Tuesday, November 28, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM PIERREJEAN GAUCHER

Hello friends,
I'm happy to announce that the album 'Zappe Satie', released in 2021, has a little brother who will be available this weekend on Bandcamp (digital only and also on the usual platforms).
It's an EP of 6 previously unreleased tracks (around 15'00), recorded during the same sessions and with the same musicians.
If you liked 'Zappe Satie', you should enjoy this one 😉
See you soon then.
-- Pierrejean

https://pierrejeangaucher.bandcamp.com/


Monday, November 27, 2023

KLEPTOMANIA


MOSAE ZAPPA - - - THE WRONG OBJECT WITH SPECIAL GUEST GARY LUCAS

Back home from another memorable edition of the Mosae Zappa festival.

If you've never been there, better hope that there will be another edition in the future, and that you'll be able to attend, because this is a top festival.
Kudos to the organization and to the musicians.

One of the many highlights:

First, Gary Lucas played a spectacular solo set.
An near the end of an amazing concert by The Wrong Object, Gary joined them for 'Son Of Mr. Green Genes / King Kong'...

Video by Luc Pilmeyer !!

THE WRONG OBJECT and GARY LUCAS Mr Green Genes/King Kong from Luc Pilmeyer on Vimeo.


FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - THE BEAT CLUB SESSION - LIVE 1968

This German DVD will be released early next month.

The tracklist: 



GRINNING SINNER

German band Grinning Sinner recorded FZ’s ‘Why Don’tcha Do Me Right’ and released it as ‘Why Don’t You Do Me Right’ on their eponymous album.
They did, however, attribute the song to Alternative TV (who also recorded the piece).

The track would also get released on a Grinning Sinner compilation album in 2020. Digital platforms only.

https://music.apple.com/be/album/grinning-sinner/1515126477


HERE COME... ALTERNATIVE TV

Talking about Alternative TV, Heavy Soul Records has released a compilation entitled "Here Comes... Alternative TV".
The album is out on LP and on CD and includes 'Why Don'tcha Do Me Right', the Zappa piece.


ALTERNATIVE TV'S RENDITION OF FRANK ZAPPA'S WHY DONTCHA DO ME RIGHT RE-RELEASED ON A COMPILATION 3 CD SET

In 2020, the Cherry Red record label released " 1978 - The Year The UK Turned Day-Glo".
The 3 CD set included Alternative TV's version of FZ's 'Why Don't You Do Me Right'.

-



Sunday, November 26, 2023

PIAS RECORD LABEL TURNS 40

The PIAS record label turns 40 and celebrates by re-releasing a bunch of albums.

One of these is dEUS' "Following Sea".
Originally released in 2012 and now re-issued on 180 g vinyl.

Album cover (with hype sticker) :


Friday, November 24, 2023

OSSI DURI IN CONCERT IN MILAN ON DECEMBER 4

Ossi Duri will perform the music of Frank Zappa in concert in Milan, Italy on December 4, 2023.
Two sets. One at 19h00 and one at 22h00.
At the Muro Nero (Viale Caterina da Forli 40) in Milan.
Check out Ossi Duri at Facebook for more details.

Their new album, "Cruisin' With Zappa & The Jazz" will released a couple of days prior to the concert.

https://linktr.ee/OssiDuri


BOB DOBBS TALKS TO TOMMY MARS

From 1996.


GOV'T MULE BLACK FRIDAY RELEASE

Previously released as the bonus CD in the deluxe edition of Gov't Mule's "Peace...Like A River", the "Time Of The Signs" EP is now being made available on vinyl.
Comes in a box with a poster.

HKU LARGE ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM MUSIC BY CORRIE VAN BINSBERGEN

The HKU Ensemble will perform music by Corrie van Binsbergen, on December 22 at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam.

The program will include pieces from 'Magic Sock', Corrie's tribute to Frank Zappa (from 2003).

https://www.bimhuis.nl/agenda/corrie-van-binsbergen-hku-large-ensemble-2/


Thursday, November 23, 2023

TRAFFIC D'INFLUENCE / CLAUDE ST-JEAN

Traffic d'Influence is another project by Claude St-Jean (Les Projectionnistes, L'Orkestre des Pas Perdus).

  • Claude St-Jean: trombone, synthétiseur, voix, montage audio, programmation, percussions, compositions, remixage
  • Bernard Poirier: guitare, synthétiseur, voix, clarinette, programmation, percussions, harmonica, montage audio, compositions.


"Lipsync" got recorded in 1986 and recently reworked into a release :

Also out on LP.


PATRICK ZIMMERLI - TWELVE SACRED DANCES

  • patrick zimmerli: twelve sacred dances
        (1998, cd, usa, arabesque jazz)

Tenor saxophonist Patrick Zimmerli was joined by Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano) and John Hollenbeck (drums, percussion and marimba) to perform his "Twelve Sacred Dances".

Seeking a balance between written out parts and improvisations, the pieces on this album are quite experimental.

Definitely not easy listening and very challenging but worth checking out.

'Epenthesis', track number 11.



LOUISE MCMONAGLE - REPUBLICANS

Republicans - Frank Zappa -- cello by Louise McMonagle


 

ZAPPA SPECIAL ON RCF RADIO, WITH PIERREJEAN GAUCHER

A message from Pierrejean Gaucher:

A new programme today on RCF Radio, with my friends Laurent Cokelaere and Pascal Berne. (Re)discover the 'jazz side' of the great moustachioed man's world!

 

GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE

The next edition of the German Good Times Magazine has a special on Duran Duran  :-)

-- picture: Peter Görs (on FB)


DWEEZIL ZAPPA RELEASED ANOTHER TRACK FROM THE UPCOMING ZPZ ALBUM

After releasing ‘Willie The Pimp’ a little while ago, Dweezil Zappa added another teaser for the upcoming “Hot Rats Live!” album by the Zappa Plays Zappa band. 

