ZEROENSEMBLE - TWO-4-2026

• ZEROensemble: Two-4-2026
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Two songs for 2026. What an excellent way to kick off the year.
Kevin Crosby's ZEROensemble has just released two tracks:

'Willie The Pimp', featuring Mark Watson and Tante Tofu's Christiane and Stoni,
and 'Marque-Son's Chicken' with Niklas and Rob.
Supervised, arranged, bass and more by Kevin Crosby.
Beautiful.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year.
Wishing you joy and happiness.

GERRIT DE JAGER - - - BILLY THE MOUNTAIN

Dutch comic book artist Gerrit de Jager did a comic strip on Frank Zappa's Billy The Mountain, somewhere in the early seventies.
A fine discovery by Kjell Knudde during his investigation for the Lambiek's Comic Book Artist Encyclopedia, better known as the Comiclopedia.

https://www.lambiek.net/artists/image/j/jager_gerrit_de/jager_g_early70s.jpg

-- info: Kjell Knudde

UPDATES FROM MORGAN ÅGREN

Excellent news from Morgan Ågren:

"Make Mats/Morgan Great Again" has been made available on CD,
and the 2025 remastered version of "Batterie Deluxe" is also getting a CD release !!

Both are also available for digital download / streaming.

-

EIDON - VISIONI

A new piece by Eidon:
'Visioni' 

A CUNEIFORM UPDATE - - - MIKE JOHNSON

The Cuneiform record label has just announced a new album by Mike Johnson (of Thinking Plague): The Gardens Of Loss.
To be released in January 2026.

"ZOOT ALORS !" FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW ALBUM GETS A RE-RELEASE

Previously released as a 4 CD digipack album in 2017 on the Coda Publishing record label, "Zoot Alors !" got re-released in a tin can (!!) by the same Coda Publishing company in 2023.

2025 saw yet another re-release of this 4 CD set.
Again as a digipack album, but this time on the Stylus Groove record label.

• Zappa: Zoot Alors !
      (2025, 4cd, --, stylus groove sgcd117)
  
  

SELAH SUE IS TEAMING UP WITH THE GALLANDS

Stéphane and Elvin Galland have been performing (and recording) as The Gallands for a couple of years now.
I vividly remember seeing them in concert in Brussels in May 2024.
Stéphane on drums, Elvin on keyboards, and Louise van den Heuvel on the bass.
Beautiful.

Yesterday, Belgian soul vocalist Selah Sue announced on national TV (during the "Live Live Live" show) that she will be working (read: recording and touring) with with The Gallands.
The three of them already collaborated (with DJ Grasshoppa) for a concert at Jazz Middelheim earlier in 2025.

At the "Live Live Live" TV show, Selah Sue performed a tune from the upcoming project (with Stéphane, Elvin, two of her backing vocalists, and The Atomic Orchestra).
It sounded great, but I'm also very curious to see and hear what the smaller setting will sound like (= without The Atomic Orchestra).

Better get your calendar out:

March 2026

• Mar 1: Leuven, Belgium - Cool Festival
• Mar 8: Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
• Mar 21: Le Poiré-sur-Vie, France - Acoustic Festival
• Mar 23: Groningen, Netherlands - SPOT De Oosterpoort
• Mar 24: Nijmegen, Netherlands - Doornroosje
• Mar 26: Heerlen, Netherlands - Nieuwe Nor
• Mar 28: Eindhoven, Netherlands - Muziekgebouw Eindhoven

May 2026

• May 9: Liège, Belgium - Reflektor (Uhoda Jazz à Liège Festival)

July 2026

• Jul 4: Bouc-bel-air, France
• Jul 17: Sète, France

Something to look forward to.

-

-

MICHAEL LEGUE'S THREE-WEEK RESIDENCY AT BLUE NOTE NYC

Michael League’s Three-Week Residency at Blue Note NYC Starts January 6

https://www.bluenotejazz.com/nyc/

THE HEADSHAKERS

September 2018, The Headshakers, together with l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Les Percussions de Strasbourg and Les Métaboles, performed Frank Zappa's "200 Motels, The Suites".

Not just an ordinary concert...
The Headshakers were 'the rock band'.

In everyday life, The Headshakers ARE a rock band.
They have released two mini albums, one regular album, and one promotional album.

1	The Headshakers: The Headshakers     (2010, cd, France, private release) = 3 track mini album
2	The Headshakers: We Jazz We Rock We Funk     (2012, cd, France, private release) = 3 track mini album - incl. 'I'm The Slime' (F. Zappa) as a hidden track
3	The Headshakers: THS     (2015, cd, France, aph 106026-1)
4	The Headshakers: The Headshakers     (2019, cd-promo, France, private release)

I recently came across a physical copy of their first CD / mini album.
Couldn't resist, despite the fact that I already had bought the mini album on Bandcamp years ago.
Anyway, nice to add this to the collection.

