Thursday, June 30, 2011

NOIZEPUNK & BORISLOVE - CELLO LOUNGE




Here's a nice little album to kick off the new month.
The Composers Concordance Records record label offers music that crosses genres. It brings music that is not limited to musical boundaries. "Cello Lounge", an album by Borislav 'Borislove' Strulev and Gene 'Noizepunk' Pritsker, fits this description perfectly.


On "Cello Lounge", classical cello lines are superimposed on a laid-back lounge beat. The added samples, jazz guitar licks and unearthly vocals spice it all up and make this an impressive mixture.
My favourite track is 'Yolachka Bells' where composer Gene Pritsker turns 'Jingle Bells' into a composition that links a lyrical cello melody with vocals that one might associate with The Residents.


I really like this.


For samples & whatever else, check out
http://composersconcordancerecords.com/

Sunday, June 26, 2011

PETER WOLF - PROGRESSION




Adding bits & pieces to the United Mutations Archives, here's picture and data for Peter Wolf's "Progression" album. Released in 1999, the piece was commissioned by the Brucknerhaus in Linz.
Music by Peter Wolf, lyrics by Michelle Wolf
Performed by the Bruckner Orchestra, conducted by Peter Wolf, and a cast of guests including Vinnie Colaiuta (but also Cliff Richard, Coolio, and Steve Lukather, to name a few).

Saturday, June 25, 2011

FRANK ZAPPA - CLASSIC BROADCASTS

There's a 'new' DVD out that includes Zappa's Saturday Night Live appearances (released last year). It's called "Frank Zappa - Classic Broadcasts" and it's available from a lot of different shops.
Hadn't seen this before, so I thought I'd mention it...

THE DARK SIDE OF Z

French band The Dark Side Of Z (with LiLo on the lead guitar) plays the compositions of Frank Zappa in a jazz to metal mood.


  • Almorgat Bothorel - Sax

  • Laurent Berteaud - Bass

  • Pierre-Yves Ohayon - Drums

  • DaMoon - Guitar

  • LiLo - Guitar
A demo has been made available for listening through the zikinf website as the "Weightlifter Ballerina (Rehearsal)" tracks: 'Andy', 'Sinister Footwear', and 'Duke Of Prunes'.



http://my.zikinf.com/TheDarkSideofZ

And most important of all, the band will be doing a concert in Paris next weekend:


  • 2011/07/02 concert 'CNT', Paris, France

PHILIPPE ANSARI - WORLDS BEYOND CAUSE




Philippe Ansari released his first two albums in 1997: "Worlds Beyond Cause" and "Anomalies" both came out on the Cydonia Records label.


Seven or eight years later, Philippe was back with a new project: Phi Yaan-Zek. And as Phi Yaan-Zek he has released two more albums. "Solar Flare" in 2005, and "Dance With The Anima" in 2010.


"Worlds Beyond Cause" is a great introduction to the music of Philippe Ansari. If you're into instrumental, guitar orientated music with odd meters and angular rhytmic patterns, this just might be your thing.


It's hard to describe why I love the music of Frank Zappa, Mr.Bungle, Buckethead or The Residents. But these are the very same reasons that make me enjoy "Worlds Beyond Cause".


Recommended listening!

Friday, June 24, 2011

THE NEW UNIVERSE

a message from Abstract Logix about "The New Universe", a new 2CD set.

On November 20 and 21, 2010, maverick record label Abstract Logix hosted a series of spectacular performances, featuring an array of artists who handily defy genre categorization in favor of unbridled expression. The first New Universe Festival was a die-hard music lover's dream, defined by artists who seamlessly mingle compositional ingenuity and improvisational grace and fervor.

Among the featured musicians were pioneering guitarist John McLaughlin and his current band the 4th Dimension with special guest, world music legend tabla maestro Zakir Hussain; Widespread Panic guitar hero Jimmy Herring with his electric band; Return to Forever Drummer Lenny White; the all-star quartet Human Element (keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Matt Garrison, percussionist Arto Tunçboyaciyan; fearless guitarist and improviser Wayne Krantz appearing with the amazing Anthony Jackson on bass; visionary Indian composer and drummer Ranjit Barot; and emerging guitar visionary Alex Machacek.


Wednesday, June 22, 2011

ZOOGZ RIFT'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I received the following message from Laura Rift about two months ago.
I know that I'm terribly late with this, but I'm pretty sure that they'll appriciate your help.


We are selling copies of ZR's autobiography for $30 ($35 for those outside the U.S.) and proceeds will be helping to pay for his memorial service. The autobiography is a 102-page, spiral-bound book written by ZR in the late 1980s. It's called "Clams in a Glass" and also contains a 1991 postscript. To order, send a check or money order to the address below:

Aaron Rift
6520 Platt Ave. #184
West Hills, CA 91307-3218

or you can pay via PayPal to the address arift@socal.rr.com.
You can also e-mail the above address with any questions you might have! All sales are final.

MIKE KENEALLY UPDATE



In his latest newsletter, Mike Keneally says that he has another number of shows scheduled with Joe Satriani. Canada, France and Italy are on the list.

check out the dates at www.keneally.com


The above picture shows MK at the Bakin' Potato gig in L.A. on 2011/06/04. Picute by Steve Durgin. Eyeball and top hat by The Residents...

NEW BOOK ON SUN RA'S SCIENCE FICTION POETRY

The Saturn newsgroup mentioned this new book on Sun Ra:


  • this planet is doomed - the science fiction poetry of sun ra
    (2011, book, usa, kicks books)
    compiled by Michael Anderson. Foreword by Amiri Baraka. Intro by Bhob Stewart.

