Geronimo Black was founded by Jimmy Carl Black, Ray Collins, Denny Walley, Andy Cahan, Tjay Cantrelli, Bunk Gardner and Tom Leavey.
The band started performing in 1968 (in-between Mothers Of Invention gigs as 4 of the members were in Frank Zappa's band) and released their first album in 1972.
Unfortunately, due to a bad record deal, the band did not last long.
An attempt to revive was made in 1980 when Helios Records released "Welcome Back Geronimo Black", an album that got recorded in 1971/1972.
More recently, Andy Cahan provided recordings of some live and studio recordings from 1968/1969 to Munster Records. The result can be heard on "Freak Out Phantasia" an impressive release, both artwork and music wise.

Essential !!

8 tracks on the LP. The enclosed CD adds 4 more.

Out on Munster Records :
http://munster-records.com/en/label/munster/product/freak-out-phantasia

Here's an example of a more psychedelic exercise :


ANOTHER CLIP FROM THE ZAPPA VAULT


Alex Winter added the below clip from the vault to his latest update on the Zappa Movie Project.



ED PALERMO BIG BAND IN CONCERT


The Ed Palermo Big Band
Presents

"AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL"
(An' Maybe Even a Little Ugly on the Side)

A Musical Tribute to Flag Day, Eddy’s Birthday and
Truly Great Americans Like
FRANK ZAPPA

Monday June 10, 2019
The Iridium
1650 Broadway (corner of W. 51 St.), NYC
8:30PM - One set only

Saturday June 15, 2019
with special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock!
The Falcon
1348 Rt. 9W Marlboro, NY ​
7:30PM


Saturday, May 25, 2019

CHRIS OPPERMAN UPDATE


Chris Opperman and Kurt Morgan started a Kickstarter campaign for a new release.

Here's a message from Chris Opperman :
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell/posts/2514838


Hi, everybody! First and foremost, I want to say thank you again to everyone who has pledged so far. $6,000! That's amazing! I'm really looking forward to writing the prize pieces.

Quick bit of housekeeping: according to Kickstarter, there's over a hundred people following this project who haven't pledged yet. I just want you to know that I'm happy to answer any questions that you have, especially if that will help you pledge to our project. (I'm also happy to answer any questions our current pledgers have!).

My friend Jedd was kind enough to do an interview with me for this project, which I am happy to present to you!

Jedd Beaudoin hosts the nationally-syndicated music radio program, Strange Currency, from NPR affiliate KMUW in Wichita, KS. He teaches in The School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at Wichita State University and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from that institution. He is a regular contributor to the cultural website PopMatters as well as KEYBOARD Magazine and recognizes Chris Opperman’s genius as a parent and composer. Additionally, he worships Kurt Morgan’s ability to wear a necktie and produce a record like a mofo.


Jedd: Your compositional focus has shifted in recent years and yet there’s not much in the way of recorded evidence. This record seeks to correct that.

Chris:Yes, the primary goal of the album is to make commercially available some of the serious classical music I’ve written in the last decade since The Lionheart. One of the fun aspects of the project, though, is that it feels like we’re making a debut album, even though it’s my sixth. I feel like all of my albums have been very different from one another. Chamber Music from Hell will not be an exception to that.

Jedd: This is a collaboration between you and Kurt Morgan. Had the two of you wanted to work together for a long time? What’s it been like working together?

Chris: Well, Kurt and I have gotten to be friends over the years (it’s too bad I never knew him when I lived in Los Angeles). I’ve always really enjoyed his playing in Dweezil’s band and the musical thoughts that he has, so I used to daydream about playing with him and drummer Ryan Brown. Honestly, Dweezil’s current band is the best band I’ve ever heard in my life.

One day, Kurt and I were chatting and messing about on-line and Kurt made a demo of the first “Shades of Beige” movement from Composition V to show me his samples. Literally just for fun. I thought it sounded great on its own but when I compared it to the Meraki Chamber Players’s actual performance of the same piece I couldn’t believe how close it was sonically! It was just a “little demo” but Kurt really put a lot of thought and care into it and it showed. I’m an exceptionally lucky composer to have him in my corner.

One of the things I like about working with Kurt as a producer is that one of the first things he did after agreeing to do the project was to start pushing the boundaries of what the project could be. It was really inspirational, and the album will be much less predictable for it. Also, he seems to have just instinctually completely understood a lot of the themes and concepts behind many of the pieces and the result is going to be a concept album that’s a cohesive whole of all that.

