HAYWARD, SEGERS & MAKOTO - UNEVEN ELEVEN

Charles Hayward (This Heat), Guy Segers (Univers Zero) and Kawabata Makoto (Acid Mothers Temple) caught in wild act at Cafe Oto, London.
Available from Sub Rosa as 2 CD and LP.

http://www.subrosa.net/en.html
Check out the samples !

FRANK ZAPPA - THE MUFFIN MAN GOES TO COLLEGE

I mentioned this album a little while ago when I noticed it on Spotify.
Quite predictable, it is out as a 2CD set as well.

LITTLE FEAT UPDATE

A 'new' Little Feat album has been announced : "Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA, Friday 31st October 1975".
Double vinyl album. Taken from an FM radio show.

BAND FROM UTOPIA TOURDATES

Ray White, Robert, Martin, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing, Robbie Mangano, Joel Taylor
performing the music of Frank Zappa

• 17.10.2015 Burglengenfeld (D) VAZ Pfarrheim
  www.power-concerts.de
• 19.10.2015 Duisburg (D) Grammatikoff
  www.grammatikoff.de
• 20.10.2015 Bolzano/Bozen-Steinegg (I) Steinegg Live
  www.steinegglive.com
• 21.10.2015 København (DK) Amager Bio
  www.amagerbio.dk
• 22.10.2015 Göteborg (S) Nefertiti
  www.nefertiti.se tbc
• 23.10.2015 Oslo (N) Cosmopolite
  www.zappaunion.no
• 25.10.2015 Eindhoven (NL) Effenaar
  www.effenaar.nl
• 27.10.2015 Arnhem (NL) Luxor Live
  www.luxorlive.nl
• 28.10.2015 Zoetermeer (NL) Boerderij
  www.cultuurpodiumboerderij.nl
• 30.10.2015 Diksmuide (B) 4AD
  www.4ad.be
• 03.11.2015 London (UK) Jazzcafe
  www.thejazzcafelondon.com
• 08.11.2015 Rouen-Cléon (F) La Traverse
  www.latraverse.org
• 10.11.2015 Worms (D) Das Wormser
  www.das-wormser.de
• 11.11.2015 Stuttgart (D) Theaterhaus
  www.theaterhaus.com
• 12.11.2015 Biel/Bienne (CH) Chessu/Coupole
  www.ajz.ch
• 13.11.2015 Schaffhausen (CH) Kammgarn
  www.kammgarn.ch
• 16.11.2015 Aschaffenburg (D) Colos-Saal
  www.colos-saal.de
• 17.11.2015 Torgau (D) Kulturbastion
  www.kulturbastion.de

SCOTT HENDERSON TOUR DATES

SCOTT HENDERSON - guitar
TRAVIS CARLTON - bass guitar & ALAN HERTZ - drums

USA/MEXICO TOUR 2015
Fri, July 10 - Studio City, Los Angeles, CA (Baked Potato)
Fri, July 24 - Santiago de Quéretaro, Mexico (Festival Internacional Jazz de Verano)
Thu Sep 10 - Chicago, IL (Reggie's) w/Marbin
Fri, Sep 11 - Chicago, IL (Reggie's) w/Marbin
Sun, Sep 13 - Austin, TX (Wobeon Festival, Ironwood Hall)
Wed, Sep 16 - New York, NY (The Iridium)
Thu, Sep 17 - New York, NY (The Iridium)
Sat, Sep 19 - Auburn Hills, MI (Callahan's)
Sun, Sep 20 - Auburn Hills, MI (Callahan's)

EUROPEAN TOUR 2015
Thu, October 8 - Uppsala, Sweden
Fri, October 9 - Uppsala, Sweden
Sat, October 10 - Moscow, Russia
Sun, October 11 - Astana, Kazakhstan
Tue, October 13 - Tromso, Norway
Wed, October 14 - Tromso, Norway
Thu, October 15 - Munich, Germany
Sat, October 17 - Delemont, Switzerland
Tue, October 20 - Bologna Italy

SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR 2015
Fri, October 23 - Valparaiso, Chile
Sat, October 24 - Colina, Chile
Sun, October 25 - Puerto Montt, Chile
Mon, October 26 - Santiago, Chile
Thu, October 29 - Rancagua, Chile
Fri, October 30 - La Paz, Bolivia
Sat, October 31 - Lima, Peru
Mon, November 2 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tue, November 3 - Cordoba, Argentina
Thu, November 5 - Azul, Argentina
Fri, November 6 - Rosario, Argentina
Sat, November 7 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sun, November 8 - Montevideo, Uruguay
Mon, November 9 - Mar Del Plata, Argentina

more dates will follow...

