THE MUSIC ACROSS RADIO SHOW WILL BE DOING A THIRD SPECIAL ON ZAPPANALE 2022

Info from Gernot Friedbacher from the Music Across radio show

From 18 to 21 July 2022, Zappanale #31 took place again live in Bad Doberan on the Baltic Sea after a 3-year break due to Corona.
It was a great festival that seamlessly picked up where it had left us in 2019, as if time had stopped in those 3 years.
Everybody was happy to meet old friends again and to experience great live music together.
"Music Across" has once again spoken to many artists in 2022, who will have their say in a whole series of "Music Across" broadcasts.
This third Zappanale 2022 special features Tante Tofu, the Yasi Hofer Trio, Klangfusion, bEND, the Miserable Husos, Run Logan Run and Potential.
With Tante Tofu's play "On the day Bach met Frank Zappa", the radio show also ties in directly with the previous show that got aired the 3rd of April 2022, which was dedicated to the concert "Zappa plays for Bach" with Mats Öberg and Napoleon Murphy Brock in the main church of St. Katharinen in Hamburg.

 Additional info: 
https://o94.at/programm/sendereihen/music-across/

Listen later:
https://cba.fro.at/podcast/music-across

NEW ALBUM BY MATS ÖBERG

"Visa fr​å​n Inner​ö​ra"
by Mats Öberg

JIMMY ÅGREN - BELGIAN BLUES

• Jimmy Ågren: Guitar
• Rolf Hedqvist: Bass
• Morgan Ågren: Drums

recorded live 21/5-22 Umeå Sweden

PIERRE VERVLOESEM & TEUN VERBRUGGEN - CHICXULUB

Heavy stuff from Pierre Vervloesem and Teun Verbruggen.

Guitar and drums.
Two long tracks.

It does indeed sound like the end of the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicxulub_crater

Check it out !

THE AMM ALL STARS - PLAY LUMPY GRAVY

Check it out over at Andrew's web shop:
https://idiotbastard.onlineweb.shop/product/amm-all-stars-play-lumpy-gravy?

In 2019, Ben Watson's AMM All-Stars played Lumpy Gravy at Zappanale #30. Graham Davis (Gabba Zappa Hey!) was arranger and band leader, and further "edited, fluffed up and prodded about" the dried muffin remnants for CD release.

ADDITIONS TO THE RESIDENTS' MOVIE / VIDEO LIBRARY

The two most recent additions to The Residents' movie / video library are "God In 3 Persons" (which I haven't watched yet, although it arrived a while ago already), and "Triple Trouble" (which I tried to watch this morning, but I fell asleep... It could have been the movie or it could have been me,... )

Anyway, I'm looking forward to see "God In 3 Persons".

-

If I'm not mistaken, both titles are out on DVD as well.

NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCED BY ZAPPATIKA

Zappatika used to perform the music of Frank Zappa. In a recent message, Mark says;

coming soon..... ZAPPATiKA - "Impromptu Improvisations" Volume #1 - a collection of meticulously selected luvverly live Solos from over a decade of our live shows. Featuring Ike Willis , Denny Walley , Craig Twister Steward , Jeff Hollie, Mark Mcinnes , Emile Chill, Osman Meyredi & more !

ANOTHER GREEN WORLD - INVISIBLE LANDSCAPE

• another green world: invisible landscape
      (1996, cd, uk, magick eye records)

Another Green World is Paul Chousmer's project (keyboards), although most of the tracks feature none other than Dan Spanner (sax and flute).
Quite a surprise as I knew Dan Spanner's music from the Spanner Jazz Punks, his big band, and the Spanner / Tate duo (with Helen Tate), and that's quite different from the ambient soundscapes that are presented by Another Green World.

To give you an idea, here's some older stuff, dating back to 1984 !

DARKO THE SUPER - WEAREALLGOINGTOBURNINHELLMEGAMIXXX4

• Darko The Super: Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx4
      (2020, download/streaming, --, private release)

Released in March 2020 as a Fan Club Exclusive download, Darko The Super’s “Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx4” album featured Frank Zappa on the cover. Darko also sampled FZ' 'Oh, In The Sky' in the first track of this album.

ITALIAN TRIBUTE TO ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

"Y.O.U."
Italian guitarists pay homage to Allan Holdsworth.

CD out on the Lizard Records label.

1 - MARCELLO CONTU "Alien Hand" (9:48)
2 - ALESSANDRO GIGLIOLI "Wechselbalg" (6:28)
3 - PAOLO VOLPATO "Il Gabbiano" (9:47)
4 - TOMMASO COLAFIGLIO "Lake City" (4:39)
5 - FRANCESCO CASSANO "The Way to Ethereal" (5:23)
6 - GIANLUCA BARISONE "Alla Nostra" (3:24)
7 - LIVIO LAMONEA "The Great Climber" (5:43)
8 - FRANK PILATO "Sette Note in Nero" (5:02)

-

A RESIDENTS UPDATE FROM CHERRY RED

a message from Cherry Red

Greetings Eyeballers,

Well, it's been a long month, but The Residents are finally home from a hugely enjoyable US tour, and are presently recuperating en masse. Group saunas, hourly massages, extensive group therapy sessions and so on - the usual. They do hope you enjoyed the shows, and sure hope you'll come again.

