Saturday, January 31, 2009

STEVE VAI'S NAKED TRACKS


Naked Tracks Vol. 1-5 CD will become available in February.

The 5CD Naked Tracks Vol. 1-5 Box Set is now available in the Vai.com Online Store!

Previously available only through digital download, Naked Tracks Vol. 1-5, is a series of recording packages that contain mixes of Steve’s songs without the lead guitars. They are offered as “play along tracks.” Included are select backing tracks from Passion and Warfare, Sex & Religion, Alien Love Secrets, Fire Garden, The Ultra Zone, Alive In An Ultra World, Real Illusions: Reflections and others.

Friday, January 30, 2009

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART

Another audience recording master tape of a Beefheart concert has surfaced.

Captain Beefheart
1980/12/05 concert Paradise Rock Club Boston, Mass, usa

Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band
Captain Beefheart- vocals
Dave Mighnight Hatsize Snyder- guitar, slide guitar
Jeff Morris Tepper- guitar, slide guitar
Eric Drew Feldman- keyboards and mandolin
Robert Williams- drums and percussion

the taper adds:

It's not a "masters of rock", or jazz, but a Masters of Whatever Production.runtime: 101:42 setlist: disc 1 58:14
1: apes ma (30 second spoken intro) > sax and bass duet 5:30
2; nowadays a woman's gotta hit a man 4:05
3: ? 4:54
4: hot head 3:46
5: a carrot is as close as a rabbit gets to a diamond 2:08
6: ashtray heart 4:21
7: dirty blue Gene 4:25
8: Smithsonian institute blues 3:33
9: best batch yet 5:55
10: safe as milk 4:12
11: flavor bud living 2:09
12: her eyes are a blue million miles 3:45
13: one red rose that I made 2:05
14: talk (may be a song?) 3:43
15: Dr. Dark 3:35

disc 2 43:28
16: bat chain puller 5:37
17: band introductions 1:29
18: my human gets the blues 3:36
19: improvisation 3:15
20: sugar and spice 2:57
21: Sheriff of Hong Kong (tape flip after song) 7:30
22: ? 5:08
23: encore break 2:49
24: ? 5:47
25: ? 5:16

comments: this was a rather busy time for concerts. Captain Beefheart played 2 nights (one show each night). I think this is the 1st of the 2 nights but not sure. This was the only time I went to see a Beef show. It is an acquired taste, and I don't agree with some of what he says(like track 2 title) but there are some folks who love this guy. not really sure why, but nobody can accuse Captain Beefheart of being too restrained in his expressionism. this was about 6 years after he teamed up with Frank Zappa. I've heard a few rather marginal sounding Beefheart recordings. This one came out quite well, and it is the whole show except the 1st second or two of track 22 (it's not too noticable) and the 1st few seconds of the spoken intro (also not too noticable). the 1st flip was between songs and nothing's missing there.I don't know what the heck kind of music this can be called. It's fusion,but I wouldn't call it normal jazz (even though it has a sax in it). Avantgarde spazz in parts, bluesy folk rock in others. It's different.That's one thing I like about this music. It's not superficial either.this is music from and about the real world (not seen on MTV).another thing I like about it is all the instruments can be heard clearly.the between song talk is very quiet, but it can be heard. the vocals,when there are vocals, are also easily heard and come through well.Well enough so even though I didn't HAVE to do a new transfer of this master recording, because my 1st CD of it sounded okay, I did one anyway. the 1st one was never posted. this one may be a little better but I mainly did the new transfer to keep "CD" and "CD extractor" out of this lineage, and to make sure there would be a few good choices fora disc break in case you don't like this one (or have the other night and want to make them a 3 CD set.). there's alot of not much going on between songs, but I left it all in there because it wouldn't fit on 1 disc anyway (if I edited out all the nothing going on parts) and it's a 1st time post from the master so I wanted to put it up as completely as possible.Classic? Maybe, sorta, for some of us it is. Tough times call for some Beefheart. And these are tough times.do not sell this recording.(you want to buy some beef, go to a butcher shop, restaurant, supermarket or official record/CD distributor.)trade freely, losslessly and gaplessly.(gaps are so 80's, Beefheart is always.)

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE ON DimeADozen

Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is one of the bands that might be performing at the Zappanale festival next August.
If you're not familiar with them, you should check out one of their (many) albums. And for those of you who want to know what they sound like in concert, there's two nice concerts up at the Dime A Dozen website.

Tsuyama Atsushi - Higashi Hiroshi - Shimura Koji



Kawabata Makoto

Both pictures were taken from an audience recorded video of the acoustic set of the 2008/09/27 concert at the Tokuzo club in Nagoya, Japan.

-- upped at Dime by fykfyk

Thursday, January 29, 2009

HOLIDAY IN HLUBOCKY


In Hlubocky, a little village in the Czech Republic near Moravian city Olomouc, there's a place called "Zappuv Kopec" (Zappa´s Hill).
-- info: Bohous

ZAPPOSTROPHE 113

Here's the cover of the latest issue of Czech Frank Zappa Fanzine Zappostrophe.
Seems like the Joe's Garage musical is the main topic !!

XANTYPA


xantypa (2008/12, magazine, czech republic)

Issue number 12 (2008) of Xantypa magazine included a 5-page article entitled "15 Years Without Frank Zappa".
-- info: Bohous

DAVID OCKER INTERVIEW BY J21

J21 says:

I have just posted the first part of an old interview I conducted with David Ocker on my Myspace www.myspace.com/j21music

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

ZAPPATEERS PARTY IN MANCHESTER - March 21, 2009

Saturday

- 7.00 pm - The party starts in the Lounge Bar, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, Manchester.
- 8.00 pm - 9.00 pm The Burger and the Beasts
- 10.00 pm - 12.00 pm Zappatika
- 01.00 am Close
- 01.10 am Manchester Police try to copy the Dutch police from last year and take Audrey's address.

info from Obdula G

IT HAPPENED HERE


"It Happened Here" is the Arf Society's tribute to the late Jimmy Carl Black. This two disc set offers the Grandmothers concert at Zappanale in 2002.
Don Preston, Roy Estrada, Bunk Gardner, Bob Harris, Napoleon Murphy Brock, André Cholmondeley and Glenn Leonard, plus, of course, Jimmy Carl Black.
You might consider this "nostalgia for the old folks", but for some of us, especially those of us who were there, this is a great piece of history.
The Arf Society released this album in support of Jimmy Carl Black's family. A great gesture.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TRUBEE ON PIRATECATRADIO

a message from John Trubee:

Free audio amusement for 2 hours:

I spent 2 hours this fine Sunday afternoon in a small underground San Francisco radio station whining, complaining, spewing my crackpot philosophy, and playing tracks of my terrible music.

In case you want free amusement. Many thanks to DJ Skully.
http://www.piratecatradio.com/podcast.php

Download HardCandy 01/25/09

John Trubee
PO Box 4921
Santa Rosa, CA 95402
USA
"The rocks crumble/Unto dust they die/Once hard/Stuff of mountains/Nowsoft powder among the sands/Who dares crush a rock/Oh rock/Norock/Reduced to the winds/Scatter your parts/You are not onebut many/To those you shall succumb" --Jandek

ZAPPATIKA ON TOUR IN THE UK

18/3 London-Plough
19/3 Exeter Phoenix Centre
20/3 to be confirmed Prestatyn Scala
21/3 Zappateers Party - Manchester--
cheerz dudes

el marco

AARDVARK

Belgian band Aardvark is a duo. Michel Goessens (guitar & vocals) en Werner Dumez (harmonica, vocals) bring songs in a Flemish dialect.

Their 'Blankenberge 1984' (written by Michel Goessens) mentions Zappa, "Joe's Garage" and 'Catholic Girls'. The song can be found on their "Eikels Worden Bomen" album, released in 2009.
  • aardvark: eikels worden bomen
    (2009, cd, bel, amigoes - 0101) - incl. 'blankenberge 1984', a song that mentions zappa

Monday, January 26, 2009

PROJECT/OBJECT featuring IKE WILLIS, ED MANN & DON PRESTON

PROJECT/OBJECT - the music of Frank Zappa
featuring IKE WILLIS, ED MANN & DON PRESTON

JANUARY 2009

THU 29 Teaneck NJ Mexicali $18/$20
FRI 30 Baltimore MD 8X10 $18/$20
SAT 31 Sellersville PA Sellersville Theatre $22.50

FEBRUARY 2009

SUN 1 Falls Church VA State Theatre $18/$20
MON 2 Pittsburgh PA Club Cafe' $20/$22
TUE 3 Ann Arbor MI Blind Pig $12/$15
WED 4 Cleveland OH Beachland $18/$20
THU 5 Chicago IL Morse Theater $20/$22.50
FRI 6 Kalamazoo MI Papa Pete's $12/$15
SAT 7 Buffalo NY The Tralf $20/$23
SUN 8 TBA

BERIO: Sinfonia - 3rd Mvmt Part I - Rattle/CBSO



200 Motels isn't too far away...

-- info: Willy Geets

Sunday, January 25, 2009

LUMPY MONEY tracklist

LUMPY MONEY - Disc One

Lumpy Gravy (Primordial) C & P 2008 ZFT
FZ's Original Orchestral Edit for Capitol Records.
Original tracking sessions at Capitol Studios, Produced by Nick Venet
Mono Version, 4-Track Master Tape Sequence
Source: ¼" Analog – Master Tape T-2719 dated 19 May 1967.

01. I Sink Trap 2:45
02. II Gum Joy 3:44
03. III Up & Down 1:52
04. IV Local Butcher 2:36
05. V Gypsy Airs 1:41
06. VI Hunchy Punchy 2:06
07. VII Foamy Soaky 2:34
08. VIII Let's Eat Out 1:49
09. IX Teen-Age Grand Finale 3:30
tt: 22:37

We're Only In It For The Money C & P 1968 ZFT
1968 Original Mono Mix, Produced by Frank Zappa.
This is NOT a fold-down mix from stereo to Mono.
This is a separatediscreet mono mixcreated by FZ with Dick Kunc in 1968.
Source: ¼" Analog Master

10. Are You Hung Up? 1:26
11. Who Needs The Peace Corps? 2:32
12. Concentration Moon 2:22
13. Mom & Dad 2:16
14. Telephone Conversation :49
15. Bow Tie Daddy :33
16. Harry, You're A Beast 1:21
17. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? 1:02
18. Absolutely Free 3:26
19. Flower Punk 3:03
20. Hot Poop :26
21. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music 2:03
22. Let's Make The Water Turn Black 1:58
23. The Idiot Bastard Son 3:22
24. Lonely Little Girl 1:10
25. Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance 1:34
26. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise) :58
27. Mother People 2:31
28. The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny 6:23
tt: 39:15
This Disc: Mastering & Audio Restoration engineer - John Polito,2008.TT: 61:52

LUMPY MONEY - Disc Two

Lumpy Gravy C 1968 P 2008 ZFT
1984 UMRK Remix
Although this version was never released, FZ did include a track entitled Lumpy Gravy (Excerpt) in a promotional disc for The Old Masters, Box One.
All 3:01 of it is here. This promo disc was serviced to radio station program directors.
Lucky them.
Source: 1630 Digital Master

01. Lumpy Gravy - Part One 15:57
02. Lumpy Gravy - Part Two 17:15
tt: 34:12

We're Only In It For The Money C 1968 P 1986 ZFT
1984 UMRK Remix, originally released on CD, 1986
Source: 3324 Digital Master

03. Are You Hung Up? 1:30
04. Who Needs The Peace Corps? 2:35
05. Concentration Moon 2:17
06. Mom & Dad 2:16
07. Telephone Conversation :49
08. Bow Tie Daddy :33
09. Harry, You're A Beast 1:22
10. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? 1:03
11. Absolutely Free 3:28
12. Flower Punk 3:04
13. Hot Poop :29
14. Nasal Retentive Calliope Music 2:03
15. Let's Make The Water Turn Black 1:45
16. The Idiot Bastard Son 3:17
17. Lonely Little Girl 1:12
18. Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance 1:35
19. What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body? (Reprise) :57
20. Mother People 2:31
21. The Chrome Plated Megaphone Of Destiny 6:26
tt 40:12
Produced by Frank Zappa
This Disc: Mastered by Bernie Grundman, 2008.
TT: 74:24

LUMPY MONEY - Disc Three

All FZ recordings were transferred from original 2-Track analog tapes except tracks 4 through 6 & 13. All titles C & P 2008 except as noted.

01. How Did That Get In Here? 25:01
Recorded on Sunday, 13 February 1967 at Capitol (Original multi-trackmasters arecurrently not in evidence.) This is an FZ construction. Small excerptsfrom this materialappear in FZ's Masterwork, Lumpy Gravy. Source: ¼" stereo mixdown.
02. Lumpy Gravy "Shuffle" :30
Recorded 21 February 1969 at The New School, NYC, during FZLecture/Q&A.
03. Dense Slight 1:42
Lumpy Gravy Building Block by FZ.
04. Unit 3A, Take 3 2:24
05. Unit 2, Take 9 1:10
06. Section 8, Take 22 2:39
Tracks 4-6 recorded for Lumpy Gravy 14 March 1967 at Capitol.
Mixedfrom the original4-Tracks by Joe Travers, UMRK, 2008.
07. "My Favorite Album" :59
Interview excerpt, 22 October 1971, KBEY- FM, Kansas City.
08. Unit 9 :41
In Lumpy Gravy, this piece is VSO-controlled by FZ.
Recorded atCapitol Records.
09. N. Double A, AA :55
Lumpy Gravy Building Block by FZ.
10. Theme From Lumpy Gravy [© 1991] 1:56
Note: In Lumpy Gravy this piece is VSO-controlled by FZ. Recorded &mixed by FZat Studio Z, Cucamonga.
11. "What The Fuck's Wrong With Her?" 1:07
West Village Apt. NYC, working on Lumpy Gravy, late 1967.
12. Intelligent Design 1:11
Alternate FZ building block of theGary-Kellgren-whispering/JCB-dialog. Note: Includes the famously censored line infamously deleted by MGM from theMasterwork. Recorded at Mayfair.
13. Lonely Little Girl (Original Composition - Take 24) 3:35
From the original 8-Track Masters recorded at Mayfair. Mixed by JoeTravers at UMRK 2008.
14. "That Problem With Absolutely Free" :30
Interview, Mixed Media, Detroit, 13 November 1967.
15. Absolutely Free (Instrumental) 3:59
16. Harry, You're A Beast (Instrumental) 1:16
17. What's The Ugliest Part of Your Body? (Reprise/Instrumental) 2:01
18. Creationism 1:11
Recorded during the "Money" sessions, Mayfair, 6 September 1967.
19. Idiot Bastard Snoop :47
Mayfair Studios 1967, Vocal Overdub session snippet as-is.
20. The Idiot Bastard Son (Instrumental) 2:48
21. "What's Happening Of The Universe" 1:37
Interview with David Silver, Boston, 1969.
22. "The World Will Be A Far Happier Place" :21
Recorded at Mayfair.
23. Lonely Little Girl (Instrumental) 1:26
24. Mom & Dad (Instrumental) 2:16
25. Who Needs The Peace Corps? (Instrumental) 2:51
26. "Really Little Voice" 2:28
Recorded during the Money sessions, Mayfair Studios 1967.
27. Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Instrumental) 1:24
28. Lonely Little Girl - The Single [C P 1967] 2:45
Released prior to the album in November, 1967. Curiously, FZ considered this thoroughly discrete construct (yes, that's right, this is a collage) potentiallycommercial.
29. "In Conclusion" :25
Recorded at Mayfair.TT: 71:54

LUMPY GRAVY TESTPRESSING

a message from Eelco J. on the alt.fan.frank-zappa newsgroup

“Last week I had e-mail contact with Hans Bohlmeijer, the proud owner of an all-orchestral test-pressing version of Lumpy Gravy. He also has pictures of the original Capitol cover, he got them from the photographer who did the photo-shoot. And the inside cover.

He told me that he was contacted by Joe Travers who wanted to see/hear which version was on that test-pressing. There appear to exist different versions of this LG. So Hans had sent him these pictures plus a digital version of the test-pressing. This was in 2007 and he told me that the reason why we had to wait so long was that the acetate of Gypsy Air was missing. After a while he received a letter by Gail who said that the pictures and the LP were actually owned by the Zappa family trust and that he had no right to have this in his Lumpy Gravy collection. Finally he got them back thanks to Joe Travers...”

JEFF AUG & ALLAN HOLDSWORTH ON TOUR

On 13.March 2009, netMusicZone Records will be releasing Jeff Aug's new album LIVING ROOM SESSIONS. On 13.March, Jeff will perform 6 x concerts in 6 x countries in 24 hours in Europe. The Guinness Book of World Records (TM) officially recognizes this European tour as an attempt to set the world record for the category of 'Most concerts performed in different countries in 24 hours.´

JEFF AUG - Wounded Fingers World Record Tour 2009
13.03.2009 - 19 Hours - Vaduz (FL) - Camaleon
13.03.2009 - 21 Hours - St. Gallen (CH) - Grabenhalle
13.03.2009 - 23 Hours - Dornbirn (A) - Spielboden
14.03.2009 - 01 Hours - Immenstadt (D) - Rainbow
14.03.2009 - 14 Hours - Verviers (B) - Spirit of 66
14.03.2009 - 17 Hours - Heerlen (NL) - Nieuwe Nor
www.JeffAug.com

3 x days later, Jeff will hit the road for yet another European tour with the Jazz Fusion Guitar Legend ALLAN HOLDSWORTH...

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH BAND (feat. Gary Husband & Jimmy Johnson)
Support: JEFF AUG (solo)
17.03.2009 Zoetermeer (NL) - De Boerderij
18.03.2009 Apeldoorn (NL) - Gigant
19.03.2009 Verviers (B) - Spirit of 66
20.03.2009 Leverkusen (D) - Scala Club
21.03.2009 Stuttgart (D) - BIX
22.03.2009 Weinheim (D) - Cafe Central
24.03.2009 Aschaffenburg (D) - Colo-Saal
25.03.2009 Munich (D) - Bayerischer Hof
26.03.2009 Wien (A) - Porgy & Bess
27.03.2009 Fürstenfeld (A) - Die Akte
28.03.2009 Wels (A) - venue TBA
29.03.2009 Regensburg (D) - Leerer Beutel
30.03.2009 Halle (D) - Objekt5
31.03.2009 Marburg (D) - KFZ
01.04.2009 Krefeld (D) - KuFa
02.04.2009 Leer (D) - Zollhaus
03.04.2009 Hannover (D) - Jazz Club
04.04.2009 Schwerin (D) - Speicher

THE CENTRAL SCRUTINIZER BAND IN CONCERT 2009 02 07


DESEJAMOS A TODOS
UM FELIZ 2009!
1º SHOW DO ANO

Sábado dia 07 de fevereiro,
no Café Aurora, Rua 13 de Maio 112, Bixiga, tel.3628.7947, o show começa às 24,00hs, ingressos 15,00.
Mais informações nos sites abaixo
www.scrutinizer.com.br
www.myspace.com/thecentralscrutinizerband
www.cafeaurora.com.br

NEW SUN RA ALBUM ON LEO RECORDS

Due out on Leo Records:

GY 29 Sun Ra Live in Cleveland, 1975

-- info: Danny Mathys

Friday, January 23, 2009

BROKKEN NAMIDDAG 2009 01 25


The day after tomorrow, Sunday afternoon, in Amsterdam, Corrie van Binsbergen will host another Brokken Afternoon. You will be able to enjoy "What Are They Building In There?", and the Ernst Reijseger cellosextet. (both are Ernst Reijseger projects)
live in 'Zaal 100', in Amsterdam, NL

NEW DON PRESTON ALBUM ANNOUNCED

A new Don Preston album has been announced by Crossfire Publications.

The album will be called "Retrospective" and will take a look at various Don Preston Projects. It will include some previously unreleased material.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

FAST 'N' BULBOUS update 2009 01 23

Jan 2009 sees the release of Fast 'N' Bulbous long-awaited second Cuneiform CD, Waxed Oop (an impetuous stream bubbled up). A strong departure from their first CD, Waxed Oop ranges from Gary Lucas’ solo National Steel guitar version of “Sure ‘Nuff ‘N’ Yes I Do,” to a full band arrangement of Don van Vliet’s solo sea chantey, “Well.” It also includes the first FnB delving into “Lick My Decals Off, Baby,” and features a bonus track with guest vocalist Robyn Hitchcock.

Just prior to the recording, they did a tribute concert to Captain Beefheart at New York’s Knitting Factory, curated by Gary Lucas, which featured little-known video clips and recordings, and readings and reminiscences by many special guests, including Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, Suicide's Alan Vega, Kurt Loder, and David Lynch (via video).

You can watch a podcast of highlights from the show at: http://culturecatch.com/
You can also watch a clip on YouTube, of Gary and Robyn performing “Sure ‘Nuff ‘N’ Yes I Do” at the same event. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEWjKfxKRC4



They will be touring in 2009 to support the new CD (visit website/myspace page for updates)
Visit Fast ‘N’ Bulbous online for YouTube videos and audio from the new recording.

http://www.phillipjohnston.com/fnbfrontpage.htm
http://www.myspace.com/neonmeatedream

PEACH NOISE in concert in Paris, France

Friday 2009/01/23, Peach Noise will perform the music of Frank Zappa in concert at the 'Dansoir Karine Saporta" in Paris, France.

http://ledansoir.saporta-danse.com/dansoir/Site/programmation.php

-- info: central s. // lesfilsdelinvention.net

WM Recordings on Radio Scorpio

Every once in a while, I mention Marco Kalnenek's WM Recordings record label on these pages.
For those of you who have never heard anything from WM Recordings, Radio Scorpio created a fine opportunity.

A one-hour special for your enjoyment:
http://www.archive.org/details.php?identifier=nws090

Besides an interview with Marco, you get to listen to songs from Jan Turkenburg, D’r Sjaak, The Aperion Project, Spheriot, and others.

The direct download link:
http://www.archive.org/download/nws090/nws090.mp3

The iTunes short-cut:
http://tinyurl.com/wmpodcast

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Paul Green School Of Rock All Stars & Napoleon Murphy Brock

Remember Berger Kahn?
The ZFT lawyers that send out letters to bands that perform Zappa's music?

They've send a letter to the promoter that represents The Paul Green School Of Rock, saying that they (PGS & Napoleon) don't have the permission to perform a Zappa tribute concert.

I can imagine that PG will get a second opinion.
I find it hard to believe that ASCAP wouldn't cover a tribute show...

RAMON TARANCO

Guitar player Ramon Taranco was born in Havana, Cuba. At the age of 5, he moved to Toronto, Canada, with his parents.

His guitar styles & influences range from classic rock and blues, over finger-picking nashville country to nylon string classical music and samba jazz.

http://www.ramontaranco.com/




“Music From The Bermuda Triangle” is Ramon Taranco’s first solo album. It got recorded in the early ninetees and presents eight fine tracks.The disc kicks off with some songs that could be described as a fine melange of south american rhythms and beautiful melodies. Let’s call it latin ‘feel-good’ music.Halfway the album, the colour changes, and the music gets a more bluesy feeling. Nice. Enjoyed it.

And now for something completely different...

Ramon Taranco’s second release is quite a different story.It’s definitely more jazz oriented than it’s predecessor.
Well, it’s not just the jazz chords that do the trick. It’s more like one gigantic puzzle of musical styles and ideas. I guess this is what certain people refer to as World Beat music.

I just love this.”The Adventures of Bo Segiova” has great dynamics, lovely tempo-changes, great guitar work, all blended into world beat pop tunes.
My favourite track is ‘Spirit of Muddy Waters’, a superb blues track. Runner-up is the six-minute title track which tells the adventures of Ramon’s grandfather.
Excellent!

FZ & THE MOI - In The Sixties

  • frank zappa and the mothers of invention: in the 1960s
    (2008, dvd, uk, chrome dreams)
You know about Chrome Dream's recent "Frank Zappa's Jukebox" release, don't you? That was great. That was fun. Well, here's another Chrome Dreams release and this one's even better.
You get over two hours of video fragments (including the famous Bicycle Concerto at the Steve Allen Show) and interviews with both music journalists / biographers and musicians, and these give you a great insight on how The Mothers and Frank Zappa thought, worked, performed and recorded.
You don't just get the opinions and insights of Billy James and Ben Watson, but you get some great interviews with Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Art Tripp, and the late Jimmy Carl Black as well. And these guys were there when it all happened.
I enjoyed every minute of this documentary.
With "Frank Zappa and The Mothers Of Invention - In The Sixties", you're on the front row, taking a journey from Freak Out to Uncle Meat. I'll be playing each of these albums again the next couple of days, that's for sure.
Highly recommended!!

SUN RA - HORIZON


A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned two scheduled Sun Ra releases on the Art Yard record label. Here's the first one. The album is called "Horizon" and it might well be number one hundred forty something in the Sun Ra discography.
Some might consider this a re-release of the 1974 Saturn album, but I think it deserves to be called a brand-new album. Not only because the Saturn vinyls are almost impossible to find, but mainly because this disc has a bunch of bonus material (of the very same Cairo concert).
An excellent concert. A must-have release for Sun Ra fans and for melomaniacs in general.

OrKestr Percussion

info from cosmikd, over at zappateers:

OrKestr Percussion plays Frank Zappa and Pat Metheny http://www.myspace.com/orkestrapercussion

1 feb 2009 17:00 Scène Nationale, Mâcon, Rhône-Alpes, France (FREE)
4 mar 2009 14:00 Amphitéâtre de l’Opéra de Lyon, Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France
6 mar 2009 14:00 Amphitéâtre de l’Opéra de Lyon, Lyon, Rhône-Alpes, France
23 may 2009 20:00 Conservatoire Aosta , Aosta, France
6 june 2009 20:00 Eolia , Trévoux, France

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

SUN RA - NUITS DE LA FONDATION MAEGHT VOL.2


Both volumes of Sun Ra's "Nuits De La Fondation Maeght" got released on vinyl in 1971. A couple of years ago, they got the CD-treatment, together with the below mentioned "Live In Paris" album.
The data for volume two have been added to the United Mutations Files.
Another excellent album...

SUN RA - LIVE IN PARIS AT THE GIBUS

Here's another addition to the Sun Ra discography. "Live In Paris - At The "Gibus"" got its initial release in 1974 (in France) on the Atlantic label. It got a beautiful re-release in Italy in 2003. A very fine concert in a great-looking hardboard mini-LP package.
Beautiful.

1988 04 26 ZAPPA INTERVIEW

more from Javier:

Found a new video.

26 April, 1988 - Olympen, Lund, Sweden - Snydytt-SVT

http://svt.se/svt/road/Classic/shared/mediacenter/player.jsp?a=1117960&d=63189

Excellent quality picture.

FZ interviewed by Mats Johansson for SVT - Malmoe ( Snydytt program) before to play at.
It includes some comments on politics & candidates & "Chunga´s Revenge" alive footage.
Probably from Drammenhallen, Sept. 13, 1984.
See: http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/videography/1981-84.html#SwedenTV1984

Regards,
Javier

New on the Cuneiform label, january 2009

  • cheer-accident: fear draws misfortune
    (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform / rune 276)
  • gutbucket: a modest proposal
    (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform / rune 281)
  • fast ‘n’ bulbous: waxed oop
    (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform / rune 277)
  • forgas band phenomena: l’axe du fou • axis of madness
    (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform / rune 282)
  • univers zero: relaps / (archives 1984 – 1986)
    (2008, cd, usa, cuneiform / rune 280)

Monday, January 19, 2009

FRANK ZAPPA'S JUKEBOX


Ever wonder what Frank Zappa listened to when he was a teenager? Well, here's your answer...
Chrome Dreams compiled an album of doo-wop tunes, old blues songs and contemporary classical pieces that FZ mentioned in interviews, that he played as a DJ on radio shows, or that he covered with his band.
They're all here: The Robins, The Four Deuces, The Turbans, The Cadets, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and even Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern and Edgard Varèse.
It's an extreme mixture of styles, but that's exactly what Zappa's music was as well. Each song on this album will make you think of a number of Zappa compositions.
As a bonus, you get a 16 page booklet that has a lot of info on the original artists, plus an explanation and a link to the Zappa Universe.
Highly recommended.

SUN RA - PLEIADES

A little while ago, I mentioned the Sun Ra releases that have been released on Leo Records. At that time, I did not know that one of these albums had been pulled out of the shelves due to some sort of copyright problem. However, the album did get a bit of distribution as some of the distributors ignored the message and sold the album to a couple of shops.
I'm talking 1993, so that's a little while ago already, but if you have "Pleiades" on your want-list, you should be aware that it's not the easiest album to come by.
If you're able to find it, you shouldn't hesitate. "Pleiades" is an impressive album. You get Sun Ra and his Arkestra, backed by a symphony orchestra.
Wowie zowie.

NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK & ED PALERMO

Napoleon Murphy Brock will be playing with The Ed Palermo Big Band on Friday February 6, 2009 7:30pm at Five Towns College Dix Hills Performing Arts Center - 305 North Service Rd Dix Hills NY
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at http://www.dhpac.org/ or by phone at (631) 656-2148

-- info: TomNY at Zappateers

Sunday, January 18, 2009

new vinyl version of HOT RATS

“Mastered and cut directly from the original analog master tape by Bernie Grundman under the supervision of Gail Zappa. This LP features Classic’s proprietary ultra quiet vinyl formula and our 200g Super Vinyl Profile II pressed on specially outfitted semi automatic presses for maximum sonic fidelity.”

http://www.themusic.com/detail.cfm?id=9007056

-- info: Marco

Saturday, January 17, 2009

NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK Tour with The All Stars

a message from singerstar

Napoleon Murphy Brock Tour with The All Stars
Frank Zappa's Music!

Napoleon Murphy Brock Tour with The All Stars
February 17th-22nd, 2008

February 14th, Philadelphia Black Lodge
1508 Brandywine Street,

February 17th, Downingtown School Of Rock
478 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, Pa.

February 18th, Trenton, NJ
McGuinns Place, 1781 Brunswick Avenue

February 20th, The Garage,
484 Century Boulevard, Wilmington, Delaware

February 21st, The New Barbary
951 Frankford Avenue Philadelphia, Pa

February 22nd, Sullivan Hall
505 8th Avenue New York City, NY

Friday, January 16, 2009

ZAPPANALE number 20

The fun will start sooner, but the actual festival will start on Friday, August 14, 2009.
Just until Sunday, August 16, 2009.

In a sort of alphabetical way, the list of participating bands might just look like this...
  • Acid Mothers Temple feat. Kawabata Makoto (JP)
  • Bernard Struber (FR)
  • Counter-World Experience (D)
  • Cpt. Cheese-beard & The 7 Sisters Of Prevention (B)
  • Grand Mothers feat. N.M.Brock, D.Preston, R.Estrada (USA)
  • Gong feat. Daevid Allen (UK)
  • Lazuli (FR)
  • Paul Green School of Rock Music feat. Robert Martin (USA)
  • Project Object feat. Ike Willis (USA)
  • Sebkha-Chott (FR)
  • Sex Without Nails bros. feat. Peter Wolf (A)
  • Sheik Yerbouti (D)
  • Steve Hillage Band (UK)
  • Terry Bozzio and Band (USA)
  • The Children of Invention (FR)
  • We Insist (FR)

I know I'll be there...

Thursday, January 15, 2009

TALKING COWS, CRAM & DRUMMERS DOUBLE BILL

Tonight at the Bimhuis in Amsterdam, NL:

TALKING COWS, CRAM & DRUMMERS DOUBLE BILL
(that's two bands out of three that feature Corrie van Binsbergen on guitar)

And the next days...

21 jan Schuttershof Middelburg
23 jan Lux Nijmegen
24 jan Purmarijn Purmerend
28 jan Theater a/d Parade Den Bosch
30 jan Philharmonie Haarlem
31 jan Schouwburg Amstelveen
01 feb Harmonie Leeuwarden
07 feb Baarle Nassau
13 feb Schouwburg Deventer
14 feb SJU Jazz Utrecht
17 feb Goudse Schouwburg, Gouda

PROJECT/OBJECT 2009 01 15

Hey there

Andre' here .....With a quick Project/Object Tour announcement

Right now I am also getting ready for the WORLD PREMIERE of Eddie Jobson's new band UKZ. I am doing Production/Etc for the Jan 24 Town Hall NYC show, the ONLY show planned so far and his first real full show since.....1982!!

....Eddie of course you may know from Roxy Music, Jethro Tull, Zappa, King Crimson and the legendary UK.....well HE's BACK...check out youtube and search for the video "UKZ radiation"...this is his new band, new single... More on that later .......

BUT NOW.....



Project Object will soon be Back on the Road soon........ DO NOT MISS THIS.... Once again Zappa history.... three of the main creative forces ...these three musicians together span from 1966-1974 (Mothers of Invention) and 1976-1988 "Zappa" bands.

This is the FIRST TIME IN HISTORY they have ever all toured together. It will be a memorable tour and we need you there!!

See ya on the road
Andre'
http://www.projectobject.com/
  • 2009/01/29 P/O – concert ’Mexicali Blues’, Teaneck, NJ, usa
  • 2009/01/30 P/O – concert ’8x10 Club’, Baltimore, MD, usa
  • 2009/01/31 P/O – concert ’Sellersville Theatre’, Sellersville, PA, usa
  • 2009/02/01 P/O – concert ’State Theatre’, Falls Church, VA, usa
  • 2009/02/02 P/O – concert ’Club Café’, Pittsburgh, PA, usa
  • 2009/02/03 P/O– concert ’Blind Pig’, Ann Arbor, MI, usa
  • 2009/02/04 P/O – concert ’Beachland Ballroom’, Cleveland, OH, usa
  • 2009/02/05 P/O – concert ’The Morse Theater’, Chicago, IL, usa
  • 2009/02/06 P/O – concert ’Papa Pete's’, Kalamazoo, MI, usa
  • 2009/02/07 P/O – concert ’The Tralf’, Buffalo, NY, usa
  • 2009/02/08 P/O – concert venue tba

J21 interviewed ED MANN

J21 conducted a very interesting interview with Ed Mann about Ed's new CD, some Zappa stuff and other interesting things.

You can read it on J21's myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/j21music

BEEFHEART rarities - part one

Thanks to Hakon Busterud I'm adding a couple of pictures of rare Beefheart material to the United Mutations files.

Here's a 7" acetate promo !!


Bigger pictures of both a- & b-side:

IRVINE WELSH

Info from Makkx:

Irvine Welsh cited Frank Zappa several times in his novel Trainspotting.

ZAPPATiKA in concert in the UK in March

ZAPPATiKA will be playing some concerts in the UK in March
  • Wednesday 2009/03/18 Zappatika - concert 'The Plough' (Walthamstow), London, UK
  • Thursday 2009/03/19 Zappatika - concert "FSOE Festival", Exeter, UK
  • Saturday 2009/03/21 Zappatika - concert Manchester (venue TBA)

GABRIELE SALVATORE



info from makkx:

Gabriele Salvatore's first movie ever "Kamikazen, ultima notte a Milano" narrates the story of a comedian (played by Paolo Rossi, a great italian comedian in the real life) who his nicknamed Zappa...who else if talking about Cabaret and Comedy????

The movie was inspired by the pièce "Comedians", written by Trevor Griffith.

Gabriele Salvatores is the Oscar winner with Mediterraneo in 1992.
Here's a frame from the movie...!

BOGUS POMP on german radio

here is a link to the tunes they played on German radio from our Hamburg show.

http://eikechagen.com/carrera/NDR-3-12-20-20.mp3

Let everyone have it, please.

Jerry

ZAPPATiKA hits the Acid Dance charts!

ZAPPATiKA hits the Acid Dance charts !

a message from ZAPPATiKA:

When we released the recent studio album, Flight of the Dodo, we said we wanted to get to some wider, younger audiences with this stuff.....
One of the tracks (Mysterious Masala) is already doing pretty well at Soundclick ...in the Electronica Acid Dance genre !
click to listen .....
http://www.soundclick.com/genres/charts.cfm?genre=Electronica&subgenreID=68

as the great Hannibal once said (or maybe more often) "I love it when a plan comes together !"

-- www.myspace.com/zappatika

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

ZAPPA CD BOOTLEG BIBLE IN FINAL STAGE



Dieter Jakob's second volume on Zappa bootlegs, "the cd's", has entered its final stage.

Nice cover.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Gail Zappa / Arf-Society court hearing has been postponed (again)



Due to illness of one of the judges, the court hearing (judgement) of the Gail Zappa / Arf-Society lawsuit has been postponed (again).

The new date has been set on 2009/01/21.

Miami Pop Festival, May 18, 1968



from Youtube:
Video..er 8mm movie film...shot by my 16 year old self (with dad's movie camera) of Arthur Brown, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Blue Cheer and Frank Zappa and his Mothers of Invention. The stills here show the vantage point:

http://www.rockprophecy.com/abcmiami.html

-- info: Javier Marcote

2009 01 13 newsflash

three new albums in the Unmatched series * * Ed Mann has a new album out * * Ed Palermo is working on a new album * * Fattore Zeta has a new album out (= their Zappanale concert) * * ZpZ might be coming to Yurrip later this year.

-- info: Luc Reniers

what a weekend...

I know, I know, ...
This is a blog, so I should really try to give some regular updates, like every day.
Well, my weekend just was too good.
I listend to the various Residents streams that one can find on dutch radio 6.
Radio 6 did a couple of Residents specials in November. Extended versions (!!) of these broadcasts can be found on the radio 6 website.
Here you go:

You'll love it... It's a way of life.

-- thanks to JP for pointing these out to me

Monday, January 12, 2009

LUMPY MONEY AVAILABLE FOR ORDERING

Over at the Zappa dot com site, Lumpy Money is available for ordering.

I sure wish the ZFT had an easier way of ordering for us Yurripean folks...
Or maybe I should say "a cheaper way", or "faster way"...

Friday, January 9, 2009

Do You Have A Second To Help Promote A Song?

Wanna help push a ZAPPATiKA song up the chart?
Just click the link and listen to at least 30 seconds of our new single SNAKEMAN !
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7215852

Thanks a big bunch !!
love and kisses

ZAPPATiKA

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE RALPHGANG

Hi Residents friend...
A note of new year's goodies (Happy New Year by the way)!

Classic album art tees:
Not Available album art on both a shirt and hooded sweatshirt (with yourfriend Edweena!)
Meet The Residents - the FabFour (untrashed version) on both a shirt andhooded sweatshirt!

So stop by http://ralphamerica.com to check that out.
And with every orderfor the classic album art tee, we'll throw in a free "Where's Harvey"sticker.

(shhhhh...we found a few copies of Best Left Unspoken VOl. 1...just a fewand they're all low numbered under 200)

We're excited for 2009 and all the possibilities the new year brings, so stay tuned!
Seeya at RalphAmerica.com

the Ralph Gang
http://www.ralphamerica.com
and stop by the new blogralphamerica.blogspot.com we're gonna be looking for some input over there later today...so pleasechime in

ZAPPATIKA! newsflash 2009 01 09

ZAPPATiKA recently took on one of Hollands' finest as its new bass player and he is only 19 years old - ( his dad is FZ freak so he grew up listening to the right stuff!) !

Ingo a.k.a. The Kid was discovered when seen playing with his own local Blues band RED FRIDGE and he has just performed his first concert with Zappatika (Video below) which went extremely well........
The Kid will be joining ZAPPATiKA on his first tour in the UK in March and is already fitting in nice and greasy to the music and the rest of the band !



www.zappatika.com -- www.myspace.com/zappatika


Thursday, January 8, 2009

ZAPPA - AMERICAN COMPOSER continued

Hans-Peter added the data below, plus both he and Nikolai Zaharov did send in some pictures. So here you are:

VALERYI KUCHERENKO
"ZAPPA - AMERICAN COMPOSER"
302 pages (210 x 300)
CLASSIC ROCK
MOSCOW 2008

Just check out these samples:

MAXIMALIST!


The Maximalist! ensemble released at least two albums, of which at least one was a CD.
"What The Body Does Not Remember" was composed from january to may 1987 in Italy in close relationship with the work process of Wim Vandekeybus and his actors / dance group.
It's minimalistic stuff. Maybe even a bit too minimalistic for my taste, but it's still good. The pieces are written by Thierry De Mey and Peter Vermeersch.
Peter Vermeersch later started X-Legged Sally and The Flat Earth Society, hence the presence of this album in the United Mutations files.
If you come across this album, you should defenitely give it a listen. It's not like X-Legged Sally, or FES, but it's interesting to hear Peter Vermeersch's earlier work.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

AL'S BAND

Al's Band actually is Al Yankovic's band.
They recorded a single entitled 'Al's Band' on which they explain what it's like to be Al's band. The song is quite funny and the music sounds great. The music immediately reminded me of Raymond Scott, Spike Jones, and Frank Zappa. Not that it's complex, it's just plain funny.

The lyrics also refer to 'Genius In France' (Al's song that uses FZ themes and that includes Dweezil Zappa on guitar) and to the bands' appearance in The Simpsons.
Excellent!!

for info and ordering: http://alsband.net/home.htm

SUN RA - SPRINGTIME IN CHICAGO


"Springtime In Chicago" is one of these must-have Sun Ra releases. This two disc album presents the September 1978 concert that Sun Ra and his Arkestra did in Chicago.
It's a classic. 'Astro Black', 'Discipline', 'Yeah! Man', 'Space Is The Place', ... they're all there. And all of my favourite Arkestra members are present as well: John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Michael Ray, June Tyson, ...
This album is a perfect introduction if you're not familiar with the Arkestra. And if you're a fan, you probably already have this set of discs.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

TWO NEW SUN RA RELEASES ON THE ART YARD LABEL

Art Yard has two new Sun Ra releases:

  • sun ra and his arkestra: horizon
    (2008, cd, uk, art yard cd008)
  • sun ra and his arkestra: nidhamu + dark myth equation visitation
    (2008, cd, uk, art yard cd009)

Both albums take a look at the Arkestra’s visit to Cairo in 1971!
More info soon.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Sunday, January 4, 2009

ZAPPA - AMERICAN COMPOSER

My Russian isn't what it used to be, but my best guess is that this new book reads "Zappa - American Composer".
Writer? Publisher? I don't have a clue...

- thanks to Hans-Peter Schmidt for forwarding the picture

FRANCOIS BAYLE

Francois Bayle samples Frank Zappa on the album "L' Experience Acoustique 1968 - 1973 (volumes 5 - 6)". The Zappa samples can be found on the cut 'Journal' (1971)'. There's VERY MINIMAL use of snorks and a snippet or 2 of music from Lumpy Gravy.

The album got released in 1994 though all pieces had been performed/broadcast back when they were new.

From the liners by FB: "then come journal, apparently a collage, but in reality an attempt at continuity of energy, which once again introduces the <<>> shock which extends the experience into every day tones. Well before the term existed (25 years!), here we have the aesthetic of <<>>. Procession of iconic sound pictures (filtered Mozart, Jimi Hendrix, crowd, Madeline Renaud at the Sorbonne, hand-grenades exploding in the Latin Quarter, Frank Zappa, Beethoven...)."

Also of possible interest: Daevid Allen (Gong) provided guitar and Robert Wyatt collaborated (vocal) on another.

-- info: brainpang

Saturday, January 3, 2009

ZAPPA DRAWING SOLD ON EBAY



a pen / ink / collage drawing by Frank Zappa
16" x 22"
signed and dated 1958
Zappa gave this drawing to Howard H. Most

from the ebay sale:
This is an original pen/ink/collage drawing done by the pop-musical icon Frank Zappa when he was a senior at Antelope Valley High school in Lancaster, S.Calif. 1957-58. It is signed and dated by Zappa on back of poster board. My father, Howard H. Most was teaching art at that high school during that time.He had Frank Zappa in one of his classes during his senior year there. This drawing/collage was a gift from Zappa to my father. It has come to me through my fathers estate/collection. Dimensions are 16"x22". Over all condition is good. Slight water stain in lower left corner, which matting/framing would cover.The piece is unframed. Very rare early Zappa visual art work ! He , of course, was not a famous pop-music-cultural icon yet !


info: brainpang

Friday, January 2, 2009

THE KÖLNER PHILHARMONIE PERFORMED ZAPPA

September 19, 2008, the Kölner Philharmonie performed "Zappa-ismus" at the 'Alter Wartesaal', in Köln, Germany. The concert was part of the TripClubbing series.

the program:

Luciano Berio: Call
David Lang: The Anvil Chorus
Heiner Goebbels: Herakles 2
John White: Drinking and Hooting Machine
Frank Zappa: Big Swifty
Frank Zappa: T'Mershi Duween
and an encore

An audience recording of the show can be downloaded over at the Zappateers site.

RICKY LANCELOTTI

Fans of Ricky Lancelotti should check out:



Ricky Lancelotti on Shindig (after six or so minutes)



Ricky Lancelotti singing Pacific Vibrations

UPDATES

updates to the United Mutations archives,

thanks to Charles Ulrich

Thursday, January 1, 2009

OMNIBUS WIND ENSEMBLE

Swedish / German label Opus 3 has a new sampler out. It's a so-called SACD, which stands for Super Audio CD (I think). As Opus 3 is the label for the Omnibus Wind Ensemble, this sampler also includes a track by the Ensemble. For our pleasure, it's 'Inca Roads', taken from the "Music By Frank Zappa" album.

SUN RA ON LEO RECORDS

It's hard to get a grip on the Sun Ra discography.
The following list presents the albums that got released on Golden Years Of New Jazz / Leo Records.
I don't have a year of release for most of them, and they're not mentioned in the superb reference guide by Moudry either... (or maybe I just didn't look good enough)
  • the sun ra arkestra: meets salah ragab in Egypt
    (1999, uk, cd, golden years of new jazz gy001)
  • the sun ra arkestra: live at praxis '84
    (????, uk, 2cd, golden years of new jazz gy 005/006)
  • sun ra: solo piano recital
    (????, uk, cd, golden years of new jazz gy 021)
  • sun ra & his space arkestra: what planet is this?
    (2006, uk, 2cd, golden years of new jazz gy 024/025)
  • the sun ra arkestra:springtime in Chicago
    (2006, uk, 2cd, golden years of new jazz gy 026/027)
  • the sun ra and his cosmo discipline arkestra: a night in east berlin / my brothers the wind and sun n.9
    (????, uk, cd, leo records lr 149)
  • sun ra and his arkestra: love in outer space
    (????, uk, cd, leo records lr 154)
  • sun ra arkestra: friendly galaxy
    (????, uk, cd, leo records lr 188)
  • sun ra & his arkestra: a quiet place in the universe
    (????, uk, cd, leo records lr 198)
  • sun ra & his intergalactic arkestra: second star to the right
    (????, uk, cd, leo records lr 230)
  • sun ra & his intergalactic arkestra: stardust from tomorrow
    (????, uk, 2cd, leo records lr 235/236)
If you happen to have one of these album, and could supply me with the year of issue, I'd appreciate it.