2015 07 22 FREAKSHOW IN CONCERT / INVENTIONIS MATER

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Vinothek Tiepolo in Würzburg, Germany

performing the music of Frank Zappa

VOLKER KRIEGEL - MAINZ 1963 - 1969

• volker kriegel: lost tapes - mainz 1963 - 1969
      (2013, 2cd, ger, swr music 101 726)

German jazz guitarist Volker Riegel performed and recorded with The Dave Pike Set and with Don 'Sugarcane' Harris to name just two.
These recently discovered recordings, "Lost Tapes, Mainz 1963 - 1969", include an excellent version of Zappa's 'Mother People', a track that also got recorded by The Dave Pike Set in 1969, with the very same Volker Kriegel on the guitar!

Food for jazz freaks.

DON VAN VLIET AND THE MAGIC BAND - ROUGH, RAW AND AMAZING

• don van vliet & the magic band: rough, raw and amazing
      (2015, 2lp, uk, ozit records) 

Record Store Day 2015 release by the Ozit Records label. Numbered, limited edition (1500 copies) on yellow vinyl.
The album has also been spotted on blue vinyl. Might be a re-release.

LES MATCHBOXX - LE CHEMIN DE LA ROUTE

• les matchboxx: le chemin de la route
      (2015, lp, france, musimouille bcd9715)

French pop band Les Matchboxx released an EP entitled "Le Chemin De La Route" in 1997.
The EP got re-released last year with lots of bonus material, resulting in an LP.
This vinyl album was part of a fundraising project so it's not really the easiest thing to come by.
Also available through Bandcamp.

One of the bonus tracks is a fine live version of Frank Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy' theme.

QUINTORIGO / ROBERTO GATTO - AROUND ZAPPA

• quintorigo / roberto gatto: around zappa
      (2015, cd + dvd, italy, incipit records inc 201)

Italian drummer Roberto Gatto's Quintorigo project recently released "Around Zappa", a jazz tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.

Violin, cello, double bass, sax, vocals and drums.
Exceptional.
Including a superb arrangement of 'King Kong'.

Too bad that, despite Moris Fradella's vocal capabilities, the lyrics are hardly understandable.
Onomatopoeic.
Disturbing.

SECRET CHIEFS 3 TRADITIONALISTS - LE MANI DESTRE RECISE DEGLI ULTIMI UOMINI

• secret chiefs 3 traditionalists: le mani destre recise degli ultimi uomini
      (2009, cd, usa, mimicry)

In 2009, Secret Chiefs 3 released an imaginary soundtrack entitled "The Severed Right Hands Of The Last Men".
Actually, they released it as Secret Chiefs Traditionalists, one of their many monikers.

A perfect way to start your day.

-

BELEDO - MONTEVIDEO JAZZ DREAMS

Great instrumental jazz and fusion from Uruguayan-born guitar player Beledo.
Out on Moonjune.

http://beledo-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/montevideo-jazz-dreams

DANCE ME THIS

Frank Zappa: Dance Me This

TON ENGELS

Can be found on Ton's 1979 album, "A Picking Fool".

-- link: Jan van Kemenade

SINISTER SISTER, NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK AND THE MUZE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

CC Muze will hosting a ZappaFest.

Sinister Sister will be performing their amazing arrangements of Zappa tunes,
and The Muze Jazz Orchestra will be playing the music of FZ with special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock.

December 20, 2015
at CC Muze
Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
kicks off at 17h00 !!

PHISH - SIMPLE

• phish: simple
      (1995, cd-bootleg, i, kiss the stone kts 428)

Trey Anastasio on guitar and lead vocals, Mike Gordon on bass and vocals, Jon 'Tubbs' Fishman on drums and vocals, and Page McConnell on keyboards and vocals.

Recorded live in San Francisco, Ca, somewhere in 1994.
Another excellent Phish concert. Trey Anastasio does some fine Zappa-esque guitar soloing.
And they play 'Peaches En Regalia' as well...

An Italian bootleg from 1995.
And here's what Phish sounds like, fifteen years later.