Meanwhile..... as ever, plenty is afoot. Maybe even two feet. The classic 'Our Finest Flowers' album was released on wax for the first time to mark Record Store Day this past weekend, and the band are currently putting the finishing touches to an 'American Composers Series' / 1980s box set, which looks very exciting. Our observation would be that they've spent more time and energy on this one than any other in the pREServed series, and have found material related to the 'Man' album, the lost Sun Ra 'ACS' side, the 'Pee Wee's Playhouse' recordings and a handful of other cover versions they'd long forgotten ever having recorded. It promises to blow minds across all known frequencies. Let yours be one of them.

And whilst that all happens, at least two Residents are also currently contemplating a recording of their remarkable 50th Anniversary performance in San Francisco earlier this year. You know how they do love to contemplate. There are also at least two new album projects in the works, and the ongoing 1970s vinyl reissue series is drawing to a close, with 'Not Available', 'Eskimo' and 'Commercial Album' all due shortly - check both the Cherry Red and MVD websites for those.

There are rumours too. Always rumours. A new film? A new book? A 'Sam's Enchanted Evening' release? Limited edition vinyl only releases of some seriously niche recordings? But first.......... rest. They've earned it. It's not as easy as it looks, you know, single handedly holding up the entire recording industry for fifty years.
Seriously.

We do hope, on The Residents' behalf, that you'll enjoy it all and choose wisely from the many offerings they place before us. As a token of their ongoing gratitude, they thought you might like something to listen to. Regular viewers may recall that the 'Leftovers Again?!?' album included a piece titled 'Piano Fragment 3'. At one point, the album was going to consist entirely of piano recordings made back in the good old days, when any combination of the four of them would bash away on their instruments together. Luckily, we all escaped that fate, but the recordings remain. And here's one of them.

https://mcusercontent.com/5682b23bf8a44b80b578397c0/files/3a086b4a-f6c3-a0bb-c0a8-9726ef957cf7/Piano_Fragments_1_and_2.mp3?

Enjoy!

All at New Ralph Too

THE CLAUDE ZAC ENSEMBLE PRESENTS SHWSSSSZZZZ

The Claude Zac Ensemble has just released SHWSSSSZZZZ.

• Didier Fontaine - Drums
• Gilles Mortio - Bass
• Eric Dory - Guitar
• Laurent Stelleman - Guitar
• Manu Ribot - Guitar

Instrumental, unpredictable and funny.
I like it.

 

ECHOES OF ZOO HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT

"Speech Of Species"
by Echoes Of Zoo.
Download / Streaming, and/or LP

Featuring

• Nathan Daems - saxophone (who you should know from Black Flower)
• Bart Vervaeck - electric guitar
• Lieven Van Pée - electric bass
• Falk Schrauwen - drums

NEW RELEASE FROM MARBIN

"Radio School", a new release by Marbin !
Available for pre-order.

https://marbinmusic.bandcamp.com/album/radio-school-live-at-heartwood-soundstage? 

TERMS - ALL BECOMES INDISTINCT

 from the Mandaï website:

'All Becomes Indistinct' is the second full-length album from Chris Trull (YOWIE / GRAND ULENA) and Danny Piechocki (AHLEUCHATISTAS / JITTERS). TERMS, arriving by way of Tampa Bay, Florida and St. Louis, Missouri surfaced during the pandemic as a socially distanced band - dealing in dissonance, atonality and the unknown. In the months that followed, the band pressed on, finally performing live (including a celebrated performance at 2022's NO COAST Festival) and continued to hone their craft - forging an elastic rubberbanding harmony all their own - free of safe spaces.

ED PALERMO BIG BAND CONCERT DATES

-

THE UNIVERSE BY EAR IN CONCERT

THE UNIVERSE BY EAR

in concert at Hirscheneck in Basel, Switzerland

Monday, May 1, 2023

Showtime 21:30.

A NEW ALBUM BY SOFT MACHINE

Announced for June: "Other Doors".

DA BEATMINERZ - FULLY LOADED W/ STATIK

• Da Beatminerz: Fully Loaded w/ Statik
      (2005, cd, USA, copter records)

New York City-based hip hop production crew Da Beatminerz sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Peaches En Regalia’ in ‘Came 2 Do’, track number 14 on their “Fully Loaded w/ Statik” album.

The track features Brooklyn rapper Wordsworth (= Vinson Jamel Johnson).

Released on CD and as a 2 LP set.

"Fully Loaded w/ Statik" also saw an instrumental release.
And 'Came 2 Do' was the B-side of the band's "Mafia Don" 12".

Check it out :

GOV'T MULE'S NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE

New album, "PEACE...LIKE A RIVER", out June 16th.

Here's 'Dreaming Out Loud' as a teaser :

To be released on vinyl (with an orange vinyl Barnes & Noble exclusive), on CD (incl. a 2CD  'deluxe version'), and as download / streaming album on most digital music platforms.

REVISITING BLACK FLOWER

A cup of coffee, the sun outside, and Black Flower through the speakers.

Out on CD, vinyl & download/streaming.

"Magma", their latest album.

"Future Flora", from 2019.

"Artifacts", from 2016

TOM WRIGHT RECORDED ZAPPA'S 'TWENTY SMALL CIGARS'

Washington, DC-based mandolin player Tom Wright has released several albums.

Tom’s “5 x 2” album (he plays the acoustic and electric 10-string mandolin), included his version of Frank Zappa’s ‘Twenty Small Cigars’.

“5 x 2” was released on CD and was also made available through different digital music platforms.

 

ALICE SARA OTT

Alice Sara Ott performing Satie.
Mesmerizing.

 And for those who understand a bit of German :

info & links: Harald Häring

FZ MENTIONED IN GRAPHIC NOVEL BY MAIA KOBABE

Frank Zappa is mentioned in Maia Kobabe's "Gender Queer" graphic novel.
Nothing special, but he's in nice company.