• The Headshakers: The Headshakers
      (2010, cd, France, private release)

MONKEY HOUSE - FRIDAY

• Monkey House: Friday
      (2019, cd, Canada, alma records)

Melodic jazz / pop à la Steely Dan.
Don Breithaupt's project.

Monkey House has released 9 albums.
Album number 7, "Friday", got released in 2019.

This is great !! Really like it.

You can check out their "Retrospective" album on Bandcamp. It compiled songs from their first four albums, plus some unreleased bits.

-- info & more: Mick Zeuner

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - BETTER STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR MISTER JERKOFF

 

• The Rudy Schwartz Project: Better Storage Solutions For Mister Jerkoff
      (2025, cd, USA, private release)

Next to the "Ass And Hammer" album, another Rudy Schwartz Project release saw the light of day in 2025.
"Better Storage Solutions For Mister Jerkoff", released in October 2025.

Joe Newman follows the musical path that has been set by The Raymond Scott Project and by Frank Zappa, even taking it a bit further. (From polka to Jazz From Hell...)
Another common thing with Frank Zappa, is that Joe does not shy away from giving his opinion, to put it mildly.

As Archive Angel commented on Bandcamp:
Every track is weird as fuck, perfectly executed.
A big beautiful album fully inspired by our shared reality here in 2025land.

Digital download / streaming through Bandcamp, but also available on beautifully made CDR !

MONOBODY - COMMA

• Monobody: Comma
      (2021, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2021, lp, USA, sooper records)

Enjoying "Comma", the latest release (from 2021) by Monobody.

Monobody is a Chicago-based instrumental band blending post-rock, jazz-fusion, math rock, and pop, known for its unique two-bassist setup and complex, energetic sound.

Nice. Very nice.

-- info & more: Mick Zeuner

DOOM GONG

Doom Gong,
one of the bands that recently got added to the Zappanale 2026 line-up. 
From Louisville, Kentucky.

Wow...

Recorded on November 18th, 2023 at DOOM GONG's "Dream Behemoth" album release show at The Whirling Tiger in Louisville, KY.

ZAPPANALE 2026 ADDED THE MAHAVISHNU PROJECT AND THE HILO JAZZ ORCHESTRA TO THE LINE-UP

The line-up so far :

• Mahavishnu Project (USA)
• Hilo Jazz Orchestra (HI)
• VKB Band (USA) – re-inventing the music of Tom Waits
• Guts Pie Earshot (DE)
• Mentat Routage - Brothers of Dimension feat. Médéric Collignon (FR)
• HALA (NL)
• Doom Gong (USA)
• Filthy Brillos (NL/DE)
• Die miserablen Husos (DE)
• Agitation Free (DE)
• The Lovers of Invention (UK)
• Octafish (DE)

More info:

https://zappanale.de/en/

GERT-JAN DREESSEN - ANGLE OF INCIDENCE

• Gert-Jan Dreessen: Angle Of Incidence
      (2025, cd, Belgium, hypnotrecords)

"Angle Of Incidence" is drummer and composer Gert-Jan Dreessen's first album as a leader.

Modern jazz.
9 pieces, all written by Gert-Jan Dreessen and performed by Gert-Jan on drums, plus Jean-Paul Estiévenart (trumpet), Bram De Looze (piano), and Cyrille Obermüller (bass).

Beautiful.
And quite the debut.

Gert-Jan is known for his sharp musical intuition, rich sound palette and strong rhythmic identity. He has performed internationally with musicians like Bert Joris, Logan Richardson, John O’Gallagher, Shai Maestro and Nduduzo Makhathini, and is a regular member of ensembles such as Flat Earth Society, Tomer Cohen Quartet and many more.

Here's the quartet in concert at Flagey in Brussels, November 2023.

MENTAT ROUTAGE

• Mentat Routage: Mentat Routage
      (2010, cd, France, musea mp3099)

Mentat Routage is a French transartistic group known for their unique blend of improvised music, tap dancing, painting and video projection, inspired by arists such as Zappa and Davis. They create sonic and visual worlds that combine progressive rock, jazz and experimental music, and their projects, such as ‘Brothers of Dimension’, are eclectic and compelling shows.

The band released only one album, an eponymous CD, in 2010.

They will be performing at the next Zappanale festival as "The Brothers Of Dimension", with Médéric Collignon as special guest.

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Un Momenta Ancoro'
by Eidon

TAROT

'The Rain' is the 2nd single from the upcoming album by Tarot, to be released on March 1st, 2026.

Tarot was formed in 1985 by 4 British teenagers and split in 1991. The band reformed in 2025 to write and record a new album

The Rain was written by Mark Mcinnes (Zappatika) way back in the '90s in memory of a close friend who died very suddenly in a climbing accident.

