FLAT EARTH SOCIETY - ORFEUS - INTEGRALE VERSIE

 As expected, following yesterday's "De Liederen", Flat Earth Society now also released the complete version of their "Orfeus" theatre show.

JING CHI - JING CHI

• Jing Chi: Jing Chi
      (2001, cd, USA, tone center)

Jing Chi was a fusion trio that released three records between 2001 and 2004, plus another one in 2017.
Featuring Jimmy Haslip on bass, Robben Ford on guitar & Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.

I received a digital download of their first album a couple of days ago, and I have had it on standard rotation (between the other albums that I listened to).
Excellent !!

-- info & such: Philippe Lamoot

DOUBLE BILL : KAMEEL + MOJO AND THE KITCHEN BROTHERS

I was very impressed by a recent gig by Kameel, the Belgian jazz / rock trio.

They have another gig coming up next February, opening for Mojo And The Kitchen Brothers.
In Retie, BE.
21/02/2025

https://www.eventbrite.be/e/tickets-kameel-mojo-the-kitchen-bothers-1976642896112

Kameel

Mojo And The Kitchen Brothers

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

FLAT EARTH SOCIETY - ORFEUS - DE LIEDEREN

The Flat Earth Society has just released "Orfeus - De Liederen", the songs from the recent theatre performance which was a collaboration between composer Peter Vermeersch and actor Koen De Graeve.

In Flemish / Dutch !!

 

THE YOCKAMO ALL-STARS - DEW DROP OUT

New Orleans / Mardi Gras / Rhythm and Blues band The Yockamo All-Stars released their "Dew Drop Out" album in 1998!

I have to agree with my buddie Till who pointed out to me that when the trombone enters the 'Jambolero' piece, it resembles Frank Zappa's arrangement of Ravel's 'Bolero'.
Check out that trombone !

That being said, "Dew Drop Out" is a fun album.
Recommended listening.

• Yockamo All-Stars: Dew Drop Out
      (1997, cd, --, rykodisc)

Together with John Boutté, The Yockamo All-Stars released "Cubanismo In New Orleans / Mardi Gras Mambo".

Also very enjoyable.

• John Boutté And The Yockamo All-Stars: Cubanismo – Mardi Gras Mambo
      (2000, cd, USA, hannibal)

Here's 'Jambolero':

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH - I. O. U. LIVE

• Allan Holdsworth: I.O.U. Live
      (1997, cd, --, outer music)

Filling gaps in the Allan Holdsworth discography...
Released in 1997, "I. O. U. Live" was actually recorded in concert in Japan in 1984. It presented pieces from the "I. O. U.", "Road Games", and "Metal Fatigue" albums.

In 2018, "I. O. U. Live" would get re-released as a CD / DVD package called "Live In Japan 1984" by the Manifesto record label.

Allan Holdsworth on (breathtaking) guitar, Chad Wackerman on drums, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Paul Williams on vocals.
Personally, I'm more in favor of the instrumental stuff, but this is a great album.
If you have the choice, go for the Manifesto release (with the DVD !!).

BRETT SPIVEY - DIE WEIHNACHTSMASCHINE

Die Weihnachtsmaschine (The Christmas Machine)
- A Holiday Tribute to Kraftwerk

brand-new release by Brett Spivey

NEW BANDCAMP RELEASE BY MIKE KENEALLY

"MKAF ‘03"
Mike Keneally & Friends
Live Adventures in Europe

COMING TO BANDCAMP
THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5!

The album will only be added to Mike's Bandcamp page on Friday:

https://mikekeneallymusic.bandcamp.com/

Mike added:

What is MKAF ‘03? Here’s some background:

Since the early ‘00s, concurrent with my Beer for Dolphins activities and the other stuff I get involved with, I’ve also had what I guess you could call my European Power Trio, consisting of me, Jaan Wessman (who lives in Finland) on bass, and Schroeder (who lives in Germany) on drums. We play when we can – three years ago we did the Zappanale Festival in Germany, and last year we played a few shows in Finland. I dearly love any opportunity to play with these guys – it’s a very special, and not widely known, part of my life and music.

Since 2016 we’ve been called The Mike Keneally Report, but when we started doing shows in 2002, and up until 2004, we were called MIKE KENEALLY & FRIENDS.

ZAPPANALE PREVIEW

Added to the Zappanale line-up:

German kraut rockers Agitation Free

Portugese band The Brothers Of Invention

Dutch / German collaboration The Filthy Brillos

= Fred & Armin of the Jeff Hollie trio & Sebastian, Sascha & Flo from the HuSos.

German band Die Miserablen Husos

ASTRAL MAGIC

 Astral Magic is a relatively new project by Santtu Laakso.
Santtu is the bass player for psychedelic space rock band Dark Sun.
His Astral Magic project comes from the same stable.

Kicked off by some home recordings during the covid-19 lockdown, Santtu has released over 40 albums up until today.

Here are the albums that I enjoyed / am enjoying today:

"Cruising The Celestial Highways" (2024)

"Shadows Over Jupiter (Remixed)"

"Strange Sensation"

"Mind Melt Machine EP"

ANTON ROOLAART - THE BALLAD OF GENERAL JUPITER

• Anton Roolaart: The Ballad Of General Jupiter
      (2026, cd, --, moonjune records)

With Anton Roolaart's "The Ballad Of General Jupiter" to be released in early January, the MoonJune Records label is already making one track available as a teaser.

Multi-instrumentalist Anton Roolaart was born in Teheran, Iran, and moved to the USA with his family at an early age. 
In 2007, Anton released his first album, "Dreamer', followed by a second one, "The Plight Of Lady Oona" in 2014.
In 2020, however, after living most of his life in the USA, Anton Roolaart moved to Amsterdam in The Netherlands where he continues to work on new music.

On "The Ballad Of General Jupiter", Anton does not hide his admiration for early nineteen seventies progressive rock music.
Eight tracks. Seven fine original compositions plus Jon Anderson's 'Yesterday And Today' (which fits great).

Blending rich musical textures with evocative and lyrical storytelling, The Ballad of General Jupiter is a collection of sonic tales — snapshots of imagination, emotion, and resilience. With echoes of David Bowie, Pink Floyd, early Genesis and Caravan, Roolaart paints vivid musical portraits shaped by imagination, introspection, and social consciousness as he explores not only personal themes, but also broader reflections on a world grappling with chaos, greed, and injustice.

If you're in or around Amsterdam on December 13th at Teatro Munganga, don't miss Anton Roolaart's acoustic concert. In addition to occasional local shows, Anton will be on a short tour of Benelux and Northern France in 2026, and he will perform at the 4th MoonJune International Festival in Teramo, Italy, in July 2026.

"The Ballad Of General Jupiter" will be out on CD, on LP and on Bandcamp in January 2026.
I was fortunate to give the complete album a listen and this one got a thumbs up from me.

Check out 'Star Child' on Bandcamp.

NEW RELEASE BY CHANAN HANSPAL

Chanan Hanspal's latest album, "Space Nordic", features Mike Keneally !

GUITAR WORLD INTERVIEW WITH MIKE KENEALLY

EXCELLENT Guitar World interview with Mike Keneally.
Talking about playing in Frank Zappa's band, but also discussing performing with Dweezil Zappa, Steve, Vai, XTC,...