BRIDGE FESTIVAL EINDHOVEN // GUITAR INSIDE

Food For Guitar Freaks.

TEMPERA ENSEMBLE - FRACTURES, HOMMAGE TO FRANK ZAPPA (T. YARIV)

“Fractures” - composed by Tomer Yariv

- Homage to Frank Zappa -

Performed by the Tempera Ensemble

KLEPTOMANIA WILL PERFORM A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA

Kleptomania features Pierre Vervloesem, Bruno Vansina, Samuel Ber, Ensemble Styx, and special guest Dave Douglas.

November 29, 2023, Kleptomania will perform the music of Frank Zappa, as well as some original (Zappa-inspired) music by Pierre Vervloesem, Bruno Vansina, Samuel Ber and Dave Douglas.

At the Rataplan jazz club in Antwerp, BE.

This should be fun !

https://rataplanvzw.be/e/dave-douglas-samuel-ber-ensemble-styx-kleptomania

FUNKY NOTHINGNESS - - - THE ROLLING STONE ARTICLE

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/frank-zappa-hot-rats-sequel-sessions-funky-nothingness-release-1234720771/ 

THE WITCH ORCHESTRA TO RELEASE A ZAPPA TRIBUTE ALBUM

 Brno, Czech Republic based The Witch Orchestra will release a Zappa tribute album next month.
(With an album release party on the 30th of April)

The album includes their favorite Zappa pieces (Easy Meat, Strictly Genteel, Black Napkins, Uncle Meat, The Purple Lagoon,... in arrangements by Martin Kostaš.

The (Cal Schenkel) inspired artwork was don by Bohouš Jůza.

More info soon !

THE GRATEFUL DEAD ON TIKTOK ?

Yes, The Grateful Dead are on TikTok.
I heard it mentioned on Belgian national radio and I was happy to receive a link by e-mail to check it out: 

https://www.tiktok.com/@gratefuldead?

PUNKY MEADOWS

It seems like Punky Meadows is still doing his thing.

From GlassOnyon PR

Rock Legends Angel New Album Once Upon A Time OUT Friday April 21, 2023!

Forthcoming new album garners rave reviews worldwide!

Angel’s new album Once Upon A Time is released this Friday April 21st on Cleopatra Records. The reviews have been incredible as well as pre-sales hitting the number 1 and number 2 spot on Amazon’s best sales list. The album features 11 brand new songs, plus three bonus tracks on the CD version, all written by Punky Meadows, Frank Dimino and Danny Farrow.

The band is currently on their US Tour. 

BLACK FLOWER - GHOST RADIO

Some of the Black Flower releases are being re-pressed.
A fine opportunity to fill some gaps in the collection.

...mixing Ethio jazz and oriental with afrobeat and dub. 

"Ghost Radio" got released on Zephyrus Records, the label that also released the quintet's first album, "Abyssinia Afterlife" in 2014.
I have their first album on CD but even considered buying the LP if only for the stunning artwork !

FRANK ZAPPA - FUNKY NOTHINGNESS

The album will be released on 30 June as 2LP and 3CD with many outtakes, alternative edits and unedited masters of various recording sessions. 

The 3CD version also includes a 28-page booklet with photos and liner notes.

Don't miss the limited version of the 2LP in "Transparent Violet", which will include an exclusive plectrum.

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND - FIREBIRD

With the new Monika Roscher Bigband album out in two weeks, it's time for another track from "Witchy Activities And The Maple Death".

Here's 'Firebird'.

And the album is available for pre-order :

https://www.monikaroscher.com/musik/

NEW ZAPPA ALBUM ANNOUNCED FOR JUNE

"Funky Nothingness"
3 CD set.
Expected to be released on June 30, 2023.

Here's a teaser, also on Spotify and iTunes (from which I copied the tracklist)

-- info Tim / Zappateers on FB

JONO EL GRANDE

Earlier this month, Jono El Grande released 'Special Day'.
In January, he had already made 'Merciless Mediocrity' available.

Both tracks sound great but if you like them, you most certainly have to give his "Live 2010" album a listen.
Jono El Grande in concert is quite the experience !! Zappa & The Mothers are never far away...

'Special Day'

'Merciless Meciocrity'

"Live 2010"

RALPH HUMPHREY

Ralph Humphrey announced on Facebook yesterday that he's in hospice.

Let's send him and his family some positive thoughts !

STICK MEN - - - MIRAGE

STICK MEN

TONY LEVIN / PAT MASTELLOTTO / MARKUS REUTER

MIRAGE (Mike Oldfield)

-- link: Harald Häring

GOV'T MULE TOURDATES

Gov't Mule's next tour starts next month.

https://mule.net/tour/

Love the artwork of the below announcement.

YOWIE - SYNCHROMYSTICISM

"Synchromysticism", you say ?
Well, that's the new album by Yowie.

I really need to check this out.

ECHOES OF THE SWAN RECORDED FZ'S 'PEACHES EN REGALIA'

Echoes Of The Swan recorded FZ's 'Peaches En Regalia' in an arrangement of Ali N. Askin.

It will be released on their upcoming "Echoes" album.

-- info: Mick Zeuner

FRANK ZAPPA'S MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

It looks like things are getting serious...
The first issue of Frank Zappa's Monthly Newsletter arrived.

The YouTube videos, new releases, the audio book, the zappacast, tour shirt reprints, ...

I guess it's the return of the son of the zappa dot com newsletter subscription.

With links to stuff like this:

EIDON - PIAZZOLLA

Eidon just released 'Piazzolla' on his Bandcamp page.