The album 'TAROT - Volume One' is now finished and in its final post-production stages. Expected release date for the album is 1st March 2026.

https://open.spotify.com/album/20jdnWF31QpGZ2ZVPdF5sz?si=lkyj9XIIQw2xRnwlbat18g

CÉCILE NORDEGG

I first heard of Cécile Nordegg (also known as No-Ce) when I found out that she had recorded FZ's 'Bobby Brown' and released it on her "Jazz Proclamation Vol. 1" LP in 2017.
(The piece got re-released on CD in 2018, capturing both her "Volume 1" and "Volume 2" albums.)

At the time, I hadn't realized that she shared her last name with Thomas Nordegg, guitar tech for Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Dweezil Zappa,...
In the meantime, that has become obvious :-)

Her 2015 "Illusion" album featured Philip Bynoe, Rick Musallam, Scheila Gonzalez and Billy Hulting, among others.
& her 2022 "Chansons" album featured Mike Keneally.

Here's Cécile in concert:

And to make it even more interesting, here's a (dance) 'Twin Pigs Remix' of Cécile's version of 'Bobby Brown'.
The track got released in 2021 as part of Cécile's "Dance Proclamation" album on several digital music platforms. Later, also included in the 3 CD set called "Triple". (More on this later)

STEF KAMIL CARLENS - SKC & THE POEM

• Stef Kamil Carlens: SKC & The Poem
      (2025, cd, Belgium, starman records smr499)

SKC & The Poem = Stef Kamil Carlens, Nel Ponsaers & Rahmat Emonds.
3 musicians, but also 3 vocalists with voices that blend together perfectly.

Original pieces & a fine selection of reworked cover versions: Sade, Prince, Ewan MacColl, Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen,...

Fragile, delicate, beautiful.

Also out as a 2 LP set on transparent green vinyl.

Stef Kamil's solo albums / discography:

1	Stef Kamil Carlens: Stuck In The Status Quo     (2017, cd, --, pias)
2	Stef Kamil Carlens: Making Sense Of ∞     (2019, cd, --, pias)
3	Stef Kamil Carlens & The Gates Of Eden: Play Bob Dylan Live 2021 2022     (2023, 2cd, Belgium, starman records smr420)
4	Stef Kamil Carlens: Be Who You Wanna Be     (2024, cd, Belgium, starman records smr448)
5	Stef Kamil Carlens: SKC & The Poem     (2025, cd, Belgium, starman records smr499)

In the meantime, another interesting album got released :
Stef Kamil Carlens: "Live On 2 Meter Sessions"

ALBERT MARCOEUR - V'LÀ AUTRE CHOSE !

• Albert Marcoeur: V’là Autre Chose !
      (2025, cd, France, m12/20256

"V’là Autre Chose !" is a brand-new album by French composer Albert Marcoeur !!

Melodic, rhythmic and sonic experimentations with fancy nursery rhymes, humorous and offbeat lyrics.

Supporters of the project received their copy earlier this week but the album will be available from Albert's website in a couple of weeks.
https://www.labelfreres.com/home.php

Recommended !

Here's a piece from the 1976 "Album A Colorier" album:

JEFF 'SKUNK' BAXTER

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who we know from Steely Dan and from The Doobie Brothers, is interviewed by Rick Beato.

Frank Zappa is mentioned coincidentally a couple of times during the first ten minutes of the interview, when Skunk talks about working in a NYC guitar shop.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade 

PHISH AT THE GARDEN - - - DECEMBER 28 - 31, 2025

Phish will be doing four nights at Madison Square Garden.

Webcast tickets are on sale through https://www.livephish.com/

Here's a snippet from 2024 :

RUINSZU

The RuinsZu project includes bassist Massimo Pupillo and saxophonist Luca T. Mai, both from the band Zu, along with drummer Tatsuya Yoshida, from Ruins.

The trio toured in 2024 and has recently released "JazzIsDead Live".
Out on LP on the Subsounds Records label.

NEKTAR - A TAB IN THE OCEAN

German progressive rock band Nektar released their second album, "A Tab In The Ocean", in 1972.

The album is now getting a complete make-over.
4 CDs plus a blu ray audio disc.
A Cherry Red Records release.

This new box set edition contains 4 CDs and a region-free Blu-ray disc and has been remastered from the original master tapes. It features a new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix of the album, as well as a wonderful, previously unreleased complete concert recorded in April 1973 in Erbach, Germany, and a remastered version of the 1976 US album version.

I'm not that familiar with Nektar's discography, so I'm checking out the original release on YouTube:

JOHN TABACCO - THE FIX IS IN

John Tabacco's latest release, "The Fix Is In" is dedicated to Ed Palermo.

