DEWA BUDJANA - SURYA NAMASKAR

• dewa budjana: surya namaskar
      (2014, cd, usa, moonjune mjr063)

Indonesian guitar player Dewa Budjana is back with a beautiful album. "Surya Namaskar" offers a great set of melodic jazz/rock/fusion tunes.
The album got recorded in January and October of 2013 and features, besides the impressive Jimmy Johnson, the incredible Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.
What a trio. The perfect line-up.
Adding extra spices to the album, the first track, 'Fifty', features Gary Husband on synth, while track number 5, entitled 'Kalingga', presents Kang Pupung and Kang Iya on respectively tarawangsa (Sundanese violin) and kacapi (Sundanese harp). And there's some electric sitar in there as well. Beautiful !!
Furthermore, track number 6, 'Campuhan Hill', has Michael Landau playing the acoustic guitar solos.

In the liner notes of "Surya Namaskar" (meaning 'Salute To The Sun' and immediately explaining the beautiful cover), Dewa Budjana explains to John Kelman that he changed the sound of his guitar, adding a bit of fuzz and distortion to his tone. This is clearly audible. The result is a more powerful and energectic sound.
One of the most impressive tracks on the album is 'Capistrano Road', a composition that Dewa Budjana wrote after meeting Alan Holdsworth. An impressive tribute.

In all, "Suya Namaskar is an impressive album. Definitely one that you need to check out.
It's Dewa Budjana's third released on Leonardo Pavkovik's excellent MoonJune Records label.
www.moonjune.com

Here's Dewa Budjana, live at the Java Jazz Festival.

META META

Meet META META !!
Psychedelic Afro-Punk Jazz from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The band has a new album out, entitled "Metal Metal".

Check it out !!

FRANK ZAPPA - JOE'S CAMOUFLAGE

• frank zappa: joe's camouflage
      (2014, cd, usa, vaulternative records)

The latest gem from the Zappa vaults presents recordings from august and september 1975.
Rehearsals from a band that never actually recorded or toured.

http://rhoerer.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/joes-camouflage/

[1]  4-track recording, august 25, 1975

[2]  early september 1975

frank zappa: guitar, vocals

denny walley: guitars, vocals

robert 'frog' camarena: vocals, guitar

novi novog: viola, keyboards, vocals

napoleon murphy brock: tenor sax, vocals

roy estrada: bass, vocals

terry bozzio: drums

andre lewis: keyboards, vocals

composed and arranged by frank zappa

1. phyniox (take 1)  [1]

2. t'mershi duween  [1]

3. reeny ra  [1]

4. "who do you think you are"  [1]

5. "slack 'em all down"  [2]

6. honey, don't you want a man like me?  [2]

7. the illinois enema bandit  [1]

8. sleep dirt - in rhearsal  [2]

9. black napkins  [1]

10. take your clothes off when you dance  [1]

11. denny & froggie relate  [2]

12. "choose your foot"  [2]

13. any downers?  [1]

14. phyniox (take 2)  [1]

15. "i heard a note!"  [2]

RECORD STORE DAY 2014

http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/6790

Frank Zappa

Don't Eat The Yellow Snow/Down In De Dew

DETAILS
Format: 7" Vinyl
Label: Zappa Records
Release type: RSD Exclusive Release
More Info:

"Don't Eat The Yellow Snow" FZ 1974 single edit reissue | "Down In De Dew" FZ 1973 Alternate Mix - Previously unreleased

BANNED FROM UTOPIA IN CONCERT IN HEERLEN (NL) TONIGHT

and the concert will be recorded for radio broadcast.
Probably on Dutch radio station L1.

www.l1.nl

DON PRESTON - OUT OF THE VAULT

• don preston: out of the vault
      (2014, cd, usa, brain records)

Former Mother Of Invention Don Preston has been releasing (and re-releasing) his recordings through his own label, Brain Records for quite a number of years now.
"Out Of The Vault" is the latest addition to his Brain Records series.

There's some great material on this album, including 'Palmer Park', 'Sweet 15', 'Immaculate Deception' and more.
Most of the material does sound very familiar, but I'm not completely convinced that this album is a retrospective release or a sampler.
Zappa's 'The Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue' is also performed on this disc. In very nice version. One that I hadn't heard before. If my memory serves me right, that is.

