Thursday, August 13, 2026

SUN RA AND HIS ARKESTRA - SUPERSONIC JAZZ (EXPANDED EDITION)

  • Sun Ra And His Arkestra: Supersonic Jazz (21st Century Expanded Edition)
        (2025, 2cd, USA, cosmic myth records cmr-009)
Cosmic Myth Records is continuing their excellent work, re-issuing classic Sun Ra albums with loads of additional material.
"Supersonic Jazz" was Sun Ra's second album, released in 1957.
It has been re-issued quite a number of times. This re-issue, however, is essential listening for every Sun Ra fan.

Official expanded 2xCD edition features 14 tracks of alternate versions and studio takes, and an additional four bonus tracks. Liner notes by avid Sun Ra fan Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, and additional essay from longtime Ra blogger Rodger Coleman (NUVOID Sun Ra Sundays).



Wednesday, August 12, 2026

AVALANCHES

A cup of coffee and Avalanches.
An excellent way to start the day.

The French band Avalanches from Nantes is an instrumental trio that creates a powerful math / progressive rock.

The band released one mini album in 2023, "Megalithe" and first full album, "Fragile", earlier this year.


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PUNKY MEADOWS

so Punky Meadows was on stage during a FZ show?

From Wiki:
"The band's glam rock image was said to be the antithesis of Kiss,[2] and Meadows became the most strongly associated with the persona, so much so that Frank Zappa satirized his trademark pout and hair in the song "Punky's Whips". The song was first released in 1977 on Zappa In New York, but was deleted from most early copies due to a dispute between Zappa and Warner Bros., his record distributor. Meadows, however, was a fan of Zappa and was "flattered" by the song. Meadows eventually appeared onstage at a Zappa concert in his Angel costume."

source:
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/258930/angel-on-his-shoulder/

-- info: Jan van Kemenade
 

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

PROGDAY 2026

ProgDay takes place Saturday, September 5 & 6 at Storybook Farm, 190 Storybook Farm Lane, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516. This year marks the 31st edition of the world’s longest-running progressive rock festival. The 2026 lineup includes Bruteus, Consider The Source, Discipline, French TV, and Isolation Tank Ensemble. More information is available at ProgDay.

ProgDay is a non-profit cultural event and an official production of the Musical Arts Progressive Society, Inc. (MAPS), a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for, educating about, and promoting national and international artists creating progressive and innovative music.


Sunday, August 9, 2026

SNARKY PUPPY - LIVE AT BAND ON THE WALL

  • Snarky Puppy: Live At Band On The Wall
        (2024, lp, USA, groundup) – RSD
        (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Snarky Puppy released the "Live At Band On The Wall" LP on April 20, 2024, as a limited-edition exclusive for Record Store Day, with a wider retail vinyl release following later on November 22, 2024. The performance itself was originally recorded live in April 2014 at Manchester's Band on the Wall venue.

Earlier this year, the album was made available on Bandcamp.
The perfect opportunity to (re)visit the album (again).
Four tracks.
Brilliant.



SUN RA - DO THE IMPOSSIBLE

  • Sun Ra: Do The Impossible – Original Soundtrack To The Documentary
        (2026, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
        (2026, 2cd + blu-ray, USA, modern harmonic)
        (2026, 2lp + blu-ray, USA, modern harmonic)
The next time that someone asks me for the best introduction to Sun Ra, I have my answer ready.
"Do The Impossible" presents both an excellent documentary plus a fine soundtrack.

Absolutely beautiful.



SENDELICA'S "AN INTRODUCTION TO SENDILICA" IS OUT ON BANDCAMP

Fruits de Mer Records recently released Sendelica's "An Introduction To Sendelica",
a fine 4cd set that included the band's version of Frank Zappa's ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow’.

The 4 CD set is sold out but the entire set is now being made available on Bandcamp.


A PANZERBALLETT CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN

The message from Panzerballett : 

Dear qB fans,

Today is the day. Our crowdfunding campaign is live!

This September, we'll be hitting the road across Europe together with Virgil Donati. And we have one big dream:

We want to capture this tour forever.

Live shows are magical. They only exist in the moment, and once they're over, they're gone forever. That's why we want to preserve the energy, the spontaneity, the improvisation, and all those unforgettable moments on an official Panzerballett live album.

An album that lets you experience this special tour again and again.

But there's one catch:

This album will only exist if we make it happen together.

That's why we've launched our crowdfunding campaign on Startnext today.

This is about much more than funding a live album. It's your chance to become part of this project and get closer to Panzerballett than ever before.

During the campaign you'll find exclusive experiences and strictly limited rewards that will only be available through this crowdfunding campaign. Once it's over, they're gone for good.

Some of the highlights include:

• VIP Tickets & Meet & Greets
• Exclusive online sessions with Jan
• Limited edition merchandise
• The exclusive CD & Tour Shirt Bundle
• Official Song Announcer: announce one of our songs live on stage before we play it
• Producer's Commentary: a full length commentary in which Jan takes you through the entire live album, sharing the stories, arrangements, and behind the scenes details of every track
• ...and many more exclusive surprises.

None of these rewards will be available in our regular merch store later.

This is the first time we've ever invited our fans to become part of a Panzerballett project in such a direct and personal way.

If you'd love to hear this live album become reality, if you'd like this tour to live on long after the final encore, we'd be truly grateful for your support.

Let's make this live album happen together.

https://www.startnext.com/en/panzerballett-live-album


MALCOLM SCARPA BOX SET TO INCLUDE A FRANK ZAPPA PIECE

Next September, celebrating 30 years of music by Malcolm Scarpa, the Caballero Reynaldo Producciones Psicotropicas label will be releasing a 3 CD box set with outtakes, demos, live takes, and more.

The box will also include Malcolm Scarpa's version of 'Twenty Small Cigars' (F. Zappa), previously released on one of the (unrivalled) "Unmatched" albums.


AN ED PALERMO UPDATE