NEW ALBUM BY NUBIYAN TWIST

"Chasing Shadows", a new album by Nubiyan Twist.

Nubiyan Twist is a Leeds-formed, London-based eclectic collective blending jazz, afrobeat, hip-hop, soul, reggae, and electronic music into a high-energy, infectious sound. Known for a powerful horn section, intricate live instrumentation, and soulful vocals, their music features virtuosic musicianship and danceable global grooves.

ZAPPA / BEEFHEART / MOTHERS - BONGO FURY (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

It's out and available in different editions, even including a Hi-Res (24-bit/96 kHz or 24-bit/192 kHz) download option...

• LP - Bernie Grundman remastered 1 LP on black vinyl 
• LP - Bernie Grundman remastered 1 LP on orange/black galaxy vinyl + bonus litho
• 2LP - Bernie Grundman remastered 1 LP on black vinyl + bonus LP
• 5 CD + blu-ray box set - Bob Ludwig remastered album and bonus tracks plus two live concerts

THE OTHERS OF INVENTION

My "Others Of Invention" project sure keeps me busy.
Sometimes I can't resist, and I even go for different editions of some of the albums.

Earlier this week I was able to add the 1974 LP German version of Woody Herman's "Thundering Herd" and the original 1969 UK LP of Ambrose Slade's "Beginnings"

• Woody Herman: Thundering Herd
      (1974, lp, Germany, fantasy)
      - incl. 'America Drinks And Goes Home'
  
  
• Ambrose Slade: Beginnings
      (1969, lp, UK, fontana)
      - incl. ‘I Ain’t Got No Heart’ (F. Zappa)

FRANK ZAPPA FUQ (FREQUENTLY UNASKED QUESTIONS)

A message from Andrew :

For those unable to attend Festival Moo-ah this weekend - where I will be selling copies of my three Frank Zappa FUQ paperback books at a discounted price of £10 each - I am temporarily reducing the price of the eBook version that comprises Vols 1 and 2.

https://idiotbastard.my-online.store/product/frank-zappa-fuq-ebook

BONGO FURY 50th WITH THE VAULTMEISTER

From the Zappa newsletter: 

Bongo Fury 50ᵀᴴ with the Vaultmeister

Dive into the Bongo Fury box set with the Vaultmeister as he unpacks the Frank & Beefheart origin story, Frank’s cutting-edge studio sorcery, and what’s brewing next in the Zappaverse.

A NEW RELEASE BY JOERI CHIPSVINGERS

Narrated in Flemish, but oh so wonderful.

A second album by Joeri Chipsvingers !

 

GOV'T MULE'S ISLAND EXODUS

Yes, January 2027 !!

BONGO FURY (50th ANNIVERSARY EDITION) RELEASED TODAY

Bongo Fury (50th Anniversary Edition)

Released today !

A MESSAGE FROM THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND

The Ed Palermo Big Band

That's right, Ed. The Iridium is right over there on B'way & 51st. And Ed and the gang will be there too this Monday night. Featuring the return of violinist extraordinaire Katie Jacoby (The Who, Foreigner, Debbie Harry). And other special guests too!
It's going to be a beautiful night. Come join the celebration.

ELEMENTUS MUSICALIS - XENOCHRONY

June 2021, Elementus Musicalis released a piece on Bandcamp called 'Xenochrony'.

Xenochrony (as one should know) was a technique used and developed by Frank Zappa, pasting pieces of one song into another.

Not that I can hear any references to Frank Zappa's music is in this piece, but it is called 'Xenochrony'.

But Elementus Musicalis is not unfamiliar with Frank Zappa's music.
Also in 2021, Elementus Musicalis released "Zappa Revisited", and later in 2023, "Zappa's Sofa".

-

GUITAR TYLER - MOGGIO & WHAT'S NEW IN BALTIMORE

-

-- info: Jérôme Munnier

A DISTURBING MESSAGE FROM STICK MEN

Hi everyone,

Keeping it as short as possible: I’m writing to share a difficult update regarding our recent travels in Chile. Unfortunately, we (Stick Men) were victims of an organized theft where much of our gear and personal items were stolen from our suitcases while in the custody of the airline.

The loss is significant. While I still have my primary instrument, we lost essential equipment, most notably including two of our Quad Cortex units and Pat’s sample pad. More devastatingly, three of my hard drives were taken containing dozens of music projects, archival data, and over 300 unreleased concert recordings from the last decade. On a personal level, these drives also held the only complete archive of photos and videos of my daughter from since she was born.


While we are not asking for direct donations, many of you have asked how you can help. If you would like to support the band during this time, the most effective way is to visit our Bandcamp pages and purchase digital downloads. Links below. Supporting our digital catalog helps us recover from the severe financial and emotional blow of this loss as we continue our tour next week.

And if any of our Chilean friends hear of our equipment and personal items being traded, we're very interested in recovering what was stolen from us, and we offer a reward for that.
Despite this setback, we will be back on the road next week and look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming shows.

Thank you for your ongoing support and for standing by us.

Best,
Markus Reuter
Stick Men

stickmenband.com/music/

PIERRE VERVLOESEM

There are 10 cds back in stock from Pierre fabulous "Flambant 9" album!
pierrevervloesem.bandcamp.com/album/pierre-vervloesems-flambant-neuf

LINUS HOFFMANN'S BOOK ON ZAPPA ALSO AVAILABLE AS PAPERBACK

I mentioned Linus Hoffmann's "Gegen Jede Schablone" book a little while ago.
It seems not only to be available as a hardcover book, but also as a paperback.