ANOTHER NEW RESIDENTS ALBUM ANNOUNCED

Straight from The Residents' website:

• WOW (Live in Holland) 2/CD set coming April 15 from RALPHLET

Complete show multi-track from Amsterdam
- 2/CDs
- edition of 400
- numbered edition
- available April 15

BART MARIS - WWW.MYSPACE/BARTMARIS (2)

• bart maris: www.myspace/bartmaris
      (2013, cdr-promo, bel, private release)

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned promotional album that presented various aspects of trumpet player Bart Maris.
Here's the data for a second and more recent album in this series.
It has the same album cover, but a completely different track-listing.

[1]  bart maris: trumpet, electronics

[2]  bart maris: trumpet * lode vercampt: cello

[3]  bart maris: trumpet, electronics * filip wauters: guitar * tom wouters: drums

[4]  bart maris: trumpet, flugelhorn * stijn bettens: accordeon

[5]  bart maris: trumpet * stefaan blancke: trombone * roel poriau: zabumba

[6]  electric barbarian

[7]  jan klare: sax, flute, clarinet * bart maris: trumpet * wilbert de joode: bass * michael vatcher: drums

produced by bart maris

1. rua siquira campos   (b.maris)  [2]

2. pavement   (j.klare)    [7]  - from "played"

3. david & nava   (b.maris-f.wauters-t.wouters)     [3]

4. hoer, in het vuur   (b.maris)     [1]

5. manche de fouet   (g.viseur)     [4]

6. mardi belge   (b.maris)     [5]

7. shaman   (b.maris-f.wauters-t.wouters)     [3]

8. left or right   (f.vermeulen)     [6]  -  from "minirock from the sun"

9. fence   (j.klare)     [7]  -  from "played"

10. krommekeer   (b.maris)     [1]

11. passeando pelo mundo   (trad.)     [5]

12. saddie   (b.maris)     [2]

13. douce joie   (g.viseur)     [4]

14. variations of hope   (f.vermeulen)     [6]  -  from "minirock from the sun"

Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.
Go to Bart's MySpace corner to check out some of his projects:

https://myspace.com/bartmaris/music/songs

-- thanks to Danny Mathys for helping out with the tracklist.

CHATO SEGERER & SEBASTIAN BERG PLAY ZAPPA

Listen to this !!

Sebastian Berg on drums.
All other instruments, vocals and arrangement by Chato Segerer.

Performing Frank Zappa's 'Rollo'.

(soon to be released on the CD "Rare Episodes" on Cordelia Records in summer 2014)
http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/

This is great.

CENSUS OF HALLUCINATIONS - COMING OF THE UNICORN

• census of hallucinations: coming of the unicorn
      (2013, cd, uk, stone premonitions spcd075)

"Coming Of The Unicorn" is the predecessor of "The Nine", an album that I mentioned a couple of days ago.

The overall sound of this album is a bit different. Most probably because of the vocals of Terri-B and Maxine Marten. And the spacey guitar solos are more present as well.

Here's a track from the "Apparitions" retrospective album.

For more info, go to the Stone Premonitions website:
http://aural-innovations.com/stonepremonitions/

GPS - WINDOW TO THE SOUL

• gps: window to the soul
      (2006, cd, ger, inside out iomcd 247)

Adding bits and pieces to the United Mutations Archives, here's the GPS album "Window To The Soul".

When UK folded in the late seventies, bass player John Wetton (who had also been a part of King Crimson in his earlier career) started supergroup Asia.
At that time Asia consisted of John Wetton, Steve Howe (Yes), Carl Palmer (ELP) and Geoffrey Downes (Yes).

After John Wetton's departure in 1991, John Payne joined the band and they continued as Asia.

In 2006, Asia included John Payne, Geoffroy Downes, Jay Schellen and guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan (who had joined the band in 2001).
When Geoffrey Downes left the band to reform Asia with the original members, John Payne wasn't too happy. Together with Jay Schellen and Guthrie Govan he continued as "Asia featuring John Payne". In-between the legal disputes, Payne, Schellen and Govan recorded "Window To The Soul" and released it as GPS.