THE SPOTNICKS - RARITIES

• the spotnicks: rarities
      (1987, lp, sweden, star club records 33-8028)

Adding bits and pieces to The Others Of Invention section, here's a vinyl album by The Spotnicks.

In 1969, the Spotnicks recorded Frank Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy' as a b-side for their 'Diamonds' single. The track can also be found on various Spotnicks compilations. 'Rarities' is one of them. Released in 1987 and probably the first Spotnicks album to include 'Lumpy Gravy'.

PHISH - NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE

• phish: new year's eve live
      (19??, 2cd-bootleg, ??, alley kat)

Phish. New Year's Eve. December 31, 1993.
In concert in Worcester, Mass.

I bought this bootleg CD because the band played Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia' during the concert.
As always, I'm rather curious to hear the rest of the album. Why does an artist play a Zappa tune? Does it fit in the album / concert? Are there more links or references to be found? ...

"New Year's Eve Live" is a very good example of the reason why I try to listen to bands that play Zappa. This is superb.
Incredible that the band never released this themselves.

Here's 'Stash', one of the top songs of the new year's eve 1993 concert, performed one year later in New York.

LEX BRONKOWITZ ORCHESTRA

Live in Cologne, Germany, two weeks ago.
The Lex Bronkowitz Orchestra.

-

THE NICE - ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS

• the nice: ars longa vita brevis
      (2003, 2cd, uk, caste music cmqdd791)

August 25, 1968, BBC Radio did a broadcast of a session that The Nice had done a couple of weeks earlier. Among the pieces that got broadcast was The Nice's version of Frank Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy' theme.
It got released on CD in 2002 (as "BBC Sessions") but can also be found on this 2003 release.

PHISH - TAKE COVER

• phish: take cover
      (19??, cd-bootleg, i, teddy bear records tb-75)

I recently got hold of another couple of Phish bootlegs.
As you might guess from the title, "Take Cover" presents Phish doing coverversions.
'A Space Odyssey', 'Highway To Hell', Zappa's 'Peaches En Regalia', Take The A-Train, Purple Rain,... and many, many more.
A nice collection. Too bad that 'Peaches En Regalia' sounds as if it was taken from a crappy cassette tape.

HAGEN RETHER - LIEBE 4

• hagen rether: liebe 4
      (2012, cd, ger, wortart 1466)

German comedian Hagen Rether used the lyrics of Frank Zappa's 'Teen-Age Wind' in his 'Freiheit' on his "Liebe 4" album.

Another addition to the Others Of Invention list, bands performing the music of Frank Zappa.

DANCE ME THIS HAS SHIPPED

The mesage from Barfko-Swill says that Frank Zappa's "Dance Me This" has shipped...

ENSEMBLE 4'33" - LIVE @ LOFT

• ensemble 4'33": live @ loft
      (2005, cd + dvd, russia, solyd records)

In 2005, the Russian Solyd Records label released "Live @ Loft", an album by Alexei Aigui's Ensemble 4'33".
Next to the regular audio CD release, the label also issued a limited edition of 1000 numbered copies of the album with a bonus DVD.

Very nice.

The DVD includes Ensemble 4"33' performance of Frank Zappa's 'The Sheik Yerbouti Tango'. Before the ensemble performed this piece, Dietmar Bonnen (piano) explained that, apparently, the concert had been advertised in a couple of newspapers as a Zappa tribute concert. He added that the ensemble had done a Zappa tribute concert one year earlier and that the newspapers had made a mistake. As an intermediate solution, the ensemble would, however, perform 'The Sheik Yerbouti Tango'.

A MUFFIN MEN UPDATE

The Muffin Men, parading as the MufFinZ Power Quartet with special guest Silke Gonska played a short German tour in May 2015.
Here's a 15 minute report.
Part of the 25th anniversary year.

Check out the new muffins website at
http://muffinmen.esy.es/HOME/

Visit their Facebook group for the latest news:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/144945955537278/

LOWELL GEORGE DOCUMENTARY

"Feats First" is a documentary on the life and music of Lowell George.
Out on DVD.

Lowell George first encountered Frank Zappa, as youngsters, when they appeared on the Al Jarvis Talent Show on KLAC-TV - George performing on harmonica in a duo with his brother and Zappa giving a puppet performance. Neither won.