ARF DOSSIER VOL.68



Arf Dossier Volume 68 dropped in my mailbox yesterday. Another info-packed issue.

the arf-dossier no.68 - 2011/06


  • leserpost & tauschbörse

  • zappa in yugoslawien

  • the hot platters heaven from the arf office by andrew greenaway, burkhard schempp, peter görs and volmar mantei

  • news from belgium - live from United Mutations

  • frank zappa & die neue musik - teil 27 by thomas krampl

  • the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope by peter görs

  • the vinyl bootlegs releases by burkhard schempp

  • ullis ecke by ulli schäfer

VOLUME 7 OF THE RONDO HATTON REPORT IS OUT

Nice. The 7th volume of The Rondo Hatton Report is out.
Now I only have to find a way to work around the "The file is damaged and could not be repaired." error. (probably should reload the Acrobat Reader soft)
Anyway, The RHR is something that I always enjoy.

http://www.rhreport.net/

ROBERT MARTIN ON CKCUFM RADIO TODAY

Bobby Marquis says:
Robert Martin joins me on the phone for a 2nd segment on Frank Zappa. Robert speaks about his years with FZ, and more music from various LIVE shows and albums.

www.ckcufm.com on the net

3:30 pm EST in Canada/USA
12:30 pm PST in Canada/USA
1:30 pm Central in Canada/USA
8:30 pm in the UK
9:30 pm in Europe

THE GREAT KAT - BEETHOVEN SHREDS




I didn't know. And you probably didn't know either. But The Great Kat knows! And she's more than willing to show it to the world: Beethoven shreds.
And it's not just Beethoven. On the "Beethoven Shreds" mini-album, Korsakov, Bach and Paganini get 'shredded' as well.


"So what is shredding?", I hear you ask. Well, a definition that might be applicable here is that it's the extremely fast playing of a solo or of a melody on a distorted guitar (or violin). And as you can probably tell by the way that The Great Kat looks on the album cover, it gets appreciated a lot by fans of heavy metal music.


"So what is The Great Kat doing in-between newsflashes of Sun Ra and Frank Zappa?"
Now that's what I call a good question.
Besides the respect for the unbelievable skills that one needs to pull this kind of thing off, I have to admit that I like what I hear. I think it's kind of refreshing and very funny to hear these corny classical melodies being performed in a more contemporary way.
Total time is about 7 minutes and a half for seven tracks. Shows you how fast The Great Kat plays. (And it has to be said that a full-size album would be a bit too much.)
Over the top? You bet. But that doesn't mean that it isn't funny.


"Beethoven Shreds" shows a nice equilibrium between skill, an adventurous approach and humour. And I like that.


www.greatkat.com

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

ZAPPATIKA - STRICTLY FRANKLY - A LIVE TRIBUTE TO MR FRANK ZAPPA




Zappatika is back!!
Just a couple of days after their Leiden concert, the band has now released "Strictly Frankly - A Live Tribute To Mr. Frank Zappa".


Get it now, over at
http://www.last.fm/music/Zappatika/Strictly+Frankly+-a+live+tribute+to+Mr+Frank+Zappa


Nice. Very nice. Thankyouverymuch guys.

WADADA LEO SMITH'S ORGANIC - HEART'S REFLECTIONS




One year after his fabulous "Spiritual Dimensions" album, composer and trumpeteer Wadada Leo Smith is back with "Heart's Reflections".
"Heart's Reflections" pursues the path that was drawn on "Spiritual Dimensions".


Powerfull compositions alternate with spiritual, floating soundscapes. What Wadada Leo Smith's Organic band does, is rather hard to describe. There's funky rhythms with pumping basses on which different people solo, but there's also the very open moments where the trumpet is searching for sounds and melodies. And somehow, this fits together perfectly.
I love it.
Check out the below sample!


Food for fans of Miles Davis' electric albums.


Out on Cuneiform: http://www.cuneiform.com/


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

ZAPPATIKA SETLIST

Yes, I do like setlists !
Here's one from the 2011/06/18 Zappatika concert in Leiden.

2011/06/18 concert 'Q-bus', Leiden, NL



  • Cozmik Debris, Ooh the way you love me, Guitar wants to kill yer momma, Tiny Lites, Chunga's Revenge, Leroy, Peaches en Regalia, We are not alone, Titties n Beer, Dirty Love, I am the Slime, Broken Hearts are for Assholes, Santana Variations, Whippin' Post, Black Napkins, Muffin Man

EXTRA PRINCE CONCERT IN BELGIUM

Next to his July 6 concert, Prince will do another concert one day earlier, on July 5. Open air concert at the St Pietersplein in Ghent.

THE RESIDENTS - GINGERBREAD MAN

I woke up this morning and I knew I had to play "Gingerbread Man". It's one of my favourite Residents albums. Below is the picture of the CDROM edition of "Gingerbread Man", released in 1996. It's the extended version for Macintosh computer, but I wouldn't know what that means as I don't have a Macintosh.
And even more below is the 'Gingerbread Man' movie. Straight from YouTube.