Jedd: At the core of this is a shared love of Frank Zappa’s music and appreciation of his aesthetic. [Can you talk a little bit about that?]

Chris: Well, without Zappa, you don’t get either of us and we know it. I don’t want to speak for Kurt, but to me it’s a humbling thing (and not in the way that politicians and award-winners constantly misuse that word). The influence that Zappa and his music has had on my life is so profound that the trumpet lesson that I had in 1993 where I saw the Zappa’s Universe poster on the wall and heard his music for the first time is probably the second most important event in my life, second only to my actual birth. That isn’t rhetoric. That’s how powerful Zappa’s music is.

Jedd: At some point you decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign. There are many artists who revel in this kind of fundraising, others who are less enthusiastic. It seems that the two of you decided to embrace it.

Chris: We’re really having fun with it. Our friends, families, colleagues, and fans have been genuinely enthusiastic about the project and that makes us feel really good and encouraged. We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about the prizes (the $66 one is especially popular). We were also the featured music project on Kickstarter for a couple days and they gave us the “Project We Love” designation!

We also had a ton of fun making the video. We do have some truly hilarious NSFW outtakes of Kurt’s part of the video. I was personally really excited that [Zappa orchestrator] Ali Askin agreed to play the part of a painting of Arnold Schoenberg (by Dutch painter Paul Berkholst) because I thought that would be bizarre and funny, which it was.

It’s tough to put yourself out there in a world where consumers assume that all recorded music is free. Especially since it’s quite obviously not free to create high-quality recordings, but I’m glad we decided to go for it.

Jedd: I wonder if a Kickstarter campaign is something that only hardcore fans engage with or if you find that people who may not have ever heard your music before trickle in, say, “This seems dope!” and plunk down their cash.

Chris: Kurt and I recognize probably 75% of the names on the backer list. We got a few comments from people who had no idea what the music was going to sound like, but the random pledgers mostly seem to just want the $66 musical nameplate, which is fine by me! I’m going to have fun writing those weird melodies.

Jedd: I’m looking forward to hearing the music, be it on CD, WAV or brain implant. It must be exciting for you as well to usher this stuff in the world in a listening format.

Chris: Brain implant! Hah! That totally fits in the themes of the album! I’m excited that people are going to be expecting this awesome whacky album called Chamber Music from Hell and then they’re going to get something that’s even better than that! Not to hype it too much!

Jedd: Last one: Did writing The Cribbage Variations actually make you a lover of the game and if one were to become the single largest donor to this project would you consider making a video in which you play the game with Scott Thunes?

Chris: LOL! While I think Scott would enjoy being paid to play a game of Cribbage with me on video, I don’t even know if he knows how to play. The Cribbage Variations came about because someone in the Zappa ’88 band was more interested in playing Cribbage with Keneally than they were about getting paid to write a piece for Scott. I guess this just continues the time theme with the music: Scott’s desired commission got fulfilled twenty-nine years later. I have to say I really had a good time playing Cribbage on my iPad for research. Not even research in scare quotes!



STEPHANE GALLAND


Last year, Stéphane Galland released the amazing "(The Mystery Of) Kem".
Next October presents another opportunity to see this project live.

At 'De Casino' in St.Niklaas, BE.
Oct 4, 2019
https://www.decasino.be/stephane-galland/

Or in December at 'De Singel' in Antwerp, BE.
https://desingel.be/nl/programma/muziek/stephane-galland-the-mystery-of-kem-feat-ravichandra-kulur



ZAPPANALE



The Zappanale line-up


Wednesday – 17.07.2019 - Hamburg

  • Zappa spielt für Bach in Hamburg at St. Katharinen
     with Fried Dähn, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Chris Garcia,...


