R.I.P. TOM FOWLER

 Arthur Barrow on Facebook:

So sad to report another big loss in the Zappa community. Tom Fowler left us yesterday, July 2, 2024. He was a hero to me. The first time I heard Echidna's I almost fell over when he played the big 5/16 lick on the bass! I had no idea that a clumsy bass could do such a thing! He was an inspiration for me to buy a bass and start practicing. I have known him since about 1976. RIP old friend - missing you very much.

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA - - - INCA ROADS (LIVE 2013)

Recorded in Frankfurt.

• Robert Martin - vocals, keyboards, sax, French horn
• Ray White - vocals, guitar
• Ed Mann - mallets, Percussion
• Tom Fowler - bass guitar
• Albert Wing - tenor sax, soprano sax
• Mike Miller - guitar
• Morgen Agren - drums

 

MICHAEL TINHOLME

Michael Tinholme
Brother Can You Spare a Dime  (Gorney and Harburg)

BASS-Tom Fowler
DRUMS-Gary Novak
PIANO-Bill Cunliffe
GUITAR-Mike Miller
HAMMOND B3-Jeff Babko
VOCALS-Michael Tinholme

Other tracks on his album feature Walt Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Albert Wing and Ralph Humphrey !

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

JEAN-LUC PONTY - WAVING MEMORIES

• jean-luc ponty: waving memories - live in chicago 1975
      (2017, cd, ??, hi hat)

A "radio show" album, meaning that this is not a release by Jean-Luc Ponty but by a dubious record company that has the rights (?) to this radio broadcast.
Semi-official, at best.

On the other hand, it does present a recording of a pretty fine show, live in Chicago in 1975.
With Tom Fowler on the bass !!

jean-luc ponty: electric violin
daryl stuermer: guitar
mike wolf: keyboards
tom fowler: bass
norman fearrington: drums
waving memories

1. band intros
2. question with no answer
3. bowing bowing
4. fight for life
5. announcer outro

DOCUMENTARY - FRANK ZAPPA, EAT THAT QUESTION

• documentary: frank zappa - eat that question
      (2017, dvd, ger, arsenal filmverleih)

The German release of the "Frank Zappa - Eat That Question" documentary by Thorsten Schütte includes over 40 minutes of bonus material.
(extra) Interviews with Tommy Mars, Arthur Barrow, Bruce Fowler, Tom Fowler, Ed Mann, Kurt McGettrick, Chad Wackerman and Robert Martin.

BILLY CHILDS - HIS APRIL TOUCH

• billy childs: his april touch
      (1991, cd, usa, windham hill jazz)

Billy Child's 1991 album "His April Touch" features two former Zappa band members : Walt and Bruce Fowler. Trumpet and trombone, as you might have guessed.

Modern jazz.
Very nice.

-- info : Jan van Kemenade

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

The Banned From Utopia recently toured Yurrip.
They rocked.

• Ray White : vocals, guitar
• Robert Martin : vocals, keyboards, saxophone, harmonica
• Tom Fowler : bass
• Albert Wing : saxophones, EWI
• Joel Taylor : drums
• Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano : guitar, vocals

Highlights : Ray White and Robert Martin singing in harmony, Tom Fowler's great bass lines, Albert Wing's 'outside' solos on the Electric Wind Instrument, Joel Taylor's drum sole, and Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano's adventurous guitar lines.
I loved it.

I saw the band three times and they just got better every time. It was good to see Ray playing a couple of guitar solos as well. I really dig his playing. The thing that I enjoyed the most, except for the fact that they played some superb music, were the solos by Albert and by Robbie. Different every night. There was even a section where they threw licks at one another. Amazing.

A couple of audio recordings turned up at Zappateers. And there's some video snippets to be found on Youtube as well.

01 - Heavy Duty Judy
02 - Easy Meat
03 - Cosmik Debris
04 - Let's Move To Cleveland
05 - Advance Romance
06 - Pound For A Brown
07 - Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy
08 - Dupree's Paradise
09 - Pick Me, I'm Clean
10 - Willie The Pimp
11 - Marque-Son's Chicken
12 - I Ain't Got No Heart
13 - Inca Roads
14 - Keep It Greasy

encores
15 - Andy
16 - Whipping Post

second encore
17 - Sofa No.2

I was told that the band finished mixing some recordings from their latest (2015) tour. Recordings that were made by Germand national radio. The mix was ready to be pressed on CD, but unfortunately too late to be ready for the tour.
Let's hope they still decide to release it.
One show from the 2015 series was (multi-)video-taped. Below snippet might be from that recording...

ZAPPA UNION

Tonight, at the "Zappa Union" Festival in Oslo

Banned From Utopia & Lisa Popeil

Det Skandaløse Orkester + Denny Walley

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

Yep, I was one of those happy freaks that saw the BFU a couple of times the last few weeks.
Amazing concerts.