Saturday, June 18, 2011

R.I.P. WILD MAN FISCHER

Larry 'Wild Man' Fischer passed away two days ago.

http://easydreamer.blogspot.com/2011/06/rip-larry-wild-man-fischer.html

http://www.marcokalnenek.nl/weblog/2011/06/17/in-memoriam-larry-wild-man-fischer/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Man_Fischer

http://musicformaniacs.blogspot.com/2011/06/rip-wild-man-fischer.html


-- info: Tony Stafford

DWALMACAT 342

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister”


  • MITSOOBISHY JACKSON – Vulva, horse, breakfast

  • THE STEVE MILLER BAND – Serenade

  • THE FALL – Middle mass

  • THE BEATLES – I’m only sleeping

  • PASCAL COMELADE – Sunny afternoon / The sad skinhead

  • HANK WILLIAMS – Lovesick blues

  • DAVID THOMAS & THE PEDESTRIANS – Song of hoe

  • MEKANIK KOMMANDO – Door

  • YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA – Computer game (theme from the circus)

  • HOLGER HILLER – Toyshopshoptoy

  • PIL – Careering

  • RENALDO AND THE LOAF – Bpm

  • THE SABOTEN – The ark

  • BL*TCH – The imperial caramel (Fixing my ego part II)

  • THOMAS FEHLMANN – Little big horn

CANDY ZAPPA RELEASES HER FIRST ALBUM

Patrice 'Candy' Zappa, Frank's little sister, released her first album. It's called "To Be Perfectly Frank..." and the tracklist includes quite a number of familiar sounding titles...

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/ZappaPorterMusic.543909140#

SUN RA ARKESTRA IN NEW YORK CITY AND PHILADELPHIA

The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen direct from its first ever visit to Australia will appear at the following events in New York City & Philadelphia in June as part of its 2011 World Tour.

Sunday, June 19: Bang on a Can Marathon, World Financial Center Winter Garden, New York, NY. This free concert will feature the Arkestra sharing the 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm timeslot at this festival with three other bands. For additional information, please visit:

http://bangonacan.org/

Saturday, June 25: Summer Concert Series, 40th & Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA behind the Walnut West Free Library. This outdoor free concert produced by the University City District & The Rotunda starts at 6:00 pm with the Elegant Cavaliers, a West Philly drill team to be followed by the Arkestra. For additional information, please visit:

http://www.universitycity.org

For additional information about the Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, please visit:

http://www.thesunraarkestra.com

CAPILLARY ACTION




  • capillary action: capsized
    (2011, cd, usa, natural selection records)

The future looks bright for Capillary Action.
The band is touring in Europe, and they have a fine, new album to promote.


On "Capsized", Capillary Action mixes all sorts of musical styles and produces a very energetic, captivating bunch of songs.
This is the sort of album that demands your complete attention.


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


Here's a sample. Check it out!

JACK BRUCE AND THE CUICOLAND EXPRESS - LIVE AT THE MILKYWAY

September 1972, Jack Bruce took part in jam with Frank Zappa, Tony Duran and Jim Gordon. The result became the 'Apostrophe' track on Zappa's 1974 album that carries the same name.

There's a new Jack Bruce album out (recorded in concert in 2001). Data & picture have been added to the United Mutations Archives.




NEW WEATHER REPORT DVD - - - LIFE IN OFFENBACH 1978

A new Weather Report DVD has been released. "Live In Offenbach 1978", taken from the Rockpalast broadcast. If I'm not mistaken, the recording was already available as an audio album. But you can, of course, correct me on this.

Friday, June 17, 2011

ZAPPA-ESQUE IN 1959 ?

Just listen to the first 30 seconds of this fabulous Sun Ra piece.
'Saturn' from the extraoradinary "Jazz In Silhouette" album.
Can you say that something sounds zappa-esque when it got recorded in 1959?

SUN RA - THREE CLASSIC ALBUMS




The Real Gone Jazz label releases the first three Sun Ra albums on a 2CD set. These are classic albums: "Jazz By Sun Ra", "Super-Sonic Jazz" and "Jazz In Silhouette".

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

BOBBY MARQUIS INTERVIEWS ZAPPA ALUMNI AT CKCU-FM

DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JULY, TUNE IN EVERY WEDNEDAY. MUSIC AND INTERVIEWS WILL BE DONE WITH THE ALUMNI WHO PERFORMED WITH FRANK ZAPPA.
HERE'S THE LINE-UP, DATES AND TIME ZONES

3:30 PM TO 4:30 PM....EASTERN TIME IN CANADA/USA
12:30 PM TO 1:30 PM ..PACIFIC TIME IN CANADA/USA
8:30 PM TO 9:30 PM....IN THE U.K.
9:30 PM TO 10:30 PM...IN EUROPE

ED MANN..................JUNE 1ST AND 8TH
ROBERT MARTIN.........JUNE 15TH AND 22ND
DON PRESTON............JUNE 29TH AND JULY 6TH
IKE WILLIS.................JULY 13TH AND 20TH
TOM FOWLER..............JULY 27TH AND AUGUST 3RD

GO ONLINE AND LISTEN LIVE AT www.ckcufm.com
LIVE FROM OTTAWA , CANADA

A DRUMCHANNEL / TERRY BOZZIO NEWS FLASH

Claude Coleman of Ween and Terry Bozzio will Jam!
Live on www.drumchannel.com

Wed. June 15th - DC LIVE - 6pm PDT

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

THE DIGITAL PRIMITIVES




  • digital primitives: hum crackle & pop
    (2011, cd, ??, hopscotch records)

Discovery of the day?
Well, for today, that's certainly the Digital Primitives.
Cooper-Moore on home-made instruments (one of which is the diddley-bow (sort of a single string mouth-bow bass)), Assif Tsahar on sax, and Chad Taylor on drums.
"Hum Crackle & Pop" is the trio's second release. It's a very interesting, varied, experimental and playful album. And Cooper-Moore's home-made instruments make it sound like nothing you've heard before.


Available from www.mandai.be




WHITESNAKE - LIVE AT DONINGTON 1990




In 1990, Whitesnake played for some 70 000 people at the Donington festival. As it was broadcast by the BBC at the time, numerous copies of the recording had founds it way to the fans (and to the bootleggers). And now, 20 years later, the italian Frontier Records label is releasing the concert on both audio and video.
The "Live In Donington 1990 - Special Edition Box Set 2CD/DVD" package sure looks great. The video is fine as well, and the audio is better than the copies that I had lying around.
As the liner notes say about the video: "Regrettably it is not sparkling Hi-Def, but, on the other hand it's in wonderful watchable Lo-Def Vision".


