JIMMY WEBB - A LIFE IN WORDS AND MUSIC

• Jimmy Webb: A Life In Words And Music
      (2025, 7cd, UK, cherry red records)

“A Life In Words And Music” is a seven-CD box set from Cherry Red Records that collects five albums that Jimmy Webb did for the Reprise label in the 1970s, along with bonus material.
It has just been released. I received my copy about a week ago.

Jimmy Webb performed FZ’s ‘My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama’ in concert at The Royal Albert Hall in London in 1972.
A recording of this concert, including the Zappa piece, got released as part of the Rhino Handmade “The Moon’s Harsh Mistress” box set in 2004, and as a part of the “Archive + Live” 2 CD set in 2005.
The concert is also included in this “A Life In Words And Music” 7 CD box set.

The box set includes 7 CDs, all housed in a cardboard record sleeve: “Words And Music”, “And So: On”, “Letters”, “Land’s End”, “El Mirage”, “Outtakes And Demos”, and “Live At The Royal Albert Hall”, accompanied by a 16-page booklet.

Lots of great stuff, including the Zappa piece !!

THE KNACK - SOFTLY, SOFTLY / THE SPELL

• The Knack: Softly, Softly / The Spell
      (1967, 7" (PS), Japan, capitol records cr-1792)

Another fine addition to the shelves: the Japanese pressing of The Knack's 'Softly, Softly' / 'The Spell' 7".
From 1967.

It featured Frank Zappa on piano on 'Softly, Softly'.

ORCHESTRA TOUT PUISSANT MARCEL DUCHAMP

Happy days as the latest OTPMD 7" arrived.
Out on black and on red vinyl.

• Orchestra Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp + guests: Revenant Du Nord / Siilent
      (2025, 7", France, bongo joe) - black vinyl
      (2025, 7", France, bongo joe) - red vinyl

FRANK ZAPPA VINYL UPDATE

In case you missed any of these, some of the recent Frank Zappa (standard black) vinyl releases ("Zappa '80 - Mudd Club 2LP", "Zappa '80 - Munich 3LP", "Funky Nothingness 2LP") have been spotted at discount prices.

-

-

A RESIDENTS UPDATE

Behold Eyeball Fanatics!

Welcome to the latest missive from the desk of New Ralph Too. As the last of the summer sunshine streams in through our tiny office skylight and the traffic outside provides an endless involuntary soundtrack, we do hope this finds you well.

You'll be pleased to hear that things in the world of The Residents are going to plan - their soon-to-be-announced 'Eskimo' world tour is all set in place now, and work on the new album continues. 'Animal Lover' pREServed is complete and should be upon us in the new year, and the group are currently in the process of putting the finishing touches to a new book in between tour rehearsals and recording sessions. As ever, their collective energy levels and enthusiasm is both inspiring and intimidating.

But enough of all that - we come bearing gifts. September 26th will see the streaming-only release of 'Doctor Dark - The Demos', which is, somewhat predictably, a collection of demo versions of songs from The Residents' latest magnum opus. But, being the caring and considerate lovers they are, The Residents have prepared a special mini-album version for their mailing list pals, including some earlier versions which didn't make the final album. For any fans of the 'Doctor Dark' album, it's a fascinating insight into the creative process, or at least that's what it says here. - you can download it all right here.

https://ctrk.klclick.com/l/01K3ZW3AM8W3ZFGCAG3RNR4TWJ_2

And of course, if you've not yet heard, bought and bathed in 'Doctor Dark's majesty you can do so right here.
https://cherryred.co/doctordark
Buy Or Die!

 
Enjoy - more soon!
Your Pals
@ New Ralph Too

DJ FOOD - THE SHAPE OF THINGS THAT HUM

• DJ Food: The Shape Of Things That Hum
      (2009, download / streaming, bandcamp)
      (2009, 12", Europe, ninja tune)
      (2009, cd promo, Europe, ninja tune)

In 2009, The Ninja Tune record label issued DJ Food’s “The Shape Of Things That Hum”.
The 12” record came in poster sleeve and picture inner sleeve and included a code for an mp3 download.

Next to the five pieces that got released on the EP, the promotional CD as well as the download / streaming version of DJ Food ‘s “The Shape Of Things That Hum” included 3 additional tracks.

The EP, as well as the promotional CD and the download / streaming versions included ‘Extract From Stolen Moments Too’, a track that sampled a Martin Perlich interview with Frank Zappa, broadcast on KMET-FM in 1972.

Martin Perlich: Other than taking other people's work and using it for theme and variations in your work, do you think that you play harmony, or rhythm, or a combination of the two?

Frank Zappa: I think that you're getting into some deep stuff right there unless you want to get into a big philosophical discussion...

Martin Perlich: I do.

Frank Zappa: Are you kidding me?

Martin Perlich: I'll kid ya.

“The Shape Of Things That Hum” was one of three EPs that delivered material for DJ Food's 2011 “The Search Engine” album.
The eventual release did, however, not include ‘Extract From Stolen Moments Too’.
In 2012, The Ninja Tune record label made an ‘Expanded & Extended’ digital download version of “The Search Engine” available. This release did include the piece with the Zappa sample.

On record store day 2013, the “The Shape Of Things That Hum” EP would get re-released as part of “The Search Engine”, a four-disc vinyl repress of the original DJ Food EPs, including the three that had delivered most of the material for the 2011 release.

Check it out, 30 seconds into the piece:

CHRIS JOBSON (SON OF EDDIE JOBSON) HAS JUST RELEASED HIS DEBUT ALBUM

From GlassOnyonPR

Chris Jobson (Son of Legendary Musician Eddie Jobson) Releases Debut Album “Wish You Well”

Globe Music Media has announced the debut album release of “Wish You Well” by singer and multi-instrumentalist Chris Jobson—son of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Jobson.