In the mid 1960's George joined The Factory along with school friend Martin Kibbee. In 1966/1967, they made some demos with Zappa as producer. While the other members of The Factory evolved into Fraternity Of Man George joined The Standells as lead vocalist. The Standells had enjoyed some success during 1966 and 1967; appearing in, and providing the theme song for the film Riot On Sunset Strip, but by now were waning and George only stayed with them for a couple of months.

He then joined up with Fraternity Of Man, who now had Elliot Ingber on guitar, and contributed to their second album produced by Tom Wilson.

November 1968, George was hired by Zappa to replace Ray Collins. He recorded and toured with Zappa and The Mothers until May 1969.
He started Little Feat shortly thereafter.

ELLIOT ELLIOT - YEAH LOW !

• elliot elliot: yeah low!
      (2015, spotify, --, --)

Elliot Elliot's latest album can be listened to on Spotify.
The album features Mats Öberg and Morgan Agren.

FRANK ZAPPA - MASKED TURNIP CYCLOPHONY

• frank zappa: masked turnip cyclophony
      (2015, cd, uk, gonzo multimedia)

Announced by Gonzo Multimedia for a September release.

http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/search/product_details/15863/Frank_Zappa-Masked_Turnip_Cyclophony_(Rare_and_Wonderful_Gems_from_the_Pal_Studio_Archives).html

All tracks were compiled from the (essential) Crossfire CD-box from a couple of years ago.

• various artists: paul buff presents highlights from the pal and original sound studio archives
      (2012, 5cd-box, usa, crossfire publications)

A STREET NAMED AFTER FRANK ZAPPA IN DÜSSELDORF GERMANY

Düsseldorfer streiten heftig um eine Frank-Zappa-Straße

Düsseldorf does already have streets named after Haydn, Chopin and Händl.
Zappa, however, was a bit too eccentric according to some local politicians so the proposal started a fierce discussion.

http://www.derwesten.de/nrz/staedte/duesseldorf/in-duesseldorf-gibt-s-aerger-um-frank-zappa-strasse-id10792240.html

ZAPPA BOOTLEGS ON SPOTIFY ?

I was checking out Spotify earlier today, and I noticed two Zappa bootlegs :

• frank zappa: vpro radio piknik, uddel, june 18, 1970 (remastered)
      (2015, spotify, --, lilith records)

The famous 1970 Uddel concert. It got broadcast on TV and on the radio at the time, but, unfortunately, only audio recordings of the broadcast survived...

• frank zappa: the muffin man goes to college (live)
      (2015, spotify, --, sonic boom)

Another re-issue of the well-known April 26 1975 Providence concert. Featuring Captain Beefheart.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WEASELS RE-RIPPED

• various artists: weasels re-ripped
      (2015, cd, uk, cordelia records cd062)

This little package took a bit over a month to arrive, but I'm glad it did.
Andrew Greenaway compiled another fine album. This time, some of Andrew's favourite bands re-recorded Frank Zappa's "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" album.
Fond memories, as "Weasels" was the first Zappa / Mothers album that I ever heard.
It was 1980. A friend told me to check it out so I borrowed it from the local library. I went back for "Burnt Weeny Sandwich" the next week...

"Weasels Re-Ripped" has a great concept. The various artists / bands / ensembles don't just try to reproduce the music. Each and everyone of them did put something special with the original piece.

This is really good.

The album got released on Alan Jenkins' Cordelia record label. You can get it from the Cordelia website.
http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/New%20Things.html

More info and audio snippets at:
http://www.idiotbastard.com/Weasels.htm

B.B. KING TRIBUTE

Mike Keneally, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Tosin Abasi and Brendon Small - G4 2015 The Thrill Is Gone

ZAPPA AND JAZZ, A BOOK BY GEOFF WILLS

Scheduled for a September release :

Zappa and Jazz
Did it really smell funny, Frank?

by Geoff Wills

http://www.troubador.co.uk/book_info.asp?bookid=3374

Although Frank Zappa died over 20 years ago, he continues to be regarded as an iconic figure in 20th century culture. In 1973 he famously said ‘Jazz is not dead… it just smells funny,’ and in this new book Geoff Wills takes a look at Zappa’s widely assumed antipathy for the jazz genre. Along the way, he throws up some very interesting facts.

Frank Zappa’s music has a unique and easily recognisable quality, and it brilliantly synthesizes a wide range of cultural influences. Zappa and Jazz focuses on the influence of jazz on Zappa in an attempt to clarify the often-confusing nature of his relationship with it.