So go see them at the 'Markthalle' in Hamburg tonight, 26/10
or
at the 'Nefertiti Jazz Club' in Göteburg the day after tomorrow, 28/10
or maybe
at the Zappa Union Festival in Oslo on 29/10.

You won't be sorry.

ZAPPANALE 26 - - - PART 22 - - - BANNED FROM UTOPIA

• the banned from utopia: zappanale 26
      (2015, dvdr, ger, arf society)

Flashback to July 2015 with the Band From Utopia performing at Zappanale. Next to core memebers Robert Martin, Ray White, Tom Fowler and Albert Wing, the band featured Morgan Agren on drums and Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano on the guitar.
To me, the best line-up as of yet.
Nice setlist and a superb performance. One of the best concerts of the recent Zappanale (and of older Zappanales too).
Special guests Mats Öberg and Denny Walley were the icing on the cake.

The concert was released on DVDR in a very limited run.

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS - ROXY THE MOVIE

It doesn't get any better than this.
Essential listening !!

• frank zappa & the mothers: roxy the movie
      (2015, cd+dvd, eu, eagle vision eagdv050)

• frank zappa & the mothers: roxy the movie
      (2015, dvd, eur, eagle vision)

• frank zappa & the mothers: roxy the movie
      (2015, blu-ray, eur, eagle vision)

BANNED FROM UTOPIA

Tourdates have been posted before, and here they are again !

Banned From Utopia, with Ray White, Robert Martin, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing, Joel Taylor and Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano.
Saw them at Zappanale in July (with Morgan Agren on drums) and they kicked ass.
Be there.

15.10.2015 Freising (D) Lindenkeller www.lindenkeller-live.de
16.10.2015 Praha (CZ) tbc
17.10.2015 Burglengenfeld (D) VAZ Pfarrheim www.power-concerts.de
19.10.2015 Duisburg (D) Grammatikoff www.grammatikoff.de
20.10.2015 Bolzano/Bozen-Steinegg (I) Steinegg Live www.steinegglive.com
21.10.2015 København (DK) Amager Bio www.amagerbio.dk
22.10.2015 Göteborg (S) Nefertiti www.nefertiti.se
23.10.2015 Oslo (N) Cosmopolite www.zappaunion.no
24.10.2015 Vaals (NL) tbc
25.10.2015 Eindhoven (NL) Effenaar www.effenaar.nl
27.10.2015 Arnhem (NL) Luxor Live www.luxorlive.nl
28.10.2015 Zoetermeer (NL) Boerderji www.cultuurpodiumboerderij.nl
30.10.2015 Diksmuide (B) 4AD www.4ad.be
31.10.2015 St-André-lez-Lille (F) tbc
02.11.2015 Manchester (UK) Band On The Wall www.bandonthewall.org
03.11.2015 London (UK) Jazzcafe www.thejazzcafelondon.com
04.11.2015 Southampton (UK) The Brook www.the-brook.com
05.11.2015 Derby (UK) The Flower Pot www.rawpromo.co.uk
07.11.2015 Leuven (B) Het Depot www.hetdepot.be
08.11.2015 Rouen-Cléon (F) La Traverse www.latraverse.org
10.11.2015 Worms (D) Das Wormser www.das-wormser.de
11.11.2015 Stuttgart (D) Theaterhaus www.theaterhaus.com
12.11.2015 Biel/Bienne (CH) Chessu/Coupole www.ajz.ch
13.11.2015 Schaffhausen (CH) Kammgarn www.kammgarn.ch
14.11.2015 Markneukirchen (D) Framus & Warwick Music Hall www.framus-warwick-musichall.de
16.11.2015 Aschaffenburg (D) Colos-Saal www.colos-saal.de
17.11.2015 Torgau (D) Kulturbastion www.kulturbastion.de
18.11.2015 Hannover-Isernhagen (D) Blues Garage www.bluesgarage.de
19.11.2015 Berlin (D) Kesselhaus www.kesselhaus-berlin.de

BANNED FROM UTOPIA TO PLAY IN LEUVEN, BELGIUM ON NOVEMBER 7

That's right,

Banned From Utopia
November 7, 2015,
at Het Depot
in Leuven, Belgium

Ray White, Bobby Martin, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing, Joel Taylor and Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano.

These guys just played the best concert at Zappanale.
Go see them.