The official release is slated for August 22, 2025, initially on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, with a vinyl LP set for international release shortly thereafter.

Recorded and produced by his father in New York, England and Los Angeles, Chris’ self-penned nine-song debut has been described as ‘progressive indie-rock,’ but incorporates a range of styles from acoustic ballads to hard rock. Other than a brief guest appearance by Eddie on keyboards, Chris is heard playing virtually all the instruments on the album, including acoustic and electric guitars, bass, mandolin, cello and drums.

The vinyl LP “Wish You Well” is available for pre-order now from Amazon.com and will be available at all major vinyl retailers on September 26, 2025.

NEW FLYING HORSEMAN ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 12

The new Flying Horseman album, "Anaesthesia", will be released on the Unday Records label on September 12.

The band will be doing a try-out concert at Hnita Jazz Club in Heist-op-den-Berg on the 2nd October.
Or you can catch the at De Roma in Antwerp on October 18.
(both concerts are standing room only).
More dates to follow, I'm sure.

'SYDONE', A NEW PIECE BY EIDON

Eidon adds:

A minimalistic track for drums and bass. First of two pieces dedicated to Roger Keith ("Syd") Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006).

BEAU - LIVE IN LICHFIELD

For folk enthusiasts,
From de Fruits de Mer Records website:

You may well know that Beau's debut album was the second release on John Peel's Dandelion label, back in 1969; you may also know that Beau (aka Trevor Midgley) has made the occasional appearance on the Fruits de Mer label over the years, both as a solo artist and as part of the sixties band 'The Raiders'; for instance, he recreated his classic song 'Silence Returns' with the help of the provider of the track's original corrosive electric guitar, Tractor's Jim Milne, on The Honey Pot and friends' set 'Ascending Scales'. But did you know that Beau also headlined the first gig Fruits de Mer helped promote - in Lichfield in 2012 - an event organised by Chris McGranaghan, of Those Old Records?

A recording of this concert will soon be released by Fruits de Mer Records

Beau
"Live In Lichfield"
8" lathe-cut
Fruits de Mer Records - Friends of the Fish 89
limited to 75 copies
on sale Sept 15

ARCHITECTS OF HYSTARIA ANNOUNCE A NEW ALBUM

Architects Of Hysteria is Spanish composer and guitarist David Abad's project.
He just announced a new album.

The teaser does sound very promising !
Zappa-esque, as some might say.

SWEET OKAY SUPERSISTER - SPIRAL STAIRCASE

• Sweet Okay Supersister: Spiral Staircase
      (2009, cd, UK, esoteric recordings)

Filling some gaps, I recently bought Supersister's "Spiral Staircase".
Originally released in 1974, but I went for the 2009 re-issue on the Esoteric Records label, also including two bonus tracks.

Dutch progressive rock.

An excellent way to start the day.

NEW ALBUM BY DEWA BUDJANA

A new album by Dewa Budjana has been announced.
It will be out on the MoonJune record label:
DEWA BUDJANA & CZECH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Pranayama

The opening tune:

There is no life without prana, no consciousness without prana, and everything begins with prana. Pranayama is also the foundation in meditation.

THE BLACK PAGE ORCHESTRA

Another fine discovery.
A contemporary music ensemble that's named after a Frank Zappa piece !!

• The Black Page Orchestra: Black Page Orchestra
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2024, 2lp, Austria, --)

After a decade playing at the intersection of music, technology, media, and performance art, The Black Page Orchestra has created a debut album by playing pieces written by six of its members, creating an eclectic selection that portrays the radical and uncompromising ethos that has defined the ensemble during its first ten years.

The Black Page Orchestra is an ensemble that performs some of the most radical and uncompromising works of our time. It is named after Frank Zappa's "The Black Page", a piece of music with so many notes that the paper almost turns black.

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND DUO - HYPERGLYPH

• Chicago Underground Duo: Hyperglyph
      (2025, cd, --, international anthem recording company)

Rob Mazurek and Chad Taylor have recorded as the Chicago Undergound Duo but they also have released several albums with guests, resulting in a slight name change where the Duo became a Trio or even a Quartet. There's even a London / Chicago Underground album that features both.

I have been lucky to receive digital download copies of some of the duo's musical adventures, and I must admit that their brand-new "Hyperglyph" is another beautiful chapter in their story.
Rob Mazurek on trumpet, keyboards and electronics, and Chad Taylor an drums.

Lyrical, melodic jazz with slowly evolving melodies.
Superb !!

You can listen to the first two tracks on Bandcamp:

DIEGO CONTI & MONICA DE MATTEIS - ZAPPA, LUPONE, LUTOSLAWSKI & PÄRT

• Diego Conti & Monica De Matteis: Zappa, Lupone, Lutoslawski, Pärt
      (1994, cd, Italy, cdm)
      (1998, cd, Italy, sulture d’aria)

Diego Conti (violin) and Monica De Matteis (piano) arranged a number of FZ compositions from The Frank Zappa Songbook and recorded them for their “Zappa, Lupone, Lutoslawski,, Pärt” album. 
Released in 1994 !

I only recently learned that this fine album got a re-issue in 1998 on the Sulture d’Aria record label.

From the liner notes:

Frank Zappa (1940 – 1993)

Is the irony of one who has always defined his own work as “pure entertainment”; is the eclecticism, is taking from the past, the present and the future of the music which he loves and which he does not (to play with it).
A great and perhaps a unique linguist, he doesn’t mention the thousand styles which he uses in his own artistic production; his language “is” those thousand styles, and each of these styles is Zappa. His way is many ways.

Here's a recording from 2001: Diego Conti performing Peaches En Regalia, Little Umbrellas and Son of Mr. Green Genes.
Only available on YouTube, as far as I know.