It's available through his Music Reward Platform.

SNARKY PUPPY TOURDATES

  • Nov 25, 2023 Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, Playa Del Carmen, MexicoFREE ENTRY
  • Nov 30, 2023 Supergroove Festival, Dubai, UAE
  • Dec 2, 2023  Bayview Lawns, Mumbai, India
  • Dec 3, 2023DLF Cyber Hub, Gurgoan, India

  • Feb 2, 2024 GroundUP Music Festival, Miami, FL
  • Feb 3, 2024 GroundUP Music Festival, Miami, FL
  • Feb 4, 2024 GroundUP Music Festival, Miami, FL

  • Mar 18, 2024 Billboard, Tokyo, Japan
  • Mar 19, 2024  Billboard, Tokyo, Japan
  • Mar 21, 2024Billboard, Osaka, Japan
  • Mar 25, 2024 The Forum, Melbourne, Australia
  • Mar 27, 2024 Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
  • Mar 29, 2024 Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia
  • Mar 30, 2024 Bluesfest, Byron Bay, Australia
  • Apr 16, 2024 McCarter Theatre, Princeton, New Jersey
  • Apr 22, 2024 Harpa Concert Hall, Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Apr 23, 2024 House of Culture, Helsinki, Finland
  • Apr 25, 2024 Jazzkaar Festival, Tallinn, Estonia
  • Apr 26, 2024 Tu Jau Zini Kur, Riga, Latvia
  • Apr 28, 2024 Kaunas Jazz, Kaunas, Lithuania
  • Apr 29, 2024 National Forum of Music, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Apr 30, 2024 Jazz & Blues Open, Wendelstein, Germany
  • May 1, 2024 Sonocentrum, Brno, Czech Republic
  • May 3, 2024 Jazz à Liège, Liège, Belgium
  • May 4, 2024 Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London, UK
  • May 5, 2024 Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham, UK


 

A NI UPDATE

A message from Ni

Hi Folks!
Ni! The tour starts tomorrow! Here's an update of the first part...! Get your ticket and See you at the coming shows!

  • 23.11 - La Cachette (Biel/Bienne - CH)
  • 24.11 - Secret Show (Netzschkau - DE)
  • 25.11 - KuBa (Jena - DE)
  • 27.11 - Café V lese (Prague - CZ)
  • 28.11 - Urban Spree (Berlin - DE)
  • 30.11 - MS Stubnitz (Hamburg - DE)
  • 01.12 - Tor9 - (Bremen - DE)
  • 02.12 - ASBL Corps et Logis (Louvain la Neuve - BE) w/ CHROMB
  • 07.12 - Sudhaus (Basel - CH) w/ MEULE
  • 08.12 - Point 11 (Sion - CH)
  • 09.12 - Périscope (LYON - FR) - Release Party w/ Saddam webcam
  • 21.12 - Matilda (Mâcon - FR)

  • 23.01 - Brasserie La Binchoise (Binche - BE)
  • 24.01 - Patronaat (Haarlem - NL)
  • 25.01 - Vera (Groningen - NL)
  • 26.01 - La Faune (Mouscron - BE)
  • 27.01 - Le Cirque Electrique - (Paris - FR)


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

THE LOVERS OF INVENTION

The Lovers of Invention are an eight-person tribute band from South London, dedicated to bringing Zappa's iconic music alive to a new generation.

The band has performed at The Jazz Café and at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in 2023.

A recording of the September 20 show at Hootenanny, Brixton, London, recently turned up on DimeADozen.

Very nice !

Cosmik Debris * Joe's Garage * Catholic Girls * Stick It Out * Outside Now * Packard Goose * Zoot Allures * Zomby Woof * Montana * Dog Breath * Cheepnis * Dancing Fool * Yellow Snow Suite * Peaches En Regalia


LES PROJECTIONNISTES - COPIE ZÉRO

  • les projectionnistes: copie zéro
        (1999, cd, canada, ambiances magnetiques)

The last couple of weeks, I've spoken very highly of L'Orkestre Des Pas Perdus, the Canadian brass band that I had discovered through their "Tarapatapomm2" album (on which they performed FZ's 'Chunga's Revenge'.

L'Orkestre's mastermind, Claude St-Jean, was also the man behind Les Projectionnistes, another project that has released beautiful music.

"Copie Zéro" was their first release. It's from 1999 and it got released on the Ambiances Magnetiques record label (that we also know from L'Orkestre !).

Contemporary rock / jazz. Great stuff.

  • Claude St-Jean - trombone-piano-percussion
  • Pierre Labbé - tenor sax-flute
  • Bernard Falaise - guitar
  • Tommy Babin - bass
  • Rémi Leclerc – drums-percussion

Check it out. It's wonderful.


FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS - OVER-NITE SENSATION

  • frank zappa & the mothers: over-nite sensation
        (2023, 4cd + blu-ray, europe, zappa records)
What a way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Over-Nite Sensation"...
Extraordinary...

Also available in High-Res on Qobuz.


Monday, November 20, 2023

ZAPPA SLIPMATS, COASTERS, MUGS AND MORE

 Over at the official FZ shop.

https://store.zappa.com/collections/accessories


ZJAKKI WILLEMS ON THE UPCOMING ZAPPA FESTIVAL IN BRUSSELS

https://radio1.be/luister/select/time-out/all-things-zappa-met-zjakki-willems

On Belgian Radio 1, Zjakki Willems discusses the upcoming Frank Zappa festival.