Zappa’s early years are examined, from his first foray into a recording studio to the formation and progress of his band The Mothers of Invention. There are exhaustive critiques here of the key jazz-related albums Hot Rats, King Kong, The Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka. Along the way, Wills analyses Zappa’s music and the wider influences that were crucial in forming his attitudes, not only to jazz but to society in general.

The book concludes with a discussion of Zappa’s similarity to more orthodox jazz leaders, his legacy and the influence on jazz-related music.

Guaranteed to appeal to all Zappa fans who seek new insights into his music, to open-minded jazz listeners and to anyone with an interest in the melting pot of 20th century music.

MANU RIBOT - CA

• manu ribot: ça
      (2015, cd, bel, off records / opv011)

If you're not counting the "Ssssshhhhtttt" album from a couple of years ago (recorded as The Claude Zak Ensemble), "Ça" is Manu Ribot's first release.
I've been listening to this disc the entire week. It keeps amazing me. I hear Snakefinger, The Residents, melodic surf ballads, Buckethead, and the unmistakable hand of Pierre Vervloesem.

This is superb.

Get it now !
http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.be/2015/05/opv011-manu-ribot-ca.html

Here's 'Dano The Blind', a beautiful ballad.

DIE ÄRZTE - BÄST OF

• die ärzte: bäst of
      (2006, 2cd, ger, hot action records)

German band Die Ärzte recorded Frank Zappa's 'Stick It Out / What's The Ugliest Part Of Your Body' in 1994 and released it on their "Friedenspanzer" EP during the same year.
During the following years, the track found its way to various compiliations and samplers, one of them being this 2CD set from 2006.
Presented in a metal box !

VARIOUS ARTISTS - OSLOPROG

• various artists: osloprog
      (2005, cdr, norway, tarkus magazine nr.34) 

The September 2005 issue of Tarkus Magazine included a CDR that featured Dead Dino Storage performing two Zappa pieces: 'Let's Move To Cleveland' and 'Peaches En Regalia'. Nice.
The disc also features Panzerpappa who'll perform at Zappanale in about a month...

All tracks recorded live at the Amatoren festival.

ZAPPANALE #26

In about 30 days, Zappanale is the place to be for Zappa-freaks from all over the world.
Word has it that the number of Zappa Alumni has never been this high...
The party kicks off on Wednesday in Hamburg and ends in Bad Doberan on Sunday evening.

2015 07 15 - 'St Katharinenkirche', Hamburg
- Frank Out feat. Robert Martin

2015 07 16 - Kampgelände, Bad Doberan
- Zappnoise
- Provinztheater
- Napoleon Murphy Brock & Mats Öberg
- Bad Penny

2015 07 17 - Galopprennbahn
- Die Drei Vom Rhein
- Napoleon Murphy Brock & The Peach Noise
- Panzerpappa
- Magma
- The Yellow Snow Crystals

2015 07 18 - Galopprennbahn
- Jim Cohen
- Univers Zero
- Inventionis Mater
- Ike Willis & Zappatika
    (feat. Denny Walley, Ed Mann and Jeff Hollie)
- Frank Out
- Fried Dähn & das Onomatopoeia Perturbation Consort
- The Z3 feat. Ed Mann

2015 07 19 - Galopprennbahn
- Stefan Hueffners Zappata
- Banned From Utopia
- Goodbye session
- Jazzproject Hundehagen

The Banned From Utopia will feature former Zappa sidemen Robert Martin, Ray White, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing plus Morgan Agren and Robert Mangano.

www.zappanale.de

NDR SINFONIEORCHESTER PLAYED ZAPPA (AND VARESE)

Last April, the NDR Sinfonieorchester did a concert in Hamburg entitled "Aerobics In Bondage - Zappa & Varèse".

NDR Sinfonieorchester, con. Jonathan Stockhammer

01 Introduction
02 Déserts  (Varèse)
03 The Main Street Electrical Parade (sort of)    (Zappa)
04 Reagan At Bitburg  (Zappa)
05 'In the mood for a little disco'
06 Aerobics In Bondage  (Zappa)
07 Jonathan Stockhammer Interview
08 Feeding The Monkies At Ma Maison  (Zappa)
09 Naval Aviation In Art?  (Zappa)
10 Announcement
11 Put A Motor In Yourself  (Zappa)
12 Announcement
13 Reagan At Bitburg Some More  (Zappa)

The second part of the program featured the NDR Big Band, performing a.o. a Zappa medley and 'Peaches En Regalia'.