GOTAN PROJECT - LA REVANCHA DEL TANGO

In 2001, Gotan Project released an imitable version of FZ's 'Chunga's Revenge'.
Originally to be found on a 10" and on their "La Revancha Del Tango" LP.
The "La Revancha Del Tango" album has been released and re-released in different formats and I think I have a new favorite one: the 20th anniversary 2 LP picture disc version.

----

DOMENICO SOLAZZO'S PANOPTICON

"Live Remains Volume 6"
by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

Improvised music from Belgium.

“This is it! Number 40 closing the PaNoPTiCoN series. so enjoy and dig in this formidable adventure which saw more than 60 musicians from Belgium enjoying improvising on the spot!”

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND & GOV'T MULE TOUR LIVESTREAMS

Tedeschi Trucks Band & Gov't Mule Tour Livestreams!

Starting Wednesday in Toronto, tune in for five highly-anticipated shows as the Live In 25 and Back In The Saddle tours join forces. With deep ties to the Allman Brothers legacy and a rich history between the bands, this promises more unforgettable moments on what is sure to be the hottest co-headlining tour of the year. Subscribe today and watch each show live, exclusively with All Access.

https://www.nugs.net/tedeschi-trucks-band-concerts-live-downloads-in-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming-1/

DONOVAN'S BRAIN - INSECT ACCESSORIES

Apparently, Donovan's Brain has been around since 1987.
"Insect Accessories" already is their 17th album and it's a fine introduction.

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK - HEARTBRAKES & LAST GOODBYES

• Robert Jon & The Wreck: Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes
      (2025, cd, --, journeyman records)
      (2025, lp, --, journeyman records)

Robert Jon Burrison has delivered another fine album. Together with The Wreck, that is.
10 tracks.
Superb southern rock.
Their fourteenth release already !!

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND WILL PERFORM AT THE IRIDIUM IN NYC ON SEPT 29

Next stop, the Iridium on Broadway! SEPT 29 at 8:30PM. 

Last time it was STRANGE BEDFELLOWS.
This time it's STRANGER BEDFELLOWS aka, BAT SHIT CRAZY.
Featuring the music of OZZY, CARPENTER, ZAPPA, BEETHOVEN, BEEFHEART and more.

ZU

ZU is touring and they'll be passing through Belgium:

• 31/08/2025 Belvédère, Namur with Radiator Pirelmans
• 01/09/2025 Le Botanique, Brussels

Here's 'Carbon' from their "Carboniferous" album

ANTHONY JOSEPH LANMAN - HOMMAGES

Anthony Joseph Lanman's "Hommages" album arrived a little while ago.
Out on LP (on blue and orange vinyl), and on CD. Beautiful packaging with extended liner notes.

The album includes Anthony's 'Hommage à Frank Zappa', performed by pianist Holly Roadfeldt.

THE REVOLUTIONARY SNAKE ENSEMBLE

The upcoming "Serpentine" album by the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble will include their version of a famous Frank Zappa tune : 'Son Of Mr. Green Genes'.

To be released in September.
Also on CD !
On the Cuneiform Records label.

NEW ALBUM BY SNARKY PUPPY

Snarky Puppy Announces Somni - New Album with Metropole Orkest and conductor, Jules Buckley

Snarky Puppy has announced the upcoming release of Somni, the new album in collaboration with the Metropole Orkest and conductor, Jules Buckley. The record will be available on November 21.

Recorded live over 3 nights earlier this year in the Netherlands, Somni involved 74 musicians, 256 lines, 12 cameras, and over 1,000 live audience members and is truly a spectacular piece of work that we can’t wait to share with the world.

US AND THEM - THE LIGHTS AND THE SHADOW

• Us And Them: The Lights And The Shadow
      (2025, lp, UK, fruits de mer)

The Swedish-based duo Us and Them have a penchant for vocal harmonies and strong melodies in combination with elements of folk, psychedelia and baroque pop. The songs can be introspective and based on personal experiences, but also expressing timeless and universal stories.

Taking a closer look at the album cover while listening to the first couple of tracks, I do have to say that this is a perfect match.
Old-fashioned, dreamy, cozy, but with a little hint of suspense.

Us And Them, also known as Britt Ronnholm and Anders Håkansson.
I like it.

MARCO MENDOZA UPDATE

Marco Mendoza Interview (touring with SatchVai at the moment !) 
by ForBassPlayersOnly

J.M. SMIG - I KNOW WHAT YOUR DAD DID

 From 2018,
'I Know What Your Dad Did'
by J.M. Smig

Intriguing (and much too short).

WORKING WEEK - TOO MUCH TIME

In 1986, Working Week covered Don Van Vliet / Captain Beefheart's 'Too Much Time'.
They released it on 12" and on 7" and the piece could later be found on their "Compañeros' album.
"Compañeros" was made available on CD and on LP.

Old news to most of you, probably, but it's a superb version:

ENERGETIC ACTION - WALLS

I'm sure that I have already mentioned Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based band Energetic Action on these very pages.
Their 2011 cassette album, "Walls', included an energetic version of 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh', also to be found on Bandcamp.

I was familiar with the Bandcamp release, but I was quite happy to find an original copy of the cassette recently.

I had to browse my "Other Of Invention" books and files to see if any other band had already done a similar exercise, covering 'Weasels Ripped My Flesh', and yes: there's Zappatika (on Andrew's / Cordelia's "Weasels" tribute), and also BTASA (on an Unmatched compilation album).
But on a regular album? Not really.

So here you go:

PULCINELLA - TRAVESTI

The Pulcinella story continues as I received their 2011 "Travesti" album as a download last week.

The album kicks off with 'Meditation', setting the mood for the entire album.
From 2011 already, but another exiting release by the French quartet !