BAND FROM UTOPIA TOURDATES

Ray White, Robert, Martin, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing, Robbie Mangano, Joel Taylor
performing the music of Frank Zappa

• 17.10.2015 Burglengenfeld (D) VAZ Pfarrheim
  www.power-concerts.de
• 19.10.2015 Duisburg (D) Grammatikoff
  www.grammatikoff.de
• 20.10.2015 Bolzano/Bozen-Steinegg (I) Steinegg Live
  www.steinegglive.com
• 21.10.2015 København (DK) Amager Bio
  www.amagerbio.dk
• 22.10.2015 Göteborg (S) Nefertiti
  www.nefertiti.se tbc
• 23.10.2015 Oslo (N) Cosmopolite
  www.zappaunion.no
• 25.10.2015 Eindhoven (NL) Effenaar
  www.effenaar.nl
• 27.10.2015 Arnhem (NL) Luxor Live
  www.luxorlive.nl
• 28.10.2015 Zoetermeer (NL) Boerderij
  www.cultuurpodiumboerderij.nl
• 30.10.2015 Diksmuide (B) 4AD
  www.4ad.be
• 03.11.2015 London (UK) Jazzcafe
  www.thejazzcafelondon.com
• 08.11.2015 Rouen-Cléon (F) La Traverse
  www.latraverse.org
• 10.11.2015 Worms (D) Das Wormser
  www.das-wormser.de
• 11.11.2015 Stuttgart (D) Theaterhaus
  www.theaterhaus.com
• 12.11.2015 Biel/Bienne (CH) Chessu/Coupole
  www.ajz.ch
• 13.11.2015 Schaffhausen (CH) Kammgarn
  www.kammgarn.ch
• 16.11.2015 Aschaffenburg (D) Colos-Saal
  www.colos-saal.de
• 17.11.2015 Torgau (D) Kulturbastion
  www.kulturbastion.de

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA UPDATE

The Banned From Utopia is planning a European tour from October until November 21.

www.gygx.eu

******************
BANNED FROM UTOPIA
******************
FRANK ZAPPA’S MUSIC PERFORMED BY HIS ORIGINAL MUSICIANS
*******************************************************

RAY WHITE – vocals, guitar (Frank Zappa 1976-84 / Edwin Hawkins Singers, Zero)

ROBERT (BOBBY) MARTIN – vocals, keyboard, saxophone, French horn, harmonica (Frank Zappa 1981-88 / Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Eric Burdon, Leo Kottke, Prince, Stevie Nicks)

TOM FOWLER – bass, violin (Frank Zappa 1973-78 / It's A Beautiful Day, Captain Beefheart, Jean-Luc Ponty, Ray Charles, Steve Hackett, Hildegard Knef, Elton John)

ALBERT WING – saxophones, flute (Frank Zappa 1988 / Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Diana Ross, Flo & Eddie, Rosanne Cash, Shuggie Otis, George Benson)

Joel Taylor – drums (Stanley Clarke, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Robben Ford, Herb Alpert)

Jamie Kime – guitar (Zappa Plays Zappa, Michelle Branch, Jewel)

Frank Zappa is one of the twentieth century’s most important composers. His works of more than eighty albums is by far the most voluminous and versatile of the entire generation rock (encompassing of course jazz as well as avant-garde, contemporary classical and orchestral music!) – even though his untimely death in 1993 left him with only half the time that was allowed to the Dylan-Jagger-Bowie-or-Springsteens.

In 2015 Frank Zappa would have turned 75. High time to acknowledge his emormous legacy! And who would be as fit to do so as the incredible musicians he himself had recruited for his band?

For this special anniversary a whole bunch of the most popular Zappa collaborators are back to turn the complexity of his compositions from syllabus material at the music academies into blistering experiences in the world’s concert venues again. Including Ray White and Bobby Martin, two lead singers who were held in high esteem by the great master for many years. Or Tom Fowler, the man who opened Zappa’s door for three brothers before he went on to become Ray Charles’ last bass player for well over a decade...

As Banned From Utopia, referring to Frank Zappa's album "The Man From Utopia", they please the connoisseurs and convert the curious into dedicated fans. Having played on innumerable Mothers / Zappa albums, the musicians of this virtuoso fusion ensemble are performing classics from all eras. Suffused with the authenticity of their deep Zappa history. They can do that on stage still. And there's no way of getting closer to the original!

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA

In the middle of their European Tour.
The Banned From Utopia playing the music of Frank Zappa.
The real deal.
Catch them while you can !!