The concert should get a radio broadcast next September.
Something to look out for.

ZAPPA REFERENCE BY GOTLIB

French comic book artist Gotlib published a comic book in 1974 that has references to Captain Beefheart's "The Spotlight Kid" and to Frank Zappa's "200 Motels".
Different editions of these comics exist.

Here's the Dutch translation.

ARF DOSSIER 84

Issue 84, June 2015, of the Arf Dossier is out :
Available from the Arf Society.

the arf-dossier no.84 - 2015/06
incl.

• leserpost
• the secret word for the weekend is: moo-ah! by evelyn
• the hot platters heaven from the arf office by peter görs and volkmar mantei
• the rare pictures gallery
• aerobics in bondage: zappa & varese, kampnagel k6, hamburg, 17.04.2015 by kürbiskopf
• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope by peter görs
• news from belgium - live from United Mutations
• back in time vol IV: frank zappa, 1973, "roxy", usa
• ullis ecke by ulli schäfer

SECRET CHIEFS 3 UPDATE

It seems like the Secret Chiefs 3 discography over at the United Mutations Archives needed an update.
Album titles only. More info to follow soon.

• secret chiefs 3 traditionalists: le mani destre recise degli ultimi uomini
      (2009, cd, usa, mimicry)
• secret chiefs 3: live at the great american music hall
      (2009, dvd, usa, mimicry)
• secret chiefs 3: satellite supersonic vol.1
      (2010, cd, usa, mimicry)
• secret chiefs 3: book of souls, folio a
      (2013, cd, usa, mimicry)
• ishraqiyun: perichoresis
      (2014, cd, usa, mimicry)

ZAPPA REFERENCE BY MARC SLEEN

I love comic books. I started with Donald Duck some 43 years ago; switched to super heroes around the age of ten, and continued with the classic Flemish, Belgian and French comics while growing up.
Just in case that you want to know, my most recent purchase, was the Dutch translation of a couple of Fantagraphics novels by Dave Cooper.
Anyway, all this to say that I love comic books. One of the things that I like best are the little references that certain artists put in their in work. References that only a small number of people might get.

Marc Sleen is a Flemish comic book artist, best known for the series "Nero" that appeared in Belgian newspapers and albums for years. Marc Sleen's work is full of these little references. I was once told that some of the number plates of the cars in his comic books are actually phone numbers of his friends...

In "De Zwarte Toren" (1983), one of the characters (Jan Spier) gets mugged.
One of the villains does look a lot like Frank Zappa...

Frank Zappa also appeared in "Nero no.95: Het Beest Zonder Naam". The character looks like Zappa and is called Professor Doctor Zappadopolis, but as he says to main character Nero: "But you can call me Doctor Zappa."

Comic book published by the Standaard Uitgeverij in 1985.

-- additional info: Kjell Knudde

PETE OXLEY & NICOLAS MEIER - CHASING TALES

• pete oxley & nicolas meier: chasing tales
      (2015, cd, uk, mgp records mgpcd016)

If you're in to guitar duos, here's something you definitely need to check out.

"Chasing Tales" features Pete Oxley and Nicolas Meier, two top guitarists.
Pete Oxley has performed with numerous jazz artists and has recorded 14 albums to date.
Nicolas Meier's playing blends jazz with world music. He has toured around the world with his Meier Group and he's currently part of Jeff Beck's band.

"Chasing Tales" is the duo's second album. It presents 11 original compositions plus one piece by Turkish composer Aşık Veysel.
There's some excellent music on this album. Very melodic. Nylon string jazz and an occasional electric jazz guitar.
As the album title suggest, they will take you on a journey.

http://www.mgprecords.com/

Here you go : an interview (with music !)

ZAPPA REFERENCE

Jan Bosschaert is a Belgian illustrator and comic book artist.

Here's a scene from the comic book album "Pest In 't Paleis" (1982), by artist Jan Bosschaert and author Guido Van Meir. It's a satirical comic book poking fun at Belgian politicians. At one point in the story the politicians decide to pose for a group portrait by painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The painting depicts them as a group of monsters gathering around a drum with the text "We're Only In It For The Money".