Thursday  – 18.07.2019 - warm-up party in Bad Doberan

  • Zappnoise (DE)
  • NTS trio (CZ)
  • MagNiFZnt (SE)
  • Bad Penny (DE)

Friday – 19.07.2019 - Festival day 1

  • Jazzprojekt Hundehagen (DE)
  • Zement (DE)
  • Treacherous Cretins (UK)
    Performing the music of Frank Zappa
  • Ali N. Askin (DE)
  • Percussion Under Construction (DE)
  • Long Distance Calling (DE)

Saturday – 20.07.2019 - Festival day 2

  • 30 for 30
    Fried Dähn, Ali N. Askin, Chris Garcia, Ed Palermo, Dmytro and Serhii Radzetskyi, Jellyfish Orchestra and guests performing Terry Riley's 'In C'.
  • SЮR Band (UKR)
    featuring Dmytro and Serhii Radzetskyi
  • AMM All-Stars (UK)
    performing "Lumpy Gravy".
  • The HeadShakers (FR)
    = the rock band from the recent 200 Motels performances in France (Strasbourg and Paris)
  • Ed Palermo Big Band (US)
    with Napoleon Murphy Brock and Candy Zappa
  • Det Skandaløse Orkester (NO)

Sunday – 21.07.2019 - Festival day 3

  • Ensemble Musikfabrik (DE)
    Ensemble Musikfabrik plays Zappa, feat. Napoleon Murphy Brock
  • Percussion Under Construction (DE)
  • The Grandmothers of Invention (US)
    feat. Ed Palermo and Percussion under Construction
  • Good Bye Session
  • The Loomings (FR)


HILDEGARD LERNT FLIEGEN


Andreas Schaerer's Hildegard Lernt Fliegen ensemble made an everlasting impression at Zappanale a couple of years ago.
The band recently announced that their new album will be released in March of 2020.

The AlbumReleaseConcert will be in Hamburg at the Elbphilharmonie on March 14, 2020.



NEW BOOK BY GREG RUSSO


Greg Russo, the man behind the essential "Cosmik Debris" book, has released a new title :

"Ancient Armaments: The Frank Zappa Singles Project"

http://www.crossfirepublications.com/ancientarmaments.html

pdf download only.



NEW ALBUM BY HENRY KAISER


"Five Times Surprise" ia a brand-new release by Henry Kaiser, Anthony Pirog, Jeff Sipe, Tracy Silverman and Andy West.



LE REX - WILD MAN

"Wild Man", album number three for Swiss quintet Le Rex, was their first album on the Cuneiform record label.

Playful brass and percussion.
Melodic. Odd-metered yet groovy.

Blasting through the speakers of the United Mutations Headquarters at this very moment !
Great.

Out on Cuneiform.
http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/

Available from Mandaï.
www.mandai.be



Friday, May 24, 2019

GEORGE DUKE


I know that I've posted this before but I enjoy it so much...

A beautiful recording of a stunning performance: the late George Duke with the Zappa Plays Zappa band.



BRYAN BELLER'S NEW WEBSITE


Bryan Beller has worked with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Mike Keneally.
He's part of the amazing Aristocrats, but he also has a handful of solo albums.

His new website coincides with the opening of a UK webshop (next to the US one).
Check it out !

https://bryanbeller.com/


GENE PRITSKER UPDATE


Guitarist and composer Gene Pritsker co-founded the Absolute Ensemble with Kristian Jarvi.
He was one of the people behind the "Absolute Zappa" program that the Absolute Ensemble performed in 2004 with special guests Mike Keneally and Napoleon Murphy Brock.

Gene was part of the ensemble, playing the guitar parts, and arranging most of the Zappa pieces.

I was happy to attend the September 2004 performance in Cologne.  Still have vivid memories of it!

Next November, Gene Pritsker's music will be performed next to a number of Frank Zappa pieces (arranged by Gene).

11/16
‘Zappa Ripped My Flesh’ project performed in Absam, Austria at Gemeindemuseum

11/19
‘Zappa Ripped My Flesh’ project performed at Cafe Museum in Passau, Germany.

https://www.genepritsker.com/

Here's a 2004 snippet from the Bremen show :



DERYA YILDIRIM & GRUP SIMSEK


New album by Derya Yıldırım and Grup Şimşek.
Out on the Bongo Joe label.



FRANCK TORTILLER'S ZAPPA PROJECT


Franck Tortiller's latest project is called "Shut Up 'N' Sing Yer Zappa.
They'll perform a show on May 25 at 'Sous Les Pommiers' in Coutances (50) France.

And they have released an album with the same title !!

http://www.francktortiller.com/project/shut-upn-sing-yer-zappa.html


-- info: Philippe Lamoot


L'ECLAIR


L'Eclair has a new album out.
Album number three : "Sauropoda".



