Read it here:
Sunday, October 25, 2026
ROMÁN GARCÍA ALBERTOS
Kjell Knudde wrote a very informative piece on Román García Albertos, graphic artist, musician and webmaster of the essential IINK (https://donlope.net/fz/).
THE DON RENDELL / IAN CARR QUINTET - MIRAGE
- The Don Rendell / Ian Carr Quintet: Mirage
(2026, cd, --, landsdowne cd 001)
Don Rendell and Ian Carr's "Mirage" takes us back to 1969.
British modern jazz.
One year later, Ian Carr would form jazz-rock band Nucleus !
Saturday, October 24, 2026
JILL YANN * JEREMY COLSON * JUNIOR BRAGUINHA TRIO
Announced for March 12, 2027 at SPIRIT OF 66 in Verviers, BE:
JILL YAN * JEREMY COLSON * JUNIOR BRAGUINHA Trio
"ALIEN ROCK-FUSION !" Swiss guitar virtuoso JILL YAN, a graduate of Hollywood’s prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology, has released nine albums, blending progressive rock, metal, jazz-fusion and world music into his own explosive musical universe.
Featuring JEREMY COLSON (Steve Vai’s drummer) and JUNIOR BRAGUINHA (Virgil Donati’s bassist), this powerhouse trio delivers breathtaking virtuosity, crushing grooves and pure instrumental fire! No rules. No limits. Just pure musical energy!
JILL YAN * JEREMY COLSON * JUNIOR BRAGUINHA Trio
"ALIEN ROCK-FUSION !" Swiss guitar virtuoso JILL YAN, a graduate of Hollywood’s prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology, has released nine albums, blending progressive rock, metal, jazz-fusion and world music into his own explosive musical universe.
Featuring JEREMY COLSON (Steve Vai’s drummer) and JUNIOR BRAGUINHA (Virgil Donati’s bassist), this powerhouse trio delivers breathtaking virtuosity, crushing grooves and pure instrumental fire! No rules. No limits. Just pure musical energy!
Earlier this year, the trio featured Mohini Dey on the bass :
-- info: Philippe Lamoot
THE BIG SWIFTY
The Big Swifty was a medium-sized jazz ensemble / small big band from Nijmegen, NL, formed by the Dutch saxophonist and composer Bo van de Graaf, active between 1995 and 2000.
The ensemble performed the music of Frank Zappa, next to pieces by Astor Piazzolla and by Dutch contemporary composers.
The ensemble performed the music of Frank Zappa, next to pieces by Astor Piazzolla and by Dutch contemporary composers.
Here's The Big Swifty, performing 'Swingtime' by Mark v Platen,
a piece that sounds like a broken record,
a piece that sounds like a broken record,
live in O42 Nijmegen, 1997.
Bo added:
Composed as a damaged 78 rpm record . Performed live in O42 Nijmegen in a program by Bas Andriessen (interview and live music with the composer).
Because it was extremely difficult to play there was only one performance.
Composed as a damaged 78 rpm record . Performed live in O42 Nijmegen in a program by Bas Andriessen (interview and live music with the composer).
Because it was extremely difficult to play there was only one performance.
MATTHEW JASKOT
Matt Jaskot's 'Dense, Angular, Nuanced, Cosmic Energy' (2017), is a piece for flute/piccolo, clarinet in B-flat/bass clarinet, and piano
It premiered by Alicia Kosack, Laura Armstrong, and Matthew Jaskot on October 22, 2017 in Bel Air, MD
I. Fist Pumps and Giant Stomps
II. Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee
III. Balloons of Remembrance Glide to Infinity
IV. Bebop Tango (F. Zappa, arr. Geoffroy Burleson)
-
It premiered by Alicia Kosack, Laura Armstrong, and Matthew Jaskot on October 22, 2017 in Bel Air, MD
It's a composition in four movements with the final movement being FZ's 'Bebop Tango' !
I. Fist Pumps and Giant Stomps
II. Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee
III. Balloons of Remembrance Glide to Infinity
IV. Bebop Tango (F. Zappa, arr. Geoffroy Burleson)
Here are movements two and three.
(unfortunately, I could not find a recording of the fourth movement)
(unfortunately, I could not find a recording of the fourth movement)
-
Friday, October 23, 2026
AN UPDATE FROM STICK MEN
Dear friends,
Today marks the worldwide digital release of Let’s THRAK Again REEL TWO across all platforms. If you listen on a streaming service, please search for the album, save it to your library, and give it a spin. It really helps get the music out there.
We’re also happy to announce that ALL standalone CD and LP orders were dispatched as of last week and are on their way to you, even to the remotest parts of the world.
VIDEO PREMIERE: “SWIMMING IN TEA” (OCTOBER 30)
On Friday, October 30, we’re premiering the video for “Swimming in Tea,” an amazing puppetry short film by the genius filmmaker Jeff Myers. Head over to YouTube now to RSVP and set a reminder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NpCXSJDZrs
BOX SET UPDATE
Unfortunately, we’ve hit a further delay with the Let’s THRAK Again Box Set: a box of LPs was lost in the mail, meaning the 1LP has to be repressed before the sets can ship. Thank you so much for your patience. Take a look at the photo below showing some of the box set contents. As you can see, it has turned out truly beautiful and special.