ONLY A MOTHER - NAKED SONGS FOR CONTORTIONISTS

• Only A Mother: Naked Songs For Contortionists
      (1991, cd, USA, tec tones)

Info from Discogs:
TEC Tones was founded in 1989 from the ashes of Ralph Records by Tom Timony after the Residents turned over Ralph to him. He kept it going, distributing many former Ralph acts as well as other like-minded individuals, like Negativland. In 1999 the name was changed to Esoteric Music Group though releases were mostly limited to CD reissues of old Ralph releases. Unfortunately, EMG closed its mail-order doors in 2001.

Only A Mother, Frank Pahl's project, was one of 'new' artists on TEC tones.
"Naked Songs For Contortionists" was Only A Mother's third release.
Experimental folk music could be a possible description.

Am I the only one who thinks that 'Bricks Are Naked, Damned" ends with a little Residents reference?

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

CYRIL CYRIL - LE PETIT BONHOMME ORANGE

' Le Petit Bonhomme Orange'
(the little orange guy)

by Cyril Cyril

Out on the Bongo Joe record label.

This deserves to become a hit single !

The video over at the Bongo Joe Bandcamp page is animated. Check that out as well.

https://cyrilcyrilband.bandcamp.com/album/le-petit-bonhomme-orange-le-gros-hit

AN ED PALERMO UPDATE

A message from Ed Palermo

Sunday night, I brought my sextet to The Falcon (Marlboro, NY) and had a blast. Bruce McDaniel, Ted Kooshian, Bob Quaranta, Paul Adamy and Ray Marchica brought the house down. Call me Mr. Lucky. Thank you, Kevin Cavanaugh for the pic!

The set list:
MARCH 15, 2026
EDDY’S CHEMISTRY SET

DOGTOWN-Kamaal Williams (British DJ)
BIG SWIFTY (Zappa)
WHAT’S NEW IN BALTIMORE? (Zappa)
TWENTY SMALL CIGARS (Zappa)
MR.SOUL (Buffalo Springfield)
BIG SWIFTY reprise (Zappa)
FLESH FOR FANTASY (Billy Idol)
OH NO (Zappa)
TOADS OF THE SHORT FOREST (Zappa)
JITTERBUG WALTZ (Fats Waller)
TOADS OF THE SHORT FOREST reprise

AGAIN-part two (David Sancious)
FRED (Allan Holdsworth)
ZOOT ALLURES (Zappa)
THIRD WORLD MAN (Steely Dan)
SNAKE OIL (Tony Williams)
DON’T BOTHER ME (Beatles)
NARDIS (Miles Davis)
CINNAMON GIRL (Neil Young)
JOSIE INTRO (Fagan)
ECHIDNA’S ARF (Zappa)
WE ARE NOT ALONE (Zappa)

(encore)

NEVER-NEVERLAND (Todd Rundgren/Peter Pan)
GLAD (Traffic)

HUUN-HUUR-TU

Tuvan throatsingers Huun-Huur-Tu participated in the Frank Zappa Margarita Nights.
Check out Rip Rens's article for more info.
https://www.riprense.com/zappa_drinks.htm

To my surprise, I recently found out that Huun-Huur-Tu's 1993 "60 Horses In My Herd" album included a piece that the band had recorded in honor of Frank Zappa, who loves this song.
The piece in question was entitled: 'Ching Söörtükchülerining Yryzy' (Song Of The Caravan Drivers).

The album got re-released (both on CD and on LP) in 1996, with different artwork.

-- info: Andreas Rausch (on Facebook)

HANS ANNELLSSON - SINISTER FOOTWEAR

I've mentioned this essential new release by Hans Annellsson a little while ago already, and in the meantime I've also received the (beautifully produced) CD.
Great !!

Here's some additional info, from GlassOnyon PR

Hans Annellsson Releases New Cover of Frank Zappa’s “Sinister Footwear”

Hans Annellsson, one part of the prog duo The Vegetarians, has recorded a complete cover version of Frank Zappa's orchestral composition 'Sinister Footwear'. This new version has been arranged for keyboards, bass, drums, guitar, violin, woodwinds & mallets. This recording was produced and performed by Hans Annellsson with Andreas Hagman (violin) & Viktor Enebjörn (drums). The new recording released on March 1, 2026 on Bandcamp, and is available as a digital download or as a numbered limited edition CD.

The complete version of Sinister Footwear, which had its world premiere at Zellerbach Auditorium, Berkeley, California on June 15, 1984, has never been officially released by Frank Zappa.

Most of the instruments on this new version were recorded in Annellsson's studio during the second half of 2025. The drums were recorded by Viktor Enebjörn in his studio, and the violin was recorded at Studio Loftet, Malmö, Sweden by Janne Brovall. The mixing and mastering was also done at Studio Loftet by Hans Annellsson & Janne Brovall.

The story of the music:

00:00 JAKE, WHO DESIGNS IT
01:06 SOMEPLACE IN NEW JERSEY WHERE THEY MAKE THEM
02:55 ILLEGAL ALIENS ON A LUNCHBREAK
03:35 AT THE CATERING TRUCK
04:15 JAKE EATS A MOLDED JELLO SALAD
05:16 JAKE'S SECRETARY
05:55 ILLEGAL ALIENS WORK SLOWER IN THE AFTERNOON
06:06 JAKE'S SECRETARY READS HER MAGAZINE
06:22 ILLEGAL ALIENS WANT TO GO HOME
06:30 JAKE'S SECRETARY EATS COTTAGE CHEESE
06:41 UGLY SHOES ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE
07:51 WHAT YOU THINK YOU LOOK LIKE WHILE YOU'RE WEARING THEM
09:11 SOMETIMES THEY MAKE YOU WALK FUNNY
09:48 OTHER PEOPLE PRETEND NOT TO NOTICE
12:08 SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM OFF FOR A MINUTE
12:28 THEN YOU PUT THEM BACK ON BECAUSE YOU THINK THEY LOOK SO GOOD ON YOU
13:18 CHILDREN CAN ALSO HAVE UGLY SHOES
15:03 THE FOOT DOCTOR SAYS YOU MIGHT NEED AN OPERATION
15:30 BUT YOU'RE GONNA WEAR THEM ANYWAY
16:04 VARIOUS NEW POSTURES
16:42 EVERYBODY HAS A PAIR SOMEWHERE
18:19 A PLACE YOU CAN GO WHEN YOU GOT THEM ON