DE SINGEL


International Art Campus "De Singel" (Antwerp, BE) has some fine concerts scheduled :

Oct 4, 2019 - Sinister Sister Plays Zappa
Oct 5, 2019 - Hans Dagelet & Rosa : Treat Pork Musical (Beefheart tribute)
Nov 29, 2019 - Flat Earth Society : Die Austernprinzessin, live music for the 1919 movie.
Dec 6, 2019 - double (drummer) bill with : Antoine Pierre Urbex Quintet //  Stéphane Galland
Feb 20, 2019 - Bruno Vansina Quartet


Sunday, May 19, 2019

TSUNEO IMAHORI


Guitar player and composer Tsuneo Imahori was the man behind Tipographica, releasing four albums between 1993 and 1997.
Recently, a couple of Tipographica live recordings turned up on DimeADozen.

Here's the first Tipographic album :


Tsuneo Imahori's latest project is called Unbeltipo :



Saturday, May 18, 2019

GREETINGS FROM VILNIUS


Every once in a while, you get an unexpected surprise.
Here's a picture of the postcard I got from Bert & Nerri.
From Vilnius.

They might not be in to Zappa, but they sure know how to make me smile.
Thank you !


RAY WHITE, ROBERT MARTIN, ED MANN, MIKE KENEALLY, SCOTT THUNES, JOE TRAVERS, AHMET ZAPPA


In others words, The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa.

Here's 'City Of Tiny Lites' from the Amsterdam show.
And 'No.2' and 'Why Does It Hurt'...

I wasn't there, but unicapb21 made some audience recordings.
Goosebumps (again)...




MARSHALL ALLEN - RODRIGO BRANDAO


Marshall Allen will team up with urban poet Rodrigo Brandao at the Moers Jazz Festival on June 7.
at 18h30

https://www.moers-festival.de/en/program/program-overview-2019/friday-june-7th-2019/marshall-allen-rodrigo-brandao-toshimaru-nakamura-guenter-baby-sommer-usbrjpde/

The Sun Ra Arkestra will take the stage later the same day.

https://www.moers-festival.de/programm/programmuebersicht-2019/freitag-7-juni-2019/sun-ra-arkestra-us/


PIERRE VERVLOESEM UPDATE


Let's be clear. Pierre Vervloesem's latest album is amazing.

If you stumbled on this blog by accident, no problem, but if you're here because you're into the same kind of music that I like (Zappa, Beefheart, Residents, Sun Ra,...), you definitely need to check out "Artiste Belge".

And if you order the album through Pierre's Bandcamp page, you also get the bonus tracks with the download !!


Essential listening !!


THE BIZARRE WORLD OF FRANK ZAPPA


What a fun week it was...
We went to see tBWoFZ (the Bizarre World of Frank Zappa) in London (UK) and in Oostende (BE).

I loved it.
Reverse karaoké, that's what it was. Musicians playing live to accompany a pre-recorded vocal part or guitar solo by the late Frank Zappa.
Mixing classic sing-alongs with (my favourite) more complex and instrumental compositions.
Top musicians with completely over-the-top projected animation and graphics, including some gigantic Bruce Bickford claymation clips.

Paraphrasing (the amazing !!) Mike Keneally during the Oostende concert : "Frank Zappa's music is a friend for life."

Here's a shot of Hot Dog Frank playing a guitar solo. This had me laughing out loud.



INEZ


Americana desert-pop artist INEZ has just released "Now".
Mysterious and poetic. A fine combination.

Here's two tracks from this new album :






STEVE VAI TALKS IBANEZ


30 years of the Ibanez JEM guitar.



Wednesday, May 15, 2019

TWO DAYS OF ZAPPA AND BEEFHEART IN ANTWERP NEXT OCTOBER


https://desingel.be/nl/programma/muziek/zappa-beefheart-tweedaagse-sinister-sister-plays-zappa-hans-dagelet-rosa

Friday - October 4, 2019, Sinister Sister: "Sinister Sister Plays Zappa"

This is so good. These guys need to put a record out !!

Saturday - October 5, 2019, Hans Dagelet & Rosa : "Beefheart, Treat Pork Musical"

A tribute to Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" album by Hans Dagelet and the Rosa Ensemble !!


To give you an idea, here's Sinister Sister performing 'Sinister Footwear' :



TERRY BOZZIO IN CONCERT IN TURNHOUT BE


Saturday, November 2, 2019, at 'De Warande' in Turnhout, BE :

Terry Bozzio solo.
https://www.warande.be/programma/3793/Terry_Bozzio_VS_/

I saw him last year at Tivoli in Utrecht NL.
Excellent concert !