Guthrie Govan left GPS around 2009.
Nowadays, he's one of The Aristocrats (with Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann) !

XAVI RIJA - RESOLUTION

• xavi reija: resolution
      (2014, cd, usa, moonjune records mjr062)

Leonardo Pavkovic's MoonJune Records label has just released "Resolution", Catalan drummer Xavi Reija's brand-new album.
On "Resolution", Xavi Reija is aided by Bernat Hernández on bass and by Dusan Jevtovic on guitar.

The result is an excellent jazz album.
Polyrhythmic drumming, funky melodic bass lines and impressive guitar soundscapes.
This is right up my alley.

Check it out here:





Available from MoonJune Records
http://www.moonjune.com/

NEW RESIDENTS RELEASE : CODGERS ON THE MOON

The Residents Present A Charles Bobuck Contraption : Codgers On The Moon

To be released on vinyl (ltd. edition of 250 copies) and on CD.

http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD6342LP

http://www.seeofsound.com/p.php?s=MVD6335A

ARF ARF ARF! - - - CAPT. CHEESE-BEARD & THE 7 SISTERS OF PREVENTION

What a weekend...
The place to be was Antwerp, BE, where international art campus 'De Singel' hosted the Arf Arf Arf! festival.

"International", you say?
Well, I would think so. I saw friends from Norway, Sweden, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands,...

Friday evening, Capt. Cheese-Beard & The 7 Sisters Of Prevention opened the festival.
Capt.Cheese-Beard and his Sisters have been performing the music of Frank Zappa for about five years. The frequency of their concerts is not that high, but they've performed in and around Brussels and Antwerp, and they've also played at the German Zappanale festival in 2009.

A lot of things have been happening with Capt. Cheese-Beard & His 7 Sisters lately.
Due to personal reasons, vocalist John Van Steenlandt had to leave the band earlier this year.Furthermore, the last couple of months, frontman Johan De Coninck has been writing and recording music in preparation of an album with his own original material.
Despite these difficulties and distractions, Capt. Cheese-Beard gathered at Arf Arf Arf!

For the occasion, special guest Robert Martin joined the band on vocals and keyboards.

(picture by Steffen Schindler)

line-up

• Johan De Coninck: vocals, guitar
• Robert Martin: vocals, keyboard
• Vanessa Spay: vocals
• Didier De Meestere: drums
• Pascal Hauben: bass
• Pierre Chevalier: keyboards
• Bart Quartier: mallets
• Maayan Smith: tenor sax
• Ludovic Jean Mart: alto sax
• Tom Van Dyck: baritone sax
• Mo Fanken: trumpet

And there's more familiar names in the list: you might have seen Bart Quartier performing the music of FZ with the Muze Jazz Orchestra; there's Maayan Smith who's part of Pieter Claus' Sinister Sister project ; and Ludovic Jean Mart was part of The Wrong Object in their early days...
Small world.

The set was short but sweet.
A fine opener for the festival.
The band sounded fine and Robert Martin did an excellent job. Everyone enjoyed it.

• The Torture Never Stops
• City Of Tiny Lites
• Advance Romance
• Inca Roads
• Yo' Mama

AKA MOON

In the recent "Sinister Sister" post, you could read that the project features Michel Hatzigeorgiou on electric bass.

Here's Hatzi with Aka Moon.

Fabrizio Cassol: sax
Michel Hatzigeorgiou: bass
Stéphane Galland: drums

THE GRANDMOTHERS ARE TOURING

I saw The GrandMothers in Tilburg last Sunday.

Absolutly Motheresque.

Loved it.

GrandMothers Of Invention - 2014 03 16 concert 'Paradox', Tilburg NL

line-up

Bunk Gardner : tenor sax, EWI, flute, straight man, commentary

David Parlato : electric bass

Don Preston : piano, keyboard synthesizers, electronics, gongage, magic & vocals

Christopher Garcia : drums, percussion, marimba, and vocals

'Mad' Max Kutner : electric guitar, what nots, pedals, hats and hair

setlist

intro paradox

Call Any Vegetable

King Kong

20 Small Cigars

Flower Punk

You Didn't Try To Call Me

Who Needs The Peace Corps > I'm The Slime

Orange County Lumber Truck

Trouble Every Day

Duke Of Prunes

encore : Sofa

Here's an audio registration of the concert. Over at Zappateers :