John added:
This “Big Band” CD is dedicated to Ed Palermo, a phenomenal arranger of Frank Zappa’s music—among countless others. I had the pleasure of working with him many years ago, and his influence continues to resonate. Thank you for the enduring inspiration, Mr. Palermo. 

NEW RELEASE FROM PANZERPAPPA

Panzerpappa just released "The Panzerpappa Avant Rock Calendar 2025".

 “It is a common tradition in Norway is to present a small surprise or gift each day of December until Christmas, in the form of an Advent Calendar. Panzerpappa has this year provided their own spin to this tradition by presenting one track from the extensive back catalogue each day accompanied by a video. This is only the second time the band has done this kind of thing, the first time in almost 10 years. This time, each band member chose 5 favourite tracks from the catalogue. And now on Christmas Eve, as a gift to our listeners, we present the collection as a compilation album on Bandcamp. You can pay as little, or as much, as you like. It is all up to you. Please, enjoy the music and Merry Christmas.”

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - ASS AND HAMMER - SUNHINE SUPERSHITS VOLUME 2

• The Rudy Schwartz Project: Ass And Hammer - Sunhine Supershits Volume 2
      (2025, cdr-on-demand, USA, private release)

Released in January 2025, the Rudy Schwartz Project's "Ass And Hammer - Sunhine Supershits Volume 2" is another brilliant album by Joe Newman.

Otherworldly versions of classic pop tunes, and more.
Brilliant.

Check it out :

Available as a Bandcamp download / streaming album and as a CDR-on-demand (although the latter options might end soon).

BLANCK ZAPPATH IN CONCERT NEXT APRIL

Blanck Zappath, performing the music of Black Sabbath and Frank Zappa

ATHENA JADE GOSSETT & ANDRE CHOLMONDELEY - CAROLINA HARDCORE ECSTASY

'Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy'
by Athena Jade Gossett & Andre Cholmondeley

MARBIN TOURDATES

KIMONO DRAGGIN' HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT !!

 "I Can't Believe It's Not Music"
The brand-new album by Kimono Draggin'

Also check out the 'Willie Get's Tortured'.
Yes, it is what you think it is.

From 2009 already.

GERRY FIALKA'S ZAPPATISTASALON #5

ZappatistaSalon#5 "Frankie with freakin fringe on top - 85 years of The Big Note"

Enter the bizarre world of Gerry Fialka.

TREACHEROUS CRETINS' 2025 ZAPPANALE PERFORMANCE IS UP ON YOUTUBE

For those of you who missed yesterday's premiere:

Treacherous Cretins, featuring Robert Martin
Live at Zappanale 2025

20 YEARS OF STUDIO DAN

Studio Dan celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Porgy & Bess club in Vienna, Austria, earlier this year.

The entire show is up on YouTube.

Scrolling through the show, I stumbled upon a Frank Zappa piece around 1h and 33 minutes into the recording.
Not really a surprise, and (!!) an excellent performance / arrangement of 'Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance', followed by a fine version of 'What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?', and more...
A beautiful set of Zappa pieces.

ALEX HARVEY 21 CD BOX SET ANNOUNCED

Announced for next April on the Madfish record label:

A COMPREHENSIVE 21 CD BOXSET OF CONCERT PERFORMANCES FROM THE SCOTTISH LEGENDS, INCLUDES 144-PAGE HARDBACK BOOK, RARE MEMORABILIA, SIGNED BAND PHOTO, REPLICA PROGRAMME + MORE

One of the pieces that's being released on this box is called 'King Kong'.
Not the Zappa piece, but a cover of the Max Steiner piece (for the movie), previously released on Alex Harvey's "Rock Drill" album.

Alex did, however, cover 'Willie The Pimp' on "The Joker Is Wild".

DWEEZIL ZAPPA - DWEEZIL ZAPPA PLAYS APOSTROPHE (') LIVE

• Dweezil Zappa: Apostrophe Live
      (2025, download, --, reward music platform) 

This might just be the best release of 2025.
Dweezil Zappa with his Zappa Plays Zappa band in concert in 2010.
Performing the entire "Apostrophe (')" album.
Featuring FZ as an on-screen special guest on 'Cosmik Debris', and featuring George Duke as special guest on 'Uncle Remus'.

It doesn't get much better than this.

I watched the concert video yesterday. Completely overwhelmed...
Today, I enjoyed one of the bonus videos (the Thomag Nordegg interview). Very nice.

Two options: download, or streaming for one week.
I would have preferred a blu-ray, but I guess this download thing will be the future...

MORGAN ÅGREN, JIMMY ÅGREN & TINA AHLEN - - - WATERMELON IN EASTER HAY

Morgan Ågren released this on YouTube when FZ would have turned 80.

Morgan Ågren (drums), Jimmy Ågren (guitar), and Tina Ahlin (harmonica).