 

DARKO THE SUPER RECORDED 'PLASTIC PEOPLE'

According the liner notes, Darko The Super’s brand-new “She Married A Music Man With A Computer Tan” is also known as “The Emotional Prosthetic” or “The Wedding Album”, as the mixtape was produced by Darko to celebrate his wedding. 

The album includes “Plastic People’, a track by Darko that used FZ's intro.

JEFF RICHMAN'S LATEST ALBUM FEATURES VINNIE COLAIUTA

Fusion guitarist Jeff Richman's latest album, "XYZ", features Vinnie Colaiuta on the drums. 

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

BOOMTOWN FESTIVAL IN GHENT, BELGIUM

 The Belgian Boomtown festival will kick off on the 14th of July with an "All Things SDBAN" special.

• Echt !

• Dans Dans

• Condor Gruppe

• M. Chuzi

For those who will not be at the Zappanale festival, that is...

CARL KING DISCUSSES MIKE KENEALLY'S 'POTATO'

The Carl King podcast, episode 56.

 Where Carl discusses Mike Keneally's 'Potato'

ROADBURN 2023

 Starting next Friday, Tilburg will host the Roadburn festival.

https://roadburn.com/

Even if you can't attend, you just need to check out the participating bands !

Although I couldn't find them on the Roadburn website immediately, the Paradox club is also offering a stage to the festival. They'll kick off next Friday with Nordmann, with Under The Surface x White Boy Scream, and with Poil Ueda.

Here's a live snippet of Under The Surface

• Joost Lijbaart - drums
• Sanne Rambags - vocals
• Bram Stadhouders - guitar

JEAN-LUC PONTY - OPEN MIND

Jean-Luc Ponty's "Open Mind" album got released in 1984.
Earlier this month, a remastered edition got released on CD.

Featuring Jean-Luc Ponty and Chick Corea !

THE BRAINIAC 5 - ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER DIMENSION

• the brainiac 5: another time another dimension
      (2021, cd, uk, reckless records)

The latest album by The Brainiac 5 is from a couple of years ago.
It combined material from the two periods that the band existed.
If you've never heard of The Brainiac 5, this might just be the introduction you need.

Out on CD on Reckless Records, but also available for streaming and download through Bandcamp.

Check it out :

THE BRAINIAC 5 - BACK TO SHORE

• the brainiac 5: back to shore
      (2019, cd, uk, reckless records)

Tonight, I had the pleasure to enjoy The Brainiac 5's "Back To Shore".
Psychedelic punk from Cornwall, UK.

Great !!

Out on CD but also available for streaming / download through Bandcamp.

-- info: Danny Mathys

THE RESIDENTS' RECORD STORE DAY RELEASE

The Residents
"Our Finest Flowers"
LP
Limited to 600 copies

Never before on vinyl, and long out of print on CD - Classic 1992 20th Anniversary album, which saw The Residents rework lyrics, melodies and themes from their entire back catalogue into an album of new tracks.

WARREN CUCCURULLO RELEASE FOR RECORD STORE DAY 2023

TV Mania = Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo
"Bored Of Prozac And The Internet"
LP
Limited to 1500 copies.

Bored with Prozac and the Internet? is an experimental / electronic-based album originally released in 2013 by TV Mania. The album was recorded from 1995 to 1996 by TV Mania members Nick Rhodes and Warren Cuccurullo as a side project of their full-time band, Duran Duran. The recordings remained unreleased for some 17 years after having been presumed lost. The chance discovery of the album master tapes by Rhodes led to the set's 2013 release.

 

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART RELEASE FOR RECORD STORE DAY 2023

Captain Beefheart
"I'm Going To Do What I Wanna Do
(Live At MyFather's Place 1978)"

2 LP

Limited to 5000 (!!) copies.

Originally released via Rhino Handmade on CD in the early 00’s, this is the first official vinyl release of this complete live show from the Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) tour. Recorded directly to 2-track stereo reel-to-reel tape and eventually broadcast on WLIR-FM on 11 December 1978, this recording finds Beefheart rejuvenated after the critical success of the Shiny Beast album and the new and improved version of the Magic Band. An essential addition to any Beefheart collection. 140-gram; gatefold sleeve.

THE ARF-DOSSIER VOL.115

• the arf-dossier vol.115
      (2023, fanzine, germany, arf society)

115 issues of The Arf-Dossier have been published to this day.
And there's always some info to be found that I did not know about...

• leserpost
• the hot platters heaven from the arf office
• the greenaway essays: sally ann
• steve vai 2023
• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope
• the vinyl bootleg releases
• the rare pictures gallery
• news from belgium - live from United Mutations
• back in time
• ullis ecke
• info behind the photo(s)

EAT THAT QUESTION - FRANK ZAPPA IN HIS OWN WORDS

2016 saw the release of "Eat That Question", the Thorsten Schutte produced documentary.

Released in different countries with different artwork, and maybe even with different content (which I only noticed today).

Here's the French edition with artwork by Gnot Guedin, flipped over for a better view :

DINO AND THE CHICKS - STILL LIVE WITH DINO AND THE CHICKS

• dino and the chicks: still live with dino and the chicks
      (2023, cd, bel, heaven hotel)

Dino And The Chick's CD is out !
The first release on the Heaven Hotel record label in 2023.
If I'm not mistaken, D&TC already released an EP a couple of years ago.

The band is doing some concerts and is indeed presented as Dino And The Chicks, despite the band being some sort of Belgian super-group.