• Nov. 15 Minden (Germany), BÜZ
  www.buezminden.de
• Nov. 16 Weert (Holland), De Bosuil
  www.debosuil.nl
• Nov. 18 Duisburg (Germany), Grammatikoff
  www.grammatikoff.de
• Nov. 19 Kassel (Germany), Theaterstübchen
  www.theaterstuebchen.de
• Nov. 20 Berlin (Germany), Kesselhaus
  www.kesselhaus-berlin.de
• Nov. 21 Szczecin (Poland), Free Blues Club
  www.freebluesclub.pl
• Nov. 22 Erfurt (Germany), HsD Gewerkschaftshaus
  www.museumskeller.de
• Nov. 23 Markneukirchen (Germany), Warwick Music Hall
  www.facebook.com/FramusWarwickMusicHall
• Nov. 25 Nürnberg (Germany), Rockfabrik
  www.rockfabrik.de
• Nov. 26 Pratteln (Switzerland), Z7
  www.z-7.ch
• Nov. 27 Madrid (Spain), Caracol
  www.salacaracol.com
• Nov. 28 Bourgoin-Jallieu (France), Les Abattoirs
  www.lesabattoirs.fr
• Nov. 30 Blois (France), Maison De Bégon
  www.maisondebegon.com
• Dec. 01 Saint-André-lez-Lille (France), Salle André
  www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-André-lez-Lille/253778241334638?ref=tn_tnmn
• Dec. 03 Swansea (Wales), The Scene
  www.thesceneclub.co.uk
• Dec. 04 Derby (England), Flower Pot
  www.rawpromo.co.uk
• Dec. 05 Grimsby (England), Yardbirds
  www.yardbirdsrocks.co.uk
• Dec. 06 Blackburn (England), King George's Hall
  www.kinggeorgeshall.com
• Dec. 07 London (England), Jazz Cafe
  www.mamacolive.com/thejazzcafe

BANNED FROM UTOPIA NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2014 TOURDATES

The Banned From Utopia, performing the music of Frank Zappa

with former Zappa (and Zappa Plays Zappa) musicians

• Ray White
• Chad Wackerman
• Robert Martin
• Albert Wing
• Tom Fowler
• Jamie Kime

06.11.2014 - Jazz Studio, Umea (S)

07.11.2014 - Cosmopolite, Oslo (N)

08.11.2014 tbc (Clarion Hotel, Örebro (S))

09.11.2014 -  Katalin, Uppsala (S)

11.11.2014 - Heimathaus, Twist (D)

12.11.2014 - Patronaat, Haarlem (NL)

13.11.2014 - Jovel, Münster (D)

14.11.2014 - Roepaen, Ottersum (NL)

15.11.2014 - BÜZ, Minden (D)

16.11.2014 - De Bosuil, Weert (NL)

18.11.2014 - Grammatikoff, Duisburg (D)

19.11.2014 - Theaterstübchen, Kassel (D)

20.11.2014 - Kesselhaus, Berlin (D)

21.11.2014 - Free Blues Club, Szczecin (PL)

22.11.2014 - HsD Gewerkschaftshaus, Erfurt (D)

23.11.2014 tba

25.11.2014 - Rockfabrik, Nürnberg (D)

26.11.2014 - Z7,  Pratteln (CH)

27.11.2014 tba

28.11.2014 -  Les Abattoirs, Bourgoin-Jallieu (F)

29.11.2014 tba

30.11.2014 - Maison de Bégon, Blois (F)

02.12.2014 tba

03.12.2014 - The Scene, Swansea (WAL)

04.12.2014 - Flower Pot, Derby (ENG)

05.12.2014 - Yardbirds, Grimsby (ENG)

06.12.2014 - King George's Hall, Blackburn (ENG)

07.12.2014 - The Jazzcafe Camden, London (ENG)

VARIOUS ARTISTS - ZAPPANALE 24 GOOD-BYE SESSION

• various artists: zappanale 24 - good-bye session
      (2013, dvdr, ger, arf society)

Each edition of the Zappanale festival ends with a so-called "Good-Bye" session. It's sort of a jam where members of various bands and ensembles join on stage to jam a bit.
It's always a good occasion to see some of the special guests and invitées on stage once more.

Last year, the session followed the Pojama People concert which meant that bass, drums and mallets of Pojama People (Kevin Crosby, Glenn Leonard and Ali Bach) were at first joined by the guitar player of Z3 (Tim Palmeri), and later on by Albert Wing, Mike Miller, Robert Martin and Tom Fowler.
And yes, they played some of their favourite Zappa tunes.

If my memory serves me right, this was the first time that a "Good-Bye" session got recorded on video and was made available on DVDR.

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA UPDATE

At this very moment, Banned From Utopia is trying to schedule a tour in Europe for a whole month, from November 6 to December 6.

The line-up will be :

• Robert (Bobby) Martin - vocals, keyboards, sax, French horn, harmonica
• Ray White - vocals, guitar
• Tom Fowler - bass, violin
• Chad Wackerman - drums
• Albert Wing - saxes, flute
• Jamie Kime - guitar

As you see, the band will feature Jamie Kime (from Zappa Plays Zappa fame) on guitar !

Here's a clip from last year's tour:

ZAPPA SPECIAL ON CKCU-FM ON THE 28TH OF MAY

Wednesday, the 28th of May, Bobby Marquis will be focussing on Zappa's "Roxy By Proxy" album.
He'll be doing a phone interview with Tom Fowler for the occasion.

His show is called "Pure Radio Kaos".
Broadcast from 15:30 - 16:30 h EDT.