A beautiful performance of one of FZ's signature pieces.

JAKE REICHBART - - - VILLAGE OF THE SUN

'Village of the Sun' (Frank Zappa)
solo fingerstyle guitar
by Jake Reichbart

ALLMAN BETTS FAMILY REVIVAL + AMANDA PEARL SHIRES + DWEEZIL ZAPPA

Allman Betts Family Revival + Amanda Pearl Shires + Dweezil Zappa

“Whipping Post” 12/20/25 LA, CA

The Allman Betts Family Revival is an annual concert tour led by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, sons of Allman Brothers legends Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts;
They performed in L.A. on the 20th of December.

ALIENO DEBOOTES' FZBBQ EPISODE 16

Bootes Invisible Radio - FZBBQ 2025 - The Dynamite Show episode 16

A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

'Solo un momento'
by Eidon

 

NEWS FROM TREACHEROUS CRETINS

A message from Treacherous Cretins

Alreety alrighty hey… welcome to the Winter news.

2026 Dates Announced!

We are pleased to announce our dates for 2026. We’ll be back once again to deliver a dynamite show celebrating the work of Frank Zappa.

2026 marks 60 years since the release of Frank’s debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out! In the 27-year career that followed, Frank’s prolific output totalled 62 albums, with dozens more released posthumously since his passing in 1993.

The Conceptual Continuity Tour promises to celebrate the depth and breadth of Frank’s vast body of work, with the Cretins crafting a setlist that takes the audience through every era of his sound — from the late‑1960s psychedelic Mothers of Invention to the progressive, politically charged material from his final 1988 tour. Expect your favourite Zappa classics, plus a generous helping of deep cuts — including tracks never before performed live, even by Zappa himself.

Dates:

• 25th May - LONDON - The Lexington
• 26th May - BIRMINGHAM - Hare & Hounds
• 27th May - NEWCASTLE - The Cluny
• 28th May - SHEFFIELD - Sidney & Matilda
• 29th May - CARDIFF - The Earl Haig
• 30th May - BRIGHTON - The Brunswick
• 20th June - TAVISTOCK - The Wharf

Germany: Heubacher Zappa Nacht

We are delighted to have been invited to perform at the last ever Heubacher Zappa Nacht in October, alongside another great Zappa band: The Dangerous Kitchen.

It’s currently our only foray into Germany in 2026, so it would be wonderful to see as many of our German friends (and those from further afield) as possible.

🎃 Halloween 2026

We will be playing three Haloween shows in October. It has become a staple of the Treacherous Cretins calendar and we can't wait to do it again next year, and we are delighted to bringing the show back to the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool.

• 27th October - LIVERPOOL - The Cavern Club
• 30th October - WINCHESTER - The Railway
• 31st October - LONDON - The Finsbury

Happy birthday: Zappadan - Zappanale performance premier!

Tonight (Sunday 21st December) at 8:30 pm UK time we will be premiering the video of our Zappanale show perfomed earlier this year. Join us on our YouTube channel, get on the chat with fellow Zappa fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvH7qDtQ0bc

It has become an annual event for us to celebrate Frank's birthday and the end of Zappadan. We started the tradition in 2020 during lockdown celebrating what would have been FZ's 80th... so let's celebrate his 85th!

We absolutely loved performing in Germany. Perfect summer vibes surrounded by so many of our friends - it was the most recent gig we played with Robert, so is especially poignant for us all in light of his recent health issues.

We hope you can join us for our virtual gig tonight, celebrate FZ's birthday and relive the Zappanale concert!

And finally…

We’ve had a wonderful 2025. Thank you again for all your support. We love playing this music, and it’s only possible because of you.

ANDREAS RAUSCH

 Checking out the latest entry in the Lambiek Comiclopedia !

"Andreas Rausch"

(by Kjell Knudde)

https://www.lambiek.net/artists/r/rausch_andreas.htm

PHILIP SANDERSON'S RESIDENTS TRIBUTE

A tribute to The Residents, by Philip Sanderson.
Out on CD, on the Klanggalerie record label.

"From a secret mountain top location a number of tracks by the Residents were broadcast into the far reaches of outer space with the hope that they might be received and understood by an Interplanetary Intelligence (IPI). As the tracks traveled across space and time the signals collided and combined with other musical broadcasts: opera, swing, fuzz rock, barbershop, etc till by the time the broadcast was received it was a veritable Shark Fin Soup – a mutant musical cornucopia played in ways even the Residents might not expect. The whole thing was reflected back to earth and captured one night on short wave by Philip Sanderson (Snatch Tapes/Storm Bugs). The tracks were then dis-arranged and with the help of the The Snatch Tapes Swingers, The Brontochorus and not least Chef D’Orchestre Arthur Ingot put down on disc for your listening pleasure."