Hans Annellsson
Musician/Composer from Sweden. One part of the Swedish-American Prog duo The Vegetarians with John Tabacco. Has released music on his label Annellssongs since 1989. Has his own studio where the majority of the music is recorded. Got permission from Frank Zappa to release one of Frank’s compositions in Swedish, Penisens Storlek, (Penis Dimension) 1993. Performed with The Vegetarians at the Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberman, Germany in 2011. Has worked with Morgan Ågren & Mats Öberg (Mats&Morgan Band), Gustaf Hielm (Meshugga), Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa & George Duke) & John Tabacco.

Andreas Hagman
Violinist from Sweden with an interest in contemporary & avant-garde music. A member of the Opera Orchestra in Malmö, Sweden.

Viktor Enebjörn
Freelancing drummer from Sweden. Also supporting himself as a drum teacher.


To purchase digitally or on CD: https://hansannellsson.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-footwear

MARCH 2026 CUNEIFORM RECORDS UPDATE

2 NEW RELEASES COMING OUT MARCH 27, 2026:

JANEL LEPPIN – SLOWLY MELTING
CINEMATIC INSTRUMENTAL / POST-GENRE / CONTEMPORY COMPOSITION / POST-ROCK / POST-JAZZ / INDIE ART / FUZZTONE
Cellist & composer Janel Leppin's 2nd solo album of genre-defying music [USA]
~~~
JANEL LEPPIN / ENSEMBLE VOLCANIC ASH - PLUTO IN AQUARIUS
AVANT JAZZ / CONEMPORARY COMPOSITION / IMPROVISATION
Third release by composer / cellist Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash, a jazz ensemble featuring Washington DC avant jazz stars Brian Settles, Anthony Pirog, Luke Stewart, Larry Ferguson [USA]  

THE STINKFOOT ORCHESTRA FEATURING N. M. BROCK IN CONCERT IN SAN DIEGO ON APRIL 19

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND - - - WILLIE THE PIMP (F. ZAPPA)

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Willie the Pimp (Zappa Cover) - Beacon Theater 3/13/26

For more info:
https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/derek-trucks-plays-jerry-garcias-tiger-beacon-theatre-3-13-26/

THE GRANDMOTHES - THE WEASELS SESSIONS '93

• The Grandmothers: The Weasels Sessions '93
      (2026, download / streaming, --, digital music platforms / muffin records productions)

Featuring Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Roland St Germain, Linda Valdmots, Ener Bladezipper and Sandro Oliva !

1. Progress
2. The Quartet
3. Prelude to the Eric Dolphy Memorial BBQ (Live)
4. I Can't Breath
5. '59 Chevrolet
6. Chest Pain
7. The Austin Chronicle
8. Lady Queen Bee
9. Primal Jazz (Live)
10. Soft Construction with Sharp Interlude (Live)
11. Be All You Can Be
12. Silicone Hump
13. Where Were You (Live)
14. King of My Castle
15. Transitions
16. What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body (Excerpt)
17. My Car
18. Idiot
19. Do You Think My Pants Are Too Tight (Live)
20. Let the Good Times Roll
21. The Eternal Question (Live)
22. Trouble Every Day (Live)
23. Plastic People (Live)
24. Primorial (Hingshammer Version)

Excellent news !!
Check out your digital music platforms for this release !!

ANGINE DE POITRINE

Experimental duo Angine de Poitrine is on Bandcamp.
Their second album will be out in April.

And, yes, that strange guitar sound is coming from a microtonal guitar.

Interesting detail: their first album was also made available on LP.

-

MCCOY TYNER - PRELUDE AND SONATA

• McCoy Tyner: Prelude And Sonata
      (1995, cd, Europe, milestone)

Just look at that tracklist:

1. Prelude in E minor Op. 28, no. 4 (F. Chopin)
2. Loss of love (H. Mancini - B. Merrill)
3. Contemplation (McCoy Tyner)
4. For all we know (F. Coots - S. Lewis)
5. I will wait for you (M. Legrand - J. Demy - N. Gimbel)
6. Soul eyes (M. Waldron)
7. Smile (C. Chaplin)
8. Good morning heartache (I. Higginbotham - E. Drake - D. Fisher)
9. Piano sonata no. 8 in C minor (L. Van Beethoven)

"Prelude And Sonata" is a beautiful, lyrical modern jazz album.
It got released in 1995 but it still sounds fresh and crispy today.

McCoy Tyner on piano, Antonio Hart Bass on alto sax, Christian McBride on bass, and Marvin 'Smitty' Smith on drums, plus guest Joshua Redman on tenor sax on three of the tracks.

Here's the quintet's take on Henry Mancini's melancholic 'Loss Of Love' :

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

DAVE LIEBMAN - RETURN OF THE TENOR - STANDARDS

• Dave Liebman: Return Of The Tenor - Standards
      (1996, cd, USA, doubletime)

Dave Liebman on tenor sax, Vic Juris on guitar, Phil Markowitz on piano, Tony Marino on double bass, and Jamey Haddad on the drums.

The album features energetic takes on classic jazz standards without heavy rearrangements, but with lots of inventive improvisations.

Here's Dave Liebman with Vic Juris on the guitar!

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

CORIMA - CORIMA

• Corima: Corima
      (2007, cdr, --, private release)

After recently having enjoyed Corima's latest release ("Hunab Ku"), I was quite happy to give their first album a listening today.

At the start, Corima was a trio (keyboard, bass & drums), including vocals.
Nice. Very nice.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

OCTOBER EQUUS

Today's power breakfast:

• October Equus: Isla Purgatorio
      (2013, cd)

• October Equus: Noches Blancas, Luces Rojas
      (2022, cd)

SOFT MACHINE - THIRTEEN

• Soft Machine: Thirteen
      (2026, cd, UK, dyad records)
      (2026, cd uhq cd, Japan, june dream / moonjune records)