I bought this little set because of Steve Vai's contribution, and I wasn't dissapointed. Steve played lead guitar throughout the concert, had some nice solos, but also played two of his own compositions: 'For The Love Of God', and 'The Audience Is Listening'.
Beautiful.

MINGO LEWIS - FLIGHT NEVER ENDING




David Logeman played the drums in Zappa's band in 1980 / 1981, replacing Vinnie Colaiuta. David had cut his first record with Mingo Lewis (of Santana fame) in 1976.


It's a fine fusion album and it got re-released on CD a couple of years ago.


Here's a link if you want to find out what it sounds like:

http://fusionjazzandsomethingelse.blogspot.com/2011/06/mingo-lewis-flight-never-ending-1976.html

-- info & link: Jan van Kemenade

ZAPPATEERS BACK ONLINE

It looks like the Zappateers website suffered a major attack a couple of days ago.
Seems like everything is (slowly) getting back.
Let's hope that it will be all up and running again real soon.

Monday, June 13, 2011

MORE INTERVIEWS FROM THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC TRIBE

Like father like son:
http://universalmusictribe.com/dweezil_zappa


If you don't know, why do you ask?
http://universalmusictribe.com/denny_walley


-- info: Philippe Lamoot

TURTLE SOUP - - - AN INTERVIEW WITH HOWARD KAYLAN

TURTLE SOUP
An Interview with Howard Kaylan

by Michael Buffalo Smith and Mars Blomgren
May 2011

http://universalmusictribe.com/howard_kaylan

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

SEND DOCTOR NERVE TO ZAPPANALE

I know, I mentioned this a while ago already, but the band does need your help, and you will be getting some nice goodies in return...

Doctor Nerve says:

Please support Doctor Nerve's Kickstarter Project to send us to Zappanale Festival this August!
Some uncanny rewards for backers, most never seen or heard before!

The short URL is http://kck.st/jZXwPK

The long URL is
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/doctornerve/send-doctor-nerve-to-the-zappanale-festival

KINGS OF BELGIUM UPDATE

Kings Of Belgium is in the process of recording material for their upcoming CD. It's to be out on the Off Label next August.

Here's a little video, and yes, the line-up has changed !!

  • Morgan Ã…gren - drums

  • Pierre Vervloesem - bass

  • Gilles Mortiaux - guitar

SANDRO OLIVA AT ZAPPANALE

Sandro Oliva and his band will be backing Essra Mohawk at Zappanale.
I think that's excellent news.

I don't know if Sandro & his band will be doing a seperate concert, but it'll be good to see Sando on stage again.
If you're not familiar with Sandro Oliva's work, you have to check out some of the stuff that he did with The Grandmothers, or his solo releases.

GENE PRITSKER UPDATE

Gene Pritsker teamed up with Borislav Strulev, and as Noizepunk & BorisLove they have recorded an album that's called "Cello Lounge".

A DJ/guitar and a cello. Mixing every possible style.

You can hear tracks from the album and learn more about it here; http://www.wix.com/noizepunk/cellolounge

More info soon.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

OSTRICH VON NIPPLE - CONTEMPLATES THE COSMOS



A little while ago, the WM Recordings newsletter mentioned this new release: "Ostrich Von Nipple - Contemplates The Cosmos". As you might imagine, I've always been attracted by bands with funny names. Especially when they involve The Cosmos.


Anyway, the newsletter also mentioned that Nolan Cook participated in the recording. I really like what Nolan Cook is doing as a Resident, so I had to check out the samples section over at WM Recordings and I was immediately sold. The album arrived over a week ago, and I've been giving it a spin every day.


"Ostrich Von Nipple - Contemplates The Cosmos" takes you to another place. OVN is obviously influenced by The Residents and Nolan Cook's collaboration only emphasizes this.
Does this bother me? Absolutely not. I think it's great.


Quirky compositions and great guitar work. Just what I need.


"Ostrich Von Nipple - Contemplates The Cosmos" is available as a regular CD (thank you !! I just love this little round things), but can be bought as a digital download as well.
All I need now, is a sheet with the lyrics so that I can hum along.


Highly Recommended.

http://www.wmrecordings.com/

LARRY WILD MAN FISCHER

May 4, 2011, Arte TV did broadcast "Larry Wild Man Fischer", a german documentary by Till Passow from 2002.

Nothing to do with this clip: Wild Man Fischer with Barnes & Barnes (from the "Derailroaded" movie").

ESSRA MOHAWK

Essra Mohawk will be playing at the Zappanale Festival, and she'll be playing in London on the 3rd of September.
Along with Sandro Oliva and his band; sharing the bill with That Legendary Wooden Lion.

Bridgehouse 2. London E16. Tickets onsale now:
http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=452533&interface=

-- info: Dave McMann

BEETHOVEN SHREDS



Get some samples (and a better look at The Great Kat) at
http://www.greatkat.com/beethovenshreds/beethovenshreds.html

WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE COMICS - THE SEQUEL

* * * Here's a little update on the "Zappa In Comics" project. * * *
You can now follow the latest developments through the Zappa In Comics blog:
http://zappa-by-us.blogspot.com/


"FRANK ZAPPA EN BANDES DESSINÉES"
EXPOSITION À LA BASCULE, RENNES, FRANCE
2011/06/10 - 2011/07/10

A ZAPPANOIA RECTIFICATION

Shortly after the December 11 2010 concert of Zappanoia (the band), Jorge Manuel Gomes Rodrigues (who had played the part of Zomby Woof at the Zappanoia band's Zappanale concert in 2003) took over the Zappanoia Association.
Eduardo Cunha continues with Zappanoia (the band), but is no longer linked to the Zappanoia Association.

