The excellent CD accompanying the June 2026 issue of MOJO Magazine, is less a conventional tribute album and more a lovingly curated journey through the many worlds of Joni Mitchell. Bringing together artists from folk, jazz, soul, indie rock and Americana, the collection celebrates not only Mitchell’s songwriting genius, but also the remarkable flexibility of her compositions.
Nice. Very nice.
It made me revisit one of the original songs.
Previously only available as a digital streaming / download album,Trey Anastasio's "Live And Acoustic" will also been made available as a 3 LP set.
I received a digital copy of "BBC College Concert #7 - Missing Persons, Six Flags Magic Mountain Sept. 10, 1982", a recording of a radio show that eventually got released on CD and LP in 2024 as "Live In Santa Clarita - October 10, 1982".
I assume that the CD / LP version does not have the radio announcer's comments...
Artwork for the radio show
Artwork for the 2024 album
As the title predicts, "20260403 Elkton Music Hall, Elkton, MD" got recorded live in concert at the Elkton Music Hall earlier this year.
An excellent show (and recording) !
The album is available on Bandcamp as a free download (or pay what you want).
From the 1988 album "From Here To Drums" by Geoff Leigh and Frank Wuyts:
Composed by Geoff Leigh, but incorporating the chorus of Sun Ra's 'Space Is The Place'.-- info: the Dwalmacat radio show
This is truly exciting. After almost three years of touring all over Europe - from Germany, through the Netherlands, UK and all the way to the Faroe Islands - we are finally preparing for what will be our last tour leg for the coming future - a central European tour which includes some exciting performances in Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.
Here are the dates - most of them feature online tickets at great prices, so grab yours and reserve your spot! 🎸
YUVAL RON TRIO 👨🚀👨🚀👨🚀 CENTRAL EUROPE TOUR 2026
I'm not sure if this is a 'radio show album' or an actual bootleg, but I received info that there's a new Frank Zappa album out on colored vinyl. Limited and numbered.
It's called "Pappa Zappa", but it's not the bootleg album from the early eighties.
This one presents some early Cucamonga and Mothers material.
SIDE A
For reference, the 1982 "Pappa Zappa" 2 LP bootleg, presenting part of a 1976 concert.
Today, my guided tour of the world of Zeuhl took me to Japanese duo Amygdala.
Amygdala is a Japanese avant-prog and Zeuhl band known for their dark, heavy, and complex instrumental music. Characterized by intricate rhythmic patterns, apocalyptic atmospheres, and virtuoso keyboard and guitar work, their compositions draw heavy inspiration from Western progressive rock pioneers like Univers Zero, Magma, and Present.
Featuring Yoshihiro Yamaji (guitar, bass & vocals) and Yoshiyuki Nakajima (keyboard), the duo released two albums: "Amygdala" (2004), and "Complex Combat" (2008), both released on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label.
Recommended listening.
-- info: Danny Mathys
Caballero Reynaldo recently performed the music of Frank Zappa at a Portuguese festival.
But he's also releasing original music.
Here's 'Civilizacion Subnormal' :
Carmina's "Hamra" is another fascinating release on the French Soleil Zeuhl record label.
French band Carmina formed in 1974.
The Soleil Zeuhl record label recovered some of their archive recordings from 1976 & 1977 and released these on CD (in 2026!).
Three recordings of the same composition, 'Hamra'.
But this is not just an archival exercise. 'Hamra' is a beautiful piece of music and it's great to have these three versions available.
Band created in December 2015 at the suggestion of Jean-Pierre Vivante, manager of Le Triton, who saw the reunion of these 4 musicians as the "dream team" for his concert venue. Although Franck Vaillant, Christophe Godin, Médéric Collignon and Philippe Bussonnet had never met nor played together before, the musical alchemy was there and the band was born. They released their first eponymous album one year after their first concert together.
Featuring jazz drummer Franck Vaillant, guitar wizard Christophe Godin, jazz trumpet player Médéric Collignon, and (former) Magma bass player Philippe Bussonnet.