Released on CD on John Etheridge's Dyad Records label but also on Ultra High Quality CD in Japan. The latter in collaboration with the MoonJune Records label, and even adding two bonus tracks to the album.

Featuring John Etheridge (Guitar), Theo Travis (Sax, Flute), Fred Thelonius Baker (Fretless Bass) and Asaf Sirkis (Drums and Percussion), plus special guests Daevid Allen (Glissando Guitar on track 13), Pete Whittaker (Organ on tracks 2 & 5), and Nick Utteridge (Gong on track 5).

And speaking of John Etheridge, you can catch him with the Zappatistas at the Moo-Ah festival next weekend.

https://www.festivalmoo-ah.com/

But back to "Thirteen".

Recommended listening !!

THE MESSTHETICS - DEFACE THE CURRENCY

• The Messthetics And James Brandon Lewis: Deface The Currency
      (2026, cd, --, impulse)

Vigorous modern jazz with beautiful melodies and superb improvisations.

If I read their discography correctly, "Deface The Currency" is The Messthetics' fourth release and their second with sax master Brandon Lewis. 

And check out that guitar tone. Wow !

• Anthony Pirog - guitar James
• Joe Lally - bass
• Brendan Canty - drums
  plus
• Brandon Lewis - sax

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

WIGWAM - LIVE IN DENMARK 1976

• Wigwam: Live In Denmark 1976
      (2026, cd, Finland, svart records)
      (2026, 2lp, Finland, svart records)

Svart Records is taking us back to 1976.
To a Wigwam in concert in Denmark, November 26, 1976 in Denmark.

• Jim Pembroke – Vocals
• Pekka Rechardt – Guitar
• Hessu Hietanen – Keyboards
• Måns Groundstroem – Bass
• Ronnie Österberg – Drums

Recorded for a radio broadcast, and the band is in fine shape, so this is a treat.

Earlier in their career, Wigwam performed Frank Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia' in concert, as can be heard on the 2022 deluxe reissue.

Here's Wigwam during a 1976 studio session:

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

WARREN CUCCURULLO - THE RETURN OF THE ROSE VORTEX

• Warren Cuccurullo: Return Of The Rose Vortex
      (2026, download / streaming, --, digital music platforms)

After having released "Synthia" and "Synthia Vol.II" in December, Warren Cuccurullo is already back with "Return Of The Rose Vortex", a fine album that features Azar Lawrence (!!) on the saxophone.
Plus Tommy Mars !!

For a glimpse of Azar's career, take a look at:

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

Warren on synth soundscapes with Tommy Mars and Azar adding beautiful lines and phrases.
This is great.

-- info & more: Harald Haering

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ON THE NINETIES TIP - HEAR AND NOW

• Various Artists: On The Nineties Tip - Hear And Now
      (1995, cd promo, USA, caroline records)

I learn something new every day.
Initially, Primus recorded ‘Hello Skinny / Constantinople’ (The Residents) for the "On The Nineties Tip - Hear And Now" sampler.
Later the same year, the track got added to their 'Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver' CD single.
This was the release that got their version introduced to a wider audience.

In 2002, 'Hello Skinny / Constantinople' got added as a bonus track to "Frizzle Fry", an album that was originally released in 1990.

CORIMA - HUNAB KU

• Corima: Hunab Ku
      (2026, cd, France, soleil zeuhl)

Los Angeles-based band Corima has just released their fourth album.
Rock, fusion, Zeuhl.
LOVE IT !!

It's a bit of a particular story as the band released their first album / demo in 2007 and their previous one in 2016, along with some shifts in the band's line-up.
They only released four albums during their 20-year career !!

That being said, this is an amazing record.
Leaning heavy on the polyrhythms, complex and full of energy.

Out on CD on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label, and also available as a digital download from Bandcamp.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

KEVIN KASTNING & PAUL WERTICO - INTERCHANGE ONE

• Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico: Interchange One
      (2026, download / streaming, --, greydisc records)

Kevin Kastning (baritone guitar, contrabaritone guitar) and Paul Wertico (drums, percussion, prepared drumset and talking drum) are releasing "Interchange One". It's their first collaboration.

I was quite happy to be able to give the entire album a listening session.
Spontaneously composed, "Interchange One" is a beautiful sonic adventure.
It's remarkable how their sounds intertwine.

To be released later this month on Greydisc Records).

Here's the teaser :

THE DIVINE HAND ENSEMBE IS RECORDING A FRANK ZAPPA TRIBUTE ALBUM

The Divine Hand Ensemble is recording a Frank Zappa tribute album.
A double album.
And they have been working on it since last year.
It should be released later this year.

CLUB D'ELF

Club D'Elf in concert,
made available on YouTube.
recorded at the Lizard Lounge August 22, 2025

A beautiful recording of an excellent concert.

Check out their amazing performance of Frank Zappa's 'King Kong' (kicking in at around 58 minutes into the concert), or even better, check out the entire concert !

As the band would add: it's Frank Zappa's 'King Kong' in a Moroccan chaabi rhythm.
Also to be found on their 2022 "You Never Know" album.

CABBAGESHIPHOP INTERVIEW WITH DARKO THE SUPER

Darko The Super says:

I recently did an interview with Gary Suarez of Cabbages Hip Hop. Check out a preview of the article and consider subscribing to read the full deep dive into "Beware of Bob" and the creative process behind it. Gary is an amazing journalist and one who dedicates his time to spotlight and seek out new independent hip hop artists and share them to a larger platform. The scene needs more writers like Gary, so please support his newsletters.