http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=27891

AND THE TOUR CONTINUES

March 21

Unterfahrt

Munchen, GERMANY

March 23

Stazione Birra

Roma, ITALY

March 25

Blue Note -

Milano, ITALY

AUSTRALIAN TOUR

APRIL 2014

April 11th
 Melbourne VIC

Corner Hotel

April 12th
 Sydney NSW

The Metro

April 17th
 Byron Bay NSW

Bluesfest

April 18th
 Byron Bay NSW

Bluesfest

April 19th
 Byron Bay NSW

Bluesfest 

CENSUS OF HALLUCINATIONS - THE NINE

• census of hallucinations: the nine
      (2013, cd, uk, stone premonitions spcd076)

Census Of Hallucinations is an independent artist collective from the North of England.

Led by Tim Jones, the band has released quite a number of albums. "The Nine" is one of the more recent ones.

"The Nine" is a fine album. The music is some sort of prog or space rock, while Tim Jones elaborates (lyrically-wise) on the metaphysical aspects of life.

"The Nine" is not just 'A Most Remarkable Number' (track 8 on the disc), it's also an interesting introduction to the music of Census Of Hallucinations.

SINISTER SISTER PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA

Sinister Sister is made up of five excellent rock / jazz musicians.

Early March, the quintet did concerts in Brussels, Eeklo, Brugge and Sint Niklaas. I was told that they already have some concerts scheduled for later this year as well.

I caught them in Brussels and got blown away. An excellent choice of compositions. Fine and playful arrangements. And great playing.

Besides the exceptional technical level, each of the musicians has a very personal and typical style, adding extra colors and moods to the improvisations.

To me, this is the way that Zappa's music has to be performed.

Sinister Sister - 2014 03 07 concert 'Sounds Jazz Club', Brussels BE

line-up

• Pieter Claus : vibraphone
• Michel Hatzigeorgiou : electric bass
• Maayan Smith : saxophone
• Jan Ghesquière : guitar
• Lander Gyselinck : drums

setlist

set one

01 - Montana / The Dog Breath Variations

02 - The Black Page

03 - Dupree's Paradise

04 - I Promise Not To Come In Your Mouth

05 - Filthy Habits

06 - Alien Orifice

set two

01 - intro

02 - Chunga's Revenge

03 - Sinister Footwear

04 - Titties 'n Beer / King Kong

05 - Oh No

06 - Inca Roads

07 - Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus

encore

08 - Montana / The Dog Breath Variations 

An audio recording of the concert can be found on the Zappateers website.
http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=27898

It should come as no surprise to you that I saw them again in Eeklo and in Sint Niklaas.

Sinister Sister.

Remember the name.

ARF ARF ARF! FESTIVAL STARTS TONIGHT

The two nights of Zappa-music at De Singel in Antwerp (B) start tonight !

Be warned, however, that Antwerp is a disaster to drive to by car. Especially on Friday evenings.

Add an extra hour, minimum.

UGLY RADIO REBELLION IN CONCERT 2014 04 03

URR in concert on 2014 04 03
at the Old Dog Tavern,
in Kalamazoo.

Performing the music of Frank Zappa,
With Ike Willis !!

SUN RA ARKESTRA AT THE MOERS FESTIVAL

The Sun Ra Arkestra is going to perform at the Moers Festival on June 7th, 2014.

http://www.moers-festival.de/programm-2014.html

ROXY BY PROXY

I received this scan yesterday.
Can't wait to hear the actual album.

FRANK ZAPPA REFERENCE IN ADVENTURE TIME ANIMATION SERIES

More info from Zappateers.
I pasted this in the "references to Frank Zappa section".

Animator, screenwriter and producer Pendleton Ward created the animation series Adventure Time in 2010.
In one of the episodes ("Dream Date With Lumpy Space Princess"??), the characters play with Frank Zappa's "Apostrophe" album.

Here's the scene:

CORRIE VAN BINSBERGEN & TOON TELLEGEN

2012 saw the DVD-release of "V.Schwrm", a movie by Froukje Tan, based on a book by Toon Tellegen.
Music composed by Corrie van Binsbergen.