I probably mentioned this album shortly after it got released. I'm a huge fan of Christophe Godin's guitar playing and I try to listen to every project he's involved in.
Unfortunately, Wax'In only recorded one album. I would have loved to hear more from this amazing quartet.
As the album got recommended to me recently, I thought it was only appropriate to give it another mention (while giving it another spin).
Nolan Cook used to be the guitar player for the Residents.
His latest project is called Nifnar.
'I'll Give You One Day To Remember' will out on Bandcamp on June 5.
Here's the promo video.
Bass player and composer Fernando Molinari has released another couple of tracks on Bandcamp.
Both feature Marco Minnemann.
https://fernandomolinari.bandcamp.com/
You can also check Fernando out on YouTube
From the original release:
I haven't received my physical copy yet, but apparently, the hype sticker says:
recorded in conjunction with a documentary film entitled "Sex in Today's World".
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© Nikola Milatovic
Because there they are: the surprisingly fertile points of connection. The wild mix of genres, the playful approach to music and form, the joy of experimentation, the unexpected ruptures and turns — all of this is particularly well suited to children, because they are free of rigid categories and often accept shifts in style more naturally than adults do. Zappa’s grotesque humor, his absurd characters, and exaggerated situations fit as well. Added to this is rhythm, which can be translated into physicality, movement, and even language. Zappa’s collage-like works intersect with modern children’s theater, which often moves away from classical linear storytelling and instead works through images and associations.
So what at first glance may seem like an odd combination — Frank Zappa and children’s theater — ultimately makes sense, is fun, and offers hope for tomorrow.
So in the end: a kitschy happy ending after all.
See for yourself — ideally accompanied by a young person — from May 28 to 31 at Dschungel Wien.
It’s not the Frank Zappa composition, but it did mention FZ in the lyrics, featuring German rapper Dexter.
52 seconds into the track
Ich höre 'Black Napkins' von Zappa
(Rest In Peace)
Du hörst durch die halb geöffnete Tür eine Wutanfall von Papa
Vinyl release but also available on digital music platforms.
I received my LP copy last week.
Comes in a beautiful fold-out cover.
Here's a complete show from 2012 !
Another fine re-arranged piece:
Gotan Project Meets Chet Baker: 'Round About Midnight' (Thelonious Monk)
About five years ago, Italian saxophone / flute player and composer Daniele Sepe released the beautiful "Direction Zappa" album. A beautiful tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.
Another of Daniele's projects is called Capitan Capitone and they have just released their fourth album: "40 N 14 E", a 2 LP release on Record Store Day.
It's also available on digital music platforms such as Spotify and Amazon.
Here's a live snippet :
Chris Lammiman released another book on Pygmy Twylyte (the Scottish band that performs the music of Frank Zappa).
Pygmy Twylyte, Scotland's greatest purveyors of optional entertainment, have now passed the 100 gig mark. Chris Lammiman has enjoyed 36 of those performances, including the massive Zappanale headline show in 2024. To celebrate those 100 gigs, the author has written a book based around the travels, trivial titbits and amazing performance of that Zappanale experience. Incorporated withing this book is also some of the Facebook posts from the other 35 shows that the author attended, as well as a comprehensive gig list from the 100, and photos to boot.
It's available from Lulu in a couple of different editions.
The Cuneiform record label released an English translation of Aymeric Leroy's book on the Canterbury Scene, "Legends In Their Own Lunchtime".
I've only browsed through it, but there's tons of info in there.
As you probably know, some of the concerts that are held at Le Triton in Paris, France, are made available afterwards as a streaming concert video.
I recently learned that the 2024 concert by Soft Machine, from the "Other Doors" tour, is also available for streaming.
Featuring Fred Thelonious Baker, John Etheridge, Theo Travis, and Asaf Sirkis
https://vod.letriton.com/content/soft-machine-other-doors-tour-23-24
Brand-new release by KG & TLW.
Also out on vinyl.
The tracks were compiled from the "Demo Sessions" series.
20 years ago, Man From Uranus (MFU) released 'Satellite Link To Sun Ra' on their "Wild Moogimals" EP.