https://www.cabbageshiphop.com/darko-the-super-interview-mf-grimm/

RISA TAKEDA - ZAPPA MEDLEY

-

-

-- info: Karl-Heinz Heidenreich (on FB)

SEKUSHI

Rudy Trouvé guests on the latest Sekushi album, "III".

• Thomas Deckx – Drums
• Youri Van Uffelen – Guitar
• Toon Verdonck – Guitar & Vocals
• Sam D’hondt – Bass & Vocals

Sekushi III is a relentless stream of dancefloor bangers, grinding stompers and lyrical drifters, boosted by collaborations with the enigmatic Lara Chedraoui and cult legend Rudy Trouvé. 

You will also know Youri from PASMANSand iH8 Camera.

ANOTHER DWEEZIL ZAPPA VIDEO

 

JOHN COMPTON - TO LUNA

John Compton released "To Luna" in 1971.

Featuring Billy Mundi on the drums.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade 

DOCTOR DELTA

Kicking off the day with some Doctor Delta !

• Doctor Delta: Slow Dog Blues
      (2020, 2cd, Italy, slow dog records)
      – incl. ‘The Spotlight Kid’ (D. Van Vliet)

• Doctor Delta: Stereo
      (2022, cd, Italy, slow dog records)

• Doctor Delta: Doctor Delta Play Zappa – Hydrogen And Stupidity
      (2026, cd, Italy, slow dog records)
      – Incl. ‘Dog Breath, in the Year of the Plague’ ,’Mother People’, ‘Let's Make the Water Turn Black’, ‘Holiday in Berlin’, ‘Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance / What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body’, ‘Little Umbrellas’, ‘Anyway the Wind Blows’, ‘My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama’, ’Lemme Take You To the Beach’, ‘(Son of) Mr. Green Genes’, ‘(Son of) Orange County Lumber Truck / How Could I Be Such a Fool’ (F. Zappa)

Check out:

https://doctordelta.bandcamp.com/

COMMANDER CODY AND HIS LOST PLANET AIRMEN - GREATEST HITS LIVE

• Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen: Greatest Hits Live!
      (2003, cd, USA, king biscuit flower hour records)

A little while ago, I received a digital copy of "Greatest Hits Live!", a foot-stompin' rockabilly and boogie woogie party music album by Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen.

Fun.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

NEW BOOKS ON THE SHELF

Recent additions on the shelf.
Does anyone know who released or compiled the book in the middle of the picture?

• Kohjitsu Ohyama's 1998 book on Frank Zappa
• "Zappa - Ein Lesebuch" (compiled by ??)
• The UK 1986 softcover re-issue of Ben Watson's "Negative Dialectics Of Poodle Play" book

ONLY A MOTHER - LIVE IN EUROPE 1996

Frank Pahl released Only A Mother's "Live In Europe 1996" a couple of years ago through Bandcamp.
A digital download / streaming album.

Beautiful.
The music has a certain narrative and theatrical aspect that I like a lot, mixing blues and jazz, spicing it up with different musical flavours along the way.

Frank Pahl added:
The quartet consists of Bobbi Benson on bass and vocals, Doug Gourlay on drums and percussion, Marko Novachcoff on horns, strings and vocals and I play various strings including electric guitar which is new to this band's sound.

Make sure to check out track no.8: 'Mahogany Wood', orginally released by The Residents with Renaldo & The Loaf on "Title In Limbo".

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

PHISH - NEW YEAR'S EVE 1993 - LIVE AT WORCESTER CENTRUM

• PHISH: new year’s eve 1993 - live at worcester centrum
      (2026, 3cd box set, USA, jemp records)
      (2026, 5lp box set, USA, jemp records)

A fabulous concert presented as a 5 LP but also as a 3 CD box set.
Including Phish performing FZ's 'Peaches En Regalia', shortly after FZ's passing.

Additional info on this release:
https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/phish-releasing-1993-worcester-nye/

and

https://relix.com/reviews/detail/phish-new-years-eve-1993-live-at-worcester-centrum/

Phish’s defining humor, in which you weren’t quite sure if they were making fun of arena rock tropes or living inside them, was happily pervasive as well, obviously with the gag itself but also interspersed throughout the musical program. Drummer Jon Fishman showboated his way through Neil Diamond’s “Cracklin’ Rosie,” the band transformed into a barbershop quartet for “I Didn’t Know,” and they paid tribute to the recently deceased Frank Zappa by weaving the melody to Zappa’s “Peaches En Regalia” into multiple songs throughout the night. (That’s in addition to a proper full rendition—their third in the four-night run.)

CHAD WACKERMAN AND THE L.A. ALL STARS - QUUBE

Chad Wackerman and the L.A. All Stars performed at the Paradox jazz club in Tilburg, NL, yesterday.
Reason enough to cross the border.

Chad Wackerman on drums. Alex Machcek on guitar, Jimmy Haslip on bass, and Steve Hunt on keyboards.

Here's a recap from Jan:

It was a phenomenal concert. Amazing musicians. And Chad's drums sound so good. No electronics can compete with that. 
They played a number of songs from the new album ("Quube") and some older work by Chad (including ‘All Sevens’ and ‘Between the Dog and the Wolf’). The encore was ‘Fred’ by Allan Holdsworth (originally found on "Believe It" by the New Tony Williams Lifetime and, of course, on "Blues for Tony", with Chad and Jimmy Haslip).

I can only agree with Jan.
Jeff Aug opened solo with some energetic pieces the acoustic guitar.
Chad and his buddies performed an incredible first set. Technically astounding. Fusion jazz, without any sharp edges. It ended with Chad's 'New York City", which sounded almost as a suite with a drum solo opening and various movements. Nice.