EIDON - LAUTBAUM

from the liner notes:

Many Cultures had their own Great Tree of Life. Yggdrasil, of course, but also the Kojiki, which tells of a Great Tree that overshadowed Mount Fuji. And the Kabbalah has a Tree of Life too. And the Egyptians. I thought about the concept and somehow I intertwined it with Zappa's Big Note. That's also a Great Tree -- a frequency-tree all Existence stems out from.

 

Sunday, November 19, 2023

AN ITALIAN BOOK ON THE MUSICIANS THAT PERFORMED WITH FRANK ZAPPA

Marco Fraquelli adds:
Everything has been said and written about Frank Zappa. Much less, if not almost nothing, about the many musicians (over three hundred!) who accompanied him over the course of nearly three decades. This book is dedicated to them. At least to a good part (109 to be precise): basically- with a few exceptions- all those who shared the stage with him, in the various formations, in the more than one 1,800 concerts given by the "genius from Baltimore" during his musical adventure. Almost an "act of love" the author calls it, a "tribute to all the extraordinary musicians who, over the years, accompanied Frank Zappa; to remember those who, with great skill, made his music great, allowing us to enjoy it uninterruptedly for almost sixty years." From Mike Altschul's A to Allan Zavod's Z, we will thus be able to get to know these musicians more closely, in a series of short profiles that tell us about their training, their professional careers and, indeed, their collaboration with Zappa. Often, then, the portraits are accompanied by behind-the-scenes and tasty anecdotes that, in addition to giving us an even better understanding of the various protagonists, offer a very special insight into the relationships between the composer and the members of his various bands.


Saturday, November 18, 2023

ARISTOCRATS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

A message from the Aristocrats:
Hey everyone - we know it’s been a while, but we’re excited to announce our new album is DONE, and it will drop on February 16, 2024. We’re also going to do a short 5-city tour of the USA West Coast to celebrate the release. Tickets are going on sale TODAY at 12:00 noon U.S. Pacific Time


FRANK ZAPPA - OVER-NITE SENSATION (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)


Friday, November 17, 2023

ZAPPA CONCERT IN LYON ON DEC 1 2023

On December 1st, 2023, musicians from the Rhône clarinet collective and the Lyon conservatory's large percussion ensemble will perform pieces from Frank Zappa's immense repertoire.

https://www.conservatoire-lyon.fr/agenda/zappa/

Opening the concert:
- Musicians from the Rhône clarinet collective will play pieces from the "La fête à Ferdinand" concert held a few weeks ago.
- The musicians of the percussion ensemble will play G-Spot Tornado and Inca Roads by Frank Zappa.

In the second half, the musicians will join forces to play : Regyptian Strut, Little Umbrellas, Peaches En Regalia, Duke of Prunes, Twenty Small Cigars, and Watermelon in Easter Hay


ONE SHOT DEAL IN CONCERT IN SAN PEDRO ON NOV 17 & 18

One Shot Deal performs the music of Frank Zappa
At the Alvas Showroom in San Pedro


 

OSSI DURI

Tomorrow, Ossi Duri will release 'Little Umbrellas', a teaser for their upcoming album, another tribute to the music of Frnak Zappa.


SNAKEFINGER

Announced by Klanggalerie:

SNAKEFINGER Chewing Hides The Sound (Deluxe 2CD)

https://www.klanggalerie.com/gg220-2


STEVE VAI & JOE SATRIANI TOURDATES

The Satch-Vai tour

March 22 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live-Orlando
March 23 - Pompano Beach, FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheater
March 25 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
March 26 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theatre
March 27 - Atlanta, GA - Atlanta Symphony Hall
March 29 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Performing Arts Center
March 30 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
April 2 - Charlotte, NC - Belk Theater
April 3 - Richmond, VA - Dominion Energy Center
April 5 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre Boston
April 6 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre
April 7 - Waterbury, CT - Waterbury Palace Theater
April 8 - Red Bank, NJ - Count Basie Center for the Arts
April 10 - Collingswood, NJ - Scottish Rite Auditorium
April 11 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre DC
April 13 - Northfield, OH - MGM Northfield Park
April 14 - Rochester, NY - Kodak Center Theater
April 16 - Detroit, MI - Fisher Theatre
April 18 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
April 19 - Cincinnati, OH - Andrew J. Brady Icon Music Center
April 20 - Fort Wayne, IN - Embassy Theatre
April 21 - Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
April 23 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theater
April 24 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre
April 25 - Des Moines, IA - Des Moines Civic Center
April 28 - La Vista, NE - The Astro
May 1 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
May 3 - Austin, TX - ACL Live at The Moody Theater
May 5 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall
May 7 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
May 8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Delta Hall at Eccles Theater


 

MOSAE ZAPPA 2023 LINE UP AND TIME TABLE

FRIDAY 24/11/23

PRE PARTY
Café Bluff – Heerlen (20:00 uur)
Die Miserablen Hurensohne (D)
The Disco Boyz (NL)

SATURDAY 25/11/23

HEERLEN MIJN STAD MATINEE
Outpoet – Heerlen (12:00)
Fred Händl (NL)

Café Tess – Heerlen (16:00)
Remko Serban (NL)
The Disco Boyz (NL)

MOSAE ZAPPA FESTIVAL
Oefenbunker Landgraaf (DOORS: 18:30 / START 19:00)
Cheap Thrills (NL)
Gary Lucas (USA)
The Wrong Object (B)
Wolfbox (NL)

ARF-SOCIETY MEETING (Members only)
Betahuis Heerlen (14:00)

SUNDAY 26/11/23

 MOSAE ZAPPA MATINEE

Oefenbunker landgraaf (DOORS: 14:00 / START: 14:30 uur)
Kameel (B)
HBH ft. Jeff Hollie (USA/D/NL)

KOSMISCHE BROCKEN FILM info and tickets
Apollo Aachen (20:00)


FRANK ZAPPA AND THE MOTHERS AT THE ESSENER SONNTAGE (1968)


Wednesday, November 15, 2023

A NEW PIECE BY FRED HÄNDL

'Ch​-​O.' by Fred Händl

 

FRANK ZAPPA

Frank Zappa - Chto za Huinya? (1990)


-- link: Harald Häring

ZAPPA LP REISSUES ON ELEMENTAL MUSIC

Frank Zappa's "Apostrophe (')" and "Hot Rats" have been re-issued on LP by the (Spanish) Elemental Music record label.

https://www.elemental-music.com/

SOUTUGA

SouTuga, with a hint of oriental flavour.