Rudy Trouvé - guitar (Rudy Trouvé Sextet, dEUS, Kiss My Jazz,...)
Stef Kamil Carlens - bass  (Zita Swoon)
Elko Blijweert - guitar  (Franco Saint De Bakker, Dead Man Ray, Gruppo di Pawlowski,...)

Jeroen Stevens - drums  (Gruppo di Pawlowski, Ultima Vez, Laïs,...)

No nonsense.
Just some fine sounding music, including some surprising covers.

Check it out on Bandcamp :

ZAPPA ALUMNI

Albert Wing and Mike Miller are featured on Shawn Philips' "Rumplestiltskin's Resolve"
Both gentlemen also contributed to "Spaced" by the same artist.

additional info for both albums :

http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2017/02/shawn-phillips-rumplestiltskins-resolve.html

http://therockasteria.blogspot.com/2017/01/shawn-phillips-spaced-1977-us.html

And here's info on a Tom Scott album with John Guerin and Emil Richards :

https://egrojworld.blogspot.com/2023/04/tom-scott-great-scott.html

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

PRINCE RE-ISSUES

Both "The Gold Experience" and "The Truth" are being re-issued.
On vinyl.

Initially, "The Truth" was a bonus album (CD) that came with the "Crystal Ball" 3 CD set.
Re-issued on vinyl as a record store day release in 2021.

"The Gold Experience" got released on CD in 1995. Also as a 2 LP set around the same time.

THE RESIDENTS - TRIPLE TROUBLE

• the residents: triple trouble - original soundtrack recording
      (2022, cd, uk, cherry red)

With the "Triple Trouble" zoetrope picture disc that got released last year, I had forgotten to mention that the album also saw a more regular release.
Both on LP and on CD.

Junior, a former priest who has become a plumber, recorded a series of report on how a white fungus is taking over the world.

ARTHUR BARROW - SUBTLE BUGS

Former Zappa band bass player and clonemeister Arthur Barrow says:

This track is inspired by music that Frank Zappa started writing in early 1979. He called it "Saddle Bags" but never finished it, so it is not in his catalogue. A couple of bits of it ended up in other songs, but that's it. I had always thought the ideas he came up with were very cool, and that it would be a shame to see them go to waste. So I borrowed some of his ideas about texture, and inverted or otherwise changed the melodic parts to create "Subtle Bugs." Hope you like it!

Composed, performed, produced, and mixed by Arthur Barrow.
Mastered by Bob Rice.

DRAXTOR - MONTANA

Bernhard ‘Draxtor’ Drax released a German version of ‘Montana’ on Soundcloud in 2012.

He added:
This song is from a collection of tunes made in Los Angeles with then associates Julian Mack and Kal Swan, between 1996 & 1999, a few cover tunes from God Zappa and a few originals..
I called it "What I did in LaLaLand" and Stefanie Rost made an awesome cover.
"Montana" with German lyrics of course is very special: I transcribed and made the charts for the session musicians (Tom Walsh on drums and Fred Mandel on keys, they recorded in a couple takes max?), I played bass, Julian played guitar and sang lead vocals. Not sure who did backup? Mack engineered of course!

Last week, Draxtor made ‘Montana’ available on YouTube.

-- info: soundcloud & facebook

A NEW SUN RA ALBUM

 A new Sun Ra album has been made available through Bandcamp:
"Hendersonia: Sun Ra Performs Fletcher Henderson"

JOE DENINZON & STRATOSPHEERIUS

Joe Deninzon says:
Speaking of live music, I'm psyched, overwhelmed with giddiness and excitement to share with you the official release of the new Stratospheerius double LIVE CD/DVD/BLU RAY: "Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock)!" 

We have almost 2 hrs of music taken from our 2019 and 2021 performance at our favorite music festival, ProgStock in Rahway, NJ. During the pandemic, I learned to edit videos, and this baby was. LOT of editing! The world changed during the pandemic, and these performances are a snapshot of where we were before, and after the world turned upside down.
The 2021 performance features guest appearances by our good friend Alex Skolnick (guitarist from Testament and former guitarist from Stratospheerius) and Rachel Flowers , the blind multi-instrumental genius, who joins us on piano and flute. 
All these performances were completely spontaneous with little or no rehearsal, and we were able to capture lightning in a bottle! We want to thank our mixing engineer, Matt Vanacoro, mastering engineer Dave Kerzner, assistant editor David P. Levin, Melodic Revolution Records president Nick Katona, our manager Anne Leighton, and our graphics designer/DVD author Joel Barrios, for countless hours that they devoted to this project. Big thank you to Tom Palmieri and Ann Rinaldi for creating the festival and keeping it alive, and for all the volunteers who work there! This is the culmination of three years of work, and we're very proud of it and can't wait to share it with you! The official release date is May 19th! But you can pre-order it if you click here: 

https://joedeninzonstratospheerius.bandcamp.com/album/behind-the-curtain-live-at-progstock

 

MATTHEW GALAHER

'Jay And Matt's Vocation"
by Matthew Galaher  and Jerry Cuccurullo.

Matthew added:
In the summer of 1983...
Jerry Cuccurullo wrote this drum part in the basement of his parents Canarsie home. He had recently auditioned for Zappa and was all excited in these rhythms.  I added a bass accompaniment and wrote both parts out after he shared his drum part with me.

'Pete's Nightmare'
by Matthew Galaher

Matthew added:
Pete's Nightmare I wrote in 1984. I obviously had too much Zappa on the brain. I remember I bought my first computer in 1990 or 1991 because I was inspired by a friends sequencing but I never got all the hardware and software together so 33 years later I'm finally hearing these pieces.