SOFT MACHINE'S "MAN IN A DEAF CORNER" ANTHOLOGY GETS A RE-ISSUE

Originally released in 2001, the "Man In A Deaf Corner" Soft Machine anthology 2 CD set is getting a re-issue on the Floating World record label.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA

 A message from Dweezil:

Hello Everyone,

Happy Holidays! I have something very special to share with you. One of the greatest experiences I've ever had playing my dad's music on stage was back in 2010 and it was captured on video. It's finally available for you to see and hear.

Frank Zappa’s Apostrophe (’) — his first gold record and the biggest commercial success of his career, reaching the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 — has become one of the defining albums in his entire catalog. It was my favorite as kid and Nanook's fur‑trapping saga and the wild intervallic leaps of "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast" imprinted on me in a way that few records ever have. Showcasing my dad's fearless guitar work, brilliant arrangements, and sharp humor, Apostrophe is the ultimate gateway into the world of ZAPPA music.

Now, for the first time, you can experience a full live performance of Apostrophe (’) as a concert event from my band.

https://www.dweezilzappa.com/concert

ROBIN VERHEYEN - LIFTOFF

 Kicking off the the day with Robin Verheyen's "Liftoff" album.

• Robin Verheyen: tenor and soprano saxophone
• Drew Gress: double bass
• Billy Hart: drums

Vibrant and energetic.

EMMA RAWICZ - INKYRA

• Emma Rawicz: Inkyra
  

      (2025, cd, --, act 8018-2)

It's only a couple of days ago that I mentioned Emma Rawicz, sharing the YouTube video of a concert she did with Gwilym Simcock, as well as linking it to the YT concert recording of The Lovers Of Invention.
And yesterday, I got notified that Emma has a new album out: "Inkyra".

Beautiful.
Featuring Emma Rawicz (Sax), Gareth Lockrane (Flute, Piccolo), David Preston (Guitar), Scottie Thompson (Keyboards), Kevin Glasgow (Bass), Jamie Murray (Drums), this is an exiting modern jazz album.
I'm very happy with the digital copy that I received.

Recommended listening !!

Here's Emma's discography:

1	Emma Rawicz: Incantation     (2022, cd, --, private release)
2	Emma Rawicz: Chroma     (2023, cd, --, act 9973-2)
3	Emma Rawicz, Gwilym Simcock: Big Visit     (2025, cd, --, act 8014-))
4	Emma Rawicz: Inkyra     (2025, cd, --, act 8018-2)

-- info: Danny Mathys

DR. JOHN - LIVE AT THE VILLAGE GATE

• Dr. John: Live At The Village Gate
  

      (2025, 2cd, USA, omnivore recordings)

The Omnivore Recordings record label has just released "Live At The Village Gate", a 1988 live recording by the late Dr. John.

Beautiful songs, sung with his characteristic rough, raspy voice.
Nice.

The album features Lou Marini (Tenor Sax) and Ronnie Cuber (Baritone Sax), names that we've come across on the "Zappa In New York" album.
Also linked to the Zappa universe: 'Mess Around' was written by J. Stone and Ahmet Ertegun, the latter being the Atlantic Records co-owner and maybe even the inspiration for FZ to name one of his kids Ahmet.

https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/live-at-the-village-gate/

-- info: Danny Mathys

"FRANK ZAPPA'S BIRTHDAY" WILL BE CELEBRATED AT BURGERS IN EINDHOVEN, NL

Sunday, December 21, 2025
at 'Burgers' in Eindhoven, NL

 

ZAPPA & CO - - - DECEMBER 20, 2025 - - - IN HAMM, GERMANY

Zappa & Co am 20.12.2025 in Hamm, Germany

The Hamm Municipal Music School invites you to its musical end-of-year concert at the Kurhaus Hamm on 20 December 2025. Four large ensembles – the symphony orchestra, the wind orchestra (SBO), the Galaxy Guitar Unit and the Zappa Orchestra Hamm – will join forces to create an evening that showcases the diversity of the music school.
While the first part of the concert will present the wide range of classical and contemporary music with Georges Bizet's ‘Carmen’ in the version by Rodion Shchedrin and other contributions from the various ensembles, the second part will focus on a special theme: the music of Frank Zappa.
The Zappa Orchestra Hamm, which has attracted attention far beyond the city limits since its founding in 2015, once again brings the musical world of Frank Zappa to the stage – powerful, humorous, moving and unique in its sonic impact. The programme is complemented by energetic funk and jazz influences from Cory Wong and Prince.
As in 2023, dancers from the music school will accompany selected pieces with choreography. The combination of a large ensemble, unusual repertoire and dance interpretation makes this part of the concert a highlight of the evening – and a format that is rarely experienced in this form.