So many people have asked for more copies of the box set. To stay on the safe side with stock, we are only making 10 additional Let’s THRAK Again box sets available to order for now: https://stickmen.bandcamp.com/merch
JAPANESE UHQCD EDITION
For collectors, the imported Japanese UHQCD edition of Let’s THRAK Again is available now. Uniquely, this release features the Reel Two mixes sequenced in the Reel One running order, plus two bonus tracks: https://japaneseimportuhqcd.bandcamp.com/merch/stick-men-let-s-thrak-again-japanese-version-uhqcd-by-japanese-import-uhqcd
TOUCH GUITARS U8 DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION
On a related note, some of you may have heard Markus’s new Touch Guitar on our recent US tour. Only two instruments from that same build series of ten super-light and amazing-sounding guitars are left in stock and available: https://www.markusreuter.com/touch-guitars-u8-deluxe-special-edition
A BIG SURPRISE
What’s ahead for us? A big surprise: Believe it or not, we’ll soon start work on our next album, and we’ll also be re-releasing our entire back catalogue over the next couple of years. On the live front, we’ll be heading to Asia in late January and early February for shows in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Search online for more details on those dates. And we'll be back playing in the USA in March and April.
Thank you and best wishes! Markus, Tony, Pat
Today marks the worldwide digital release of Let’s THRAK Again REEL TWO across all platforms. If you listen on a streaming service, please search for the album, save it to your library, and give it a spin. It really helps get the music out there.
We’re also happy to announce that ALL standalone CD and LP orders were dispatched as of last week and are on their way to you, even to the remotest parts of the world.
VIDEO PREMIERE: “SWIMMING IN TEA” (OCTOBER 30)
On Friday, October 30, we’re premiering the video for “Swimming in Tea,” an amazing puppetry short film by the genius filmmaker Jeff Myers. Head over to YouTube now to RSVP and set a reminder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NpCXSJDZrs
BOX SET UPDATE
Unfortunately, we’ve hit a further delay with the Let’s THRAK Again Box Set: a box of LPs was lost in the mail, meaning the 1LP has to be repressed before the sets can ship. Thank you so much for your patience. Take a look at the photo below showing some of the box set contents. As you can see, it has turned out truly beautiful and special.
So many people have asked for more copies of the box set. To stay on the safe side with stock, we are only making 10 additional Let’s THRAK Again box sets available to order for now: https://stickmen.bandcamp.com/merch
JAPANESE UHQCD EDITION
For collectors, the imported Japanese UHQCD edition of Let’s THRAK Again is available now. Uniquely, this release features the Reel Two mixes sequenced in the Reel One running order, plus two bonus tracks: https://japaneseimportuhqcd.bandcamp.com/merch/stick-men-let-s-thrak-again-japanese-version-uhqcd-by-japanese-import-uhqcd
TOUCH GUITARS U8 DELUXE SPECIAL EDITION
On a related note, some of you may have heard Markus’s new Touch Guitar on our recent US tour. Only two instruments from that same build series of ten super-light and amazing-sounding guitars are left in stock and available: https://www.markusreuter.com/touch-guitars-u8-deluxe-special-edition
A BIG SURPRISE
What’s ahead for us? A big surprise: Believe it or not, we’ll soon start work on our next album, and we’ll also be re-releasing our entire back catalogue over the next couple of years. On the live front, we’ll be heading to Asia in late January and early February for shows in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. Search online for more details on those dates. And we'll be back playing in the USA in March and April.
Thank you and best wishes! Markus, Tony, Pat
STARLICKER - DOUBLE DEMON
- Starlicker: Double Demon
(2011, cd, --, delmark)
(2011, lp, --, delmark)
When I first heard heard about Starlicker, I expected to be immersed in some psychedelic space jazz. Not that I would mind, but Starlicker's "Double Demon" is quite something else. And I should have known if I would have checked the line-up:
- Rob Mazurek - cornet
- Jason Adasiewicz - vibes
- John Herndon - drums
As far as I could tell, "Double Demon" is the trio's only album (released in 2011 !!) and that's a pity because they sound great.
Rob Mazurek is no stranger to this blog, as is Jason Adasiewicz. Add John Herndon (Tortoise), and you have an ensemble that you want to check out.
Eclectic, chaotic but also groundbreaking.
A great combination of instruments plus the unconventional rhythms remind me a lot of Frank Zappa's avant-garde and jazz pieces.
Rob Mazurek is no stranger to this blog, as is Jason Adasiewicz. Add John Herndon (Tortoise), and you have an ensemble that you want to check out.
Eclectic, chaotic but also groundbreaking.
A great combination of instruments plus the unconventional rhythms remind me a lot of Frank Zappa's avant-garde and jazz pieces.
Essential listening !!
-- info: Danny Mathys
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