Sunday, May 12, 2019

THE SONS OF TOTO


from Glass Onyon PR

Based in Los Angeles, ZFG consists of Trev Lukather (son of legendary guitarist Steve Lukather and founding member of Toto), bassist Sam Porcaro (son of original bassist for Toto, Mike Porcaro), drummer Josh Devine of One Direction, and stellar vocalist Jules Galli.

The members were close friends in different projects, but decided to get into the studio for fun with a new approach in mind, making music with no rules or boundaries. “Zero F**ks Given” is what they called their first day in the studio, which led to their band name ZFG. After writing and recording together on day one, the chemistry was undeniable, so the decision was made to forge their individual projects into one. By melding anthemic, hook-filled melodies within funk rock guitar riffs and groove rock beats, the band shows their ability to compact a vast array of influence and experience into a signature sound with substance, style, and soul.


And, no surprise, they'll be touring with Toto

ZFG Summer 2019 tour dates:

June 25 - OPERA LESNA - SOPOT, POLAND with TOTO
June 27 - BUDAPEST ARENA - BUDAPEST, HUNGARY with TOTO
June 29 - BOERDERIJ - ZOETERMEER, NETHERLANDS - HEADLINE
June 30 - HEDON - ZWOLLE, NETHERLANDS - HEADLINE
July 02 - TOLLWOOD FESTIVAL - MUNICH, GERMANY with TOTO
July 03 - PIAZZA DEGLI SCACCHI - MAROSTICA, ITALY with TOTO
July 04 - AUDITORIUM CAVEA - ROME, ITALY with TOTO
July 05 - PIAZZA NAPOLEONE - LUCCA, ITALY with TOTO
July 06 - BALADIN OPEN GARDEN - PIOZZO, ITALY
July 10 - MTC - KOLN, GERMANY - HEADLINE
July 11 - NOCHTWACHE - HAMBURG, GERMANY - HEADLINE
July 12 - MUSIK AND FRIEDEN - BERLIN, GERMANY - HEADLINE
July 13 - BLUES GARAGE - ISERNHAGEN, GERMANY - HEADLINE
July 14 - GELSENKIRCHEN AMPHITEATER - GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY with TOTO
July 16 - Z7 SUMMER NIGHTS OPEN AIR - PRATTELN, SWITZERLAND with TOTO
July 17 - BAROCKGARDENT - FUSSEN, GERMANY with TOTO
July 18 - SCHLOSS OPEN AIR - SALEM, GERMANY with TOTO


DEUS REISSUES

Coinciding with the new dEUS tour, "The Ideal Crash", "Pocket Revolution", "Vantage Point", "Keep You Close" and "The Ideal Crash" are getting vinyl reissues.


AHMET ZAPPA TALKS HOLOGRAM IN HUMO


Humo is a Flemish weekly magazine.
The latest issue has a 4 page interview with Ahmet Zappa on the hologram tour.
Nice interview by Serge Simonart.



LE REX - ESCAPE OF THE FIRE ANTS

The latest release by Le Rex is called "Escape Of The Fire Ants". It's the band's fourth album. The first two were released by the Swiss Unit Records label, the latter by Cuneiform.
Le Rex is a brass quintet and consists of Benedikt Reisinger on alto sax, Marc Stucki on tenor sax, Andreas Tschopp on trombone, Marc Unternäher on tuba, plus Rico Baumann on drums.
The ensemble combines a groovy, funky sound with original melodies and quirky rhythms into beautiful instrumental modern jazz.

Original, eclectic compositions (it's no coincidence that the group named themselves after an abandoned cinema complex on the island of Corsica) with a recognizable sound. My cup of tea.

Out on Cuneiform.
http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/bandshtml/LeRex.html

CD available from Mandai.
www.mandai.be

Digital download from Bandcamp.