The Zappanoia Association organises concerts (including the Zappamundo festival).
www.zappanoia.org

While Zappanoia (the band) has temporary been put on hold.
www.zappanoia.com

I received an e-mail from Eduardo Cunha that he was not happy with the hostile take-over by Jorge Rodrigues.
Eduardo also stressed that the recent Zappanoia gigs that were posted on the United Mutations blog are by no means concerts by the Zappanoia band. These are concerts by other bands, organised by Jorge Rodrigues (the Zappanoia Association).

As a result, I have now two entries up at the United Mutations Archives. One for Zappanoia (the band) and one for Zappanoia (the organisation).

RONNIE WILLIAMS

Ronnie Williams introduced Frank Zappa to Paul Buff in 1960. His contributions can be found on a couple of early Zappa recordings.

According to the liner notes in The Lost Episodes, there was no contact with Frank until 1975 when Ronnie showed up to a concert in Pomona. After requesting the "song about the boogers" he was invited on stage. 

Bo Salisbury was an eyewitness:
"I remember it as plain as day. Frank looked down after the request was shouted out, laughed and said something like, "It's Ronnie Williams!" As I recall, he was in the center, about 6-8 rows back, and Frank invited him up on stage... Denny Walley was playing bottleneck most of the night on a Telecaster, took it off and handed it over to Ronnie. They played the song, the audience cheered, Ronnie gave the Telecaster back to Denny and the show moved forward. It was great."

-- info from Bo Salisbury

UGLY RADIO REBELLION TOUR STARTS IN THREE DAYS

Ugly Radio Rebellion with Ike Willis - performing the music of Frank Zappa


  • Scott Schroen: guitar/vocals

  • Daniel Paschall: drums/vocals

  • J Willis: bass / vocals

  • Ike Willis: guitar & vocals

the concerts



Saturday, June 11, 2011

THE SAN FRANCISCO FREE JAZZ COLLECTIVE - NOVEMBER



The SFFJC website says:
"founded in 2008, the san francisco jazz collective is a rotating group of well-seasoned musicians that record their music with no charts, no chord changes, no discussions... they simply ‘hit record’ and play. the results have been amazing... sometimes: straight-up jazz, rock, fusion, electronic, blues and even a bit of funk--but always reaching... "

"November" has Ron K on the guitar, menasche on drums and percussion, and the exceptional Scott Thunes on bass.
The liner notes tell us that the album was recorded in one session, without any overdubs, in (you guessed it right) November 2009.



I've listened to the recorde a couple of times today, and I do like it.
"November" is an improvised rock album. My best description might be 'a steady rhythm section with guitar soundscapes'.
Despite the name of the ensemble, there isn't much jazz or free jazz to be discovered on this album. And that's the only remark that I have. I was expecting something a bit more experimental, a bit more 'free'.
So I was a tiny little bit dissapointed..., but I still think that it's a fine record.

http://www.freejazzcollective.com/

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH JAZZ ENSEMBLE

About 35 years ago, the University Of Utah Jazz Ensemble recorded Frank Zappa's 'Chunga's Revenge'.
They released it on LP the same year.
I had never heard of this release before.
Here's the picture (& more):



PANOPTICON - LIVE @ EL NEGOCITO




I'm fully aware of the fact that I can get rather enthousiastic about good music every once in a while. And I also know that I mentioned this recent Panopticon album a little while ago, but this one definitely needs your attention.


Domenico Solazzo's Panopticon project (he spells it PaNoPTiCoN but I find that too difficult to type) has been going on for seven seasons already. Panopticon is a project in which Domenico invites different musicians all the time. The result is a completely improvised concert, often with musicians that are playing together for the very first time.


The interesting part about the April 12, 2011 gig at the 'El Negocito' club is that some of the participating musicians have a back-ground that has a link with Frank Zappa's music. Michel Delville (guitar) is the leader of The Wrong Object; Pieter Claus (marimba) had a band (Whatchamacallit) that performed the music of FZ, and he does play an occasional Zappa composition with his PC3O band as well; and then there's the fabulous Bart Maris who you should know from his work with Flat Earth Society, X-legged Sally, the recent Corrie van Binsbergen "Over De Bergen" project, and much, much more.
Add Olivier Catala on bass, and Domenico Solazzo on drums, percussion (and direction), and you've got a top notch band.
The result is marvelous. And you don't have to take my word for it. Just go to the Panopticon website and download this concert. You won't be sorry.
And if you like to surround yourself with these little round objects, you can even order the concert on CDR.


Great improvisations. Fine interaction.
Just marvelous.
Highly recommended.

http://enterpanopticon.blogspot.com/2011/05/bootleg-56-panopticon-live-el-negocito.html

ZAPPA CONCERT POSTER

In a little corner, over at the United Mutations Archives, I have listed some pictures and concert poster of Zappa & The Mothers.
I grabbed the latest addition from the Zappateers website.
It's a poster for the 1973/09/18 gig that was to be held in Vienna, but the show did never take place.

PETER WOLF UPDATE

To date, Peter Wolf has recorded 5 solo albums. He also recorded some albums with his different bands: Gipsy Love, Wolf & Wolf, and Vienna.
Luc Reniers was kind enough to send me some fine pictures of the following Peter Wolf albums. Data has been added to the Peter Wolf discography.