JOHN & YOKO / PLASTIC ONO BAND - POWER TO THE PEOPLE

The upcoming deluxe version of John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band's "Power To The People" box set will include the 1971 jam with Frank Zappa and The Mothers.

CD 7 & 8 as well as Blu-Ray 3 present the "Live Jam" material:

CD 7

John & Yoko / Plastic Ono Band with Frank Zappa and The Mothers
Fillmore East, New York, 6 June 1971

3. Well (Baby Please Don’t Go) (live)
4. Jamrag [Say Please / King Kong / Aawk] (live)
5. Scumbag (live)
6. Aü (live)

"Live Jam" comprises two discs of further completely remixed live performances, expanding on the original 1972 Live Jam LP release that accompanied Sometime In New York City, which included performances of “Cold Turkey” and “Don’t Worry Kyoko” from the 1969 Peace and Love for Christmas UNICEF Benefit at The Lyceum Ballroom (with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Klaus Voormann and a star-studded cast of thousands) and the 1971 Fillmore East show where John & Yoko jammed with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention on four songs.

https://www.johnlennon.com/news/power-to-the-people-deluxe-box-4lp-2lp-2cd-1cd-preorder-now/

DOMENICO SOLAZZO - LIVE REMAINS VOLUME 5

"Live Remains Volume 5"
by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

has just been released on the Off Records label.

Improvised music.

Recordings from over ten years ago, and previously released on CDR by Domenico Solazzo.
But it's good to see that the recordings found a home at Off Records.

 

SUPERSISTER

In 2008 / 2009, the Esoteric Recordings record label re-issued the five first Supersister albums.

• 1970 - Present From Nancy
• 1971 - To The Highest Bidder
• 1972 - Pudding En Gisteren
• 1973 - Iskander
• 1974 - Spiral Staircase

All these albums were remastered and got released with bonus tracks.
Pretty fine albums as well, if I may add.
(Although I'm still missing the "To The Highest Bidder" reissue.)

Anyway, "Present From Nancy" is also of interest for "The Others Of Invention" as The Mothers Of Invention are mentioned in the lyrics of ‘Corporation Combo Boys’ (and a short snippet of ‘Hungry Freaks, Daddy’ is added just after that). About one minute into the song.

Sometimes we even are progressive
And we listen with attention
To the Mothers of Invention

 

ZAPPA / MOTHERS - ROXY & ELSEWHERE

• Zappa / Mothers: Roxy & Elsewhere
      (2013, 2lp, Europe, zappa records zr0238521)

Catching up on some of the Frank Zappa vinyl re-issues, I recently got hold of 'album #19', the re-release of the magnificent 1974 "Roxy & Elsewhere" 2 LP set.
A nice upgrade to my 1974 German Discreet copy.
Happy.

DRAGON JUICE - ONE TAKE - AT HOME

• Dragon Juice: One Take - At Home
      (2025, cd, France, private release)

Dragon Juice features Marion Mursic and Grégory François, both on guitar and vocals.

Classic tunes, acoustic guitars and harmony vocals.
The Beatles, David Bowie, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Fleetwood Mac,...

A beautiful trip down memory lane.

https://gowy.fr/produit/dragon-juice-one-take-at-home/

Don't expect Grégory's guitar wizardry à la Gowy, but do check out this excellent album.
True, I would have preferred Frank Zappa's 'Love Of My Life' to the Freddy Mercury tune, but I'm not complaining. Quite the opposite actually.

Recommended listening.

-

FRANK ZAPPA GOT SAMPLED BY ORCHID SPANGIAFORA

• Orchid Spangiafora: Flee Past’s Ape Elf
      (1979, lp, USA, twin/tone records ttr9710)

Another nice addition to "The Others Of Invention", artists that cover (or sample) Frank Zappa's music!!

Orchid Spangiafora was Rob Carey’s solo project.
The music mixed spoken word fragments with musical samples into sound collages.
‘Sheer Madness’, the first track on side B, sampled FZ’s ‘Sleeping In A Jar’.
The sample appears at 1 minute and 7 seconds into the track and gets repeated several times.

The album would get a 2 LP expanded reissue in 2013, with different album artwork.

 

NEW ALBUM BY CHANAN HANSPAL

"Chimps' Tea Party At The White House",
a fascinating new album by Chanan Hanspal.

BAND FROM UTOPIA MASTER CLASS

During their upcoming tour, the Banned From Utopia will also be giving a master class !
Most probably about how to perform the music of Frank Zappa  :-)

October 6 at the Boite à Musiques in Wattrelos, which is in the northern part of France, near the Belgian border.

-- info: Dirk Verschaeve

DWEEZIL ZAPPA TALKS ABOUT FRANK'S GUITARS

Dweezil Zappa at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, discussing Frank's Gibson SG and Les Paul guitars.

CRYSTAL JACQUELINE & FRIENDS - SMOKE ROAD

• Crystal Jacqueline & Friends: Smoke Road
      (2025, 2lp, UK, fruits de mer records)

Crystal Jacqueline and The Honey Pot have been Fruits de Mer ‘regulars’ for many years – as close as you can get to being the label’s ‘house band’; their blend of psychedelia, folk, originals and covers has made them firm favourites of followers of the label; ‘Smoke Road’ is Jacqui’s new project – a double LP - containing all original songs.
Featuring guest appearances from Leo O'Kelly, Icarus Peel and Mark McDowell amongst others, 'Smoke Road' has lyrics by David Greygoose, which have dark, gothic undertones, so expect a mysterious rural psychedelia-meets-acidfolk feel to the music

Jacqueline Bourne releases her music using the moniker Crystal Jacqueline.
"Smoke Road" is her latest release and as the above promotional text mentions, it's a beautiful blend of psychedelica and folk.
Plenty of variety and beautiful songs.