 

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK - TAKE ME HIGHER

  • robert jon & the wreck: take me higher
        (2019, cd, usa, private release)
A coupe of months ago, I had never heard of Robert Jon & The Wreck.
In the meantime, I have given most of the albums a listen and I have to say that Robert Jon Burrison's band is great fun to listen to.

"Take Me Higher" is no exception.
It's also one of the first albums that features Henry James Schneekluth on guitar. Next to Robert Jon, that is.

Feel good music.

 

ESTORNINHO DIABOLICO

"Miniaturas 3" by Estorninho Diabólico.


NEW RELEASE FROM YĪN YĪN

 Maastricht (NL)-based band YĪN YĪN has announced a new album !


ARTHUR BARROW RELEASED 'TINK WALKS A LOG'

Arthur Barrow: The Log is short for analog because almost all the sounds are from analog instruments. I have noticed a few covers of "Tink Walks Amok" recently, so I thought it would be fun to use a variation on the Tink theme. Tink was my childhood name which is why Frank Zappa used it for his Tink track which features me.

released November 15, 2023
Composed, arranged, produced, mixed and performed by Arthur Barrow.
Mastered by Bob Rice.

 

ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND - BARS WITHOUT MEASURES

  • eclectic maybe band: bars without measures
        (2023, cd, uk, discus music)
The Eclectic Maybe Band is a project by Guy Segers.

Guy uses composed and improvised parts of music, inviting musicians to participate, to add their part.
These different parts of music are then re-arranged, mixed and sculpted into finished pieces of music.

I love the instrumentation and all of the different musicians adding their own voice and flavour to this recording.

Released on the Discus Music record label, which is also being distributed to the Yuripean mainland from out of Berlin.
The CD comes in a cardboard fold-out sleeve and has all the info of the participating musicians for each track printed on the inside.

Featuring Joe Higham, Michel Delville, Pierre Vervloesem and Martin Acher, to name just a few.


Tuesday, November 14, 2023

ROBERT JON AND THE WRECK - LIVE FROM HAWAII

  • robert jon and the wreck: live from hawaii
        (2018, cd, usa, hampton productions)
"Live From Hawaii" is another excellent release by Robert Jon And The Wreck.
Recorded live at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel in Kona, HI on August 17th, 2018, this is southern rock at its best.

If this doesn't get you in a good mood,...
Check it out !


Monday, November 13, 2023

WIJ BLIJ TRIO

The Wij Blij Trio is

  • Gert Wijninckx: wind instruments, synthesizers
  • Elko Blijweert: guitars, kalimba
  • Simon Beeckaert: double bass 
The trio is releasing their first album, "Droom Plaat" on the Heaven Hotel record label.


CURLEW - CBGB 1987 / TAKTLOS FESTIVAL 1986

  • Curlew: CBGB 1987 - Taktlos Festival 1986
        (2023, download, --, bandcamp / cuneiform)
Even an established record label as Cuneiform Records is releasing the majority of their new releases as download-only albums. The only exceptions are those artists for which a decent CD sale is expected.

One of the possible advantages of releasing digital download or streaming albums might be that it becomes more easy to release them.
I assume Curlew's "CBGB 1987 / Taktlos Festivak 1986" is such an example.

Curlew's experimental jazz albums have been released by Cuneiform since 1980 !
Led by George Cartwright (sax), both Fred Frith and Bill Laswell have been part of the band at some point.

Experimental jazz.
Great stuff.
  • George Cartwright - saxophones
  • Wayne Horvitz - keyboard and keyboard bass
  • Pippin Barnett - drums
  • Tom Cora - cello
  • Davey Williams - guitar


JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE - HOLLYWOOD BOWL - AUGUST 18, 1967

  • jimi hendrix experience: hollywood bowl - august 18, 1967
        (2023, lp, --, experience hendrix)

Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967 was captured just five days before the US release of Are You Experienced, their album debut. It is notable for being one of the last times the band performed in front of an audience as relative unknowns. The vast majority of the 17,000 plus Los Angeles concert goers were there to see headliners The Mamas & The Papas and were caught off guard by Jimi Hendrix’s electrifying musicality and showmanship. Amazingly, not a single second of this unique, two-track live recording has ever been released before in any capacity, either via official channels or elsewise.


5UU'S - LIVE AT A.K.W. WÜRZBURG, GERMANY APRIL 8, 1995

  • 5uu's: live at a.k.w. würzburg, germany april 8, 1995
        (2023, download, --, bandcamp / cuneiform)
In 1995, the 5uu's toured Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Germany.
The gig in Würzburg (hosted by Charly) got recorded and found it's way to Cuneiform Records almost thirty years later.

The band members recollect the recording of "Hunger's Teeth" and the following tour on the Bandcamp page.
Great reading.
Quite adventurous.
As is their music.
  • Scott Brazieal - keyboards
  • Bob Drake - bass, vocals
  • Mike Johnson - guitar, lap steel guitar, backing vocals
  • Dave Kerman - drums, percussion


MÖRGLBL IN CONCERT AT LE TRITON IN PARIS (FR) NEXT WEEK

Mörglbl is back... for a bit of fun!
After a 4-year hiatus, and a few plastic surgery procedures to make sure they don't look a day older, Mörglbl are treating themselves to a few dates in venues that have marked their history, including, of course, Le Triton! A setlist that draws on the trio's long discography, with a few surprises and some tracks rarely performed live!