Friday, June 10, 2011

JEAN-LUC PONTY'S OPEN STRINGS GETS A REISSUE

"Open Strings", the famous 1972 album by the Jean-Luc Ponty Experience, gets a reissue on the German Promising Music / MPS record label.

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH 2010 11 09 LEVERKUSENER JAZZTAGE

November 2010, the Allan Holdsworth performed at the Leverkusener Jazztage.

Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
Ernest Tibbs - Bass
Chad Wackerman - Drums

The gig got broadcast on german WDR5 FM.

I received a CDR-copy of the broadcast, but you can find lossless copies on the net as well.

http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f145/allan-holdsworth-band-2010-11-09-live-in-leverkusen-germany-fm-115069.html

-- info & CDR-copy: Klotz

MIKE KENEALLY - BAKIN' @ THE POTATO!




September 15, 2010, The Baked Potato offered two concerts. The first one was by the Bryan Beller Band, the second one by the Mike Keneally Band. As you probably know, the line-ups for both bands is the same. They just play other compositions.


So September 15, The Bryan Beller band did a superb show. It is documented on his very recent "Wednesday Night Live" album, available both as an audio CD and as a video DVD.
And now there's MK's "Bakin' @ The Potato!", which could be considered as some sort of follow-up, except for the fact that the band plays Mike's compositions.


"Bakin'" is a very impressive album. It's a bit more straight-forward than MK's more recent albums (probably because it's played live), so it will be a nice introduction for the non-keneallyheads, but it's certainly a must-have / must-see / must-listen for everyone who likes Mike Keneally's music. I love it.


http://store.moosemart.com


Here's two of my favourite tracks of this album, as performed by the MK / BB duo a couple of months earlier. 'The Dolphins Is Smart' is a beautiful, jazzy MK track, while '1988' is Mike's FZ tribute.


Wednesday, June 8, 2011

DWALMACAT 431

Go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister” to enjoy


  • BANANA – Kenusuna

  • BROADCAST & THE FOCUS GROUP – Dednd

  • THE RUTLES – Cheese and onions

  • FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION – I’m the slime

  • ENNIO MORRICONE – The good, the bad and the ugly

  • 2 BELGEN – Quand le film est triste

  • DREADZONE – The good, the bad and the dread

  • KOSMONAUTENTRAUM – Kosmonaut

  • GEOFF LEIGH – Time / A wedding every 20 minutes

  • PRINCE RAMA – Satt nam

  • CAN’T – Driving in the rain

  • RON PATE’S DEBONAIRS featuring FRED LANE – Volare

  • JOHN BENDER – Nipon projectile 1982

  • SLAPP HAPPY – Little girls world

  • ARCHIE SHEPP – The cry of my people

  • CARIBOU – Hannibal

  • NICO – All tomorrow’s parties (live in Tokyo)

  • THE PARIS SISTERS – I love how you love me

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

PRINCE ON TOUR IN YURRIP



Prince will be touring Europe. I had heard about his 3-night concert series at North Sea Jazz, but earlier today an open air concert in Ghent got announced.

2011/07/06 - Live at the Sint-Pietersplein in Ghent, Belgium...

FRANK ZAPPA AND THE HAGSTROM VIKING GUITAR

Check out the Zappa page over at Hagstrom guitars !!

http://www.hagstromguitars.com/zappa.html

Sunday, June 5, 2011

UGLY RADIO REBELLION IN CONCERT 2011 06 16

Wednesday, june 16, 2011, Ugly Radio Rebellion will be performing the music of Frank Zappa with Ike Willis at 'The Pour House Music Hall', in Raleigh, NC, usa.

STEVE VAI LAUNCHES GUITARTV

Steve Vai launches his own Guitar TV channel.

Just go to http://www.guitartv.com/
and look for the introduction movie (between the other movies down on the screen).

CLIFF CULTRERI BENEFIT WITH STEVE VAI AND JOE SATRIANI 2011 07 10

Steve Vai & Joe Satriani (and friends) will be performing at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA on July 10, 2011 to raise money for longtime friend Cliff Cultreri.

Here is a video message from Steve behind the board at the new Harmony Hut.

BASTA RECORDS RELEASES RAYMOND SCOTT ON VINYL

The dutch Basta record label is releasing two 3LP sets by the great Raymond Scott.


  • raymond scott: soothing soudns for baby
    (2011, 3lp, nl, basta records 9035)


  • raymond scott: manhattan research inc.
    (2011, 3lp, nl, basta records 9045)
Each album has been packaged seperately, so we're talking 6 LPs, but only available in a 3LP set.
Detail can be found over at the website:
http://www.bastamusic.com

10 YEARS OF MOONJUNE RECORDS

Happy birthday Moonjune Records !!

During the whole month of June 2011 MoonJune Records is offering the entire catalog of CDs for $10 (shipping to USA/Canada), and $12 (the rest of the world.) FREE SHIPPING ANYWHERE.
BUY 8 CDs, get the one extra CD for FREE. BUY 12 CDs, get two more CDs for FREE.
Offer valid until July 5, 2011.

http://www.moonjune.com/

ZAPPA 1981 REHEARSALS

Over at the Zappateers site, two recordings of the rehearsing Zappa band, from 1981, are being seeded.
The first one is 40-minute plus and has the band practising Camarillo Brillo, Muffin Men, City Of Tiny Lites and Doreen.
The second one is includes Alien Orifice, Teenage Prostitute, Drowning Witch, Baltimore, Moggio, and more. And has some nice FZ Guitar Work Out as well.

Get them while they're hot...