CARLOS HERRERA - TINTO AZUL - ZS OTRO OOJO EL QUE VE

Guitar player and composer Carlos Herrera released several albums through Bandcamp. His “Tinto Azul – Es Otro Ojo El Que Ve” album included his version of FZ’s ‘Zoot Allures’.

Recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1999.
Initially released in 2000, the album got remastered in 2018.
Also made available on two 10.5” reel-to-reel analog tapes !!

BELL ORCHESTRE - RECORDING A TAPE THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT

• bell orchestre: recording a tape the colour of the ligtht
      (2023, streaming/download, --, bandcamp)

Bell Orchestre is a collaborative avant-garde instrumental group based in Montreal. Its six members come from wildly divergent musical backgrounds, and the unlikely chemistry that results from their collaboration is the very thing that sustains their connection.

Beautiful music performed by a classical ensemble.
Narrative, relaxing, varied.
I like it a lot.

LP is out on Rough Trade Records.

-- info: Mick Zeuner

DEVEROVA CHYBA - DO STRAN

• deverova chyba: do stran
      (2003, cd, czech republic, free dimension records)

I received this album as a bonus with my order from the Czech Republic the other day.
A quite enjoyable bonus, as it seems.

Deverova Chyba is / was a Czech alternative 'jazzcore' trio that released four albums between 1999 and 2006. At least, that's what Discogs says.

https://www.last.fm/music/Deverova+Chyba/+wiki adds:

Deverova Chyba, a jazzcore trio, started off in 1997 in Tábor, Czech Republic. From the beginning the line-up is two basses, drums and vocal powered up with Czech lyrics. For the year 1998 violoncellist Ivana joined the band (CD demo Modra Ryma 1998).

They play a mix of different styles: alternative, punk, hardcore whereas the characteristic sound is given by the instruments line-up. In various reviews that were published all over Europe but also in the US they are being compared to bands such as NoMeansNo, Fugazi, Shellac, Unsane but also to the fundamental bands of the Czech alternative scene like Dunaj or Už jsme doma.

Deverova Chyba espouses to the DIY scene, that's why the first official record came out on their own label Free Dimension. The latest album Club 59 came out on the allied Prague-based label Silver Rocket.

"Doforoty" from 2001 :

LISA POPEIL INTERVIEW BY GERRY FIALCO

Gerry Fialka talks to Lisa Popeil in his "InnerViews" YouTube series;

They chat about FZ a bit during the last 15 minutes, but it's worth checking out the entire (very pleasant) interview.

 

2 MANY DJ'S

2 Many DJ's included The Residents' 'Kaw Liga' in their "As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2" album.

& the amazing YouTube video that they produced for it :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QRaerLc0BM

ZAPPANEWS DOT CO DOT UK

The place you must visit every now and then !!

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/ 

SOULWAX / 2MANYDJS

Stephen and David Dewaele were the core of Belgian rock band Soulwax. The brothers were also known for their DJ act as 2ManyDJs.
They remixed Zappa's 'Dancin' Fool' for their "As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt.12" album, released in 2009.

'Dancin Fool' can be heard around 56:00 into the mix.

Here's the complete list of used tracks:
https://www.discogs.com/release/1806252-2-Many-DJs-As-Heard-On-Radio-Soulwax-Pt-12

-- YouTube link: Kjell Knudde
 

MIKE KENEALLY - THE THING THAT KNOWLEDGE CAN'T EAT

• mike keneally: the thing that knowledge can't eat
      (2023, cd, usa, exowax)

Mike Keneally's "The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat" has arrived in Yurip.
Thanks to the nice folks over at Burning Shed, physical copies of the album can now cross the Yuripean mainland border without any problems.

As with all of Mike's albums, this will need multiple listening sessions. It's like every song shows a different facet of Mike Keneally's musical mind. There's so much variation, and it's coming from all angles, that it's too difficult for my brain to grasp this in one go.

Do I like it?

I love it.

INSIDE THE WHISKEY-A-GO-GO

Lots of advertisements, but still some nice pictures from the early days of the Whiskey-A-Go-Go.

https://www.vintag.es/2023/04/inside-whiskey-a-go-go.html

-- link: Zjakki Willems

"HAPPY FOREVER", THE MARK VOLMAN BIOGRAPHY

Andrew mentioned this one his Idiot Bastard's website a little while ago already.
Here's the book cover :

Looking forward to it.
To be released in June.

FRANK ZAPPA'S STUDIO Z

Studio Z & the bust by detective Willis.

Vlog by Daze with Jordan The Lion.

-- link: Zjakki Willems

ONE SHOT DEAL PLAYS ZAPPA WITH SPECIAL GUEST MIKE KENEALLY

THE SOPHISTICRATS

Flash-back to 1990 when the Sophisticrats released "Four Singers And Bass", featuring a fine version of FZ's 'Cosmik Debris'.
Out on CD and on LP.

(30:03 into the album)

Later, in 2011, Erika Stucky would record and release 'I'm The Slime' on her "Stucky Live" album.

MAGMA RELEASED ITS VERY FIRST VIDEO

From GlassOnyon PR

French Music Legends Magma Release Very First Video “Hakëhn Deïs”

In their career spanning over 50 years, Magma had never produced a music video. At the request and with the support of Adami, a French organization who promote, career development and the promotion of performers, Magma has finally done it with “Hakëhn Deïs” directed by Nino Le Chenadec. Artificial Intelligence blends in with the subtle choreography created by two magnificent dancers of the Paris Opera, Loup Marcault-Derouard and Ida Viikinkoski’.

