- club d'elf: you never know
(2022, 2lp, usa, private release)
The band’s “You Never Know” album presented their 11-minute version of FZ’s ‘King Kong’.
Released through Bandcamp as a digital download, as 2 LP set, and on CD.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based multi-instrumentalist Connor McMullen released "The Album" a couple of weeks ago.
An experimental 6-track mini album.
'Ben' sampled FZ's 'Lemme Take You To The Beach', 'Emma' sampled 'Lonely Little Girl'.
-- info: Hans-Peter Schmidt
Three weeks ago, July 10, 2022, Candy Dulfer joined Cory Wong's band feat. Dave Koz on stage during North Sea Jazz...
How funky can you get?
'If I Was You' by Hugo Remmelt & Thijs Muus.
Written by Hugo Remmelt.
From 1999.
Earlier today, I bought an album by Dutch band Easy Meat (from The Hague), entitled "New Facts In The Strange Case Of Easy Meat", a band that featured Thijs Muus on guitar and vocals.
From 1995.
Their second album.
According to the Dutch Pop Encyclopedia, they used to perform Zappa songs when they started out...
Kees Zuurbier (Easy Meat) adds:
We played at Dutch Zappa fanclubconcerts, and are big fans of Zappa music. However, we never released any Zappa music.
'City of Tiny Lights' was a standard for years in concert, as was 'Stinkfoot' and 'My Guitar wants to kill your mama'. We did some concerts playing Zappa exclusively, and had much fun doing so. The band plays their own work, occasionally with a Zappa cover. Big influence by Zappa. Otherwise rock.
Thursday, July 14, we drove from Hamburg to Bad Doberan, the little village that becomes Zappa Town for one week every year.
At least that what the huge plates on the side of the road say :-)
Tedeschi Trucks band's latest project is called "I Am The Moon".
Four album & four movies.
(Part three has just been released.)
Check it out here: https://www.tedeschitrucksband.com/i-am-the-moon
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Cory Wong analyses his tune 'Massive' that features Joe Satriani on the guitar.
The actual track:
The deluxe re-issue of Little Feat's "Waiting For Columbus" is an 8 CD box !!
Feat. Lowell George and including the Elliot Ingber-penned 'Don't Bogart That Joint'.
This special 8 CD super deluxe edition comprises the original album remastered across CDs 1 and 2 with the remaining 6 discs comprising 3 previously unreleased in full live shows from the original run of live recordings that comprised the Waiting for Columbus album. CDs 3 and 4 include a previously unreleased live show recorded at Manchester City Hall in Manchester, England on July 29, 1977. CDs 5 and 6 include a previously unreleased in full show recorded at The Rainbow in London, England on August 2, 1977. CDs 7 and 8 include a previously unreleased in full live show recorded Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. on August 10, 1977. It’s a deep dive into truly one of the best live albums ever and is the definitive edition of a classic that truly will "boogie your speakers away.” The 8CD is packaged in a box approx. 7” x 7”; CDs are housed in wallets in cut-out at bottom of box and will feature a 24 page booklet.
The first one is from last year and lists Zappa's discography.
If I would have to pick one day to attend the upcoming Jazz Middelheim festival in Antwerp next August, it would be Sunday, the final day.
Not only will Aka Moon perform with special guest Joao Barradas, but Kurt Rosenwinkel is scheduled to perform, and Philippe Catherine has been added (with guest Alexandre Cavalière on the violin) as well.
August 15, 2022
Snarky Puppy
'Bet'
During the intermission of the Mats Öberg / Napoleon Murphy Brock concerts at the St.Katherinenkirche in Hamburg, Hans Annéllsson was selling the last copies of Mats Öberg's "Frankful" album (that he produced).
* * yes, it's still Wednesday * *
As you may know, the album got released on CD in a limited edition of 150 (numbered) copies in 2019.
In 2020, a digital download was made available through Bandcamp, and in 2021, the album got a re-release as a 2 LP set. Around the same time a limited re-run of the CD was pressed as well.