NEW RELEASE BY PANZERPAPPA


Panzerpappa has a new album out: "Summarisk Suite":



FLAT EARTH SOCIETY UPDATE


*** CONCERTS ***

June 7 Flat Earth Society @ Moers festival (De)
June 13 Flat Earth Society @ NDR, Rolf-Liebermann-Studio, Hamburg (De)
June 14 Flat Earth Society @ NDR, Rolf-Liebermann-Studio, Hamburg (De)
June 21 Flat Earth Society @ Jazz Festival Jette (Be)
August 22 Flat Earth Society @ Festival Les Sentiers de Sart Risbart (Be)
August 25 Too Noisy Fish @ Rallye Jazz04 - Liège (Be)


Saturday, May 11, 2019

NEW ARISTOCRATS ALBUM TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE


a message from The Aristocrats :

Dear Aristocrats Fans

Our fourth studio album, “You Know What…?” is complete! This might just be our most ambitious release yet. During the writing and recording of this album we feel like we inspired each other as songwriters and musicians to do things we've never done before as a band. Yet still, it's totally, completely an Aristocrats album. We think it may be the coolest thing we've done yet and we can’t wait for you to hear it! “You Know What…?” will be released on June 28th, with pre-sales available in early June. And continuing our Aristocratic tradition of illustrated artwork, Graphic Artist Hajo Müller has created this awesome cover art for us. We’ll be sharing some audio clips and other details with you all very soon...




Monday, May 6, 2019

BILLY MUNDI


Former Zappa drummer Billy Mundi guested on The Rhinestones' 1975 release.

http://therockasteria.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-rhinestones-rhinestones-1975-us.html


FRED DELPLANCQ


Fred Delplancq (who used to be part of The Wrong Object) has a new album out.
Concert scheduled in Liège, BE on Friday, May 10 at L'An Vert.

https://lanvert.be/vendredi-10-mai-2019fred-delplancq-quartetjazz-tour-des-les-lundis-dhortense/



THE ARISTOCRATS TOUR PHAZE 2 !



09-Aug, Asheville, Isis Music Hall
10-Aug, Nashville, City Winery
11-Aug, Atlanta, Aisle5
14-Aug, Orlando, SoundBar
15-Aug, Boca Raton, Funky Biscuit
16-Aug, Tampa, Brass Mug
17-Aug, Jacksonville, Nighthawk's
19-Aug, New Orleans / Metarie, Southport Hall
21-Aug, Houston, Scout Bar
22-Aug, San Antonio, Sam's Burger Joint
23-Aug, Austin, The Dirty Dog
24-Aug, McKinney, Guitar Sanctuary
27-Aug, Albuquerque, Launchpad
29-Aug, Phoenix, Club Red
30-Aug, Mexicali, Bol Bol
31-Aug, San Diego (Ramona), Ramona MainStage

Also, we've had such a great response from our fans in Québec that we've exceeded the capacity of L'ANTI Bar & Spectacles! So this show has now been moved to Le D’Auteuil which is located just a minute away from L'ANTI. The excellent Travis Larson Band will be opening for us at all of these shows. For full details and ticket links please see our Tours web-page
(http://the-aristocrats-band.com/shows/)


Sunday, May 5, 2019

WIZARD OF THE SUN


UNCOOL PROJECT 2019—2020
WIZARD OF THE SUN
SUN RA MYTHIC DREAM ARKESTRA
under the direction of Marshall Allen

Live at La Tor Poschiavo – September 2019

https://uncool.ch/2018-crowdfunding/



NEW ALBUM BY KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD


King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard released 5 (five!) albums in 2017 including the recommended "FLying Mircotonal Banan" and "Polygondwanaland". 2018 consisted mostly of touring but now they're back with "Fishing For Fishies", their fourteenth studio album.

Here's a clip for the new album :


It looks like it's a bit further away from their previous releases.
Check out 'Billabong Valley' with Stu MacKenzie's microtonal guitar lines !!



Saturday, May 4, 2019

EVIL DICK - SUITES



Evil Dick (Richard Hemmings) has a new album out.
Well, a new album with recordings from 2003 and 2009. Plus one from 2008 and one from 2011.

Excellent stuff.
Check it out on Bandcamp.



Friday, May 3, 2019

RICK WAKEMAN OPENS ONLINE SHOP


from Glass Onyon PR:

Keyboard Legend Rick Wakeman's Emporium Now Open!

Signed special items available from official online store!

Rick Wakeman is pleased to announce a new partnership with Music Glue as the new home of his online store, The Rick Wakeman Emporium! Featuring Signed Special Items, Signed CDs, DVDs and LPs, Signed Memorabilia and Artwork, CDs, DVDs and LPs, T-Shirts, Mugs and Tote Bags!