CAPITAN CAPITONE & I FRATELLI DELLA COSTA

Capitan Capitone & I Fratellii della Costa (The Brothers Of The Coast) is a project by Daniele Sepe.
Capitan Capitone released a couple of albums but also FZ’s ‘Willie The Pimp’ as a single. 

Translated into Neapolitan by Mario Insenga, the piece got re-titled ‘Posa ‘e Sord’ ‘. 

It got released on iTunes and other digital platforms.

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND - A TASTE OF THE APOCALYPSE

Otherworldly !
Well, actually, they're from Münich, Germany, but you'll catch my drift.

The Monika Roscher BigBand

2EWORX - UNCLE MEAT

2eworx recorded FZ’s ‘Uncle Meat’ and released it through different streaming / download services like itunes and amazon (in 2017).

 

DARKO THE SUPER & HEIGHT KEECH - YOU GOTTA HAVE FRIENDS

• Height Keech & Darko The Super: You Gotta Have Friends
  (2022, streaming / download, --, bandcamp) – March 4, 2022

Rappers Dan ‘Height’ Keech and Darko The Super teamed up for “You Gotta Have Friends”.
The album cover of the streaming / download version shows Darko wearing a Frank Zappa t-shirt.
The album was also released on LP, but with different artwork.
'Lost In Space', the third track on the album mentions The Mothers Of Invention and Joe’s Garage.

C - UNIVERSUM

• C: Universum
      (2003, cd, Czech Republic, free dimension records)

Czech prog rock band C’s opening track on their first album was entitled ‘Le Grand Wazoo’.
It's not the Frank Zappa composition, and I can't say that it's Zappa-inspired, but it's a nice piece.
Actually, the entire album is quite enjoyable.

Instrumental prog rock.

I would like to learn a bit more about this band but a Google search for "C" did not really help.

FRED HÄNDL IN CONCERT - PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA

GRAVEHUFFER - INCA ROADS / CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE

Joplin, Missouri-based band Gravehuffer has released several cover versions through Bandcamp.
Here's their version of FZ's 'Inca Roads', combined with Black Sabbath's 'Children Of The Grave'.

Here's the Youtube link, but the track has been officially released on Bandcamp as well !

WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND 4CD COMPILATION TO INCLUDE 'HELP I'M A ROCK'

THE WEST COAST POP ART EXPERIMENTAL BAND

"A Door Inside Your Mind - The Complete Reprise Recordings 1966-1968"

4 CD Set

will include both the mono and stereo version of "Part One", the 1967 album that included the band's version of FZ's 'Help I'm A Rock'.

to be released in June.

SENDELICA - THE FRUIT DE MER COVERS

At the time of writing, there were still 6 copies available of this CDR.
Sendelica "The Fruit De Mer Covers", including their version of FZ's 'Don't Eat The Yellow Snow'.

https://sendelica.bandcamp.com/merch/sendelica-cd-the-fruits-de-mer-covers-pic-disc

NEW RELEASES ON THE DUR & DOUX LABEL

"Ramdam Fatal" by Ramdam Fatal

"Auvergnification" by Ultra Zook

A MESSAGE FROM POIL

a message from PoiL

Dear lovely people!
We are very excited to continue our album release tour one month after the release of PoiL Ueda. If you have not checked it yet today is bandcamp Friday.

This April will bring us for the first time in Scandinavia for first concerts in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, as well as 3 concerts in the north of Germany and a passage in the festival Roadburn.

In May, we will make an express passage by Canada before taking the way of the Balkans.

Many more shows are coming up in the summer and fall (including a UK tour) so get ready!

See you !

PoiL

Tour date
12.04 Momentum (ODENSE - DK)
13.04 Victoria (MALMÖ - SE)
14.04 Turkis (AARHUS - DK)
15.04 Rilksscenen (OSLO - NO)
16.04 Skjulet (GOTHENBURG - SE)
17.04 Rahuset (COPENHAGEN - DK)
19.04 MS Stubnitz (HAMBURG - DE)
20.04 Tor 9 (BREMEN - DE)
21.04 Roadburn festival (TILBURG - NL)
29.04 April Jazz (ESPOO - FI)
18.05 FIMAV (VICTORIAVILLE - CA)
24.05 Zez (ZAGREB - HR)
25.05 Druga Godba (LJUBLJANA - SI) - TBA
26.05 Limmitationnes (DEUTSCH MINOHOF - AT)
27.05 Orpheum Extra (GRAZ - AT)
28.05 Immerhin (WURZBURG - DE)
29.05 Music Meeting (NIJMEGEN - NL)
17.06 L'An vert (LIEGES - BE)
18.06 Houtfestival (HAARLEM - NL)
01.07.06 Festival Med (LOULE - PT)
07.07 Rudolfstadt festival (DE)
08.07 Etnokrakow (KRAKOW - PL)
14.07 Chauffer dans la noirceur (MONTMARTIN SuR MER - FR)
16.07 Musicales de l'Aggly (PLANEZE - FR)

 

MIKE KENEALLY - LIVE AT MAMA KIN

• Mike Keneally: Live At Mama Kin
      (2023, streaming/download, --, bandcamp)

Originally released in 2013 as a bonus CD with the deluxe package of “Sluggo!“, the “Live At Mama Kin” album has now been made available for download and streaming through Bandcamp.

“Live At Mama Kin” got recorded in concert on August 15, 1998, at Mama Kin in Boston and featured Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller, Marc Ziegenhagen and Jason Harrison. The concert / album included ‘1988 Was A Million Years Ago’, a piece Mike had written in remembrance of FZ, and ended with a performance of Frank Zappa’s ‘Inca Roads’.