Here's a little clip.

BOB DYLAN & FRANK ZAPPA

I found this link over at Zappateers :

http://www.examiner.com/article/report-bob-dylan-frank-zappa-1982-meeting-was-recorded-by-engineer

The article states that the 1982 meeting between Frank Zappa and Bob Dylan (where Bob played Frank his new songs on the piano) got recorded.
Unfortunately, according to Joe Travers, the tapes are no longer in the vault.

SUN RA ARKESTRA IN CONCERT IN ZURICH ON 2014 05 22

In concert at the Rote Fabrik in Zürich, Switzerland,

and celebrating the 100th anniversary of Sun Ra,

the Sun Ra Arkestra in concert.

http://www.rotefabrik.ch/en/fabrikjazz/eventdetail.php?id=19766

NEW DEWA BUDJANA ALBUM FEATURES VINNIE COLAIUTA

On his latest album, out on the MoonJune label, Indonesian guitar player Dewa Budjana is joined by Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.

The album is called "Surya Namaskar" and it will be released today !

BART MARIS - WWW.MYSPACE/BARTMARIS

• bart maris: www.myspace/bartmaris
      (2011, cdr-promo, bel, private release)

Trumpet player Bart Maris always has a zillion projects going on.
Rather recently, he joined Doubt on stage during one their concerts.

A couple of years ago, Bart released a promotional CDR. The album included tracks by Synaesthetic Trip and by Electric Barbarian.
In a couple of weeks, he'll participate in the Arf Arf Arf! concerts, as a member of Flat Earth Society.

Great stuff.
Check him out at:
https://myspace.com/bartmaris/music/songs

GSPOTWAGNER - SLIP INTO LIFE

• gspotwagner: slip into life
      (2007, cd, ger, moidabord / forke4) 

Berlin-based Gspotwagner (Georg Wagner in real life) released "Slip Into Life" in 2007.
The album includes two interesting tracks : 'Mein Captain Beefheart Shrine', and 'Thanks To Zappa - City Of Tiny Lights'.
Georg states on his website that he recorded 'City Of Tiny Lites' as a tribute.

Unfortunately, I find it hard to find any points of reference in Gspotwagner's version...
It sounds more like an ambien remix of a Kinks classic...

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=102219


-- info: Luc Reniers

SILVIA DONATI & STANDHARD 3IO - SINGIN' IN THE BRAIN

• silvia donati & standhard 3io: singin' in the brain
      (2004, cd, italy, abeat records ab jz 027)

Contemporary and opinionated.
Original material and classic tunes wrapped in modern jazz.
Nice.

Next to 'Sign  O' The Times', 'Slave To The Rhythm' and 'All Blues', the album also includes a fine adaptation of Zappa's 'Village Of The Sun'.


-- thanks to Luc Reniers for the info.

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - OH NO! NOT JAZZ!!

• ed palermo big band: oh no! not jazz!
      (2014, 2cd, usa, cuneiform records)

Apparantly, years ago, 8-year old Sally Palermo (who is Ed Palermo's daughter and is now in her twenties) yelled out "Oh no! Not jazz!!' when her dad flippe a Cannonball Adderley cassette in the car tape player. I wonder how she would have reacted to the music on this album.
"Oh No! Not Jazz!!" is a fine double album. On the first disc, the EPBB plays a bunch of Zappa tunes, while disc two presents original Ed Palermo material, also performed by the Ed Palermo Big Band.

The Zappa pieces sound really good. It's a great selection, the arrangements are beautiful and the playing is exellent.
The EPBB released their first album with Zappa material in 1997. After "The Ed Palermo Big Band Plays The Music Of Frank Zappa" (1997), "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" (2006) and "Eddy Loves Frank" (2009), this is the fourth album in which Ed Palermo and his band pay tribute to Frank Zappa. Each and everyone of these is essential listening.

As I said earlier, "Oh No! Not Jazz" presents a great selection of Zappa tunes.

