FRANK ZAPPA - A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME, THE DVD

I'm aware that I've already mentioned this new Zappa DVD in these very pages, but I'm convinced that I should do it again.

Both the music and the video have been around for years (on various bootlegs and on The Dub Room Special), but there's nothing like this top-quality, official release.

Live at the KCET studios...

1974...

ESSENTIAL LISTENING (& VIEWING) !!!

Recorded on August 27, 1974 at KCET in Hollywood

Frank Zappa guitar, percussion, vocals
George Duke keyboards, finger cymbals, tambourine, vocals
Napoleon Murphy Brock sax, vocals
Ruth Underwood percussion
Tom Fowler bass
Chester Thompson drums. 

edited & produced by FZ

Stereo Mixes Produced by Frank Zappa with Kerry McNabb at Paramount Studios, 1974.
Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering, 2009

1. The Dog Breath Variations/ Uncle Meat
2. Montana
3. Earl Of Duke (George Duke)
4. Florentine Pogen
5. Stink-Foot
6. Pygmy Twylyte
7. Room Service
8. Inca Roads
9. Oh No
10. Son Of Orange County
11. More Trouble Every Day
12. A Token Of My Extreme

A ZAPPOSTROPHE UPDATE

Our friends from the Czech Republic recently released issue number 123 (that's one hundred and twenty-three !!) of their Zappostrophe fanzine, dedicated to the music of Frank Zappa.

Here's an update:

zappostrophe no.119  -  2011

incl.

• " bad doberan zappatown" - a zappanale special

zappostrophe no.120  -  2012

incl.

• frank zappa bootlegs
• an article on the fillmore east
• the grande mothers on tour
• frank zappa quartet

zappostrophe no.121  -  2012

incl.

• the story of the frank zappa toilet poster
• the tom mix cabin
• the real frank zappa book variations
• frank zappa in prague - photofactory

zappostrophe no.122  -  2013

incl.

• new dweezil zappa plays zappa album
• zappa / john cage
• zappa the movie
• various article scans

zappostrophe no.123  -  2013

incl.

• r.i.p. wild man fischer
• new releases
• project/object in prague, a review
• slávka prevendarcíková
• frank zappa day in baltimore

SUN RA - LIVE AT THE RED GARTER

• sun ra: at the red garter
      (2013, 3cd, usa, transparency 0319)

This latest Transparency release brings an early July 1970 concert to our attention. "Live At The Red Garter" (later 'The Bottom Line' / New York City) doesn't offer the best sound quality, but it does give a glimpse of an exceptional version of the Arkestra: Sun Ra, Kwame Hadi, Akh Tal Ebah, Marshall Allen, Danny Davis, John Gilmore, Pat Patrick, Danny Ray Thompson, Eloe Emoe, Alan Silva, Alex Blake and a handful of unidentified percussionists...

"Live At The Red Garter" is a 3CD set: 2 audio discs and 1 disc with a picture slide show.

Nice.

TRIGGERFINGER - FADERS UP 2 - LIVE IN AMSTERDAM

• triggerfinger: faders up 2 - live in amsterdam
      (2012, 2cd, bel, excelsior excel96304)

"Faders Up 2 - Live In Amsterdam" got released a bit over a year ago, early 2012.
The first disc of this 2 CD-set got recorded live in concert in Amsterdam, november 2011. The second disc collects various studio session, from the 'De Wereld Draait Door' tv-show to Dutch 3FM radio.

Raw, unpolished and loud, but with fabulous vocals and superb musicianship.
Those who have seen the band on stage, know what I mean.

Triggerfinger played at last year's Zappanale, with a setlist that came very close to the "Faders Up 2" album.

Here's the Zappale setlist:

• I'm Coming For You
• On My Knees
• Short Term Memory Love
• Cherry
• Let It Ride
• My Baby's Got A Gun
• All This Dancin' Around
• drum solo
• First Taste
• Is It?
• Scream
• I Follow Rivers
• Man Down

I liked the Zappanale concert a lot. I like this album a lot as wel.
Here's a couple of Luuk's videos (from Zappanale). Watch it full screen and play it loud !!