In 2025, Hamm will celebrate 50 years as a city – and the concert evening will bring this special year to a festive musical close. Shortly before Christmas, the music school will present the city with the premiere of the new Hamm song by composer Tjark Baumann, which was written for the two city anniversaries in 2025 and 2026. The song has been rehearsed and recorded since August by numerous students and teachers from the music school. It will be released in early 2026, accompanied by a specially produced video by Enrico Taubmann. A touching tribute to the city and its people.
More than 180 performers from the music school's four ensembles will take to the stage together on this evening. The mix of classical, rock, jazz and funk creates an extraordinary setting for a concert that, shortly before Christmas, once again shows how lively and diverse the music scene in Hamm is.
With a varied programme, strong musical accents and an energetic finale, the music school sends its audience into the Christmas holidays with good feelings. The concert begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are available in advance at the Kurhaus, at the WA, at the Insel am Bahnhof and at the box office for €15 regular and €8 reduced.

HARDY FOX

 It looks like PBA Galleries in San Francisco has items from Hardy Fox up for auction.

Go to "https://pbagalleries.com/"
and search for "Residents" and "Hardy Fox".

JEFF MORIS TEPPER HAS A NEW ALBUM OUT

Sure, it has been a while since his days with Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band, but Jeff Moris Tepper is still making music.

His latest album is called "A Hand Carved Life".

According to my data, his (solo) discography looks like this:

1	Moris Tepper: Big Enough To Disappear     (1994, cd, USA, candlebone records / proper records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
2	Eggtooth: Sundowner     (1995, cd, Japan, polystar records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
*	Moris Tepper: Moris Tepper     (1995, cd ep promo, UK, smash corp tep a)
3	Moris Tepper: Moth To Mouth     (2001, cd, USA, candlebone records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
4	Moris Tepper: Head Off     (2004, cd, USA, candlebone records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
5	Moris Tepper: Stingray In The Heart     (2008, cd, USA, candlebone records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
6	Moris Tepper: A Singer Named Shotgun Throat     (2010, cd, USA, candlebone records)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
7	Moris Tepper: Building A Nest     (2024, cd, USA, la societé expéditionnaire)     (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
8	Moris Tepper: A Hand Carved Life     (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

THE LOVERS OF INVENTION

The Lovers Of Invention

will be performing at Hootananny Brixton,
support act Gabba Zappa Hey,
Thursday, December 18, 2025

Here's the concert recording from 2024 :

• Ben Vize on keyboards, backing vocals and arrangements
• Jonah Hitchens - Guitar and lead vocals
• Adam Chinery - Lead guitar and backing vocals
• James Larter - Electronic Vibraphone
• Emma Rawicz-Szczerbo - Tenor saxophone and flute
• James Wade-Sired - Trombone
• Flo Moore - Bass
• Zoe Pascal - Drums

EMMA RAWICZ & GWILYM SIMCOCK

Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock

2024 06 28
Jazz Baltica

RICHARD HEMMINGS / EVIL DICK / BREAKFAST CLUB IMPROV BAND

Richard Hemmings / Evil Dick / Breakfast Club Improv band

from the upcoming "IMPOSITIONS Vol. 2" album.

FAST & BULBOUS

Fast & Bulbous will do a Frank Zappa tribute concert in Chieti, Italy, on the 21st of December !

Formed in 1991, Fast & Bulbous released ‘Memorial Barbecue’, their tribute to the music of Frank Zappa, in 1997.

Between 1997 and 2000, Fast & Bulbous participated in the most important festivals dedicated to FZ's music in Italy and Germany.

In 1999, a track from their album was included in the compilation ‘Frank you, thank! vol. 1’.

In 2003, a second (unreleased) track was included in volume 2 of ‘Frank you, thank!’

Starting from a reinterpretation of Zappa's music, Fast & Bulbous move towards a personal sound, crossing genres and languages in the original spirit of the master, moving far away from the typical imitative intentions of cover/tribute bands.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - W.E.R.F. RECORDS - 2025 WRAPPED

"2025 Wrapped", a fine way to check out the different releases on the Belgian W.E.R.F. Records label.

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA TOURDATES

THE ZAPPANALE ADVENT CALENDAR

Check out the Zappanale's advent calendar for some concert recordings or previous Zappanale concerts, as broadcast by Rockradio.

https://www.zappanale.de/en/adventskalender-2025

and, in the meantime, take note of the 2026 festival date !

ZAPPAROSSA #2

Dates have been set for the second edition of the Zapparossa festival.

11-13 September 2026
Gelnhausen, Germany

CRANK SOME FRANK

Next Sunday, in The Hague / Den Haag, NL.
at the Musicon:

"Crank Some Frank"
Celebrating the music of Frakn Zappa.

A little festival, featuring Fred Händl and the Absolutely Frank band.

The ArF duo will not be happening, but there will be a replacement.