1. Inca Roads

2. The Uncle Meat Variations

3. Little Umbrellas

4. The Dog Breath Variations

5. Chunga's Revenge

6. Lumpy Gravy

7. The Black Page #2

8. America Drinks And Goes Home

'Inca Roads' features the inimitable Napoleon Murphy Brock on vocals. 'Little Umbrellas' sounds so sweet. Great bass sound by Paul Adamy, and a trombone solo by Charley Gordon !!
And  'The Black Page #2' is my favorite track on this album. With a great solo by Cliff Lyons !!

Disc two of the set is original Ed Palermo material.
No Zappa references, but top notch swingin' big band jazz.

Nice. Very nice.

You definitely need to hear this.

"Oh No! Not Jazz" is out on the Cuneiform Records label.
www.cuneiformrecords.com

The album's also available from Mandaï.
www.mandai.be

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA AT DE SINGER

Here's the illustration for the flyer / poster (by comic book artist and illustrator Wegé) :

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA
MARCH 31, 2014
AT 'DE SINGER'
RIJKEVORSEL, BELGIUM

A CAPT.CHEESE-BEARD UPDATE

a message from Capt.Cheese-Beard

I just wanted to inform that we, as in Capt.Cheese-Beard and the 7 Sisters Of Prevention will open the Arf! Arf! Arf! Zappa weekend in the Singel in Antwerp on the 21st of March with a compact Zappa set in support of Flat Earth Society.

What is particularly sweet about this gig is that we will be joined on stage by Robert Martin on lead vocal.

Robert played keys and sang in Frank Zappa's band in the eighties so this is a not to miss event.

The rest of the line-up is:

• Didier De Meestere (Drums)
• Pascal Hauben (Bass)
• Pierre Chevalier (Keyboard)
• Vanessa Spay (Vocals)
• Bart Quartier (Melodic Perussion)
• Maayan Smith (Tenor Sax)
• Tom Van Dyck (Baritone Sax)
• Ludovic Jean Mart (Alto sax)
• Mo Franken (Trumpet)
• Johan De Coninck (Guitar)

GARY LUCAS & DEBORT

Gary Lucas was in Budapest recording a new album with experimental jazz-rock band DeBORT, led by saxophonist Toni Deszo.

THE BANNED FROM UTOPIA IN CONCERT IN RIJKEVORSEL (B) ON 2014 03 31

** STOP THE PRESSES  **  STOP THE PRESSES **

The Banned From Utopia have added an extra date to their tour.

Monday, March 31, 2014, The Banned From Utopia will be performing in my favorite jazz club:
'De Singer' in Rijkevorsel (B).
And they will be performing the music of Frank Zappa.

Rijkevorsel is located in between Antwerp (B), Turnhout (B) and Breda (NL).

The Banned From Utopia will be featuring

• Robert Martin - vocals, keyboards, sax, French horn
• Ray White - vocals, guitar
• Ed Mann - xylophone, percussion
• Tom Fowler - bass, violin
• Chad Wackerman - drums
• Arthur Barrow - guitar, vocals
• Albert Wing - sax, flute

That's right. All of these musicians have been a part of Frank Zappa's band.
This is the real deal.
Frank Zappa's music played by the musicians who performed it with him on record and on stage.

Get your tickets here:
http://www.desinger.be/programma/31-03-2014/banned-from-utopia

Just take a look at the below clip.
That's Tom Fowler on bass !!
Albert Wing on saxophone !!
And Ray White and Robert Martin on vocals !!

MARTY SMYTH - SYNCHRONOUS

• marty smyth: synchronous
      (2007, cd, can, gramtam)

Here's another interesting album that Luc Reniers told me about.
The liner nots of "Synchronous" say:
Limiting the pipe organ's role to that of the historical instrument seems to be a generally accepted activity. This recording is my exploration of other possibilities...

And Marty proves what he wrote by performing an excellent selection of songs. All on a pipe organ.
Brubeck's 'Blue Rondo', Led Zep's 'Kashmir', Ravel's 'Bolero' and Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia' to name four.
A splendid job !!

DAN HYLAND - CLOSED DOORS OPEN WINDOWS

• dan hyland: closed doors open windows
      (2011, cd, usa, true42 music)

AOR. American Oriented Rock.
A private release, distributed by CDBaby.

Nice album.
It includes 'Something' (George Harrison) and a nine-minute version of Frank Zappa's 'Watermelon In Easter Hay'.
I like it.