A perfect match for a morning coffee (or tea, I guess).

Here's 'Elven Boy'

A MESSAGE FROM THE MERIDIAN ARTS ENSEMBLE

 The Meridian Arts Ensemble (on Facebook):

Big announcement: we uncovered tape of a complete concert performed at in Frank Zappa's studio at his house in LA, from 1996. We are releasing this concert as a live concert CD on PARMA Recordings (and of course putting it on all streaming services), coming out in January. In the meantime, we will be posting short clips from the show in the coming months, starting soon.

I'm posting a picture of the band members from that era. 

Stay tuned!

LES DISQUES BONGO JOE

The Geneva label, Les Disques Bongo Joe, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a compilation album: 10 Years Of Sonic Explorations"!

Splatter vinyl (and more).

Check it out on Bandcamp !

DWEEZIL ZAPPA & DYLAN SALFER

Dweezil Zappa: Did I finally learn to play the BLUES?
New Guitar LESSON Series from Dweezil Zappa!

JOACHIM-ERNST BERENDT - WAS IST JAZZ ?

• Joachim-Ernst Berendt: Was Ist Jazz ?
      (1977, 2lp, Germany, mps)

In 1977, the MPS record label issued "Was Ist Jazz ?" (What Is Jazz), a lecture / presentation by Joachim-Ernst Berendt who discusses the different types of jazz and their origins.

An impossible task? Yes, of course.
The good thing, however, is that Joachim-Ernst's presentation is full of musical snippets and examples.

George Duke gets mentioned twice. Both times with musical fragments (including a nice part of 'Uncle Remus') !

But there's lots of other things to be discovered as well.

Joachim Kühn - 'First Frisco', from his 1976 "Hip Elegy" album;

Alphonse Mouzon (with Gary Bartz) - 'Master Funk' from his 1977 "Virtue" album.

"Was Ist Jazz?" was also made available as a 2 CD set !
Fun !

YUVAL RON TRIO // ZAPPANALE

The Yuval Ron Trio's concert at Zappanale was a fantastic experience.
Final band of almost four days of music. Fighting against the curfew and still delivering a great show.

If you're not familiar with Yuval's space travels, check it out here:

I also picked up the "Somewhere In This Universe, Somebody Hits A Drum" CD (only had it as a download), as well as Yuval's "Residents Of The Future" album.
Happy.
And this is how I look when I'm happy  :-)

SUPERSISTER

Catching up on some Supersister.

• Supersister: Pudding En Gisteren
      (2008, cd, UK, esoteric recordings)

= Re-issue of the 1972 album. On CD. With bonus tracks !

• Supersister: Iskander
      (2008, cd, UK, esoteric recordings)

= Re-issue of Supersister's excellent 4th album. On CD.
Originally released in 1973. The CD comes with bonus tracks.

BILLY MUNDI

Billy Mundi is credited to play the tambourine on Jackie Lomax 1972 "Three" album.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

PANOPTICON - LIVE REMAINS VOLUME 4

"Live Remains Volume 4" by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

Album number 38 in the PaNoPTiCoN series.
A flashback to the times when Domenico Solazzo gathered some top notch Belgian musicians for his improvised music project.

SWRM - LIGHTS OUT

Providence, Ohio-based duo SWRM features Alec K. Redfearn (vocals & synths) and Matt McLaren (drums, percussion). 
Alec's previous project, Alec K. Redfearn And The Eyesores, had already released several albums on the Cuneiform record label.
This new release is also out on Cuneiform, but as a download / streaming-only album.

Born from years of sonic experimentation and a break from traditional instrumentation, SWRM’s debut is a raw, analog-driven exploration of rhythm, texture, and tone. Alec plays bass and leads simultaneously on Moog Matriarch and Sequential Circuits Trigon 6, abandoning sequencers in favor of expressive, hands-on playing. Matt augments a live drum kit with repurposed household objects and harmonica, infusing songs with animal energy. What began as a departure from Alec and Matt’s work with The Eyesores has come full circle, reconnecting with the band’s emotive timing and dynamic feel through new electronic tools. The result is a compelling blend of psych, prog, space rock, minimal wave, post-punk.

LED BIB - LIVE AT VORTEX JAZZ CLUB - MAY 3RD 2014

Just finished listening to the "Live At Vortex Jazz Club - May 3rd 2014" by Led Bib.
A Bandcamp (digital download & streaming)-only release on which the band performs material from their "The People In Your Neighbourhood" album.

Recorded in 2014.
Released in 2020.

Modern jazz with an energetic drive.

Great !!

ROLAND DYENS' TRIBUTE TO FRANK ZAPPA

• Roland Dyens: Citrons Doux
      (2001, cd, Belgium, gha records)

Roland Dyens (born October 19, 1955, Tunis, Tunisia – died October 29, 2016) was a Tunisian-born French classical guitarist, composer and arranger. 

Roland released over 20 albums.

His 2001 “Citrons Doux” CD included a piece entitled ‘Hommage à Frank Zappa’.

PULCINELLA

I recently got introduced to Pulcinella.

For 18 years, this mischievous Toulouse-based group has never tired of doing things their own way. Armed with drums, double bass, accordion and saxophone, they blend funk, jazz, Balkan music, electro, musette and progressive rock to create a multifaceted, boundary-breaking sound.

Beautiful !!
It has this southern vibe that I just love.

Check them out on Bandcamp.

"Clou d'Estrade"  (2006)

"3/4 D'once"  (2017)

"Ca"  (2019)

AFTER CRYING'S TRIBUTE TO FRANK ZAPPA

Hungarian rock band After Crying wrote a piece entitled 'European Things' as a tribute to Frank Zappa.
The actual title of the piece was:
'European Things (Hommage à Frank Zappa)'.