Their second set was a bit more powerful. Louder as well. I thought about mentioning it to the person that took care of the sound but I imagined he'd probably be nearly deaf, so that would be a useless effort...
Second set: short and sweet, plus an Allan Holdsworth piece as a bonus.
No Zappa piece, which in my humble opinion was a missed opportunity, but an excellent second set.

Bought "Quube" and will be enjoying that a lot the next couple of days.

• Wackerman, Machacek, Hunt, Haslip: Quube
      (2026, cd, USA, private release)

FROM LAST YEAR'S FRANK ZAPPA TRIBUTE CONCERT BY THE NDR BIGBAND

The NDR Bigband with special guest Mike Keneally.

"Hot Licks (And Funny Smells)"

Peaches En Regalia - Eat That Question - Let's Make The Water Turn Black

BLACK FLOWER - MOTIONS

• Black Flower: Motions
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, 10”, Belgium, sdban records)

"Motions", the latest release by Black Flower, arrived a couple of days ago.
The 10" record got released by the Sdban record label. It's pleasant to look at, but it's even more enjoyable to listen to it.
Also out on Bandcamp.

The hype sticker says: "For fans of Sons Of Kemet, Mulatu Astatke, and The Heliocentrics."
I couldn't agree more.

Black Flower

• Nathan Daems - sax
• Jon Birdsong - cornet
• Karel Cuelenaere - keyboards
• Filip Vandebril - bass
• Simon Segers - drums

Highly recommended.

BENE GESSERIT & INTIGE TALUURE

Intige Taluure is a Belgian duo that produces adventurous and experimental music.
Their "Newtons Flat Fidelity" series has them contributing with different artists for each release.
Volume 5, had the duo collaborating with BeNe GeSSeRiT, 

Cassette and Bandcamp release.

 

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

Borrowed from Facebook

A MESSAGE FROM STEVE VAI ON THE UPCOMING RELEASE OF THE COMPLETE YOSHI’S SHOWS:

“It’s an incredible honor for me to be involved with Eric Dorris, Chad Wackerman, Jimmy Haslip, Alan Pasqua, Manning Bartlett, and the Holdsworth Estate in bringing you all four historic performances of Allan and the band recorded at Yoshi’s in Oakland in 2006. Anything Allan-related that finds its way back into the light feels like a gift to all of us who have been inspired, bewildered, and joyfully humbled by his music over the years. These shows capture a truly special moment, and we’re thrilled to finally help make them available in a way that does them justice.” “We’re aiming for an early summer release and are carefully assembling two packages that will include high-resolution Blu-ray discs, CDs, and vinyl of the performances. In other words, plenty of ways to experience Allan’s brilliance—whether you prefer watching it, listening to it, or placing a lovingly pressed piece of vinyl on the turntable and letting the magic unfold. It’s been a real pleasure working with everyone involved in preserving and presenting this music, and I’m deeply grateful to be part of helping bring these remarkable performances back to the fans who appreciate Allan’s artistry as much as I do.”

“Stay tuned—there’s some beautiful Holdsworth energy on the way.”

Sincerely, Steve Vai


A MESSAGE FROM PRODUCER ERIC DORRIS
“We are currently in the approval stage of the packaging, artwork, authoring, etc. We are hoping to announce a release date in a few weeks, and it is looking like the release will happen sometime in June. I will send out the exact date as soon as I know it, and we will start taking pre-orders at that time. I know it's been hard to be patient, but this will definitely be worth it!”
Eric Dorris

 Text source: Post by Eric Dorris in "The Unreal Allan Holdsworth" group on Facebook, March 5, 2026.

FRÉDÉRIC L'EPÉE - CONTRE COURANT

• Frédéric L’Epée: Contre Courant
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp / cuneiform)

The Cuneiform Records label continues their series of download / streaming-only releases. It even looks as they have picked up the pace.

One of the more recent releases on the Cuneiform label is Frédéric L'Epée's "Contre Courant" to which Frédéric added:
"As we have all experienced, music has healing properties. Without thinking about it or seeking it out, the music I have created in recent years has very often taken the form of a therapeutic act, like a musical cure aimed at bringing peace and serenity. 

Most of us are aware of the decline of the Western world. Although it has long been presented to us as the best possible, the inevitability of its collapse, dragging all of humanity down with it, is now becoming increasingly clear. Some people are still standing up to fight against this meltdown, and their humanitarian, social, or political actions help us to maintain hope. Some others strive to ease suffering and tensions, more like caregivers. 

Unconsciously, my musical work has gradually shifted toward—and then identified with— a kind of treatment, an act of abstract care."
- Frédéric L'Epée

The result is beautiful.
Fifteen pieces of solo electric guitar.
Melodic, narrative, meditative.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

SHABAKA - OF THE EARTH

• Shabaka: Of The Earth
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
  

 Shabaka Hutchins' brand-new "Of The Earth" album combines mysterious saxophone and flute lines with exotic beats and rhythms. Well, that's not all, of course, but you'll get my drift.

Reserved, almost meditative, but at times also rough and exiting.

Recommended listening !