Visit Rick Wakeman's Emporium: https://www.musicglue.com/rick-wakeman-emporium

Born in Perivale, Middlesex, England, Rick Wakeman's interest in music manifested itself very early, and from the age of seven on he studied classical piano. At the age of 14, he joined a local band, Atlantic Blues, the same year he left school to enroll in the Royal College of Music. He had his eye on a career as a concert pianist, but Wakeman was dismissed from the college after it became clear that he preferred playing in clubs to studying technique.

By his late teens, he was an established session man, playing on records by such diverse acts as Black Sabbath, Brotherhood of Man, and Edison Lighthouse. At the end of the '60s, his name also began appearing on the credits of albums by such artists as Al Stewart and David Bowie, and one set of sessions with a folk-rock band called the Strawbs led to his joining the group in 1970. After two albums with the Strawbs, Wakeman joined Yes, a post-psychedelic hard rock band that had attracted considerable attention with their first three albums. Wakeman played a key role in the final shape of the group's fourth record, Fragile, creating a fierce, swirling sound on an array of electric and acoustic pianos, synthesizers, and Mellotrons. Fragile was a hit, driven by the chart success of the single "Roundabout," and Wakeman was suddenly elevated to star status.

Yes' next album, Close to the Edge, expanded his audience and his appeal, for his instruments were heard almost continually on the record. During the making of Close to the Edge in 1972, Wakeman also recorded his first solo album, an instrumental work entitled The Six Wives of Henry VIII, which consisted of his musical interpretations of the lives and personalities of the said six royal spouses. Released early in 1973 on A&M Records, it performed respectably on the charts. Public reception of Yes' 1974 album, Tales From Topographic Oceans, was mixed, and the critics were merciless in their attacks upon the record. Wakeman exited the group before the album's supporting tour. His new solo album, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, adapted from the writings of Jules Verne and featuring a rock band, narrator (David Hemmings), and full orchestral and choral accompaniment, was released to tremendous public response in both America and England, where it topped the charts. In 1975, his next album, The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, was given a grand-scale premiere at Wembley's Empire Pool, although it also cost Wakeman a fortune to stage the event on ice. During this same period, Wakeman began working on film scores with the music for Ken Russell's Lisztomania, which was a modest hit.

In 1977, Wakeman returned to Yes, with which he has continued recording and touring. His solo career continued on A&M into the end of the '70s, with Criminal Record and Rhapsodies, which were modestly successful. Wakeman's biggest media splash during this period, however, came through his alleged role in getting the Sex Pistols dropped by A&M Records soon after being signed. None of this bothered his fans, which rapidly expanded to encompass those he picked up through his work with lyricist Tim Rice on a musical adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, and his burgeoning film work, which included the music to movies about the 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1982 soccer World Cup competition. Additionally, he became a regular on Britain's Channel 4. Wakeman's audience and reputation survived the 1980s better than almost any progressive rock star of his era, as he continued releasing albums on his own label. He also remained associated with Yes into the '90s.

In January 2016, Trevor Rabin announced he plans to perform with Wakeman and Jon Anderson as Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman (ARW), later in the year. Anderson revealed the three wrote "some unique songs together". Also in January, following requests from fans, Wakeman recorded piano versions of "Life on Mars?", "Space Oddity", and "Always Together" as a tribute to David Bowie following his death with proceeds from the songs donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Rick Wakeman's official website: https://www.rwcc.com/




ULTRA ZOOK - EPUZZ

"Epuzz", with two z's, so this is the second mini-album by French band Ultra Zook.
Exotic !
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

Check it out here :



ZAUBER - PROFONDO BLU


Italian prog music ensemble Zauber released "Profondo Blue" in 2001.
The album includes two Frank Zappa compositions in an arrangement from Mauro Cavagliato and Maria Tortorici.


KEVIN MAX AND ADRIAN BELEW - RAVEN SONGS 101


Wikipedia and Discogs add :
Raven Songs 101 is a spoken-word album by Kevin Max and Adrian Belew. It features Kevin Max reading several poems from his book The Detritus of Dorian Gray.
Adrian Belew provides the music and sound effects.

A private release by Kevin Max, the CD was only available (for a short while) through Kevin's (and Adrian Belew's) website.
Also released digitally by dPulse Recordings, in 2009.

Nice.


MARTY SMYTH - SYNCHRONOUS


Marty Smyth released his "Synchronous" album in 2007. It included an organ version of Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia', recorded in a church in Toronto.
In the meantime, the album has been made available both as a digital download and as a CDR-on-demand by CDBaby.