The Fruits de Mer record label will be releasing "An Introduction To Sendelica", a 4 CD set.
Sendelica are Wales’ best kept secret, a psychedelic rock band from West Wales composed of core members Pete Bingham (guitar), Glenda Pescado (bass) and Jack Jackson (drums), Lee Relfe (sax) and the inimitable Colin Consterdine (beats, keys and production). They have regularly collaborated with many musicians including Damo Suzuki, Nik Turner, Twink and The Orb.
"An Introduction To Sendelica" will include the band's version of FZ's 'Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", previously released on 7" in 2017.
This 4 CD set will be released next month.
With contributions from Vitja Pauwels (guitar), Viktor Perdieus (saxophone) and Louise van den Heuvel (bass).
Out on Unday Records.
Eric Slick being featured on the recent Mike Keneally release had my pal Jeroen diving in his archives.
As a result, I'm listening to a recording of the Adrian Belew Power Trio, in concert on October 27, 2010, broadcast on the Dutch VPRO JazzLive radio show on March 3, 2011.
The Adrian Belew Trio. Not with Eric, but with Eric's sister Julie. And with Marco Minnemann on the drums.
Thank you, Jeroen.
Here's a YouTube clip from that very same concert:
-- info: Jeroen J
Musical mastermind Mauro Pawlowski will be releasing a new album next month.
You can already check out a couple of tunes and pre-order the album over at Bandcamp.
The Cuneiform Record label added a 15' bonus live track to ALEC K. REDFEARN AND THE EYESORES' "The Smother Party".
https://jazzalavillette.com/fr/programme
A couple of reasons to visit Paris :
In concert at Jazz à la Vilette
Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
Dirigé par Jules Buckley
1re partie : Arsenal Mikebe
vendredi 28 août • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette
Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest
Dirigé par Jules Buckley
1re partie : Dolphin Hyperspace
samedi 29 août • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette
Selah Sue and The Gallands
1re partie : I Am Roze
vendredi 4 septembre • 20h00
Grande Halle de La Villette
-- info: Jan van Kemenade
The albums "Interchange One" and "Interchange Two" by Kevin Kastning (30-string Contra-Baritone guitar, 30-string Double Contraguitar, 26-string Double Sub-Contraguitar, 24-string Double Sub-Contraguitar) and Paul Wertico (Acoustic Drums & Cymbals (featuring the Wertico Ride), Prepared Drumset & Talking Drum) were recorded in January-February 2026.
The story and the process behind these two albums is quite unusual, especially in the jazz world.
Paul explains:
"I think it’s critical to understanding how this music was actually created.
A few months ago, Kevin (who I didn’t know at the time) contacted me on Facebook Messenger about the possibility of recording a duo album project together. I then called him by phone and I told him that I’d love to do a duo project together.
Two days later Kevin, who lives in Maine, sent to me in Chicago (where I live), a track that he improvised. I listened to about the first 30 seconds of it and decided to record my drums over it in my home studio without ever hearing the entire track. I then sent the results back to him and we agreed that we indeed had a special chemistry, so he sent me more improvised tracks for me to record over, and I sent him some improvised drum tracks for him to record over.
Our concept was basically that two streams of water/music can exist independently, but also co-exist and blend and/or clash sonically with each other during the same passage of time. It’s also based on “organic time” (flowing time) verses “inorganic time" (metronomic time). So, our musical conversation was primarily one of listening to the other person speaking through their instrument in real time, while reacting to it without any pre-plan or set agenda. Every track was also recorded by both of us in a single unedited take.
The result was that we ended up with two full albums worth of material, again, all of which were recorded as complete first takes without ever pre-hearing what we were playing/recording over. By the way, this is even before we actually made a video call where we could even see what each other looked like!
After we had 14 completed tracks, I mixed the drums and sent the drum mixes to Kevin where he mixed the guitar and the drums together, and then I mastered the final mixes. Next, we discussed the titles of the albums (Kevin’s suggestion), the song titles (my suggestion) and we agreed on artwork from artists Kevin knew (and had worked with before).