July 18, 2022, American hornist Vincent DeRosa passed away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_DeRosa
He was a part of the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra (Feb - March 1967) when Frank Zappa recorded the orchestral parts for "Lumpy Gravy", and he also participated in the recording of Jean-Luc Ponty's "King Kong" album !
-- info: Charles Pater
Since 2009 (if I'm not mistaken), Sebastian Knauer has been organizing "Zappa Spielt Für Bach" concerts at the St.Katharinenkirche in Hamburg, In support of the restauration of the St.Katharinen pipe organ.
These concerts take place on the Wednesday prior to the Zappanale festival, so they're sort of a pre-Zappanale concerts. Perfect for those, who like me, have to pass Hamburg on their way to the Zappanale festival.
I've seen quite a number of impressive concerts over there: German bands Sheik Yerbouti and Frank Out, but also international groups like Bogus Pomp, Ambrosius Ensemble, Valentina Ciardelli and Inventionis Mater, often with artists that have recorded with Frank Zappa such as Napoleon Murphy Brock, Robert Martin and (Ensemble Modern cellist) Fried Dähn.
And although I'll be the first one to admit that churches do not have the best acoustics for amplified concerts (because of the ongoing echoes), the "Zappa Spielt Für Bach" concerts are something very special: the concerts are one of a kind, the atmosphere is amazing, and recordings of these concerts have resulted in a very impressive series of Frank Zappa tribute albums.
Expectations for this year's event were quite high: Napoleon Murphy Brock and Mats Öberg would perform a selection of tunes, including some Frank Zappa pieces.
And as if that would not be spectacular enough, the first part would be Mats Öberg performing music from his "Frankful" FZ-tribute album on the grand piano.
Mats Öberg's "Frankful" album is one of the finest FZ-tribute albums that I know of. It's not just a tribute. It's a celebration. It's Mats improvising on several Zappa pieces. Channeling them, if you like, in his own, typical way.
When I had first listened to the "Frankful" CD in 2019, I told my wife that if this was ever going to be performed in concert, we should be there. Anywhere. Anyplace. Anytime.
And now it was happening. In Hamburg. Our 2022 pre-Zappanale concert.
During his journey to Hamburg and during the concert, Mats was assisted by Hans Annéllsson (who had released the "Frankful" album on his Annellssongs label: CD in 2019 and as 2 LP set in 2020). Hans told me that it had not been an easy exercise due to cancelled flights and everything, but that they were very happy to have arrived.
The concert itself was an absolute highlight.
What a night.
Happy faces all around, with Till, Sybille, Angel, Steffen, Maggie, Christian, Mick, Noisy Peter, Hans, Wim, and many more.
If you haven't done so already, check out Mats Öberg's "Frankful" album, also on Bandcamp :
Last week, the Drum Channel put below video on YouTube:
Terry Bozzio jamming with Joe Travers.
It's all over Facebook, but I'm mentioning it here in case you haven't' seen it.
-- info: Harald Häring
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/25/1113351769/joni-mitchell-brandi-carlile-newport-folk-festival-2022
American funk/soul group Maxayn was named after Maxayn Lewis (Paulette Parker) and featured former Zappa band member André Lewis on keyboards.
In 1977, the group morphed into the Mandré project to explore a more electronic/disco sound.
In 2017, the three Maxayan albums got released as a box set, entitled "Maxayn Reloaded".
-- info: Harald Häring
Nice article about FZ, Whipping Post & Duane Allman:
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/song-frank-zappa-wrote-for-duane-allman/
And there's more:
(picture by Bob Hornfeck on Facebook)
Word has it, that the Sharp Eleven Electric Band will be performing at the KitchenJazz festival in Oud Turnhout (Belgium) on August 21, 2022.
Not confirmed at the website, but let's hope it will happen.
Sounds like a perfect reason to visit the festival !!
November 26, 2022, the seventh (!!) edition of the Mosae Zappa festival will take place in Heerlen in The Netherlands (on the border with Belgium and Germany).