ULTRA ZOOK - EPUZ

Adding data to the United Mutations Archives, here's the first release by Ultra Zook.
Ultra Zook is a French guitarless trio that performs, as they call it, Zouk In Opposition.

Rock In Opposition, Avant-Prog, Progressive Rock, or just music with a twist.
Weird rhythms and crazy noises and fun. Lots of fun.

"Epuz" got released on 12" vinyl and is also available on Bandcamp.




NEW ALBUM BY GOV'T MULE


a message from Gov't Mule 

BRING ON THE MUSIC - LIVE AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE

We are excited to announce the release of Bring On The Music – Live at The Capitol Theatre, a brand new live CD/DVD package out June 28th. Filmed at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY, on April 27th and 28th , 2018, the 9-camera video shoot was directed by renowned music photographer and director Danny Clinch. The release features more than 2 hours of live music, a full-length concert film, interviews with the band, behind-the-scenes footage, photos shot by Danny Clinch over the years, and more. This is the first time that Gov’t Mule’s updated stage set and production have been filmed, bringing the excitement and spectacle of a Gov’t Mule show directly into fans’ homes – a fitting way for the rock torchbearers to mark 25 years together.

The title, Bring On The Music, taken from Gov’t Mule’s song of the same name that touches upon the passing of time and appreciating life’s journey, is a nod to the band’s treasured relationship with their fans. The Capitol Theatre has been the backdrop of many unforgettable shows for the band and is one of Gov’t Mule’s favorite venues to play. Inviting longtime Mule photographer and friend Danny Clinch to direct the film was also something of a destined choice, as Clinch’s relationship with Haynes pre-dates the band’s formation.



CHRIS OPPERMAN KICKSTARTER PROJECT


Chamber Music from Hell
a kickstarter project by Chris Opperman (and Kurt Morgan).

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/chamber-music-from-hell


Wednesday, May 1, 2019

SUN RA ARKESTRA UPDATE

Yesterday, the Sun Ra Arkestra performed the music for the "Space Is The Place" movie live in concert at the Bozar in Brussels.
It was OK, but the four songs that they played after the movie were awesome !!

Some vinyl news : there's a Record Store Day release 3LP  with Marshall Allen and Danny Ray Thompson of the Sun Ra Arkestra !



LE REX - ASCONA

"Ascona", the second album by Swiss quintet Le Rex got released in 2012.
Lovely contemporary groovy brass tunes with a fine dose of humor.

Album number three and four got released on the Cuneiform record label.



THE MUFFIN MEN - (IT'S ALL) SMOKE AND MIRRORS - LIVE IN THE UK 2018



The Muffin Men released this album to promote their upcoming tour.
Take it from me.  You need to see these guys in concert.
I saw them at the below-mentioned Moo-Ah show in Corby and had a great time !!
So go see them and grab a copy of this "Smoke And Mirrors" album while you there.



DEUS - THE IDEAL CRASH - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

The 20the anniversary edition of "The Ideal Crash", 3rd album by Belgian band dEUS, has a bonus CD with demos and a live track.
Nice.



DEUS - ZEA, 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

  • deus: zea
        (2018, 10", nl, music on vinyl)
The recent re-issue of the first dEUS single by Music On Vinyl is available on both gold and black vinyl.
It kicks off with 'Zea Intro Replica', a track that has a familiar sounding intro.


NEW MAGMA ALBUM WILL BE OUT IN JUNE


Magma celebrates its fiftieth birthday with a new album : "Zëss, Le Jour Du Néant".

Featuring Mogran Agren !
Featuring The City Of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra !


In 2019
An international tour ...
For their fiftieth birthday Magma begins an international tour in Finland, returns to France on June 26, 2019 at the Philharmonie de Paris for a promising concert (at least three hours and many surprises), continues on July 02, 2019 at Nuits de Fourvière and continues to Japan, Germany, Sweden, England, Belgium...


LE REX - LE CORSE

Funky brass band Le Rex has just released their fourth album. It's their second on the Cuneiform label, and it's called "Escape Of The Fire Ants".
Haven't heard it yet, but it's the perfect excuse to play their first album again.

"Le Corse" got released in 2010 and it's an excellent introduction to Le Rex.
Tenor and alto saxophone, trombone, tuba and drums.
Funky, groovy brass music.