LONDON BREW

“London Brew” is a group of 12 London based artists: Benji B, Raven Bush, Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia, Tom Herbert, Shabaka Hutchings, Nikolaj Torp Larsen, Dave Okumu, Nick Ramm, Dan See, Tom Skinner and Martin Terefe.
The group came together for a three-day recording session at The Church Studios in London on December 7, 2020 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Bitches Brew.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Brew

DARKO THE SUPER & DEAN FRIEDMAN - GREAT WHITE BUFFALO

Check out the artwork for Darko The Super & Dean Friedman's "Great White Buffalo" album and compare it with FZ's "Buffalo" album...
It's not the first reference to Frank Zappa in Darko The Super's catalogue !

Out on CD and available for streaming / download on Bandcamp.

ENSEMBLE STUDIO DAN

Daniel 'Dan' Riegler named his ensemble after Frank Zappa's "Studio Tan" album.

The Ensemble Studio Dan will be revisiting their "How's Your Bird" project, a show for kids between 6 and 10.

How Is Your Bird? - Elbphilharmonie Hamburg We keep coming back to Frank Zappa in our work, because in 2005 we started our operation -- wisely or unwisely -- with a gaudy nod to the composer and rock star. 'Studio Dan' is, after all, apart from the reference to ensemble leader Daniel Riegler, primarily a reference to Frank Zappa's album 'Studio Tan'. 

With his life motto Anything Anytime Anywhere For No Reason At All (AAAFNRAA), he provided himself with a highly personal definition of 'art' to which he remained consistently true. That's how we want to follow his example and that's how our programs like How is your bird? are created. The production is not only called like another—especially early—title from his pen, but also deals with Zappa's oeuvre and the numerous hidden references in it, scenically prepared for children from 6 to 10 and their companions; because whoever plays Zappa also prefers to play Varèse, Webern and Eric Dolphy and everything that came and may come after. For our next performances, we ask you to come to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. Another reason why we are very much looking forward to the revival of the La Strada production of 2019.

https://studiodan.at/projekte/how-your-bird/

Music by Frank Zappa, Edgar Varèse, Anton von Webern, Eric Dolphy und Musik von The Turtles.

22. April 2023 | 11:00 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
22. April 2023 | 14:00 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
23. April 2023 | 11:00 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
23. April 2023 | 14:00 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
24. April 2023 | 09:30 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg
-
24. April 2023 | 11:30 - Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg

DINO AND THE CHICKS - STILL LIVE WITH DINO AND THE CHICKS

Still Live With Dino And The Chicks

by Dino And The Chicks

• Elko Blijweert
• Stef Kamil Carlens
• Rudy Trouvé
• Jeroen Stevens

ARTI & MESTIERI -- JAZZ ROCK LEGENDS LIVE IN JAPAN

• arti & mestieri: jazz rock legends - live in japan
      (2020, 2cd+dvd, Japan, king) – blu-spec CD

(I'm probably repeating myself, but what the heck...)
On May 18, 2019, Italian prog / jazz-rock band Arti & Mestieri (Arts & Crafts) performed at the Jazz Rock Legends festival in Japan. During the encores, Arti & Mestieri was joined on stage by Patrizio Fariselli’s Area Open Project to perform two additional pieces, one of which was FZ’s ‘King Kong’. The concert got released as a 2 CD / DVD package.
The CDs and the DVD were packed in a slipcase as mini-LP sleeves and accompanied by a 16-page booklet.
Arti & Mestieri's rendition of 'King Kong' got included on both the CDs and on the DVD.
Part of the concert got released on LP, but this did not include 'King Kong'.

The Japanese edition of the Arti & Mestieri “Live In Japan” album got released on the King record label as a set of two blu-spec CDs and a DVD. It came with completely different artwork, and with an obi.
The recording was the same.
The final track of the concert, was a performance of FZ’s ‘King Kong’ together with Patrizio Fariselli’s Area Open Project.

The Japanese set arrived a little while ago. Pretty expensive, but very nice.
The sound is amazing and the packaging is top.

POIL UEDA - POIL UEDA

I'll say it again :
The new Poil Ueda album is fan-tas-tic.

In the meantime, the Poil Ueda tour is ready for another round :

12.04 Momentum (ODENSE - DK)
13.04 Victoria (MALMÖ - SE)
14.04 Turkis (AARHUS - DK)
15.04 Rilksscenen (OSLO - NO)
17.04 Rahuset (COPENHAGEN - DK)
20.04 Tor 9 (BREMEN - DE)
21.04 Roadburn festival (TILBURG - NL)
29.04 April Jazz (ESPOO - FI)

PROGDREAMS X

The 10th edition of the ProgDreams Festival will take place 7, 8 and 9 April 2023.

FRIDAY
19:00 Doors open
20:00 - 21:30 Supersister Projekt
22:00 - 23:30 Lazuli

SATURDAY
14:30 Doors open
15:30 - 16:15 For Absent Friends
16:30 - 17:15 Ebony Buckle
18:30 - 19:45 Karfagen & Sunchild (Antony Kalugin)
20:15 - 21:30 Millenium
22:00 - 23:30 Solstice

SUNDAY
14:30 Doors open
15:00 - 16:00 Yuval Ron
16:30 - 17:30 Kyros
18:45 - 19:45 Ranestrane
20:15 - 21:15 Galaxy
21:45 - 23:15 Icefish

YUVAL RON TOURDATES

Yuval Ron Trio Tourdates