STEVE VAI - NAKED TRACKS VOLUMES VI & VII

• steve vai: naked tracks volumesVI - VII
      (2013, 2cd, usa, favored nations)

Steve Vai's "Naked Tracks" series consists of previously released tracks that have been stripped from their lead guitar part.
As you can imagine, the series is aimed at guitar players (or other musicians) that want to play the lead or want to solo on Steve Vai's backing tracks.
This 2CD set is volume six and seven. The first five volumes got released as a box-set a couple of years ago.

STAUSS, CHAINE, LINDENMAIER - OPEN

• stauss, chaine, lindenmaier: open
      (1994, cd, switzerland xopf cd nr.21)

November 1993, saxophone player and composer Markus Stauss and bass player Jean Chaine teamed up with improvised jazz drummer / percussionist Heinrich Lukas Lindenmaier.
The recording session resulted in an album release on the Swiss SOPF label.

"Open" shows that Markus Stauss and Jean Chaine had already performed and recorded together on various occasions and in different settings. The playing is very tight. The addition of H. Lukas Lindemaier was an excellent choice.
The album presents seven compositions, all by Markus Stauss. In the liner notes, Markus states that the pieces are a mix of old, very old and brand-new tunes. He chose (and wrote) them well. Beautiful melodies and fine improvisations.

"Open" is a jazz album. If you're familiar with Markus Stauss' output, you will probably agree that this is one of his more accessible albums.
Perfect to start the day.

I like it a lot.

http://www.fazzulmusic.ch/english/welcome.php

ZAPPA / MOTHERS ON VINYL

Both "Freak Out" and "Over-Nite Sensation" got re-released on vinyl a little while ago.

On Zappa Records.

PHI-YAAN ZEK - ADVENTURES AT MIDNIGHT

From the album "Deeper With The Anima" by Phi Yaan-Zek with Marco Minnemann. Available at www.phiyaan-zek.com and iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Bandcamp etc

Filmed, edited and produced by Nick Burns for Freak Flag Films.

Phi Yaan-Zek - guitar, keyboards & programming

Marco Minnemann - drums

Lalle Larsson - keyboards

Ola Olsson - trumpets

Amandine Ferrari - choral vocals

DYLAN, HENDRIX, ZAPPA SPIELEN FÜR BACH

Dietmar Bonnen (piano, voice), Alexei Aigui (violin) and Lothar Burghaus (clarinet, bass clarinet, sax) will be playing a concert at the St.Katherinenkirche in Hamburg, Germany, on 2013 07 31.

It's the opening concert for the Zappanale Festival that will start on the first of August in Bad Doberan.

2013 07 31  "Dylan, Hendrix, Zappa spielen für Bach", Hamburg, Germany

Previous concerts at the St.Katherinenkirche featured Sheik Yerbouti, Bogus Pomp and the Ensemble Ambrosius.

THE FRANK ZAPPA SINGLES

Dieter Jakob is about to publish his "Vinyl Is Not Dead, It Just Smells Funny" book. Subtitled "The Frank Zappa Singles".

NEW FRANK ZAPPA BOOK: VINYL IS NOT DEAD - IT JUST SMELLS FUNNY by Dieter Jakob

After 5 years of work and fun, THE FRANK ZAPPA SINGLE BOOK is finally at the printers! The title is "Vinyl is not dead - it just smells funny". A book in English language made from a collector for fans and collectors. On more than 500 full colored pages, every single, maxi, and EP with Frank Zappa contribution is exposed, including more than 3000 photos, many background information and a price guide. Furthermore you'll find pictures of the rarest test pressings, acetates, cover and label variations, a price guide, and a lot of other weird stuff.

The book consists of a preface from Jeff Simmons (bassist/rhythm guitarist of the Mothers of Invention from 1970 and 1974) and Napoleon Murphy Brock (saxophone/flute/vocals of Frank Zappa between 1974 and 1984), the great full colored cover design is done by Cal Schenkel (artwork designer of many Frank Zappa records).

Pre-orders are available for 99 EUR (+ shipping cost, depending on where you live) at:

dieter.jakob@t-online.de

The book will be delivered after Zappanale (mid August). If you'll visit Zappanale, you can purchase the book in the Zappanale exhibition rooms (Am Markt 3, Bad Doberan, Germany) for the reduced price. After Zappanale the regular price is 110 EUR.

Dieter Jakob