It got released on their "Overground Music" album in 1990.

The piece also found its way to the "Elso Evtized" compilation album in 1996 and it could even be found on a couple of After Crying live albums.

KIYOHIKO SENBA

Kiyohiko Senba & the Haniwa All-Stars

Anyone who dresses up the entire band in pj's and in nurse outfits gets my attention.

Kiyohiko Senba & the Haniwa All-Stars released one album. In 1995 !

Composer and percussionist Kiyohiko Senba was part of Japanese experimental ensemble Wha-Ha-Ha.

HOPPY KAMIYAMA - A MEANINGFUL MEANINGNESSLESS

• Hoppy Kamiyama: A Meaningful Meaningnessless
      (2005, cd +dvd, Japan, creage)

I had a digital copy of this album on an external hard disc, so I knew what to expect!
I'm really happy with the copy that I recently found. This is some great music, and it also gave me the opportunity to watch the DVD.

I you like the music of Frank Zappa, you must hear this.

Here's a snippet, taken from the DVD !

Strangely enough, Hoppy's other albums sound completely different.
In my words: less exciting.
At least, the few other albums that I have checked...

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - - - AUGUST 16 AT THE FALCON

FRANK ZAPPA - SHEIK YERBOUTI

The last ten or fifteen years, several Frank Zappa / Mothers albums have been re-issued on vinyl.
Funny little detail: these vinyl re-issues carry a number on the spine.
Like the CDs.
A smart move to convince people to collect the entire series.

And it works as I have been buying a lot of these vinyl re-issues.
I started with the early Mothers albums, and then I just bought an album every now and then. Often when visiting a record store.
The most recent one that I brought home was the 2015 re-release of "Sheik Yerbouti".
Official Release #26

It never ends...
But that's also the fun of it.

ICH BIN WALLOU

'Zappa-esque' you say?

Absolutely !!

ICH BIN WALLOU

23/11/2019

 22/11/2019

GILAD ATZMON

In a recent newslash, the MoonJune Records label focused on three albums that feature bass clarinet, soprano sax & accordion player Gilad Atzmon.

Talinka  -  Rainbow Over Kolonaki

Talinka  -  Talinka

Gilad Atzmon & The Orient House Ensemble - The Whistle Blower

MARBIN TOURDATES

• AUG 15 - The Golden Road - Toledo, OH
• AUG 16 - Flour City Station - Rochester, NY
• AUG 17 - River Street Jazz Cafe - Plains, PA
• AUG 18 - Zoetropolis - Lancaster, PA
• AUG 19 - Iridium - New York, NY
• AUG 20 - Electric Haze - Worcester, MA
• AUG 21 - The Loading Dock - Littleton, NH
• AUG 22 - Aug 29 - On The Blue Cruise 2025 - Boston, MA
• AUG 29 - King Of Clubs - Syracuse, NY
• AUG 31 - Aretha's Jazz Cafe At Music Hall - Detroit, MI

ANDREAS SCHAERER UPDATE

 Andreas Schaerer is touring with his "Anthem For No Man's Land" project.

• Andreas Schaerer - voice, bass
• Luciano Biondini - accordion
• Kalle Kalima - guitar
• Lucas Niggli - drums, percussion

• 14.08.2025 Palmengarten | FRANKFURT DE
• 05.09.2025 Sommerfestival | CHUR CH
• 18.09.2025 Düsseldorf Festival | DÜSSELDORF DE
• 13.10.2025 Offbeat series | BASEL CH
• 05.11.2025 Bibliotheca | ALEXANDRIA EGY
• 07.11.2025 Jazzfestival | CAIRO EGY
• 03.12.2025 Theater | GÜTERSLOH DE
• 04.12.2025 Jazzmeile Thüringen | JENA DE
• 05.12.2025 Altes Kino | LANDECK AT
• 06.12.2025 Alte Gerberei | ST. JOHANN AT
• 11.12.2025 Tonne | DRESDEN DE
• 12.12.2025 Jazzinitiative | BRAUNSCHWEIG DE
• 20.03.2026 Halle 424 | HAMBURG DE
• 18.04.2026 Landesjazzfestival | BIBERACH DE
• 24.04.2026 Pfleghof Saal | LANGNAU DE
• 25.04.2026 Bastion | KIRCHHEIM DE

DEEP ENERGY ORCHESTRA TO RELEASE A THIRD ALBUM

From GlassOnyonPR

Deep Energy Orchestra Unveils Expansive New Album The Science of Sound on 7D Media Feat. Members of Snarky Puppy, Kansas, King Crimson, The 4th Dimension, Shakti & Others!

Deep Energy Orchestra will release its third studio album, The Science of Sound, on October 24, 2025, through 7D Media. Conceived and led by composer, producer, and bassist Jason Everett (aka Mister E), the album represents a culmination of global collaboration, complex composition, and genre-defying instrumentation.

Following the ensemble’s critically acclaimed albums Playing With Fire (2018) and The Return (2020), this new release builds on the orchestra’s distinctive fusion of Indian classical rhythms, progressive rock, jazz, funk, and orchestral textures.

'The Return', from "Playing With Fire"

"The Science of Sound" brings together an exceptional roster of internationally recognized artists, including:
Joe Deninzon, electric violinist of the band Kansas
Gary Husband, legendary jazz fusion keyboardist and drummer (John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth)
Trey Gunn, Warr guitarist and longtime member of King Crimson
Adam Holzman, former keyboardist for Miles Davis and collaborator with Steven Wilson
V. Selvaganesh, renowned Indian percussionist (Shakti, Masters of Percussion)

Additional contributors include Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy), U. Rajesh, Mahesh Vinayakram, Radhika Iyer, John Wubbenhorst, Eric “Doc” Smith, and a full string section featuring violin, viola, and cello.