17/11/2023 à 20h30
Le Triton, Les Lilas, Paris, France

https://www.letriton.com/programmation/morglbl-3017

'Anarchytektür'


KATE BUSH - THE SENSUAL WORLD

What better way to start a day.
Kate Bush
'The Sensual World'.
From 1989.


Tuesday, November 7, 2023

BRUFORD'S "ONE OF A KIND" GETS RE-ISSUED

From Glass Onyon PR

Bruford “One Of A Kind” 12” Vinyl Edition Available November 24, 2023


Definitive vinyl re-release re-issued on Bruford’s own Winterfold Records and overseen personally by drum legend Bill Bruford

• Bill Bruford is the original drummer in YES and was a long-term member of King Crimson.

• The band Bruford recorded this album in 1979 and it went on to achieve critical acclaim and commercial success.

Bruford “One Of A Kind” 12” vinyl reissue will be available November 24, 2023!

The line-up on this album is:
  • Bill Bruford – drums, percussion,
  • Allan Holdsworth – electric guitar, 
  • Dave Stewart – keyboards, 
  • Jeff Berlin – bass
This 12” vinyl re-issue has been mastered from the original 1979 mix, taken from the original 1979 analogue tapes, and comes housed in a replica sleeve.
Mastered from the original tapes recorded and mixed by Stephen W Tayler in 1979.
This definitive vinyl re-release is re-issued on Bruford’s own Winterfold Records and was overseen personally by Bill Bruford.

The 2017 remix :



PORCUPINE TREE

Porcupine Tree - Harridan (CLOSURE/CONTINUATION.LIVE - Official Video)

-- link: Harald Häring

Monday, November 6, 2023

VARESE BIOGRAPHY PUBLISHED AS AN E-BOOK

Fernand Ouelette's book / biography of Edgard Varèse has been published as an e-book.
I guess it's in French.
Originally issued in 1966, but it comes with an updated discography if my info is correct.


Q & A WITH TERRY BOZZIO ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Live Q&A with Terry Bozzio | Ask Him Anything! | Halloween Night 🎃

-- info: Harald Häring

 

BEAT LOVE ORACLE

Javier Mirande discusses the latest Beat Love Oracle album, "Dangerous Liquids", in his "The Sound Of Music" podcast.

Includes an introduction of the different pieces by Frank Nuyts !

The album :


TEN MORE DAYS FOR THE ZAPPA AUCTION OVER AT JULIEN'S AUCTIONS

Ten more days to go...

https://www.julienslive.com/auctions/catalog/id/471

-- info: Mick Zeuner

Sunday, November 5, 2023

ZAPPA'S "200 MOTELS" TO BE PERFORMED IN NICE (FR) NEXT MONTH

Zappa's "200 Motels" to be performed in Nice on December 1 & 2.

You might / should know about this if you frequent this blog.
Anyway, here's a newsflash from Facebook:

"Frank Zappa at the Opera? Pfffff... Impossible!!!" 🙄 
As a famous sports brand would say: Impossible is nothing 😉
The Opéra de #Nice has done it! 😁 

After huge success at the Philharmonie de Paris and the Zénith de Strasbourg, the #phenomenon "200 Motels - The Suites" lands at the Opéra de Nice on December 1 and 2! 😎 

🧳 L'Opéra de Nice continues its original journey towards American music: after the triumph of Aknathen by Philip Glass (New-York) in 2021, another great figure (#westcoast) makes his entrance at the Opéra: Frank Zappa! 

🎸 A resolutely protean artist, Frank Zappa made an unclassifiable film in 1971, 200 Motels, a sort of slightly madcap fiction-documentary on the life of a rock band: The Mothers of Invention. At the end of a long U.S. tour, the band is invited to take part in a TV show... which soon goes off the rails! 

🎶 Léo Warynski (conducting) and Antoine Gindt (directing) bring together the Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice, the Chœur de l'Opéra de Nice, a rock band (The Headshakers) and the Percussions de Strasbourg instrumental ensemble for what promises to be a colorful production!


JAUME DE VIALA - CALIDOSCOPI EMBRUIXAT

  • jaume de viala: calidoscopi embruixat
        (2023, cd, spain, private release)
Earlier this year, Jaume de Viala released his second album.
Produced by Dusan Jevtovic, the music mixes southern European, Mediterranean elements with jazz and fusion.

11 songs, most of which were written during the late 1970's !
For the most part instrumental, although three pieces feature the wonderful voice Judit Cucala.

I quite enjoyed "Calidoscopi Embruixat".

Check it out on Bandcamp:


SCHICKE, FÜHRS & FRÖHLING

Frank Zappa is mentioned in a recent SFF compilation set.

SFF = Germand 1970's prog rock band Schicke, Führs & Fröhling


From the booklet:


-- info: Uli M.

FRED FRITH AND ARTE QUARTETT - THE BIG PICTURE

  • fred frith and arte quartett: the big picture
        (2009, cd, switzerland, intakt records)
British composer, improvisor and multi-instrumentalist Fred Frith was commissioned by the San Francisco-based Rova Saxophone Quartet to compose a suite. The resulting 23 pieces can be found on “Freedom In Fragments”, performed by the Rova Saxophone Quartet.
Track number 7, entitled ‘T Square Park Lark’, was dedicated to Frank Zappa. 

Fred would later record the same piece with the Arte Quartett and release it on “The Big Picture” in 2009.

"The Big Picture" was Fred Frith's second release with the Arte Quartett, the other one being "Still Urban". Both out on the Swiss Intakt Records label.