STANLEY JASON ZAPPA - 88888888




Stanley Jason Zappa has released "88888888", an album that collects various recordings from 1999 up until 2009. Those of you who are familiar with SJZ's work, or those who have seen him performing at Zappanale, know that Stanley Jason Zappa is into experimental, improvised jazz and that his main instrument is the saxophone.


On "88888888", however, we get to listen to 8 synthesizer pieces. Eight short, but very impressive pieces.


Think of Uncle Frank's "Jazz From Hell", or Conlon Nancarrow's player piano pieces.


Great music. Beautiful package.
You definitely have to check this out, and shouldn't wait too long as this album was produced in a very limited edition of 33 copies.
Available from CDBaby.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

TWO NEW BEEFHEART RELEASES ON THE OZIT LABEL

I've never been a big fan of the British Ozit label. They have released quite a number of Captain Beefheart albums the last couple of years, but the quality of the product (audio, packaging, price) has never really made me happy.
Recently, the label has put out two new CB albums.
The recordings that were used for these albums originate from John Peel's collection. That's also the reason that these albums carry the Ozit / Dandelion label. (The legendary Dandelion label was one of John Peel's projects).

As for audio quality, I'm rather satisfied. After all, the tapes that were used were audience recordings from the early seventies.
Packaging is OK as well. I don't understand why the album titles have to be such a mess, or why volume one was released on vinyl, and volume two is out on CD, but that's probably just me.
My major remark is that the tracklisting isn't correct, and that there's no info whatsover on the bands / bandmembers. A pity.

So, in all, two new Beefheart albums on Ozit, and they're worth your attention. If they're worth your money, that's up to you.






Friday, June 3, 2011

THE MJO PLAYS ZAPPA 2011 06 04 IN LEUVEN

Unless you really live on the other side of the world, Leuven will be the place to be tomorrow night.
Living in Belgium sure has its advantages. Last month I went to the MOSAE ZAPPA festival in Maastricht (NL) where five bands played Zappa and / or Beefheart. Earlier this year, I caught Keneally / Minnemann / Beller and also Adrian Belew (solo !) in Tilburg (NL). And last week, I went to Brussels to see the Frank Zappa Ensemble.
Wowie Zowie... Can't complain. And I haven't even mentioned that Bad Doberan / Zappanale is only an 8 hour-drive away...

But tomorrow, you'll find me in Leuven where the Muze Jazz Orchestra will be performing.

the promo text says:
Saturday, June 4, 2011, the MJO is scheduled to perform at Appeltuinjazz in Leuven with "Muze Jazz Orchestra plays Frank Zappa".

MJO is a 9-piece band. The band will be performing Zappa and will play some material by Lieven Cambré as well.

The setlist should or could include: Peaches En Regalia (F. Zappa), Cletus Alwreetus-Alwrightus (Zappa), Po-Jama People (Zappa), Sofa (Zappa) As I think you are (Cambré), Lady Bird (arr. Cambré).

As I was able to have a short chat with Marco Cirone, I'm happy to add the following:

The Muze Jazz Orchestra arose from the monthly jam sessions that took place at the 'Muze' club in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
Every first Sunday of the month, Marco Cirone invited musicians. These sessions started with a concert around a specific theme (music by Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Groove Like Eddie (Harris), original work, ...), and were followed by a jazz jam.

Out of the collective of musicians who regularly participated in the jam sessions, the idea grew of doing something with a bigger band.
September 2010, kicking off the new season, the Muze Jazz Orchestra performed for the first time.
The band is a mix of conservatory students, semi-professional and professional musicians. A lot of these musicians have performed together in various combinations and settings.
The arrangements of the pieces that are performed by the MJO are from Marco Cirone and from Lieven Cambré.

The repertoire of the MJO involves more than just Zappa music.

Lieven Cambré arranged his own compositions and the jazz classics for the MJO, whereas Marco Cirone arranged the Zappa pieces.

Marco Cirone adds:
"The love for Zappa's music started when I discovered "Joe's Garage" in the local CD library. I had seen cross-references in the liner notes of many bands that I was listening to such as Steve Vai, Mr. Bungle, X-legged Sally,...

Around the same time I started 'Freak Accident' in which those influences could clearly be heard. The fascination with Zappa's music has continued to grow gradually and I continue to make discoveries in his massive work: musical but also visual, theatrical, conceptual thinking, politics,....

We currently have 3 MJO concerts behind us and we are working steadily to expand the repertoire. We try to add a couple of new songs to every concert. We like the fresh and adventurous approach.

Besides the 'Appeltuin' concert (June 4 in Leuven), there's a large schowcase scheduled at the cultural center of Heusden-Zolder on Saturday, September 3."



  • Marco Cirone: guitar, vocals, arrangements

  • Lieven Cambré: alto sax, compositions, arrangements

  • Carlo Nardozza or Daniel Vandenhoydoncks: trumpet

  • Koen Nys: soprano- and tenor sax

  • Igor Maserolli: baritone sax

  • Tim Daemen: trombone

  • Tom Van Acker: bass gitaar

  • David La Mela: drums

  • David Hermans or Alano Gruarin: piano

THE YELLOW SNOW CRYSTALS AT ZAPPANALE

Yes, you heard it right, The Yellow Snow Crystals will be performing at Zappanale. The exact date isn't fixed yet. Might be Friday, might be Saturday,... But you'd better be there as well.

WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE COMICS - ZAPPA EN BANDES DESSINNEES

Bettina says:

COMICS WANTED: FRANK ZAPPA IN COMICS

We are looking for artists who want to participate in the great adventure of the Frank Zappa comic platform.

Main goal is to show from various points of view the life and work of Zappa, interpreted in comics.

The contributions are shown in travelling exhibitions (mainly in France, it's true, but also in other countries) and will be published in a comic book.