YUVAL RON - ROCKET SCIENCE FOR DUMMIES

Yuval Ron: 'Rocket Science For Dummies'

Out on Bandcamp.

Yuval Ron - Electric Guitar
Bryan Beller - Bass
Simon Schröder - Drums

PAT METHENY & FRIENDS (2003)

Pat Metheny with Nils Landgren (vocals & trombone), Lars Danielsson (bass), Wolfgang Haffner (percussion), Esbjörn Svensson (piano), and the legendary Michael Brecker on tenor sax.

CLINKADELIC - THE TRADE WE'RE TANGLED IN

• Clinkadelic: The Trade We’re Tangled In
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Clinkadelic’s “The Trade We’re Tangled In” album has several lyrical (and musical) references to Frank Zappa’s music.
Generated by Artificial Intelligence, the album got released on Bandcamp, and it was made available on CDR (in a limited edition of 10 copies).

I tend to be rather cautious and reserved when it comes to AI and music, but this clearly is a fan project, and, even more important, it worked.

'Let Me Peep Your Thumb', clearly inspired by 'Wind Up Workin' At The Gas Station';

'S.A.R.A', where 'MS Pinky' is not too far away;

'I'm A Bottle King', lends a bit of 'Wino Man'.

I like it.

PANOPTICON

"Live Remains Volume 3"  by Domenico Solazzo's PaNoPTiCoN

Different settings, different locations, recorded between 2007 and 2011.

Featuring Olivier Catala, Pieter Claus, Diego Delgado Lopez, Yves Dellicour, Pierrot Delor , Michel Delville, Jean-Jacques Duerinckx, Fabrice Fardelli, Adib Garti, Frédéric Gerchambeau, Antoine Guenet , Chervin Laporte, Jean-Paul Lossignol, Peter Malfliet, Bart Maris, Stéphane Mercier, Pierre Mottet , Bruno Nobi, Daniel Palomo Vinuesa, Constantin Papageorgiadis, Matthieu Safatly, Catherine Smet, Rik Staelens, Juan Salvador Tello, Luc Van Lieshout, Daniel Wang, and Domenico Solazzo

LEVON HELM

The "Guitars 101" website had a link to a pre-FM radio broadcast of a Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars concert at the Superdome in New Orleans LA, February 7, 1978.

Check out the band. Lots of folks who at one time recorded with Frank Zappa (and The Blues Brothers)

Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars - Superdome New Orleans LA; February 7, 1978; PreFM

Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars -
Superdome New Orleans LA;
February 7, 1978

THE BAND

• Levon Helm - Drums Vocals
• Steve Cropper - Guitar
• Donald "Duck" Dunn - Bass
• Paul Butterfield - Harmonica Vocals
• Booker T. Jones - Organ
• Dr. John - Piano Vocals
• Tom Malone - Trombone
• Lou Marini - Tenor Saxophone
• Alan Rubin - Trumpet
• Fred Carter - Guitar Vocals
• Howard Johnson - Tuba Baritone Saxophone

Here's a recording of the same band, two months earlier:

Tower Theatre - Philadelphia PA - 12/29/1977

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

PANZERBALLETT - ANDROMEDARON

Panzerballett feat. Aaron Thier - Andromedaron

Last April, the eighth qB album "Übercode Œuvre" was released.
On CD and on LP.
'Andromedaron' is available exclusively on the CD.

Featuring Aaron Thier on drums.

 

THE TU-NER TOUR KICKS OFF

The Tu-Ner Tour kicks off!

TREY GUNN - Warr guitar
PAT MASTELOTTO - drums, electronics
MARKUS REUTER - touch guitar

PINK FLOYD - THE WALL - MEGA DELUXE EDITION

Pink Floyd - The Wall - Mega Deluxe Edition

https://www.musicglue.com/bespoke-editions/products/pal-pink-floyd-the-wall-mega-deluxe-edition

Limited to 100 Boxes

Each box contains:

• An original film cell. A 43-minute CD interview with Roger Waters, where he talks both about the album and the film
• A DVD of the film
• Reproduction:
• Lobby Cards
• Press Photos
• Press Packs
• Japanese Film program
• Numbered Certificate Film Poster
• All you could ever need and more.

Just in case you don't know about this legendary film, here is some background information....

Pink Floyd – The Wall, directed by Alan Parker and based on the iconic 1979 album by Pink Floyd, is a visually stunning and psychologically intense film that explores themes of isolation, trauma, and self-destruction.
https://www.musicglue.com/bespoke-editions/products/pal-pink-floyd-the-wall-mega-deluxe-edition
The movie follows the fractured psyche of Pink, a rock star whose life unravels as he confronts the emotional barriers he’s built since childhood. Through a series of surreal, nonlinear sequences, the film delves into Pink’s troubled past—including the loss of his father in World War II, an overbearing mother, and an oppressive school system—all of which contribute to his descent into madness.

The narrative is driven by Pink Floyd’s music, with songs like "Another Brick in the Wall," "Comfortably Numb," and "Hey You" underscoring the protagonist’s alienation and despair.

The film’s striking animation sequences, created by Gerald Scarfe, are among its most memorable elements, blending grotesque, nightmarish imagery with political and social commentary. Scenes like the marching hammers and the flower transformation sequence amplify the film’s themes of fascism, conformity, and personal disintegration.

The live-action segments, starring Bob Geldof as Pink, are equally powerful, portraying his drug-fueled breakdown and eventual self-imprisonment behind a mental "wall." The movie’s visual style is both avant-garde and deeply symbolic, using metaphors of war, authority, and decay to mirror Pink’s internal chaos.