Saturday, November 4, 2023

L'ORKESTRE DES PAS PERDU - T'AURAS PAS TA POMME

  • L'Orkestre Des Pas Perdus: T'Auras Pas Ta Pomme
        (1996, cd, Canada, ambiances magnétiques)
I know, I know. For the last couple of weeks, I couldn't stop praising L'Orkestre Des Pas Perdus, and I will not stop now.

"T'auras pas ta pomme" was the band's first album. From over twenty-five years ago !!
If you read the album title out loud, you will immediately notice that it might be used as a vocal aid to show a certain rhythm.
(The ensemble most recent release was called "Tarapatapomm2", presenting material from the same period as "T'auras pas ta pomme". That gave it away.)

Anyway, enough with the word plays. "T'auras pas ta pomme" is a beautiful release on which the brass sextet offered 12 swinging pieces. Performed incredibly tight and with lots of room and space for open arrangements and fine improvisations.
I love it.


In more recent years, mastermind, trombone player, composer and arranger Claude St-Jean could also be heard with (the more rock and improvised oriented) Les Projectionnistes.


Also check out Claude's solo project !!
Check out 'Dans Ma Cabane".



THE FISHHEADS TO RELEASE AN ALBUM CALLED "LOBSTER BASQUE REPLICA"

the Fishheads
'Lobster Basque Replica' (LP+CD)
Fruits de Mer Records
catalogue no. crustacean 100
release date : December 9th 

 

MUSIC ACROSS TALKED TO BILLY COBHAM

The next edition (On Monday November 6) of the Music Across radio show by Gernot Friedbacher focusses on Billy Cobham and his Zappanale concert.

Here's what Gernot adds:

This second programme about Zappanale 2023 features the world-famous, now 79-year-old jazz fusion drummer Billy Cobham. Billy Cobham is one of the most influential drummers and was inducted into the Classic Drummer Hall of Fame in 2013. He has played with Miles Davis, was a founding member of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the list of countless other world-famous musicians with whom he has played reads like a Who's Who of 20th century music history. In addition, Billy Cobham has also influenced and impressed numerous musicians from other genres, such as Prince, who covered "Stratus".

I had the privilege and great pleasure of meeting Billy Cobham in person at the Zappanale on 15 July 2023 and talking to him for "Music Across". Billy Cobham talked about his musical beginnings and his childhood in Panama, about recording in the studio then and now, about the social significance of music in the USA compared to Europe, about a UNICEF music project for street children in Brazil, and how he first came across Frank Zappa and what he thinks of Frank Zappa's music. And, of course, you will also hear music by Billy Cobham from all his creative periods from the 1970s to the present day.

Design, on microphone, sound engineering & production: Gernot Friedbacher

A detailed content description with playlist can be found here:

https://o94.at/programm/sendung/id/2130266

Best regards
Gernot Friedbacher

---------------------------------------------

After the broadcast, you can listen to the archived show:

MICK FARREN - LOS VAMPIROS ME ROBARON EL DINERO DE MI ALUERZO

  • mick farren: vampires stole my lunch money
        (2021, lp, spain, munster records)
Two years ago, the Munster Records label re-released Mick Farren's "Vampires Stole My Lunch Money" album.
Originally released in 1978, it includes his version of FZ's 'Trouble Every Day'.

Funny thing is that the album title has now been translated into Spanish, as can (hardly) be seen in the upper left corner of the cover: 
Vampires Stole My Lunch Money (Los Vampiros me Robaron El Dinero De Mi Almuerzo)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - JOYFUL NOISE HALLOWEEN PARTY, VOL.1

  • Various Artists : Joyful Noise Halloween Party, Vol.1
        (2023, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
The Joyful Noise record company released this 10 song sampler to celebrate Halloween in 2023. 

Track 9 is / was Suuns’ recording of FZ’s ‘The Torture Never Stops’.
Each track was also released separately on a single sided 7” ‘Spider Lathe’ record, limited to approximately 100 copies each.

 

INVENTIONIS MATER - DIMENTION(I)S MAT(T)ER

  • inventionis mater: dimention(i)s mat(t)er
        (2023, cd, italy, private release)
        (2023, lp, italy, private release)
Inventionis Mater's  "Dimention(i)s Mat(t)er" got released on CD  earlier this year, but we had to wait a bit for the vinyl edition.
This beautiful Zappa tribute album belongs in every Zappa fan's collection.
And it comes with stunning artwork.



NEW FIDO ALBUM AND TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024

Excellent news from FiDO

Dear FiDO newsy, good morning!

After our short but very pleasant tour just one month ago (🙏🏼 for being there!) we're now busily working on the upcoming live album, which is due in summer 24. It's going to be a best-of compilation of the shows we played with Robert Martin through 2023 in Germany and Basel.

It will be released digitally and on CD, and we would really love to put it out on vinyl too - which we'll only do, if we get a good amount of pre-orders for the vinyl version.

So, If you're interested, pre-order with the link below. And share it with your friends and other Zappa-fanatics..
https://form.123formbuilder.com/6548728/online-order-form

We just finished the first clip of our Basel-show, which will be on the album.
City Of Tiny Lights, one of our new favorites

And, after the show is before the show.. So save the 2024 dates below:

  • 10.10.24 Dortmund – Piano
  • 11.10.24 Rüsselsheim – das Rind
  • 12.10.24 Stuttgart – Bürgerhaus Botnang
  • 13.10.24. Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport
  • 14.10.24 tba
  • 15.10.24 Bremen – Meisenfrei
  • 16.10.24. tba
  • 17.10.24 Bonn – Harmonie
  • 18.10.24. tba
  • 19.10.24 Garching – Gasthof Zum Bräu
Thanks for the support, Ciao!
-- Pascal & die FIDOS


POIL UEDA - YOSHITSUNE

  • PoiL Ueda: Yoshitsune
        (2023, cd, france, dur & doux)
PoiL and Junko Ueda continue their collaboration on "Yoshitsune".

