Devin Townsend will start a solo tour in September.
https://hevydevy.com/tour-dates/
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026
JAZZ A LA VILETTE
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
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
KEVIN KASTNING & PAUL WERTICO
I mentioned Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico's "Interchange One" a little while ago, calling it a sonic adventure.
"Interchange One" was Kevin Kastning (baritone guitar, contrabaritone guitar) and Paul Wertico's (drums, percussion, prepared drumset and talking drum) first collaboration.
A second album has been announced for later this year.
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"Interchange One" was Kevin Kastning (baritone guitar, contrabaritone guitar) and Paul Wertico's (drums, percussion, prepared drumset and talking drum) first collaboration.
A second album has been announced for later this year.
Greydisc Records presents
Kevin Kastning & Paul Wertico:
The Story Behind the "Interchange Sessions"
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":
ANTOINE FAFARD
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 !
-
Antone Fafard: Occultus Tramitis
(2013, cd, Canada, unicorn digital)
- Feat. Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio - Antone Fafard: Ad Perpetuum
(2014, cd, Canada, unicorn digital)
- Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta - Antone Fafard: Proto Mundi
(2017, 2cd, --, timeless momentum)
= compilation + 4 unreleased tracks + “Doomsday Vault” bonus disc
- Feat. Vinnie Colaiuta, Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio
From "Ad Perpetuum" :
SNARKY PUPPY - LIVE AT GROUNDUP MUSIC FESTIVAL
- Snarky Puppy: Live At GroundUp Music Festival (Record Store Day 2026 Edition)
(2026, lp, USA, ground up)
I'm not the biggest fan of Record Store Day. Quite the contrary actually.
I do support independent record stores and releases, I just don't like the fact that most of the RSD albums are not easy to find.
That being said, Snarky Puppy rules !!
I do support independent record stores and releases, I just don't like the fact that most of the RSD albums are not easy to find.
That being said, Snarky Puppy rules !!
Here's 'Grown Folks', in a different version than what's on this album.
But !!! with special guest Esperanza Spalding.
But !!! with special guest Esperanza Spalding.
MICK ZEUNER - LEUFO LEBT !
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 !
Monday, May 4, 2026
TREACHEROUS CRETINS TOURDATES
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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.
As previously announced, we will be back out on the road in October playing some Halloween shows. Firstly a dash to Germany for the Heubacher Zappa Nacht on the 17th October. We will be visiting The Cavern in Liverpool 26/10), The Railway in Winchester (30/10) and the Finsbury in London (31/10). Our Halloween shows are becoming an annual event and a great chance for the Zappa community to meet up and celebrate FZ's favourite holiday. Don't miss out… get yer tickets now!
New merch
https://treacherouscretins.bandcamp.com/merch/treacherous-cretins-60-years-of-fz
PINK FLOYD TRIBUTES
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.
- Various Artists: Back Against The Wall
(2005, 2cd, --, purple pyramid)
Here's the album cover for "Animals Against The Wall - Volume II":
- Various Artists: Animals Against The Wall – Volume II
(2026, 3cd, USA, lemon records)
Drums – Aynsley Dunbar * Electric Guitar – Bob Kulick * Keyboards – Billy Sherwood * Lead Guitar – Dweezil Zappa * Soloist [Keyboard] – Tony Kaye * Vocals, Bass – Jason Scheff
Sunday, May 3, 2026
UPCOMING ED PALERMO BIG BAND CONCERTS
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
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