MICHAEL MOORE QUARTET

Concertwise, March 2014 might just become the busiest month in years...

The Grandmothers are touring Europe,
The Band From Utopia are back in Europe and will be playing in Rijkevorsel (B),
the Arf Arf Arf ! festival will take place in Antwerp (B),
Sinister Sister will be doing four concerts, performing the music of FZ,

and the Michael Moore Quartet will be performing at De Plusetage in Baarle Nassau (NL) on Saturday the 15th of March...

SAX RUINS - BLIMMGUASS

• sax ruins: blimmguass
      (2014, cd, ??, skin graft)

You might know Tatsuya Yoshida from his recordings with Acid Mothers Temple, or from his Koenjhyakkei and Koekyojinn projects, but Ruins is considered Tatsuya Yoshida's primary musical outlet. The last couple of years, the band mutated into Sax Ruins (where a saxophonist replaces the bass player).
Besides Tatsuya Yoshida, "Blimmguass", features alto saxophonist Ono Ryoko.

Sax Ruins music has been described as hyper-kinetic big band jazz and I can't find a better word for it.
If you like Flat Earth Society, Tetzepi, or LeBocal, you should definitely check out Sax Ruins.

Available from Mandaï.
www.mandai.be

Here's a track from Sax Ruins' previous album:

FIONN Ó LOCHLIANN - SPAWN OF THE BEAST

• fionn ó lochlainn: spawn of the beast
      (2007, cd, usa, sentire entertainment)

Singer / songwriter Fionn Ó Lochlainn was born and raised in London, England. Nowadays, he lives in New York.
He has recorded and perfomed with various artists and released his first solo album "Spawn Of The Beast" only in 2007.

In between the acoustic folk songs, "Spawn Of The Beast" offers two Zappa tributes. The first one uses the lyrics of 'I'm The Slime'. The second one has the lyrics of 'Dumb All Over'.

Nice. Very nice.

Here's another beautiful track, though not on the album : 'A Secret Code'.

CENTRAL CITY MUSIC COMPANY - LONG PLAY

• central city music company: long play
      (2010, cdr, usa, private release)

Adding data to The Others Of Invention,
http://www.united-mutations.com/z/frank_zappa/fz_ooi_albums.htm
here's "Long Play".

Uncompromised, lo-fi album by Central City Music Company.
It includes a superb 'I'm The Slime' (Frank Zappa).

Availabe as a download, or as a CDR from CDBaby.


-- info from Luc Reniers

ENRICODELGAUDIO & BANDERUMOROSE - STANDARDS VOL.1

• enricodelgaudio & banderumorose: standards vol.1
      (2005, cd, italy, wakepress / novoices nv 1105)

Drummer Enrico Del Gaudio and his friends are Enricodelgaudio & Banderumorose.

Their "Standards Vol.1" album contains no less than five Charles Mingus compositions, alongside pieces by Kurt Weill, Ennio Morricone, Bill Frisell, Jimi Hendrix and (!!) Frank Zappa.

Frank Zappa's 'Let's Make The Water Turn Black' gets a modern and jazzy approach.
I like it.

-- thanks to Luc Reniers for the info

GUTHRIE GOVAN - EROTIC CAKES

• guthrie govan: erotic cakes
      (2006, cd, uk, cornford records corn 0001)

The Aristocrats played a stunning concert at 'De Paradox' in Eindhoven last week.
It got recorded and will be broadcast on Dutch radio shortly.

As you can imagine, all three Aristocrats put down an outstanding performance. It was, however, the first time that I saw Guthrie Govan live. He was incredible.

Guthrie entered the Zappa Universe in 1999 when he explained and performed FZ's 'Peaches En Regalia' in Guitar Techniques Magazine.
In 2006 he released his first (and only) solo album (it got re-issued on JTC Records in 2011).
"Erotic Cakes" is essential listening for everyone who worships the guitar.

STUDIO TAN

Dutch band Studio Tan performs the music of Frank Zappa next to original compositions.
The band started out in the early 1990s and performed at the Zappanale festival in 1993 and 1995.

During the early years, Studio Tan released a couple of cassette tapes: "Studio Tan Rides Again", and "Shit Happens".