Earlier this year, PoiL and Junka Ueda released "PoiL Ueda", preceded and followed by some extensive touring in Yurip.
I might not have caught them in concert, but I consider "Poil Ueda" one of the top albums of 2023.

And now there's "Yoshitsune". Even more clashing and energetic than it's predecessor. And it works. Mesmerizing melodies, powerful polyrhythms.

Out on LP, CD and available through Bandcamp.


DAMIÃO EXPERIENCA

And now, for something completely different,
(The late) Brazilian guitarist and composer Damião Experiença


NABOU CLAERHOUT

W.E.R.F. records just released Trombone Ensemble Nabou Claerhout by Nabou Claerhout.

Modern jazz !


Friday, November 3, 2023

PRINCE - RAVE IN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC

  • prince: rave in2 the joy fantastic
        (2001, cd, usa, npg)
The recent "Diamonds & Pearls" box set made me revisit some Prince albums.

Prince released "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" in 1999.
Two years later, he released "Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic", a remix album of the 1999 release. Made available exclusively through his NPG Music Club.

NPG released some albums on CD and others as a download.
"Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic" was made available on CD.

A couple of years ago, this remix album got re-released as a 2 LP set.


NEW ALBUM BY FRENCH INSTRUMENTAL PROGRESSIVE/MATH ROCK BAND NI ANNOUNCED FOR DECEMBER

Record label Dur & Doux, and Ni have released a teaser for the upcoming album:


ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND - BARS WITHOUT MEASURES

Excellent news for fans of the Discus record label.
Discus is located in Sheffield in the UK, but has now set up a distribution for the Yuripean mainland from Berlin.
To avoid custom hassles.

This implies that there is no longer a reason to wait to order the latest Eclectic Maybe Band album !


MIKE KENEALLY'S "TAR TAPES VOL.1" ON BANDCAMP

 From Mike's recent newsletter:

As alluded to in last month’s Keneallist, the recent sale of Bandcamp to Mephistopholean Industries, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as MII) has had some unhoped-for ramifications, but hey it’s 2023 and what are you gonna do?! We’re gonna keep on adding to our roster of recordings there, and MII has (for the time being at least) pledged to keep Bandcamp Friday going.

It would seem that there is now more incentive than ever to take advantage of Bandcamp Friday (the one day a month where 100% of all revenue generated at Bandcamp goes only to the artists and labels, and not to the overlords)!

This month our new Bandcamp entry is THE TAR TAPES VOL. 1. This was originally an extremely limited-edition CD, released in the late ‘90s, compiling some of the best tracks from the Tar Tapes cassette releases I put out with my brother Marty Keneally throughout the 1980s. Mostly home recordings, but also containing live and studio recordings done with our band Drop Control. Definitely young and innocent days.

The songs I selected for VOL.1 (and the later VOL. 2) are the cream of the crop of the original cassette releases. On VOL. 1, you’ll find original versions of some tracks which later became live favorites throughout my whole career (like “Killer Fish,” “Tug” and “Performing Miracles”), but mostly you’ll hear songs which never got re-recorded or introduced into the live repertoire later on.

It all makes for an interesting listen - if you haven’t checked it out before, you might like to now. Thanks!


CHRIS OPPERMAN'S "STILL WATERS" ALBUM IS OUT !

NEW FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW LP ANNOUNCED

Announced for mid-December;
radio show LP - blue vinyl
Live 1988


Thursday, November 2, 2023

SCHWARZ/ROT ATEMGOLD 09 - SKA MA!

  • schwarz/rot atemgold 09: ska ma!
        (2003, cd, Germany, private release)
        (2021, download / streaming, --, itunes)
German ska / brass band Schwarz/Rot Atemgold 09 released four albums: “Schwarz/Rot” (1985), “Am Emscherstrand” (1993), “Standard” (2000), and “Ska Ma!” (2003). “Ska Ma!” included their version of FZ’ ‘Let’s Make The Water Turn Black’, in an arrangement of Andreas Ruhnke.

“Ska Ma!” was made available on iTunes in 2021.

From the same album:


MULA - POIL - SPLIT ALBUM

The Mula / Poil split 12" has been re-released on CD for Japan.

Lovely !!



PHIL MAGGI - ANIMALWRATH

  • phil maggi: animalwrath
        (2018, cd, Belgium, sub rosa)
        (2018, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
Phil Maggi is a composer, vocalist and film maker from Belgium.
He's best known as the lead singer of heavy rock band Ultraphallus, but he also released several solo albums.
Phil’s 2018 “Animalwrath” album ends with a piece entitled ‘The Big Note’.
Phil explained:
It was in fact inspired by Pacôme Thiellement’s film and articles about Frank Zappa. But I just used the title as a homage to my favourite bands.
“Animalwrath” was also made available through digital music platforms.

The music on "Animalwrath" is eclectic, to say the least. The words collage and musical architecture come to mind.
The Bandcamp page adds:
...hybrid sounds, ranging from ambient-drone to electro-acoustic music, from sampling and field recording to free-jazz.

The CD comes in a nice three-fold digipack, but the album is available through musical platforms as well. You can check it out at: 



L'ORKESTRE DES PAS PERDUS - L'ÂGE DU CUIVRE

  • l'orkestre des pas perdus: l'âge du cuivre
        (2011, cd, canada, cross current music)
"L'Age Du Cuivre" is another wonderful release by L'Orkestre Des Pas Perdus.
Their fifth album, if I'm not mistaken, and also their final one if you don't count the recent posthumous "Tarapatapomm2"
"L'Age Du Cuivre" is from 2011, so over ten years old, but it sounds fresh and exuberant as if it had been recorded yesterday.