-- info: Kjell Knudde

PATTI SMITH - BANGA

• patti smith: banga
      (2012, cd, usa, columbia)

from the Saturn newsgroup :
Patti Smith recorded an improvisation on Sun Ra's 'The Second Stop Is Jupiter' and released it on her "Banga" album in 2012. She entitled the piece 'Tarkovsky (The Second Stop Is Jupiter)' (Patti Smith / Sun Ra).

BANNED FROM UTOPIA TO TOUR EUROPE IN OCTOBER

It looks like the end of the year will feature some interesting concerts. Dweezil Zappa, Sinister Sister, The Grandmothers, and... The Banned From Utopia.

Seems like the world is finally catching up with the music of Frank Zappa.

Ocober 25, The Banned From Utopia will be performing in Eindhoven, NL.

Former Frank Zappa bandmembers performing the music of Frank Zappa.
What else does one need?

MARBIN IS TOURING THE U.S. OF A.

The following weeks, you can catch Marbin in IN, TN and SC.

http://marbinmusic.com/shows

Here's a new song, 'African Shabtay', from the forthcoming "Aggressive Hippies" album.
Right up my alley. Love it.

DWALMACAT 610

This week's Dwalmacat radio show is a 10" special.

https://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-610-10-special/

STOCK, HAUSEN & WALKMAN – Flagging
JOHN COOPER CLARKE – Gimmix play loud!
MOONDOG & HIS HONKING GEESE – Rabbit hop
VITAMIN B12 – Bitter almonds
DUMAS – Mister Nilsson
CLINIC – Male stripper
DIE DOMINAS – Herr Ralfi und Herr Karl
FACTORY FLOOR – 16-16-9-20-1-14-9-7
CAPITOL K – City
BERROCAL WITH THE BAD BOYS – Cognac
VIDEO-AVENTURES – Telstar
VIRGIN PRUNES – Down the memory lane
JAY PHLITMAN & KIM KANG – Crippled ray of a northern star
MONEY MARK – World lesson part II
VOMIT LUNCHS – Hmmmmm!
PSEUDO CODE – Watoo-Watoo
DDAA – Terror interdit
CRIME & THE CITY SOLUTION – The sun before the darkness
LOUIS NEEFS – De poppenstoet
THE CHAP – P and me

GARY LUCAS RECORDED A NEW ALBUM

Gary Lucas recently recorded an album with Hungarian folk star vocalist Eniko Szabo and Serb saxophonist toni Dezso.

STUFF - STUFF

• stuff: s/t
      (2015, lp + cd, bel, buteo buteo butbut30lp)

Belgian band Stuff stands for an experimental mix of rock and jazz.

Andrew Claes on digital saxophone, Joris Caluwaerts on keyboards, Dries Laheye on electric bass, Lander Gyselinck on drums, and Mixmonster Mennon on samples.
(Lander Gyselinck is also part of Sinister Sister, a jazz ensemble that performs the music of Frank Zappa.)
Stuff's eponymous debut album got released a couple of months ago.
A puzzle of rhythms, beats, samples and melodies.
Recommended listening.

I saw the band in concert, opening for Aka Moon at the Cirque Royal in Brussels a little while ago.
Quite an experience.
The vinyl album comes with a CD (that even has one extra track !).

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS - MUDSHARK LIVE

• frank zappa & the mothers: mudshark live
      (2015, cd, uk, keyhole)

34 minutes of Mothers' madness on CHOM-FM radio in Montreal, Canada, July 5, 1971.
Excellent.
This might not be a Zappa Family Trust approved release, but it sure is a great recording.
The Mothers unplugged.

Here's the Zappateers link:
http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6604


The MOI:
Frank Zappa - guitar, vocals
Aynsley Dunbar - drums
Bob Harris - keyboards
Jim Pons - bass, vocals
Ian Underwood - keyboards , saxophone
Howard Kaylan - vocals
Mark Volman - vocals, guitar

Setlist:
01 Daddy's Home
02 The Polka ~ drum solo
03 Mudshark
04 Magdalena
05 CKGM station ad by Frank
06 jam (incl. Pirate Jenny~Nikki Hoi etc)
05 Daddy Daddy Daddy
06 She Painted Up Her Face
07 band intro ~Mark Volman
08 Oh Baby Don't Drop It
09 Happy Together ~ Penis Dimension
10 outro Frank ~ return of Polka
11 CHOM

NEW DWEEZIL ZAPPA ALBUM WILL FEATURE THE SONGBIRDS

The SongBirds will be featured on Dweezil Zappa's new album.
So who's The SongBirds, you say?