Lastly, we agreed to release our music on Kevin’s Greydisc label, and since then we’re just waiting for reviews, and hoping that we’ll get the opportunity to perform live together in the near future. Every aspect of these recordings has been a study in mutual respect and friendship.
Our musical chemistry is only equaled by our personal interactions, where we talk frequently (often several times a day) about music and life, etc."
Kevin adds:
“Again, we want to stress that on both albums, we recorded (overdubbed) our parts on each other’s tracks without previously hearing those tracks. Additionally, the recordings for each track and its overdubbed part by the other person were all first takes, as well as being complete and full takes. While the compositions on both albums sound composed, in fact everything was improvised in the studio in a single take, with no edits in post-production. The albums as you hear them are exactly how everything was recorded in our respective studios in Maine and Chicago.”
Interchange One was released on 31 March 2026.
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Interchange Two is released on 4 August 2026.
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Here's 'Adjacent Flowing Streams V', from "Interchange One":
Canadian composer, bass and guitar player Antoine Fafard has released 9 albums. If you also count the two that he did with Gavin Harrison, that is.
"Fusion", is what I was told.
What a discovery. This sounds really great.
And while enjoying some clips, I also noticed that he has worked with several Frank Zappa drummers !
From "Ad Perpetuum" :
Mick Zeuner compiled and produced several Zappanale sampler CDs. Being a drummer, he also contributed to several Frank Zappa-related albums: The String Trash Project and Z.E.R.O. just to name two.
More recently, Mick released "Leufo Lebt !" on Bandcamp, a complete album.
Recorded during the summer of 1984, "Leufo Lebt !".
Check it out !
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Concepual Continuity Tour coming very soon
It’s May already… which means the Conceptual Continuity Tour kicks off Bank Holiday Monday, 25th May, at The Lexington, London.
We’ve been back in the studio rehearsing a whole batch of new tunes and we cannot wait to get back out and see you all. With so many gems in the Zappa catalogue, it’s been a joy (and a challenge!) picking, arranging, and learning the new material. We previewed a few pieces at Festival Moo‑ah, and they went down a treat.
This run includes some of our favourite familiar venues, plus new stops in Brighton and Tavistock (in June).
As always, we couldn’t do any of this without you - and without the forward‑thinking venues and promoters who keep live music alive. If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, now’s the time. Your support genuinely keeps this whole thing moving.
New merch
https://treacherouscretins.bandcamp.com/merch/treacherous-cretins-60-years-of-fz
Just when I was about to give the "Back Against The Wall" Pink Floyd tribute 2 CD set another spin, I noticed that it has been re-issued but with an additional third disc this time, retitled "Various Artists: Animals Against The Wall – Volume II".
I have the impression that there are more Pink Floyd tribute albums than original Pink Floyd albums...
"Back Against The Wall" features Vinnie Colaiuta, Adrian Belew, Aynsley Dunbar and Dweezil Zappa, just to name a few.
A message from Ed Palermo
This theme's so nice we're going to do it thrice.
June 1, 2026 The Iridium 8:30 PM
www.ticketweb.com/event/ed-palermo-big-band-iridium-tickets/14072974
June 13, 2026 The Falcon (2 Shows)
Matinee (3:30 PM):
www.liveatthefalcon.com/shows/the-ed-palermo-big-band-matinee-show-12
Dinner Show (8 PM):
www.liveatthefalcon.com/shows/the-ed-palermo-big-band-22
-
-- info: Dirk Verschaeve
Giorgio Libera released his second album, "What's All This Noise For ?", in 2004.
Experimental, zappa-esque rock.
Even more amazing is the fact that there are two familiar sounding songs on the album: 'Day Tripper' and 'Come Together'.
Love it.
Essential listening.
Rémy Sträuli on drums !!
'Francis'
'Day Tripper / Come Together'
Quite a while ago, around 2014 (?), John Curry produced a series of mail art postage stamps.
The series, entitled the Trystero PX stamps, consisted of 4 different stamps.
Here's a picture of the Frank Zappa one :
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