• studio tan: studio tan rides again
      (1993, k7, nl, private release)

• studio tan: shit happens
      (1994, k7, nl, private release)

More recently, at the Zappadag that was held in Tilburg a couple of months ago, I received a copy of "Gaan We Opnemen?" from John Sijnke. It's a collection of demos and rehearsals by Studio Tan.

• studio tan: gaan we opnemen?
      (????, cdr, nl, private release)

The Zappadag was a fine event. Three bands performed with Studio Tan closing the day with a 2-hour plus set.

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Factorium Bigband - 2013 10 13 Tilburg NL

Factorium Bigband
conductor : Bas van Dun

setlist
Son Of Mr Green Genes * America Drinks And Goes Home * Peaches En Regalia * Blessed Relief
encore
Blessed Relief Reprise

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The White Page - 2013 10 13 Tilburg NL 49.44 AUD MC(UniMuta)

Jos Zwaanenburg: flute, lead vocals, electronics
David Demarez: bass, backing vocals
Thomas Martens: guitar
Pieter van Helden: guitar
Stormvogel: keyboards, backing vocals
Onno Witte: drums, backing vocals

setlist
intro by John Sijnke * intro * Uncle Meat * Oh No * Black Napkins * Outside Now * Big Swifty * band introduction * Alien Orifice

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Studio Tan - 2013 10 13 Tilburg NL

line-up

 Frank van der Zande: bass
 Hans Geerdink: guitar
 Allaert Pesman: alto & baritone sax and vocals
 Rik Meesters: tenor sax
 Louis van den Enden: drums
 Henk Vroon: guitar and vocals
guests
 Jan Broeks: tenor sax
 Frank Fish: vocals

setlist
soundcheck * Motherly Love * Pygmy Twylyte * Let's Make The Water Turn Black * Lemme Take You To The Beach * Filthy Habits - The Torture Never Stops * Oh No - Orange County Lumber Truck - More Trouble Every Day * Tryin' To Grow A Chin * Lonesome Cowboy Burt * City Of Tiny Lites * King Kong * Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance * a band that doesn't exist, explained by John Sijnke * Pink Napkins - Black Napkins - Sofa * introducing Frank Fish and Jan Broeks * Wino Man * Camarillo Brillo * Chunga's Revenge * We Are Not Alone * Dirty Love *  I'm The Slime * Wind Up Workin' In A Gas Station * Sinktrip Ska * Muffin Man
encores
Cosmik Debris * Let's Move To Cleveland

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MAT TRIO - TIMELINE

• mat trio: timeline
      (2009, cd, eu, musica mancina )

The Mat Trio is Massiliano Peretti, Amedeo Spagnolo and Tancredi Celstre.
(double bass, clarinet, violin)
The ensemble recorded Frank Zappa's 'Let's Make The Water Turn Black' on their "Timeline" album.

Released in 2009 on the Musica Mancina record label.

Contemporary classical / jazz.
Nice.

Another fine addition to The Others Of Invention, artists performing the music of Frank Zappa.

-- info from Luc Reniers

FRANK ZAPPA - ROAD TAPES VENUE #2

• frank zappa: road tapes - finlandia hall, helsinki, finland 23, 24 august 1973
      (2013, 2cd, usa, vaulternative records)

The second volume in the Zappa Road Tapes Series is a hit.
This 2CD-set got compiled by Joe Travers from three shows that The Mothers did in Helsinki in August 1973 and it's superb in each and every way.

Released on October 31, 2013, and number 96 in the Zappa discography.

Essential.

-- thanks (again) to Danny Mathys

CLOUD BECOMES YOUR HAND

Here's another fine discovery: Cloud Becomes Your Hand.
The band's from Brooklyn and has a new album out on the Northern Spy record label.

Here's a sample:

ALOA

The U.S. based Medical Records record label has just re-released Aloa's self-titled album.
Originally released in 1982 and pretty obscure, the album is being re-issued on vinyl, but is also offered as a digital download.

Synthesizer, drum machine, vocals.
Neue Deutsche Welle.

SUN RA REISSUES

Both "My Brother The Wind" and "Bad And Beautiful" will get a 180 gram vinyl reissue in 2014.