NATHAN MOORE, EDDIE PRÉVOST, RAY RUSSELL - STACKED

Out on the Cuneiform Records label: an improvised music set by Nathan Moore (electric guitar), Eddie Prévost (drums), and Ray Russell (electric guitar).

Long, drawn-out searches for sounds and atmospheric images.
Fascinating.

A download / streaming only release.

-- info & more: Danny Mathys

LAZULI ON TOUR

 

THE MIKE KENEALLY BAND - BAKIN' @ THE POTATO (DELUXE BANDCAMP EDITION)

I'm enjoying the Deluxe Bandcamp Edition of Mike Keneally's "Bakin' @ The Potato".
Originally released in 2011 as a CD / DVD set, the album is know being made available on Bandcamp.

Audio only, but with:
a 25-page digital booklet with rare stuff, each song appears in its unedited form in amazing sound quality, and you get two uncut commentary tracks from the band!

It has been quite a number of years since I've listened to this album and I feel a bit bummed about that.
This is such a great album.
Well, that's a good thing about these Bandcamp re-releases. You get to revisit some fine albums.

Adding to the melancholic mood: "Bakin' @ The Potato" includes '1988 Was A Million Years Ago', a piece that Mike wrote in remembrance of Frank Zappa, originally released on the 1995 “Boil That Dust Speck” album.

Play it loud !

THE TANGENT - AUTO RECONNAISSANCE

• The Tangent: Auto Reconnaissance (2020, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2020, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2020, cd, Europe, inside out music)
      (2020, 2lp + cd, Europe, inside out music)

Andy Tillison’s The Tangent released “Auto Reconnaissance” in 2020. It was The Tangent’s 11th studio album / the 16th album in their discography.
One of the pieces, the ‘Lie Back And Think Of England’ suite, consisted of 13 parts with part 9 entitled ‘Frantic Synth Solos With Fast Drumming And Zappa Influenced Vibraphones’.

Digipack CD release, plus two special editions:
A 2LP + CD edition, on orange vinyl, limited to 200 copies.
A 2LP + CD edition, on red brick vinyl, limited to 100 copies.
also released as a download / streaming album through Bandcamp.

A fine mixture of prog rock, jazz and fusion.
Very nice.
And although Frank Zappa is mentioned in one of the movements of the 28-minute 'Lie Back And Think Of England', I would not call it a typical Frank Zappa inspired piece.

But don't get me wrong, I really like "Auto Reconnaissance". I enjoyed listening to it and I will play it again the next couple of days.

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

Tedeschi Trucks Band will return to the Beacon Theatre for 10 shows, March 10-28. Wednesday performances will feature special guests Steve Earle & Vincent Neil Emerson*, Robert Randolph^ and North Mississippi Allstars+.

*March 11 | ^March 18 | +March 25

Nugs dot net will do two special live streamins.

STEVEN WILSON - IMPOSSIBLE TIGHTROPE (LIVE IN MADRID)

• Steven Wilson: Impossible Tightrope (Live In Madrid)
      (2026, download, --, headphone dust)

A complete document of the final concert of the European leg of the hugely acclaimed The Overview tour. Recorded in front of a lively Madrid audience, the 2 hour plus show has been mixed from the multitracks by SW in stereo, 5.1, and Dolby Atmos. Also included is a Binaural 'Headphone Dust' Mix!

An absolutely amazing concert.
Nothing spectacular, nothing earth-shattering, just a set of great songs, performed by some excellent musicians.

Beautiful.
Progressive rock at its best.

Here's a fragment of an audience recording of the same tour:

-- info & more: Harald Haering

MIKE KENEALLY

“The Mike Keneally Band's live tour de force, "bakin' @ the potato!" is now coming to Bandcamp Friday! This is a very special version of the now out-of-print DVD and CD package, it features every song, including music that was left off the CD for space reasons, and two uncut commentary tracks. Plus a pretty cool booklet! The sound quality is amazing. Hope you like it!”

NI - ORBE

French band Ni !!

From the recent (split) 7".

THE FURIOUS BONGOS - THIRD ROOM LIVE

Kicking off the day with The Furious Bongos' latest release, "Third Room Live".
Wonderful.

Out on bandcamp, but also released on CD.
And while the band is considering releasing a video recording of this album, you can also satisfy your needs on Youtube.

Here's 'Drowning Witch' and 'What's New In Baltimore?', and, yes, that's Chad Wackerman on drums !!

• Conrad St. Clair: bass, music director
• Chad Wackerman: drum kit
• Lo Marie: vocals, guitar, conductor
• Danielle Dougherty: vocals, percussion
• Chris Huntington: guitar, vocals
• Scott Fischer: vocals, keys
• Jonathan Sindelman: keys, vocals
• Pauline Roberts: MalletKAT, percussion
• Vince Szynborski: saxes, harmonica, throat singing

48 V. PHANTOM POWER - FEEL D-BASE

• 48 V. Phantom Power: Feel D-Base
      (1991, 12”, Belgium, r & s records)

• Maarten van der Vleuten: Feel D-Base / Graffity (1991-1992)
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

In 1991, 48 V. Phantom Power (also known as DJ Maarten van der Vleuten) released “Feel D-Base”.
The EP included ‘Moon 113 (Culltural Bass Vibe)’, a piece that sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Are You Hung Up?’.
3 minutes and 18 seconds in the track, and almost inaudible, one can hear ‘Blank. Empty. Space. That’s What They Are Now’.

December 2025, the three tracks from the “Feel D-Base” EP got released on Bandcamp as part of "Feel D-Base / Graffity (1991-1992)”.

KOMMISSAR HJULER & THE MILF OF INVENTION - AMERIKANISCHE POESIE UND ALKOHOLISMUS #2