Pre-party on the 25th,
and a matinee jazz gig on the 27th,
if you go for the early bird and/or weekend edition of the ticket.
https://oefenbunker.stager.nl/Mosae%20Zappa%202022/tickets
I've mentioned this earlier, but as the tickets are on sale, it needed another plug !
Pierre Vervloesem Group at De Singer in Rijkevorsel, Belgium
On September 23, 2022
https://www.desinger.be/en/program/23-09-2022/pierre-vervloesem-group-ft-bruno-vansina
November 10, 2022, Jean-Paul Estiévenart's International Quintet will be performing at Flagey in Brussels.
https://www.flagey.be/nl/activity/9421-jean-paul-estievenart-international-quintet
Our Czech friends are working on the next (and final?) issue of the Frank Zappa Fanzine.
It will be no°148 and is due out in September.
A couple of concert recordings of the current Steve Vai tour showed up on DimeADozen.
The June5 gig at Manchester,
the June 18 gig from Gothenburg,
And the July 10 concert from Antwerp.
It does seem that Steve has altered the setlist slightly since the start of the tour, replacing 'Sandman Cloud Mist' with 'Whispering A Prayer'.
The Antwerp setlist :
Intro * Avalanche * Giant Balls Of Gold * Little Pretty * band intro * Tender Surrender * Lights Are On * Candlepower * Dave Weiner solo * Building The Church * Greenish Blues * Bad Horsie * I'm Becoming * Whispering A Prayer * Dyin’ Day * drum solo * Zeus In Chains * Liberty * For The Love Of God * Fire Garden Suite IV - Taurus Bulba
A beautiful concert.
And a perfect warming-up for my (our) trip to Hamburg and to Zappanale that kicked off a couple of days after this gig.
Picture by Frank Laforce :
Triple Trouble
A film by The Residents
https://consequence.net/2022/07/the-residents-triple-trouble-trailer-homer-flynn/
The Residents in concert in Karlsruhe, Germany on September 10 and 11, 2022.
THE RESIDENTS - GOD IN THREE PERSONS
https://zkm.de/en/event/2022/09/the-residents-god-in-3-persons
Antwerp-based ensemble Condor Gruppe will be releasing a new album in September.
Out on Sdban Records.
You can already listen to two tracks (and pre-order the album) over at Bandcamp :
A few years ago, both Jackpot Records and the Music On Vinyl record label reissued the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's "Part One" album.
This was the WCPAEB's third release and it's well-known by fans of Frank Zappa's music as WCPAEB recorded and released FZ's 'Help, I'm A Rock' on this album.
For those who are into these sort of things, there's a 'Help, I'm A Rock' button on the album cover as well.
Anyway, Jackpot Records did another reissue earlier this year:
500 copies of a ‘cool blue’ vinyl edition, distributed by exclusively by Newbury Comics, and a limited edition on ‘orange sunset’ vinyl.
Out next September but already available for pre-order.
white vinyl LP
standard LP
CD
and/or
digital download
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius just added their 2018 album, "Guilty Of Innocence" to their Bandcamp page.
If you don't know it yet, check it out !
I just returned from the Zappanale festival, only to find some additional news on the upcoming Jeff Cotton album in my e-mail box !!
"The Fantasy Of Reality".
Scheduled for release on on August 12.
Out on Madfish
Artwork by Cal Schenkel
Available from Plato / Concerto in neighboring country The Netherlands, which means that there won't be additional costs for customs.
Pre-order now: https://jeffcotton.lnk.to/fantasyofreality
Jeff Cotton of Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band fame to release his first ever solo album - The Fantasy of Reality.
After playing guitar, lap steel and vocals with the legendary Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, appearing on the ground breaking album Trout Mask Replica (under the pseudonym Antennae Jimmy Semens), as well as playing on Strictly Personal & Mirror Man, Cotton withdrew from the commercial music business for nearly 50 years. Using the island state of Hawaii as a home base, he emerges from his seclusion in 2022 with his first ever solo album; The Fantasy of Reality.