The project can be viewed on
www.lusineareves.com -> Zappa.

If you want to join, please don?t hesitate to contact us. Contact: Bettina Egger -
bettina.egger@gmail.com

The first expo was at the "Jardin Moderne" in Rennes, France.
The next one will be at "La Bascule", also in Rennes.

Here's the poster of the first expo

MIKE KENEALLY AT THE BAKED POTATO TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT

Celebrating the release of his new DVD.
Two nights in a row.

MIKE KENEALLY - VOX, GUITAR, KEYBOARD
BRYAN BELLER - BASS
JOE TRAVERS - DRUMS
RICK MUSALLAM - GUITAR
GRIFF PETERS – GUITAR

http://www.thebakedpotato.com/june11.html

VLEK

Dutch band VLEK features a couple of well-known names in the Dutch impro- & jazz scene.

Pascal Vermeer, Eric van der Westen, Jacques Palinckx, Hans Sparla, Henk Koekkoek, Edward Capel & Bart van Dongen.

Something that we need to keep an eye on.

DWALMACAT 430

To enjoy this week's Dwalmacat radio show, go to
http://www.fmbrussel.be/programmas/dwalmacat.aspx
and click on “Luister”


  • RANDY & THE REST – The vacuum

  • QUICK CULTURE – Quick culture

  • BL*TCH – Des jambes privés / Evil eye factory

  • JAMES WHITE – The natives are restless

  • DAPHNI – Map fumo

  • HENRY COWELL – Ostinato pianissimo

  • NOISE ABROAD – The valley of the blue men

  • CAPTAIN BEEFHEART – Her eyes are a blue million miles

  • CLUSTER – Heisse Lippen

  • BL*TCH – Hash! Marihuana! Frisco!

  • MAURO ANTONIO PAWLOWSKI – Monkey hands / Perplexing trousers

  • PYROLATOR – Zoo

  • THE HOMOSEXUALS – Hearts in exile

BRYAN BELLER UPDATE

Bryan Beller says:

In July I’ve got a gig with a metal band based on a television cartoon (you know, that Dethklok thing) and I’ll play for 30,000 people. In June it’s mix-and-match instrumental fusion time for several gigs with either my own band, The Mike Keneally Band (I can’t believe I’ve been playing with Keneally for 17 years now), or a new project called The Aristocrats featuring British phenom guitarist Guthrie Govan, German uber-drummer Marco Minnemann, and li’l ol’ me. We’ll probably play for 100-150 folks at a shot. Plus I’m doing a one-off benefit concert with Steve Vai, who I haven’t played with in nearly 4 years. That’ll be for a few hundred folks, maybe a thousand.

WITH THE MIKE KENEALLY BAND & THE BRYAN BELLER BAND
June 3 - Studio City, CA - The Baked Potato
June 4 - Studio City, CA - The Baked Potato

WITH KIRA SMALL, AND FOR BASS CLINICS
June 5 - El Cerrito, CA - House Concert
June 7 - Sacramento, CA - House Concert
June 8 - Medford, OR - Guitar Center (clinic)
June 9 - Portland, OR - Apple Music (clinic)
June 11 - Tacoma, WA - Jazzbones - Bass Odyssey
June 12 - Bellevue, WA - American Music (clinic)
June 12 - Lynnwood, WA - House Concert

WITH THE ARISTOCRATS (GUTHRIE GOVAN, BRYAN BELLER, MARCO MINNEMANN)
June 18 - Riverside, CA - Wild West Guitars
June 19 - San Pedro, CA - Alva's
June 21 - Studio City, CA - The Baked Potato
June 22 - Studio City, CA - The Baked Potato
June 24 - San Francisco, CA - Biscuits And Blues

WITH DETHKLOK
July 9 - San Bernadino, CA - Mayhem Festival

WITH STEVE VAI
July 10 - West Hollywood, CA - House Of Blues (benefit concert)

WITH THE ARISTOCRATS (GUTHRIE GOVAN, BRYAN BELLER, MARCO MINNEMANN)
July 18 - July 23 - KOREA, dates/details TBA
July 26 - August 3 - JAPAN

PANOPTICON AT NEGOCITO

April 11, 2011, Domenico Solazzo's Panopticon performed at Negocito in Ghent, Belgium.

That night, the band featured Olivier Catala (bass), Pieter Claus (vibraphone), Michel Delville (electric guitar & electronics), Bart Maris (trumpet & electronics) and Domenico Solazzo (drums, percussions & direction).

The concert has been made available through Domenico's website, and I'm actually listening to it right now.

Beautiful improvised jazz.
I couldn't make it to Ghent that night and I was thinking that I had missed a fine show.
Fortunately, Domenico has the habit of making the shows available on-line and/or on CDR.
Now I'm convinced that I missed a fine show :-)

Excellent stuff.

Check it out.
http://enterpanopticon.blogspot.com/2011/05/bootleg-56-panopticon-live-el-negocito.html

BANG ON A CAN MARATHON

a message from Bang On A Can:

Dear Friends,

Here we come again! The Bang on a Can Marathon, our annual incomparable eclectic super-mix of ear-bending music co-presented by the River to River Festival® and Arts World Financial Center, is returning to New York City's World Financial Center Winter Garden for 13 hours of live music from 11am to midnight on Sunday, June 19th! Our Marathon concert is FREE and open to the public!

Join us as we feature over 150 astounding performers and composers from throughout the world! Be there at 11AM (sharp!) for the outdoor kick-off on the plaza featuring the renegade street band Asphalt Orchestra performing music by STEW/Heidi Rodewald and Yoko Ono (and later on music by David Byrne/Annie Clark, Goran Bregovic, Björk, Frank Zappa and more).