Unlike traditional musicals, The Wall does not feature characters breaking into song as part of a narrative—instead, the music serves as the film’s backbone, with the lyrics and instrumentals guiding the story’s emotional and psychological progression. Roger Waters, Pink Floyd’s primary creative force, wrote the screenplay, ensuring the film stayed true to the album’s dark, introspective tone. The result is a deeply personal yet universally resonant work that critiques societal structures while exploring the cost of unchecked trauma. The film’s ambiguous ending—whether Pink tears down his wall or remains trapped—leaves viewers with haunting questions about redemption and self-awareness.

Decades after its release, The Wall remains a cult classic, celebrated for its bold artistic vision and unflinching exploration of mental anguish. Its influence can be seen in music videos, alternative cinema, and even political protests, as its imagery and themes continue to resonate. While not a conventional crowd-pleaser, the film’s raw emotion, innovative storytelling, and unforgettable soundtrack have cemented its place as one of the most ambitious and enduring works in rock cinema.

For fans of Pink Floyd, it’s an essential companion to the album.

PLIMPTON - SEVEN-DAY RIDE

Plimpton's "Seven-Day Ride" album includes their version of FZ's 'The Torture Never Stops'.

As far as I can tell, it's released on digital music platforms only.
From 2024.

BRYAN BELLER - CALM BEFORE THE STORM REMIX EP

From GlassOnyonPR

BASSIST/COMPOSER BRYAN BELLER RELEASES “CALM BEFORE THE STORM” REMIX EP

The Aristocrats’ bassist refocuses and reimagines select material from his last solo release before “Scenes From The Flood”

Bassist Bryan Beller – widely known for anchoring The Aristocrats (Beller + Guthrie Govan/gtr + Marco Minnemann/dr), Joe Satriani, Dethklok, Steve Vai and Mike Keneally – revisits and reimagines parts of his last solo album before both the birth of The Aristocrats and his seminal work Scenes From The Flood (2019), with the remix EP Calm Before The Storm.

Releasing digitally, it focuses on three compositions that represent the core journey of Beller’s 2008 release Thanks In Advance. Those songs – “Greasy Wheel”, “Cave Dweller” and “Love Terror Adrenaline/Break Through” – also all contain Aristocratic lineage of some kind, which makes for an interesting look back.

“In the very first gig with Guthrie Govan and Marco Minnemann at the NAMM show in 2011,” says Beller, “we each brought two solo compositions for a six-song set. Those songs ended up on our 2012 live album, so lots of folks heard the live trio arrangements of those pieces. Meanwhile I was a very young and inexperienced producer back in 2008, and while I was proud of the studio versions of those tunes at the time, I recently thought, ‘Man, I’d like another crack at mixing those. I think there’s more there.’ Also, 2008 is a million years ago in today’s ‘forever now’ culture, and there’s probably people out there who don’t even know this stuff exists. So why not reintroduce it with a fresh take?”

Beller once again called upon sonic sherpa Forrester Savell (Karnivool, Bear McCreary) to remix the three tunes. After mixing Scenes From The Flood and the latest Aristocrats album DUCK (2024), Savell was clearly the right choice to set the soundstage for a new experience.

With “Greasy Wheel” and “Cave Dweller” appearing on The Aristocrats’ Boing, We’ll Do It Live (2012), “Love Terror Adrenaline” contained a unique marker in Beller’s solo catalog: It’s the only work featuring then-future Aristocrats drummer Marco Minnemann.

“’Love Terror Adrenaline/Break Through’ was an intensely complex and emotionally charged 10-minute piece,” Beller explains, “about experiencing and getting beyond a panic attack caused by all sorts of inner demons. I wanted the song to reflect that struggle, and it’s a beast. I didn’t know Marco that well back then, but I’d played a couple of gigs with him for ex-Frank Zappa guitarist Mike Keneally. There was an intensity and aggression in the way Marco tackled the most difficult passages that instinctively felt right to me. So I brought both Marco and Mike onto this nightmare piece, and they really did incredible things with it.”

The EP also features performances by drummers Joe Travers (Zappa Plays Zappa, Eric Johnson) and Toss Panos (Michael Landau, Larry Carlton); guitarists Rick Musallam (Ben Taylor, Carly Simon) and Griff Peters (John Mayer, Billie Myers); and keyboardist Jeff Babko (Jimmy Kimmel Live, Steely Dan, Sheryl Crow).

The title Calm Before The Storm references Beller’s own personal journey at the time, an emotional whipsaw over several years. “I moved to Nashville in 2006 and started working on ‘Thanks In Advance’ right away. The album’s story chaotically worked towards a calm and peaceful vibe in the end, symbolized by the ‘Break Through’ moment after eight minutes of terrorized adrenaline. That’s where I left the narrative, sitting in a space of optimism and gratitude. Then, life went on and…well, a lot of things happened. And The Aristocrats suddenly exploded out of nowhere a couple of years later.”

“Then, in 2013 my marriage failed and I moved from Nashville back to Los Angeles, with a somewhat infamous stop at a crazypants gas station in Texas occurring along the way. I also learned some things about both myself and human nature that were not exactly aligned with my original ‘Thanks In Advance’ vibes. Working through that cognitive dissonance was the origin of Scenes From The Flood, even though it took six more years to bring it to fruition. And the very first idea for that album was ‘The Storm’, a metaphor for what had swept through my life.

“So the calm moment before everything went nuts – that’s where this EP ends. And I thought the material it took to get there deserved a fresh look.”

Track Listing:
1. Greasy Wheel
2. Cave Dweller
3. Love Terror Adrenaline/Break Through

Calm Before The Storm will initially be available exclusively on Bryan Beller’s Bandcamp page, at
https://bryanbeller.bandcamp.com/music.

Additionally, an extremely limited run of CDs are available at 
https://www.hellomerch.com/products/calm-before-the-storm-a-thanks-in-advance-remix-ep