Whimsical, playful and tongue-in-cheek - Cotton delivers a psychedelic journey that will delight Beefheart devotees while bringing plenty of new ideas to the table across the sprawling 22 track, 66 minute runtime. Trout Mask Replica cover designer Cal Schenkel collaborates once again as he returns to contribute to the internal artwork of the album to continue the Captain Beefheart canon into the 2020s.
Across the decades, the Magic Band’s power and influence has only grown in might, and the cult following of 1969’s Trout Mask Replica still excites fans to this day, in part due to the mystery and enigma of members such as Antennae Jimmy Semens (aka Jeff Cotton). In 1967, Cotton was scoped by Don Van Vliet - Captain Beefheart himself, replacing Ry Cooder on guitar. He then went one to help craft some of Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's most vibrant recordings and later contributed to the cult band MU.
Now blending together musical strands such as jazz, delta blues, Hawaiian and the avant-garde to create a melting pot of ideas, Cotton will astonish fans with his comeback.
The magic will continue on The Fantasy of Reality, available on CD via Madfish.
And here's an interview with Jeff, from Guitar Player Magazine:
Black Midi recorded Don Van Vliet / Captain Beefheart's 'Moonlight On Vermont' and released it as part of their "Cavalcovers" digital EP last March.
https://bmblackmidi.bandcamp.com/album/cavalcovers
To make things more interesting, Black Midi released their latest album, "Cavalcade", in different editions, the difference being added flexi discs to the LP.
The red flexi is the band's version of CB's 'Moonlight On Vermont';
The green flexi has a cover version of Taylor Swift's 'Love Story';
The white flexi has a cover version of King Crimson's '21st Century Schizoid Man';
The blue flexi has a cover version of Prince's 'Nothing Compares To You';
And these are just the ones I came across. There might be more...
-- info: Ive Hapers
-- info: Harald Häring
Prints of the Robert Davidson photographs are available here:
https://www.modernrocksgallery.com/robert-davidson-photographe
In a recent message, Fred Händl announced that his next album, "Händl Plays Zappa", will be released in a limited edition of 100 copies.
About 40 copies have already been sold / reserved.
If you want a copy, you shouldn't wait to contact Fred !
Fred also added that he is working on both 'Absolutely Free' and 'Filthy Habits' to be recorded for this new album.
Not too impressed with the outro, however.
They could have done something better with that.
Originally released on cassette in 1983, "23 Drifts To Guestling", got re-issued on CD in 2008.
Compiled with permission, “23 Drifts To Guestling” was the fourth and final issue of the Nanavesh magazine. It was a sonic collage of interviews, music, telephone conversations, radio broadcasts, etcetera, related to the band Throbbing Gristle.
It included 38 seconds of ‘E Talks To Frank Zappa’, credited to Genesis P-Orridge (= Neil Andrew Megson) and Frank Zappa.
= track 42 and not the best sound quality.
Early 2019, Carl King started a Kickstarter project to be able to produce a pilot episode for "That Monster Show", an animated series.
Carl King created and wrote "That Monster Show", and he also wrote the music !!
It was animated by Lance Myers, with voices by Joanie Brosas, LeeAnna Vamp, Dan Foster, Laila Berzins, Mark Borchart, Julia Aks and Cole Johnson.
As a backer, I received the Blu-ray with the pilot episode last week.
Quite a story actually. A couple of months ago, I got informed by Belgian Customs that I had to pay import and handling fees for a package from the US. Despite the fact that I paid, they returned the package to sender. Their mistake, they admitted, and they would even refund my fee. But they wouldn't refund the postage costs for the package to be sent again.
Anyway, the complete exercise started again from scratch (thank you, Carl), and I received the Blu-ray last week.
Not my typical Saturday morning music as my energy level isn't up to Prince's yet, but I'll get there.
Prince And The Revolution, "Live", the 1985 concert, which doesn't seem that long ago at all.
True, nothing really new as we've seen and heard this concert before but a perfect reason to revisit.