Fans of adventurous music will love this.
Music by Claude St-Jean, performed by a playful sounding brass band.

Listen to this.
You will thank me later.


AARDVARK - EIKELS WORDEN BOMEN

  • Aardvark: Eikels Worden Bomen
        (2008, cd, Belgium, amigoes)
Belgian band Aardvark was singer/songwriter/guitarist Michel Goessens' and harmonica player Werner Dumez' project.
Next to Michel and Werner, (the deluxe edition of) the band featured Micha Vandendriessche (drums), Jorg D'Hondt (bass) and Jan Borré (piano, keyboard, vocals).

FZ’s ‘Joe’s Garage’ and ‘Catholic Girls’ were mentioned in the lyrics of ‘Blankenberge 1984’, a track that could be found on their “Eikels Worden Bomen” album.

Zij ros van haar en bleek van vel
Ik zot van Zappa, ja, dan weet je het wel
‘Joe’s Garage’ en ‘Catholic Girls’
(with Leather)
Ik zei “Yes, of course baby, I love you”
“Yes, of course baby, I swear I do”

The album had been on my want-list for quite a while.
15 tracks. Tiny, charming and melancholic stories, sung in Flemish dialect. 
And with a funny Zappa reference.
Very happy to have found a copy !

TRAKTORKESTAR - FREMDE FEDERN

  • traktorkestar: fremde federn
        (2015, cd ep, switzerland, trakton / private release)
        (2016, download / streaming, --, itunes)
Swiss brass band Traktorkestar (love that name !) has released several albums and a handful of EP's since 2010.
The 2015 "Fremde Federn" CD EP included a short and up-tempo version of FZ's 'Let's Make The Water Turn Black' in an arrangement of trombone and horn player Matthias Baumann.
Beautiful.
The EP got released on digital music platforms in 2016.



BEREND VONK EXPO

Of interest for those who will be attending the MOSAE ZAPPA FESTIVAL in Heerlen (NL) in November.

Graphic artist Berend Vonk is having an expo in Meerssen (NL).
No link to the music of Frank Zappa (although Berend did perform at a previous edition of the Mosae Zappa Festival).
Just useful information for people with fine taste.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

NYU PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE PLAYS ZAPPA - - - COMPLETE CONCERT ON YOUTUBE

NYU PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
Jonathan Haas, Director / Conductor

With special guests: Meghan Bennett, Elijah Maston, and Pat Swoboda

The genius of Frank Zappa is undeniable, his unique voice unlike any other that came before or after. A self-taught musician with a 30-year-long career that encompassed a wide variety of musical genres including rock, jazz, electronic, and classical music. Zappa’s influences were far-reaching and comprised his singular approach to his art, paired with a flouting of convention. This performance celebrates his music and career, presenting several of his most popular and recognized pieces!

Featuring: Let's Make the Water Turn Black, RDNZL, Idiot Bastard Son, G-Spot Tornado, Regyptian Strut, The Black Page, Music for Marimba and Low Budget Orchestra, and Edgard Varese classics Ionisation and Density 21.5

The NYU Percussion Ensemble is Per-Niklas Barth, Xingyu Guan, Shea Humphrey, Shun Lopez, Ryan Learned, Pei Hsien Lu, Paden Lindstrom, AJ Morrissey, Natalie North, Jess Ong, Abigail Rodriguez. Grace Sprecher, Tim Topolu, and Jacky Xu

LOCATION: Iris Cantor Theater
38 West Houston Street
New York, NY 10012
Tuesday, October 31st at 8:00pm

 

FZ - OVER-NITE SENSATION - A CONVERSATION WITH JOE TRAVERS AND MICHAEL MESKER

Frank Zappa - Over-Nite Sensation Series (Ep. 1: A Conversation with Joe Travers + Michael Mesker)


L'ORKESTRE DES PAS PERDUS - MAISON DOUCE MAISON

  • l'orkestre des pas perdus: maison douce maison
        (1998, cd, canada, ambiences magnetiques)
The latest discovery is called L'Orkestre De Pas Perdus, a Canadian brass ensemble.
They recorded Frank Zappa's 'Chunga's Revenge' on one of their albums, which was the perfect invitation for a further investigation.

The band has released 5 albums between 1996 and 2011, adding another album with older material in 2021.
And quite the discovery it is.
Great tunes, excellent performances and beautiful arrangements and solos.
And funny as well.

I love the energy and the jazz/funk approach.

"Maison Douce Maison" got released in 1998. It was the band's second album.
All pieces were written by Claude St-Jean, who also plays the trombone.
Next to Claude, there's Rémi Leclerc (drums), Jean-Denis Levasseur (alto sax, clarniet,...), Roberto Murray (tenor sax, flute,...), Jean Sabourin (sousaphone) and Maxim St-Pierre (trumpet, flugelhorn).

Check them out. They're amazing !!


DICKEY BETTS & LES PAUL


NEW CARDIFF GIANTS

The New Cardiff Giants have released a track on Bandcamp !

Bill Saunders on vocals. (You may remember Bill from Doctor Dark.)


DICKEY BETTS & GREAT SOUTHERN - SOUTHERN JAM NEW YORK 1978

  • dickey betts & great southern: southern jam new york 1978
        (2017, 2cd, usa, rockbeat records)
The continuation of my exploration of the jam band world has me cross paths with Dickey Betts & Great Southern's "Southern Jam New York 1978" album.

Recorded for (and most probably taken from)  a radio broadcast, this album presents an excellent concert by Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Lots of great guitar stuff by both Dickey Betts and Dan Toler !

From a different night, on a different location: