Monday, February 28, 2011

MORE ZAPPANALE NEWS

Yes! Lazuli is coming to Zappanale again. And so is Plastic People Of The Universe.

Wow.

www.zappanale.de

PIERREJEAN GAUCHER

Here are 10 minutes of rehearsal and concert snippets of the Pierrejean Gaucher Trio with the Orchestre d'Harmonie de Bourg en Bresse.
Shot in April 2010.

Fine arrangement of classic pop songs.
If you're familiar with Pierrejean's "Melody Makers" album, just add 60 extra musicians and you know what to expect.



And while we're at it, here's Pierrejean's trio (guitar, drums and electric cello (!))live during a masterclass in Nancy in 2009.

MORE SPECIAL GUESTS ANNOUNCED FOR ZAPPANALE

Both Ray White and Robert Martin will be present and will be performing at the next Zappanale festival !

Excellent !!

ED PALERMO UPDATE

Ed Palermo says: "We start recording the new CD in a few weeks. I can't divulge THAT much about it, but it looks like it's going to be a 2-disc project. One disc Zappa, the other disc my original material.
I can tell you that the Zappa disc will probably feature Napoleon Murphy Brock."

-- info: Ad Akkermans

BRIEVEN AAN DOORNROOSJE

Corrie van Binsbergen will be touring with "Brieven aan Doornroosje" (Letters to Sleeping Beauty).
Narrated by Hans Dagelet (who also will be playing the trumpet), and supported by Corrie van Binsbergen (guitar), Miriam Overlach (harp) and Alan Purves (percussion).


  • 2011/03/03 20:30 concert ‘Franse School’, Culemborg try-out
  • 2011/03/04 12:30 concert ‘Walhalla’, Rotterdam, try-out (lunchconcert)
  • 2011/03/05 20:00 concert ‘schouwburg’, Enschede (premiere op Tellegen Festival)
  • 2011/03/13 16:00 concert ‘Witte Theater’, IJmuiden
  • 2011/03/16 20:30 concert ‘Bimhuis Brokkenbal’, Amsterdam
  • 2011/03/18 20:30 concert ‘Lieve Vrouw’, Amersfoort
  • 2011/03/20 14:30 concert ‘Koningstheater’, Den Bosch
  • 2011/03/24 20:30 concert ‘De Groene Engel’, Oss
  • 2011/03/25 20:30 concert ‘Regentes’, Den Haag
  • 2011/03/31 20:30 concert ‘Chasse’, Breda
  • 2011/04/01 20:15 concert ‘Klooster’, Woerden
  • 2011/04/06 20:30 concert ‘Toneelschuur’, Haarlem
  • 2011/04/07 20:30 concert ‘Schouwburg’, Deventer
  • 2011/04/14 20:00 concert ‘Wagehuys’, Leuven (B)
  • 2011/04/18 12:35 concert ‘Vrijhof’, Enschede (lunchconcert)
  • 2011/04/20 20:30 concert ‘Laktheater’, Leiden

AND, on TV:

tomorrow, 2011/03/01 on Dutch 'Opium TV', and on 2011/03/13 on Dutch 'Reiziger In Muziek'.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

FRANK ZAPPA IN A 1956 HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK


Recently offered for sale at ebay: a 1956 high school yearbook that included pictures of Frank Zappa.

from the ebay seller

"Frank appears in TWO great early photos!! The first shows him in the Orchestra sitting at the drums (his name is clearly labelled). The second is as a member of the Beachcomber (probably school newspaper) staff, again where he is clear and his name is in the caption. For both of these photos we have printed his name over his photo (this does NOT appear on the photos in the book.) "

Go to
http://www.united-mutations.com/z/frank_zappa/frank_zappahighschoolyearbook.htm
for higher resolution pictures.

"Also included are the Commencement Program and Vesper Service Graduation Program (although, since this was early in Frank's schooling, he is not in either of these pieces.)

If you want, what are probably the earliest "published" photos of Frank Zappa, this yearbook is IT. He changed schools for the 56-57 and 57-58 school years to Antelope Valley and ultimately was given a diploma from Antelope Valley, which is where he met Don Vliet and moved on to the Blackouts etc. "




-- info: Javier Marcote

MUFFIN MEN TOURDATES

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

OSTBAHN KURTI

Ostbahn Kurti & die Chefpartie recorded Frank Zappa's 'Bobby Brown' in the early ninetees.

The track got released on two different CD singles as 'Bertl Braun', and on the "A Blede Geschicht" album.

The same track also found its way to a Ostbahn Kurti promo, and to at least 4 samplers.
The Ostbahn Kurti entry has been updated.

-- info: Hans-Peter Schmidt

ANNE FRANK ZAPPA


Anne Frank Zappa is a Dutch garage punk band. (from Rotterdam)

They released a 7" EP in 2010 in a limited edition of 300 copies.

Besides the band name and the cover of the 7" EP, there's no actual musical link to Frank Zappa.
-- info: Hans-Peter Schmidt

NEW AT MANDAI

Distributor and on-line shop Mandaï has some interesting new releases in their catalogue.

  • jealousy party: live
    (2010, cd, ??, wallace records)

Fans of free jazz and avant-garde music will be glad with the latest Jealousy Party album.
"Live" last about 30 minutes and combines a saxophone, voices, electronics and percussion in an experimental way.
Not for the faint of heart.


  • carlo de rosa's cross face: brain dance
    (2011, cd, usa, cuneiform)

Bass player Carlo de Rosa has recorded an album with his Cross Fade ensemble.
Carlo de Rosa: bass ** Mark Shim: saxophone ** Justin Brown: drums ** Vijay Iyer: piano

This is nice. Great improvisations around original themes.
Top shelf modern jazz.

  • led bib: bring your own
    (2011, cd, usa, cuneiform)

UK jazz rock band Led Bib is back with a new album. It's their second one on the Cuneiform label. Again, the band will suprise you with their angular melody lines, their powerful approach and their out-of-the-box improvisations.

This definitely is my favourite album of the above mentioned threesome.

www.cuneiformrecords.com

www.mandai.be


BRYAN BELLER UPDATE

BB's latest album "Wednesday Night Live" will be made available as both an audio CD and a video DVD release.

Pre-order starts in about one week through www.bryanbeller.com.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

PLANETA IMAGINARIO - OPTICAL DELUSIONS


Spanish band Planeta Imaginario has just released their third album. It's out on the Cuneiform label.
The music of Planeta Imaginario is a fine mixture of fusion and Canterbury with a nice dose of Zappa.
I love the sound on "Optical Delusions". The main spot on this album is for Marc Capel's Hammond organ and Fender Rhodes piano. And then there's the horn section. Not only do they add superb wazoo lines, they play some fine solos as well.

This is good. This is very good. And they don't even have a guitar player on this album!!

Available from http://www.mandai.be/

http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/

Here's 'Collective Action', the opening track of the album.

JIMMY CARL BLACK FLIPBOOK

Remember the Frank Zappa flipbook that I mentioned a little while ago? Well, here's another one. Dedicated to, and in memory of Jimmy Carl Black.
Released in 2010 (I guess), it's a private release (from Germany) and limited to 100 copies.
A very sweet little booklet.

A flip book is a book with a series of pictures that vary gradually from one page to the next, so that when the pages are turned rapidly, the pictures appear to animate by simulating motion or some other change. Flip books are often illustrated books for children, but may also be geared towards adults and employ a series of photographs rather than drawings.

ZAPPATIKA NEWSFLASH

Zappatika has uploaded a pile of pictures to their FanBox website.

click here.
(it did take me some browsing and skipping, but I did find the pictures and they look quite nice)

COLOSSEUM AT ZAPPANALE

British progressive rock band Colosseum has been added to the Zappanale program, which makes the list look like this:
  • Project/Object
  • FidoPlaysZappa
  • Doctor Nerve
  • Raoul Petit
  • Chris Opperman
  • Jono El Grande
  • Gary Lucas
  • Colosseum
  • Eddie Jobson
special guests
  • Ike Willis
  • Co de Kloet


BRYAN BELLER - THANKS IN ADVANCE


"Thanks In Advance" is Bryan Beller's second solo album. It dates from 2008 and came 5 years after his solo debut, "View". I have heard (and seen) BB on concert recordings with Mike Keneally and with Steve Vai, and I've been one of those lucky b***s who attended the Keneally - Beller - Minnemann gig in Tilburg earlier this month. Reason enough to give in to the opportunity to take "Thanks In Advance" home with me.

More jazz than rock, "Thanks In Advance" shows that Bryan is much more than an excellent bass player. He's a very fine composer as well.
The compositions on "Thanks In Advance" remind me a bit of the music of Steve Vai: beautiful melodies, nice arrangements and good solos. I love it.

And I haven't even mentioned the guest list: Mike Keneally, Joe Travers, Marco Minnemann, Scheila Gonzales, the superb Rick Musallemm, and many more.

Highly recommended.

www.bryanbeller.com

And here are a couple of the album tracks, performed live in 2009. One of them, featuring the mighty MK:




BRYAN BELLER - TO NOTHING

Bryan Beller's "To Nothing" is subtitled "The Thanks In Advance Special Edition DVD". In fact, it's a fascinating movie about the recording sessions for Bryan's second album "Thanks In Advance".
As I said, it's fascinating. You get to see how the actual recording took place, how the various musicians played their parts, and how Bryan Beller directed them.
A very fine supplement to the "Thanks In Advance" album.

www.bryanbeller.com

CORRIE VAN BINSBERGEN UPDATE

Corrie van Binsbergen will be going on the road with her Corrie en de Grote Brokken band later this year!
The tour will be called "Vier" (four), and will bring her greatest hits as well as some brand-new material.

Here's the trailer (watch it on full screen size!!)



Bob Fos­ko -​ vo­cals
Bea­trice van der Poel -​ vo­cals
Wou­ter Plan­tei­jdt -​ gui­tar/vo­cals
An­ge­lo Ver­ploe­gen -​ trum­pet
Jas­per Blom -​ te­nor­saxo­phone
Rut­ger van Ot­ter­loo -​ al­to-​, so­pra­no-​, and ba­ri­ton­saxo­phone
Da­vid Roth­schild -​ trom­bone
Dio­nys Breu­kers -​ key­boards, sam­pling
Hans Ha­se­bos -​ ma­rim­ba and vi­brap… Plus d'infos
Bob Fos­ko -​ vo­cals
Bea­trice van der Poel -​ vo­cals
Wou­ter Plan­tei­jdt -​ gui­tar/vo­cals
An­ge­lo Ver­ploe­gen -​ trum­pet
Jas­per Blom -​ te­nor­saxo­phone
Rut­ger van Ot­ter­loo -​ al­to-​, so­pra­no-​, and ba­ri­ton­saxo­phone
Da­vid Roth­schild -​ trom­bone
Dio­nys Breu­kers -​ key­boards, sam­pling
Hans Ha­se­bos -​ ma­rim­ba and vi­bra­phone
Hein Of­fer­mans -​ double bass
Arend Niks -​ drums
Cor­rie van Bins­ber­gen -​ gui­tar, com­po­si­tions, com­pi­la­tion, pro­duc­tion

-- info: François Kneepkens

JERRY OUTLAW UPDATE

The HubbTones (featuring Jerry, Rick and Pat from BOGUS POMP and Pat's brother Lou on drums) are playing every Sunday night from 8pm until midnight at Central Station in Treasure Island. Every Sunday!!!.,.... some on, ... come out.

and Jerry adds:

Also,... please come out to this very important benefit on Sunday, Feb 27th featuring BOGUS POMP & friends. This benefit is to attempt to help replace some of Deborah's camera equipment that got stolen a few weeks ago. She lost ALL her equipment and we have no real way of replacing it so,... I decided to put a benefit together to work toward that goal but we need a little help from all our friends.
All 3 of my bands,... The HubbTones, Jerry Outlaw & Friends and Bogus Pomp will be performing. It's going to be an evening of excellent music to raise money for a good cause. I hope to see you all there.
Deborah and I thank you all so very much!!

Friday, February 25, 2011

MANI NEUMEIER & KAWABATA MAKOTO

Guru Guru bandleader Mani Neumeier and Acid Mothers Temple frontman Kawabata Makoto have released an album entitled "Samurai Blues".

Out on Bureau B.

NEXT WEEK IN TILBURG NL

Sunday the 6th of March, Adrian Belew will be coming to Tilburg, NL.
To the 'Paradox' club.
About 45 minutes by car.
Am I spoiled or what...

He will also be doing a concert with the Metropole Orkest at 'Paradiso' in Amsterdam, NL (february 27), and he will also be performing at 'The Spirit of 66' in Verviers, Belgium.

And there's more.
Starting on the 3rd of March, Dutch Radio 6 will be doing a series of 6 (!!) episodes on Adrian Belew.

http://vprojazzlive.radio6.nl/

KENEALLY - BELLER - MINNEMAN IN CONCERT 2011 02 14

About 10 days ago I saw the Keneally - Beller - Minnemann trio in concert at 'De Paradox' in Tilburg, NL.
Saying that it was fabulous would be an understatement.
(click on the picture if you can't see it completely)



Here's the setlist. It's taken from MK's notes, so it might have been slightly different...

2011/02/14 concert 'Paradox', Tilburg, The Netherlands

line-up
Mike Keneally: guitar, keys, vocals * Bryan Beller: bass, vocals * Marco Minneman: drums, vocals

setlist
Hello / Streets, Nonkerchunk, Cave Dweller, Evidence, 3 People Ran Naked, Train Trax, Hallmark, 2nd Chaton, Day Of The Cow
Roundtrip, Skunk, Dophins, Backwoods, Mr.Kempinski, Greasy Wheel, Taster, Breakfast

And here's a great set of PaulB movies (thanks Paul !!)
Take your time for these.








BROKKEN AFTERNOON 2011 02 27

Next Sunday, which is the day after tomorrow in my timeline, Corrie van Binsbergen will host another Brokken Afternoon at 'Zaal 100' in Amsterdam, NL.
Two concerts are scheduled:
  • De Brokkenfabriek, with guest director Wilbert de Joode
  • Frances-Marie Uitti (cello) & Wilbert de Joode (double bass)

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

FRANK ZAPPA'S G-SPOT TORNADO FOR PLAYER PIANO

I came across this link over at Zappateers.
Thanks to rampantbeast for the link.
Must be MIDI, but Player Piano does have a nice ring to it...



And this is what a human interpretation looks like:

GRANDE MOTHERS TO PERFORM IN PRAGUE ON 2011 03 31

Still unconfirmed, but it looks like the Grande Mothers Re:Invented might be performing in the Czech Republick on the 31st of March 2011.
At the Retro club in Prague, that is...

DON PRESTON AND BUNK GARDNER IN CONCERT WITH ELLIOTT LEVIN TONIGHT


Don Preston & Bunk Gardner, with special guest Elliott Levin, will be performing at 'The Falcon' in Marlboro, NY, tonight !!

http://www.liveatthefalcon.com/

Learn and hear more at:

www.Myspace.com/DonandBunk

www.Myspace.com/ElliottLevin

DWALMACAT 418

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

and click on “Luister” to enjoy
  • FIVE OR SIX – Black balloons drop
  • MAGMA – Ork alarm
  • PANDA BEAR – Carrots
  • SHOCKHEADED PETERS – Blue rosebuds
  • BARRY ADAMSON – Cinematic soul
  • THE HITMACHINE (FROM NIJMEGEN) - Snokkies
  • THE BEATLES – You know my name
  • SUPERMAYER – Us and them
  • ARCHIE SHEPP – Blasé
  • DANIEL PADDEN – Full colour lemon
  • THE GO! TEAM – Yosemite theme
  • MAURO ANTONIO PAWLOWSKI – Sleeping through a wonderful evening

DWEEZILLA BOOT CAMP

July 2011 will see the second edition of the Dweezilla boot camp, this time with special guests Flo & Eddie.
Here's Dweezil's message:

Hello Friends,

Have you heard of DWEEZILLA? No it's not a monster but it can turn you into one. A monster musician that is. At DWEEZILLA music bootcamp our motto is "Learn and Destroy." That means destroy musical boundaries and preconceptions and take your own skill and creativity to a whole new level.

For those of you who haven't heard of DWEEZILLA I thought I would take a moment to share some info about it with you since we are already more than half full for this year's bootcamp.

First a little bit of background. In the past 7 years I've learned to do things on guitar that I never thought were possible for me to do. How? Lots of practice of course. Much of what I learned while studying my father's music led me down an amazing new path of re-visualizing the guitar and the the many ways to play it. Because of that new approach I have discovered a lot of new melodic patterns and devices that are extremely helpful for improvisation and have greatly improved my own musical skills. I've also added so many new colors and textures to my harmonic and tonal palette. When you have good technique and strong inspiration amazing musical things can happen.

I became so inspired by my new found musical tools/skills that I decided I wanted to be able to help other musicians who have become stifled creatively or frustrated in their abilities or lack thereof. I am truly excited to share these discoveries with all of you. My whole band is too!

What DWEEZILLA is not:
1. It is not a Fantasy Camp or a Frank Zappa music school.
2. It is not a snobby conservatory with impossible audition criteria.
3. It is not only for guitarists! It's for everyone!

DWEEZILLA is an intensive 4 day musical vacation designed to give all of it's students access to the entire Zappa Plays Zappa band and all of their collective musical knowledge. Your deep immersion into the various nuances of polyrhythms, improvisation methods for all types of instruments, and exercises to improve your understanding of your instrument and theoretical musical knowledge, has all been carefully constructed to allow you to achieve your goals in an expedited manner. You can expect to have more confidence and dexterity for improvisation. You will learn important tips for more organized and meaningful practice as well as receive insight about creating your own unique musical voice. We will help you develop the tools that will shape and contour your new musical ideas.

This year the event has grown and I am very pleased to announce that Flo and Eddie - Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan - will be joining the teaching staff at DWEEZILLA! Not only will they be there to discuss their unique musical skills with the students they will also share them on stage with me and my band for some special performances.

In 2011 we are planning a handful of special shows with Mark and Howard in various locations. Tierra Del Fuego! Actually, probably not there but you never know... I will keep you all posted on all of those details very soon!

If this sort of thing appeals to you please feel free begin your new musical journey with us this July 25th through July 29th at the Full Moon Resort.

For more information or to reserve your place in our classroom please contact Amy Carpenter @ DweezillaBootCamp@fullmooncentral.com

Also visit www.dweezilzappaworld.com/pages/dweezilla for more information about DWEEZILLA.

To have a look at last years itinerary/program visit: www.dweezilzappaworld.com/pages/dweezilla-2010-info

--
Regards, DZ

Monday, February 21, 2011

MOSAE FESTIVAL UPDATE

Chances are good that you'll find me in Maastricht on the 6th & 7th of May as I don't want to miss the MOSAE festival.

At the MOSAE festival, we will be treated to

  • TARENTATEC PLAY AUFRICHTIGES ZAPPA
  • THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS
  • THE BEEFHEART PROJECT
  • THE WRONG OBJECT
  • LILO’S ZAPMOSPHERES

The place to be: "Muziekgieterij" in Maastricht, NL

Tickets available now from:
www.muziekgieterij.nl

Thanks to Andrew for the above picture.
http://idiotbastard.com/MosaeZappa.htm

And thanks to Billy & Ethell for organising this marvelous weekend.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

CABALLERO REYNALDO - MADE IN ZAPPANALE


Spanish Hall Of Fame records released Caballero Reynaldo's Zappanale concert on DVDR.
Recorded and mixed by the Zappanale video crew.
Great memories...

2010/08/14 concert "zappanale #21", bad doberan, germany

romàn garcìa: acoustic bass
marieta tamarit: vocals
santi serrano: drums & toys
luis g.: acoustic guitar & vocals

recorded and mixed by the zappanale team

all compositions by frank zappa, except where noted
  • introduction
  • lumpy gravy
  • trouble every day
  • electric aunt jemima
  • dirty love
  • eat that question
  • catholic girls
  • love of my life
  • big leg emma
  • find her finer
  • he's so gay
  • crew slut
  • bobby brown
  • muffin man
  • mudd club
  • i have been in you
  • my guitar wants to kill your mama
  • in france
  • po-jama people
  • the torture never stops
  • son of orange county
  • moonchild (giles, mcdonald, lake, fripp)
  • stick together

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART AND FRANK ZAPPA COMMEMORATIVE SETS

Wendy Bannister (of the Bath and Knebworth Commemorative Sets) says:
We now have designed a website especially for our Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa commemorative sets.
Anyone interested can find pics of everything the sets contain on
www.rockmusicmem.com.

Check it out !

THE GRANDMOTHERS ON TOUR IN EUROPE IN MARCH AND APRIL

Napoleon Murphy Brock
Roy Estrada
Don Preston
Christopher Garcia
Robbie ‘Seahag’ Mangano

  • 2011/03/24 concert ‘Patronaat’, Haarlem, The Netherlands
  • 2011/03/26 concert ‘Schwarzer Adler’, Rheinberg, Germany
  • 2011/03/27 concert ‘De Bosuil’, Weert, The Netherlands
  • 2011/03/28 concert ‘Spirit Of 66’, Verviers, Belgium
  • 2011/03/29 concert ‘Cafe Central’, Weinheim, Germany
  • 2011/04/01 concert ‘Tante Ju’, Dresden, Germany
  • 2011/04/02 concert ‘Scala’, Leverkusen, Germany
  • 2011/04/04 concert ‘Theaterhaus’, Stuttgart, Germany
  • 2011/04/05 concert ‘The Sound Theatre’, Wels, Austria
  • 2011/04/06 concert ‘Grabenhalle’, St. Gallen, Switzerland
  • 2011/04/07 concert ‘Waldsee’, Freiburg, Germany

ANOTHER ZAPPANALE UPDATE

Three more names have been added to the Zappanale line-up. Jono El Grande (from Norway) and (ex-Beefheart) Gary Lucas (from the US) have both been confirmed.
Ex-Zappa sideman Ike Willis will be present as well. Performing with various bands.

Better get your holidays (re-)scheduled. You just might want to be in Bad Doberan, Germany, on August 19 - 21.

  • Project/Object
  • FidoPlaysZappa
  • Doctor Nerve
  • Raoul Petit
  • Chris Opperman
  • Ike Willis
  • Jono El Grande
  • Gary Lucas
  • Eddie Jobson

STACK WADDY

UK band Stackwaddy recorded a couple of albums on John Peel's legendary Dandelion record label in the early seventies.
Their second release, 'Bugger Off', included Frank Zappa's 'Willie The Pimp', while their first album presented their powerful version of Don Van Vliet's 'Sure Nuff 'N' Yes I Do'.

I cleaned up the band's entry over at United Mutations, and added some pictures.
Here are the covers of the two albums, the single, and a CD reissue.




PEACH NOISE ON TOUR

French band Peach Noise will be doing a short tour. They will, of course, be playing the music of Frank Zappa.

2011/02/24 concert 'Camionneur', Strasbourg, France
2011/02/25 concert 'Cafconc', Ensisheim, France
2011/02/26 concert 'Kobus', Marlenheim, France

ARF IN CONCERT ON 2011 02 25

Don't forget that French band Arf will be playing the music of Frank Zappa next week:

2011/02/25 concert 'Péniche Antipode', Bassin de la Villette, Paris, France

CABALLERO REYNALDO * * * LIVE FROM LARVIK

Here's another one of Luuk's excellent videos.
Recorded at the Yellow Snow Festival, it's Caballero Reynaldo with 'Eat That Question'.

ZAPPANALE UPDATE

Chris Opperman has been added to the Zappanale line-up !!

Excellent news.
Chris has worked with Mike Keneally and with Steve Vai on various projects.
He has released (at least) four solo albums.

http://www.oppymusic.com

Friday, February 18, 2011

ZAPPATIKA IN CONCERT TONIGHT

PROJECT/OBJECT'S LATEST CONCERT DATES

P/O is still going strong. They're finishing their u.s. tour the next couple of days.
Try to see catch them if you can.

  • 2011/02/18 Kirk Ave Music Hall Roanoke, VA
    (with Ike Willis & Ray White)
  • 2011/02/19 8x10 Baltimore, MD
    (with Ike Willis & Ray White)
  • 2011/02/20 Sellersville Theatre Sellersville, PA
    (with Ike Willis & Ray White)
  • 2011/02/22 Mexicali Teaneck, NJ
    (with Ike Willis, Ray White, Don Preston & Bunk Gardner)

EDDIE JOBSON - ULTIMATE ZERO TOUR - LIVE


Eddie Jobson's brand-new "Ultimate Zero Tour - Live" album is getting a U.S.-release as well. Remastered & including a 20-page booklet.

EDDIE JOBSON HEADLINER FOR ZAPPANALE 2011

Yes, you heard it right. Eddie Jobson is scheduled to perform at the 2011 edition of the Zappanale festival.

And there's more:

Project/Object, Fido Plays Zappa and Raoul Petite have also been confirmed.

And Co de Kloet will be doing a lecture.

www.zappanale.de

ACID MOTHERLY LOVE

I'm not familiar with this AMT album. I just noticed the title, and thought that you might enjoy the album cover.

Data has been added to the Acid Mothers Temple entry.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

SUN RA - SUPER-SONIC JAZZ


Recorded in 1956 and released in 1957, "Super-Sonic Jazz" is Sun Ra's second album.
When the Evidence label re-released this LP on CD in 1991, it made a lot of jazz fans very happy. "Super-Sonic Jazz" had been unavailable for a long time, and as it's one of Sun Ra's first albums, it shows what Sun Ra was up to before he became a cult figure in the free jazz scene.

The music on "Super-Sonic Jazz" is something that you really need to hear. There's a lot of variety on this recording: large ensemble swing, fine improvisations, Sun Ra on electric piano, and some great tunes.
You'll love it. Well, I do.

As a sample, here's 'India', the opening track of the album.

A MESSAGE FROM ZAPPATIKA

Here's a message from Zappatika

hi
we have the first vids from the December 2010 performance of our Strictly Frankly (100% Zappa) set in HD 32 Bit format from our lovely Techie guys . the results are mighty fine and are now being gradually posted to Youtube.

the already excellent Concert sound has also been remastered and we think it sounds awesome.
hope you do too !

here are some Napkins to tease your appetite :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeExz1XxONg

there are 3 new Vids so far.......hopefully more soon...we will keep y'all posted

see you !
cheers
ZAPPATiKA



DWALMACAT 417

Another week, another Dwalmacat radio show...

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister” to enjoy
  • MASTERS OF REALITY – 100 years (of tears in the wind)
  • DEBILE MENTHOL – La jupe
  • LEM – Tremblement de terre
  • WALLS – Burnt sienna
  • ALEK ET LES JAPONAISES – Téléphonez-moi
  • MELT BANANA – Interval
  • LEE SCRATCH PERRY – Hold of death
  • NEW AGE STEPPERS – Radial drill
  • THE CHAP – Woow woow (hot chip remix)
  • THE VELVET UNDERGROUND – Train round the bend
  • BROADCAST & THE FOCUS GROUP – Reception / Group therapy
  • KHATCHATURIAN – Danse du sabre
  • PASCAL COMELADE – Chanson pop
  • DOME – Jasz
  • BURNING STAR CORE – In love with a promise
  • SABRES OF PARADISE – Smokebelch II

ZAPPANOIA IN CONCERT 2011 02 18




Tomorrow, Zappanoia will be performing a concert / jam session in Lisbon, Portugal.
Starts around 23.00 h.

2011/02/18 concert katakumbas do Lyceu Camões, Praça José Fontana in Lisbon, Portugal

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

FRANCO SAINT DE BAKKER

Franco Saint De Bakker has a new album out. It's called "Live At The Ancienne Belgique Vol.III".

On the first album of this series, Franco Saint De Bakker "Live At The Ancienne Belgique Vol.I", the band recorded Sun Ra's 'Angels And Demons At Play' (and Raymond Scott's 'Powerhouse').

How's that for a little surprise?

ZAPPATIKA * * * CITY OF TINY LITES AIR GUITAR CONTEST

Last year's Zappatika concert included an Air Guitar contest. And the winner got a real guitar. These guys are crazy :-)

Monday, February 14, 2011

DWALMACAT 416

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

and click on “Luister”

to enjoy
  • FELIX KUBIN – Fernwärme Wien
  • WEEN – She fucks me
  • NEIL – Hurdy gurdy mushroom man
  • LCD SOUNDSYSTEM – I can change
  • JAY PHLITMAN & KIM KANG – Mr. Wilson’s routine
  • THE GO-TEAM – Buy nothing day
  • THE FALL – Industrial estate
  • BOB McFADDEN & DOR – The mummy
  • THE GOONS – The Ying Tong song
  • JAN KUNK – The exchange suite (excerpts)
  • LYDIA TOMKIW & TERRY BURROWS – Dressed in an atlas
  • HIRSCHE NICHT AUF SOFA – Im Sommer gibts nix zu essen
  • JOHNNY CASH – Thirteen
  • PEOPLE LIKE US – Nice but boring
  • LA KUIZINE – Subliminals
  • ANNETTE PEACOCK – Skyskating

STEFANO BOLLANI * * * SHEIK YER ZAPPA

March 24, italian piano virtuoso Stefano Bollani will be performing the music of Frank Zappa at the 'De Roma' jazz club in Antwerp, Belgium.

Actually, Stefano will be playing various "Sheik Yer Zappa" concerts throughout Italy.

2011/03/18 - concert Bergamo, Italy
2011/03/20 - concert Perugia, Italy
2011/03/22 - concert Poggibonsi, Italy
2011/03/24 - concert Antwerp, Belgium
2011/03/25 - concert Rome, Italy
2011/03/26 - concert Rome, Italy
2011/03/27 - concert Azzano Decimo, Italy
2011/03/28 - concert Livorno, Italy
2011/03/29 - concert Cesena, Italy

STEFANO BOLLANI (PIANO, FENDER RHODES); JOSH ROSEMAN (TROMBONE); LARRY GRENADIER (BASS); JIM BLACK (DRUMS); JASON ADASIEWICZ (VIBRAPHONE)



Check http://www.stefanobollani.com/# for details.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

STILL GOT THE BLUES

What a song...
Rest in peace, Gary.

ZAPWAY AT THE YELLOW SNOW FESTIVAL 2011 02 05

Video footage by Luuk.
(check out his other movies as well)



JO AMBROS - WANDERLUST


German jazz & rock guitarist Jo Ambros recorded Frank Zappa's 'Watermelon In Easter Hay'. The track got released on his "Wanderlust" album.

"Wanderlust" was Jo's first solo album. It got released in 2003 on the DML record label.
It's a very fine album.

Jo Ambros' rendition of 'Watermelon' is impressive, to say the least. The solo is of course played on the guitar, but the arpeggio chord progression is played on marimba. Add bass, drums, and an impressive improvisation and you've got almost seven minutes of absolute joy.
Excellent!

SUN RA & HIS INTERGALACTIC ARKESTRA - IT IS FORBIDDEN


We're talking 1974, and when the city council decided that the Ann Arbor Blues & Jazz Festival could not be happening ("It Is Forbidden"), the organisers fled to the other side of the border, into Canada.

Dispite a lot of problems (especially with Canadian customs and police, resulting in much smaller crowd than anticipated), the festival went ahead and Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra played an astonishing set.
(Free) jazz improvisations are mixed with some of the Arkestra's best-known tunes: 'Space Is The Place', 'What Planet Is This', 'Watusi', and many more.

The only disapointment is that the recording hasn't been divided into seperate tracks. It's one, big 64-minute track.
Excellent liner notes by (festival promoter at the time) John Sinclair.

VINNIE COLAIUTA UPDATE

Bass player Brian Bomberg teamed up with former Zappa drummer Vinnie Colaiuta to make a "Bomberg Plays Jimi Hendrix" album.
Out in Japan only.
On King Records.

ADDITIONS TO THE SUN RA DISCOGRAPHY

I've been adding little bits and pieces to the Sun Ra discography, including a couple of album covers.
Here's the album cover of the 2006 CD-reissue of "Heliocentric Worlds Vol.1" that came out on the ESP label as a mini LP / paper sleeve edition. It was soon followed by "Vol.2", "Concert For The Comet Kohoutek" and "Nothing Is". (All paper sleeve editions !)

SUN RA - COSMIC EQUATION


"Cosmic Equation" is one of the many albums in the immense Sun Ra universe. Be warned, however, that this disc does not really belong in the official Sun Ra discography.
It's a bootleg re-issue of the fabulous 1965 "Heliocentric Worlds Vol.1" album.

Released in 1990, it was the first time that "Heliocentric Worlds Vol.1" got put on a silver disc. But if you come across it today, you should go for the ESP re-release (entitled "Heliocentric Worlds Vol.1") rather than this bootleg album.
Although I do like the album cover...

DEAD DINO STORAGE 2011 02 05 - EASY MEAT

Dead Dino Storage at the Yellow Snow Festival.
Seeing this on video is almost like being there.

Thanks to Luuk !!

ZAPPA IN THE MAGAZINES


Here's the cover of the japanese Guitar Magazine from March 2008.

It included a 20-page Zappa special, including articles such as:
"Shut Up 'N Play Zappa", "Questionaire Result", "Special Interview Frank Zappa", "Special Interview Dweezil Zappa", "Bonus Interview Dweezil Zappa", "Bonus Interview Mike Keneally", "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar - guitar exercises", "The Black Page - transcript"

TUTTI - NOW I'M HERE


Singer/songwriter Tutti recorded Frank Zappa's 'Bobby Brown' and released it on his "Now I'm Here" album.

Klaus-Dieter Stutzki (Tutti) wrote most of the tracks on this album, but to be honest, I didn't really listen to the entire disc...
After the Zappa composition, I listened to a couple of other tracks, jumped to the Neil Young tracks, and put the album away...
I don't like this. I can hardly understand what he is singing.

Tutti obviously is a big Neil Young fan. Nothing wrong with that. I like Neil Young as well. It's just that Tutti has problems with the english language.

This just isn't good enough. He should have done it in German.

DEAD DINO STORAGE 2011 02 05 DUPREE'S PARADISE

Dead Dino Storage performing Zappa's 'Dupree's Paradise' in Larvik, at the Yellow Snow Festival.

Excellent video by Luuk !

Friday, February 11, 2011

A SUN RA BLOG

info from the Saturn Newsgroup

http://fromnowherehere.blogspot.com

CABALLERO REYNALDO IN CONCERT

Caballero Reynaldo has just returned from the Yellow Snow Festival in Norway. Here are his next scheduled gigs:

2011/02/12 concert 'Fnac', San Agustín, Valencia, Spain

2011/02/13 concert El Asesino, Valencia, Spain

2011/03/03 concert Col·legi Major Lluís Vives, Valencia, Spain

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

ADRIAN BELEW IN YURRIP

March 6, 2011, the Adrian Belew Trio will be performing in Tilburg, NL.
&
March 8, 2011, in Verviers, Belgium.

Adrian also has a new DVD out: "The Adrian Belew Trio - Live In Germany"

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

LISA POPEIL IN THE PAPERS AND ON TV

Here's the USA Today Lisa Popeil interview on Christina Aguilera's Superbowl performance.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-08-nationalanthem08_ST_N.htm

Lisa was also on the CBS Early Show (earlier today) commenting on the same subject.

CABELLERO REYNALDO'S ZAPPANALE PERFORMANCE OUT ON DVD

Yes, you heard it right.
Caballero Reynaldo's 2010 Zappanale performance has been issued on Hall Of Fame records as a limited edition (of 100 copies) DVDR.

More info real soon.

http://www.halloffame.es/products-page/hof/caballero-reynaldo/made-in-zappan-ale21-dvd/

SHEIK YER REPLICA, A NEW BOOK ON ZAPPA & BEEFHEART


The last couple of months we've seen quite a few books on Zappa hit the bookshop.
Here's another (and brand-new) one.

Koji Wakui wrote "Sheik Yer Replica! - Frank Zappa / Captain Beefheart disc guide", a 240 page glossy paperback that has a nice bunch of pictures as well. All album and single covers, and the explanation to it. Plus a chapter on related artists like Morris Tepper, Mike Keneally, Mu, Dweezil Zappa, Patrick O'Hearn, and more.
My kind of book.
Too bad that it's in Japanese, 'cause I'd love to read it.
But it does look great !! :-)

RAN BLAKE & DAVID FABRIS - INDIAN WINTER


So let's return to one of my favourite topics, artists performing the music of Frank Zappa.
On "Indian Winter", David Fabris play a superb 'Marqueson's Chicken'. Really excellent. And the exciting part is that the entire album is worth your attention.

Most pieces on "Indian Winter" are performed by Ran Blake on the piano, a few by David Fabris on guitar, and some are played together. But they're great. Lots of covers and a couple of original compositions, but sounding great. An experimental approach, mixed with nice jazz voicings. I love it.

And that's exactly the reason why I love to investigate artists that play Zappa. Most of the time, they display a general good taste in music...

Sunday, February 6, 2011

THIRD MAN RECORDS TO RERELEASE THE WHITE STRIPES BEEFHEART SINGLE


In 2000, the Sub Pop label released a remarkable 7" EP: the White Stripes playing Beefheart.
"Party of Special Things To Do / China Pig / Ashtray Heart" will now be re-released by Third Man Records.
Well, re-released is a bit of an optimistic point of view, as it will be made available to clubmembers only. The single has to be pre-ordered (members only) as part of the "Vault Package" that gets released at the beginning of every year, and will be printed in exactly that number.
So it isn't out yet, and it's already out of print :-)
-- info: Nikolai Zaharov

THE INTERNATIONAL STREET CANNIBALS - SOLO - DUO - TRIO - QUARTET -QUINTET - THE CHAMBER AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC OF GENE PRITSKER


The first steps of the Composers Concordance Records label do not go unnoticed. Still impressed with their first release ("Ballets & Solos"), I'm already listening to another recording by The International Street Cannibals. This time, they take on the danting task of performing works by Gene Pritsker.

Gene Pritsker has been mentioned in this very blog a couple of times already. He worked with Absolute Ensemble, producing the beautiful "Absolute Zawinul" album; he's responsable for the beautiful "Varieties of Religious Experience Suite" disc that came out on Innova; but besides an arranger and a composer, he's also a guitar player, and he's into rap music, jazz, rock, and much more.

"Solo - Duo - Trio - Quartet - Quintet" collects works from 1995 to 2009. Some of these are performed by classical ensembles, but there are also two solo cello pieces, and five electronic renditions. Somehow, they all fit together, making this album an exceptional musical journey.

"Solo - Duo - Trio - Quartet - Quintet" is a great album. It makes you want more.

As it is difficult to capture Gene Pritsker's musical output in words, you might get an idea of what he does through the following YouTube movies.

And be sure to check out "Solo - Duo - Trio - Quartet - Quintet".
http://composersconcordancerecords.com



A MEDITATIVE MOMENT

Follow Till on his journey to Lanzarote where he shot a movie at César Manrique's house.

Your relaxing, meditative moment of the day.

also check out
http://www.cesarmanrique.com/

EVIL DICK & THE BANNED MEMBERS IN CONCERT IN LEICESTER TONIGHT


PMCE PERFORMED ZAPPA ON 2011 02 04

February4, 2011, Jonathan Stockhammer (pictured above) directed the PMCE(Parco Dell Musica Contemporanea Ensemble) and David Moss, performing "The Yellow Shark. Get Ready To Zappa. The Roman Concert" in Rome, Italy.

The Program:
  • Dog/Meat
  • The Dangerous Kitchen
  • Revised Music for Low Budget Orchestra
  • Lumpy Gravy
  • Aerobics in Bondage
  • Moggio
  • The Black Page
  • Outside Now Again
  • Put A Motor in Yourself
  • Lumpy Gravy
  • The Adventures of Greggery Peccary

Saturday, February 5, 2011

THE INTERNATIONAL STREET CANNIBALS ENSEMBLE - BALLETS & SOLOS


The International Street Cannibals Ensemble (ISC) was conceived in 2005. The fine print says "The ISC are a collective of instrumentalists and singers, composers, videographers, audio technicians, dancers, puppeteers and visual artists. We are artists from everywhere, of every style and philosophy. The ISC showcase new composition and the finest of the classical repertoire - and, like true cannibals, we are no strangers to the outrageous."

On "Ballets & Solos" the ISC perform works by a number of contempory composers. Jospeh Pehrson's 'Good Time' would serve great as a movie soundtrack. Otto Luening's 'Fantasia & Dance' (for solo violin !!) is more classical inspired, while Gene Pritsker's 'A Challenge To The Dark' sounds more contemporary.
The album continues with 'Solo For Pete' by Pat Harsdish. This is a very nice solo piece for drum set. Dan Cooper's 'Dance Suite' is up next. This is my favourite piece of "Ballets & Solos" as it adds jazz elements to the classical instrumentation. Very nice.
Next up is another composition by Otto Luening, entitled 'Dance Sonata' and preformed on solo piano. I just love the sound of a solo pîano. Another very impressive piece.
The album ends with Gene Pritsker's 'Dead Souls', a beautiful melodic piece for solo classical guitar.

"Ballets & Solos" is an impressive album. It's a great selection of compositions and an excellent introduction to the works of these contemporary composers.

http://composersconcordancerecords.com/

Here's Gene Pritsker's 'A Challange To The Dark' as performed by The International Street Cannibals Ensemble, in concert.

Friday, February 4, 2011

KWAKU KWAAKYE OBENG - AFRIJAZ


Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng grew up in Ghana, West Africa. He started drumming at a young age and when he was seventeen, he became a Royal Court Drummer.
He later toured the world with Ghana's National Arts Council Folkloric Company and moved to the USA afterwards, which enabled him to play and record with a lot of different artists such as Max Roach, Anthony Braxton and Randy Weston.

Being a master at the African rhythms and techniques, Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng has released "Afrijazz". It displays his view, his mixture, of African rhythms with jazz.
The result is a very diverse album.
There are solo pieces, performed on tuned instruments. There are compositions that are played by small percussion ensembles and there are tunes that feature trumpet, trombone, bass clarinet, guitar and bass.

Impressive? You bet. As expected, the drumming on "Afrijazz" is spectacular. I haven't even mentioned the fabulous version of Monk's 'Round Midnight', with Paul Austerlitz on bass clarinet and with KKO on donno (on which dubs the melody!).

Unfortunately, it's the same diversity that works against the album as a whole. All the tracks on "Arfijazz" are amazing, and they all show the melodic & percussive beauty of African drumming. It's just that I'm missing some coherence.
I've got too much of a 'sampler' feeling. A fabulous sampler, that is. But still, a sampler.

Worth investigating!

http://www.innova.mu/

Here's another African drummer, Kwame Ansah-Brew, showing how the donno (the 'talking drum') works and how you have to play it.

DIVA ZAPPA EXHIBITS HER ARTWORK IN LONDON

Diva Zappa is doing an art exhibit in London, UK, at the Maison Bertaux.
It's called "Bruce" and it's opening today.

Here's more info:

http://www.hooliganartdealer.com/

http://www.anothermag.com/current/view/802/Diva_Zappa

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/the-ticket/2011/02/diva-zappas-bruce-at-maison-be.html

GUEST SPOT FOR JOE SATRIANI ON NEW STUART HAMM ALBUM

The latest Stuart Hamm album features a couple of remarkable guests, the two most well-known ones being Joe Satriani and Robert Fripp.
The album is called "Just Outside Of Normal".

DWALMACAT 415

On
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx

click on “Luister”

to enjoy
  • SOMNABULA – Theme from the swamps of simulation
  • JEAN DEROME – Ghana hope
  • PREGGY PEGGY AND THE LAZY BABYMAKERS – Shep makes coffee
  • THE MUFFINS – Mammoth hide
  • BROADCAST – Pendulum
  • THE SUN CITY GIRLS – Gray demon theme song
  • GORILLAZ – Plastic beach
  • CRASS – Nagasaki nightmare
  • THE RUTLES – Cheese and onions
  • THE FLYING LIZARDS – TV
  • AMOS & SARA – Soldier go home
  • THE MACHINE – Talking dolls
  • NURSE WITH WOUND – The schmürz (excerpt)
  • THE LIARS – Goodnight everything (Remixed by the Melvins)

MORE SUN RA ALBUM COVERS ADDED

More Sun Ra album covers have been added to the man's incredible discography...

Here are some of them.




-- info: Danny Mathys

INTERGALACTIC CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE - I DIG


A bit over ten years ago, the Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble did a concert at the Fineline club in Minneapolis. Known for their performances of contemporary, new music, the ensemble turned quite a few heads as their program listed exotica and lounge jazz compositions by composers such as Les Baxter, Henry Mancini and Leonard Bernstein.

"I Dig" presents a recording of the Fineline concert. If you would have seen me this morning, you would have caught me humming with Joey Altruda's 'Martini For Mancini', or whistling Rudolph Toombs 'One Mint Julep', or even nodding my head in approval of Quincy Jones' 'Soul Bossa Nova'...

This is great !!!
Pure energy.

http://www.icemusic.org/

http://www.innova.mu/

Below are some of the original versions.
If you're ready for the full blast ones, you'll have to check out the Intergalactic Contemporary Ensemble.





YELLOW SNOW FESTIVAL KICKS OFF TONIGHT

Larvik will be the place to be tonight as our Norwegian friends kick off the second edition of their two-day Yellow Snow Festival.

The latest update says that Bongo Fury (Rikard Sjöblom's band) will not be making it, due to illness, but that Swedish formation Zapway will fly in to fill the gap!

Two days of Frank Zappa Music, performed by musicians from all over the place.

So now, the line-up looks a bit like this:
  • Caballero Reynaldo
  • Zapway
  • Ingvar Ambjørnsen
  • Dead Dino Storage
  • Jon Larsen
  • Jono El Grande
  • Larvik Youth Band

MIKE KENEALLY UPDATE

Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller and Marco Minneman will be doing a workshop in Arnhem, The Netherlands, in about two weeks.
As part of their warm-up, they'll be performing a concert in Tilburg (NL) and in Heiligenhaus (D).

Mike Keneally: guitar, keys, vocals
Bryan Beller: bass, vocals
Marco Minneman: drums, vocals
  • 2011/02/14 concert 'Paradox', Tilburg, The Netherlands
  • 2011/02/16 concert 'Der Club', Heiligenhaus, Germany
  • 2001/02/17 & 18 workshops & concerts 'Artez institue of the arts', Arnhem, The Netherlands
    > Concert showtime: Thursday, February 17 at 7:30 p.m.
    > Workshops from 10:30 to 16:30 both days

Both the Tilburg and the Arnhem gig will be recorded for broadcast on Dutch national radio.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

JONO EL GRANDE - PHANTOM STIMULANCE


I had heard of Jono El Grande earlier, but I only discovered his music about a year ago, as he was mentionted to take part in the Yellow Snow Festival in Larvik, Norway. On his brand-new "Phantom Stimulance" album, Jono presents a couple of new compositions, some new (and retitled) versions of earlier released pieces, and live recordings of older, unreleased material.

Jono El Grande is a fine composer. I really like "Phantom Stimulance".
And saying that this album sounds zappa-esque is an understatement.

You really need to hear this.
Jono El Grande for president !!

http://www.jonoelgrande.no/

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

MAX SCHULTZ & ERIK SÖDERLIND - DEDICATIONS



Tonight, in our Others Of Invention Series, I'd like to present you "Dedications", an album by two Swedish jazz guitar players.
On this disc, Max Schultz and Erik Söderlind pay tribute to their guitar heroes.
And these guys don't just play the jazz guitar, they have extremely good taste as well.

Pieces by and tributes to George Benson, Joe Pass, John McLaughlin, Jimi Hendrix, the great Pat Martino, John Scofield, and... Frank Zappa.

This is perfect food for a guitar freak like myself. I love it.
Did I tell you that they play FZ's 'Blessed Relief'? Superb !!

ALAN JENKINS & THE THURSTON LAVA TUBE - FREE SURF MUSIC #1 AND #2


Alan Jenkins' Cordelia Records label celebrates its 50th release with the CD reissue of two LPs and one 7"EP. All on one silver disc.

The album got announced a little while ago, and now it's finally there!

And a beauty it is.
Behind the eye-catching cover (of the Free Surf Music #1 album), the Zappa afficionado finds, among other fine stuff, an outer space surf version of Uncle Frank's 'Lumpy Gravy'-theme.

Beautiful !!

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/