• Kommissar Hjuler & The MILF Of Invention: Amerikanische Poesie Und Alkoholismus #2
      (2017, lp, Germany, dicker barnes vol.1)

Kommissar Hjuler released several albums in 2017.
The “Amerikanische Poesie Und Alkoholismus #2” LP presented two live concerts by Kommissar Hjuler und Frau performing and interpreting the music of Frank Zappa.
The LP got released on white vinyl.

Next to this white vinyl album, the Dicker Barnes record label released a retitled version, “You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore”, in a limited edition of eleven copies on red vinyl.

Another limited edition got released in 2018, again with different title (“Ashley”) and artwork and on blue vinyl. Other retitled re-issues have also been spotted.

Here's the duo performing a rather reworked version of Frank Zappa's 'Sofa' at Zappanale in 2010:

NURSE WITH WOUND - CHANCE MEETING ON A DISSECTING TABLE OF A SEWING MACHINE AND AN UMBRELLA

• Nurse With Wound: Chance Meeting On A Dissecting Table Of A Sewing Marchine And An Umbrella
      (1979, lp, United Kingdom, united dairies ud 01)

British experimental music project Nurse With Wound (NWW) released their first album, “Chance Meeting On A Dissecting Table Of A Sewing Marchine And An Umbrella” in 1979. Although it got re-released several times, the album was initially issued in a limited numbered edition of 500 copies.

The album would get released on CD in 1990, also on the United Daries record label.
2024 would see a remastered re-issue on the Rotorelief record label: limited editions on different coloured vinyls.

The album insert listed NWW’s inspiration mentioning Frank Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention, and Captain Beefheart.

Later in their career, the band went on to record 'Trouble Every Day', although they called the piece 'Subterranean Zappa Blues'.

MORE PAUL DAVIDS AND DWEEZIL ZAPPA

-- info: Jérôme Munnier

ASTRAL HAWK MACHINE - ASTRAL HAWK MACHINE

• Astral Hawk Machine: Astral Hawk Machine
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2026, cd, --, black widow records)

Psychedelic space rock trio Astral Hawk Machine has just released their first album.
The band features Jay Tausig (USA), Bridget Wishart (UK) and Santtu Laakso (FI), which makes it a nice international mix. 

To be more specific, "Astral Hawk Machine" is Santtu Laakso's project. He will invite different collaborators as Astral Hawk Machine continues.

Anyway, I enjoyed this eponymous release, even if only for (former Hawkwind) Bridget Whishart's vocals.

FRANK ZAPPA BOOTLEG PICTURE DISCS

I recently got hold of 2 fine Frank Zappa picture discs.
The first one is a counterfeit of the "Greasy Love Songs" CD, the second one is the "Zappa World Tour 80" bootleg picture disc

KISS MY JAZZ - IN A SERVICE STATION

• Kiss My Jazz: In A Service Station
      (1999, cd, Belgium, heaven hotel)

Belgian band Kiss My Jazz started somewhere in the early nineties.
The collective featured Rudy Trouvé, Heyme Langbroek, Elko Blijweert, Jacki Billet, and many others.

The main object of Kiss My Jazz was to make "jazz-crooners" in the style of Chet Baker and Nat King Cole. Soon the music became more experimental and rough with lots of improvisations, and influences from bands like Rip Rag & Panic, Marc Ribot, Louis Neefs, James White, Pavement and Chet Baker became more obvious.

"In A Service Station" was the band's third and final album.

The opening track, 'Truckdriving Song', will give you an impression of what to expect.
Lo-fi experimental crooner songs.

DIEGO PIÑERA 4+4 - ROMANIAN DANCE

• Diego Piñera 4+4: Romanian Dance
      (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Drummer and composer Diego Piñera's 4+4 octet combines a jazz quartet (sax, guitar, bass & drums) with a string quartet.

The liner notes explain:
At the heart of the album lies an ongoing dialogue with the work of Béla Bartók. Rather than paying tribute in a historical sense, Piñera approaches Bartók as a living influence. Romanian Dance features new arrangements of Bartók’s Romanian folk dances and selected string quartet movements, alongside reimagined works by Alexander Borodin and five original compositions. Bartók’s fascination with folk traditions, rhythmic complexity, and harmonic experimentation resonates deeply with Piñera’s own musical language, shaped by his Afro-Uruguayan roots and a lifelong engagement with trans-cultural rhythms.

The result sounds fascinating.
I love the beautiful melodies and the polyrhythms.
Superb.

"Romanian Dance" will be digital download / streaming only and it will be made available on March 18.
Recommended.

SOFT HEARTED SCIENTISTS - THE PHANTOM OF CANTON

• Soft Hearted Scientists: The Phantom Of Canton
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2025, cd, UK, the hip replacement)
      (2026, 3lp, UK, fruits de mer records)

Previously available as a download from Bandcamp and as a shiny compact disc in several different versions, the Soft Hearted Scientists' "The Phantom Of Canton" is getting a vinyl release.
A 3 LP release, to be more specific.

The Soft Hearted Scientists (love that name) are described as:

A Cardiff based psychedelic collective with 4 core members and 2 floating members. We blend all sorts of guitars, vintage synths and organs, electronics and sound effects, real drums, percussion, (including household items) and electronic beats. The lyrics are sometimes cryptic and surreal but always grounded in reality.

I really enjoyed listening to "The Phantom Of Canton".
Retro / psychedelic / pop.
Check it out !