SPINIFEX UPDATE

Avant-garde jazz sextet Spinifex celebrates their 20th anniversary in 2025/2026, marking the milestone with a special project and album called Maxximus, featuring guest musicians for an expanded, acoustic sound, continuing their legacy of boundary-pushing improvisation that started with their 10th anniversary in 2015.

20 years and 10 albums !!

1	Spinifex Orchestra: Triodia     (2008, cd)
2	Spinifex: Hipsters Gone Ballistic     (2013, cd)
3	Spinifex: Veiled     (2015, cd)
4	Spinifex: Maximus     (2015, cd)
5	Spinifex: Amphibian Ardour     (2018, cd)
6	Spinifex: Soufifex     (2019, cd)
7	Spinifex: Spinifex Beats The Plague     (2021, cd)
8	Spinifex: Spinifex Sings     (2022, cd)
9	Spinifex: Undrilling The Hole     (2024, cd The Netherlands, trytone tt559-103)
10	Spinifex: Maxximus     (2025, cd, The Netherlands, trytone tt559-114)

The band recently performed at The Plusetage in Baarle Nassau, NL, which allowed me to complete the discography with the latest two albums: "Undrilling The Hole", and "Maxximus". Notice the double 'X' in the latter to emphasize the 20th anniversary.

Spinifex = Tobias Klein (bass clarinet/alto sax), Bart Maris (trumpet), John Dikeman (tenor sax), Jasper Stadhouders (guitar), Gonçalo Almeida (double bass), Philipp Moser (drums)/
The extended line-up for "Maxximus": Jessica Pavone (viola), Elisabeth Coudoux (cello) , and Evi Filippou ( vibraphone/percussion).

Salome Amend replaced Evi Filippou for the Baarle Nassau concert, doing an excellent job.

It doesn't get much better than this !
Check it out !!

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STÉPHANE GALLAND - KANDA

• Stéphane Galland: Kanda
      (2025, cd, The Netherlands, challenge records)

For his latest project, Stéphane Galland is collaborating with Lúcia Pires (flute, EWI & electronics) and Louise van den Heuvel (bass & chompi).

I picked up the album after the CD release concert at De Singel in Antwerp a couple of days ago.
The concert was excellent, and the CD is even better.

In the liner notes, Stéphane explains Kanda:

It is the foundational pulse from which our music grows, a sacred space where three distinct voices meet in a common exploration.
adding
Our collaboration is a celebration of symbiotic differences: a trio spanning nations, generations, and roles, united by a shared curiosity for rhythm's infinite possibilities. This diversity is our strength. It si why we delve into uneven time signatures, polyrhythms, and morphing grooves, weaving in electronics and textures to mirror the complex, rich tapestry of human connection in sound.

The result can be enjoyed in 7 fascinating pieces.
It's quite a funny contradiction: the music is rhythmically complex, yet it has a calming and relaxing effect. At least, that's how I experience it.

Beautiful !!
Here's a live session from a earlier this year :

"Kanda" is released on the Dutch Challenge Records label.
https://www.challengerecords.com/products/17581870284769/kanda

BERLINDE DEMAN - PLANK 9

• Berlinde Deman: Plank 9
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2025, cd, USA, relative pitch records)

Being a music lover, I consider myself very fortunate to live in Belgium.
We still have a lively music scene, and when bands tour, as Belgium isn't that large, we get several opportunities to see them.

Just to give you an example, we caught the Flat Earth Society Orchestra twice this month. Once celebrating the 20th anniversary of Michel Mast's Ham Sessions festival in Ghent, and a second time in 'De Kern', a fine cultural center in Wilrijk nearby Antwerp.

Flat Earth Society (FES) is led by Peter Vermeersch and includes a colourful assortment of excellent musicians. One of these is Berlinde Deman.
Berlinde plays the bass tuba and is a indispensable factor in the rolling train that is FES.

In October, Berlinde released her first solo album, "Plank 9", on which she features the Serpent, a 16th century musical instrument that produces beautiful deep sounds.
It shows a completely different side of Berlinde.

Using the Serpent, her voice, and some effect pedals, Berlinde succeeds in creating a world in which light and darkness move alongside each other. Cautious, hesitant, slowly moving. Love it.

Recommended listening !

PRINCE - CHAMELEON 1-10

• Prince: Chameleon 1-10
      (2025, 10 cd bootleg box, --, playtime records)

The "Chameleon" series is a set of Prince bootleg albums that exist on vinyl and on CD.
I'm quite happy with this recent re-release that collects all 10 volumes in one box set.

Demos, outtakes, remixes, you name it...
A pretty amazing collection.
If you're into Prince, try to find this set !
Nice artwork as well.

I've only listened to the first disc so far.
Must have listened to it eight times already  :-)

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If you're looking for rare Prince material / downloads, visit the Guitars101 forum.