TWO-FOL QUARTET - GREATEST HITS

• two-fol quartet: greatest hits
      (2015, cd, italy, visage music vm 3009)

The Two-Fol Quartet features Nicholas Gelli (clarinet), Emilio Checchini (clarinet), Luca Troiani (basset horn) and Pierpaolo Romani (bass clarinet).
Pierpaolo Romani also plays the bass clarinet in Inventionis Mater, the fabulous duo that performs Frank Zappa's compositions. (The duo performed at Zapperlot! last year, and are scheduled to perform at Zappanale.)

"Greatest Hits" isn't exactly a compilation album. The title does however show that the quartet's sense of humor.
One of the pieces, 'Suite Española Nr.1' includes quite a number of different themes and even ends with a musical Zappa quote.
Check it out :

THE CONCORD JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMS ZAPPA

June 14, 2015, at 17h00,
The Concord Jazz Ensemble will be performing the music of Frank Zappa.

At "zaal Burleske' in Gullegem (B)

http://www.bamboerock.be/wordpress/?tourdates=165-2

ARISTOCRATS' NEW ALBUM IS AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

The new Aristocrats album, "Tres Caballeros", is available for pre-order right here:

http://thearistocrats.spinshop.com

LAUGHING BASTARDS UPDATE

The Laughing Bastards have a new album out, "Old Masterplans".

Laughing Bastards is

• Michel Mast: tenor sax
• Jan-Sebastiaan Degeyter: guitar
• Nils Vermeulen: double bass
• Lander Gyselinck: drums

http://www.reverbnation.com/laughingbastards

They'll be doing some concert to celebrate :

Wednesday, Juni 17, 20h00 at 'de Centrale (Kelderzaal)', 9000 Gent (B)
http://decentrale.be/agenda/concert/laughing-bastards

Thursday, June 18, 2015 20h00 at 'de Loft', Herent (B)
reservations : jef.minten@gmail.com

Saturday, June 20, 2015 20h00 at 'Arscene', Hansbeke (B)
http://www.arscene.be/activiteiten.php?id=213

ZAPPANALE SPECIAL ON ROCKRADIO.DE NEXT SUNDAY

Next Sunday, June 14, 2015, at 20h00, Rockradio will dive into the next edition of the Zappanale Festival (and will also look back on the recent We Had A Garden concert).

http://radio.rockradio.de
Zappanale #26
Sunday, June 14 at 20h00

MORE ZAPPA

The "Teenage Rockin' Combo - Dumb All Over Live 1981" 2 CD set that got released by the Broadcasting Radio Records label, is getting a vinyl re-release as a 3 LP set.

MORE BEEFHEART

The Gonzo label will releasing another live album by Captain Beefheart: "Somewhere Over Kansas", = the April 22, 1974 concert.

Let The Eat Vinyl will be re-releasing one of the previous Gonzo CD releases, Captain Beefheart's "Live From Paris 1977", as a 2LP set.

THE STUPID SET

Italian band The Stupid Set released 4 or 5 singles in the early eighties.
Influenced by The Residents and Negativeland.
'Hello, I Love You' was their first single, released in 1980.

SCIENSONIC LABORATORIES PAYS TRIBUTE TO SUN RA

ScienSonic Laboratories makes historic reunion recording on the 50th anniversary of Sun Ra's classic Heliocentric Worlds

On April 20, 1965, one of the all-time classic recordings of adventurous and far-reaching music was made in New York City. The great Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra convened in engineer Richard L. Alderson's RLA Studio and crafted an amazing and enigmatic recording which still astonishes listeners to this day, and is revered by fans of creative music around the world. The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra was issued on Bernard Stollman's forward-looking ESP label, and it sounds like no other record made by anyone, anywhere, ever. Somewhere between outer space chamber music and avant-garde jazz, it introduced 1965 listeners to sounds not normally heard in improvised music such as timpani, piccolo, and the haunting bass marimba. Some months later, Volume Two followed with the addition of chromatic sets of "tuned bongos" and the eerie, electronic Clavioline. The unusual and distinctive sonic palette of these two recordings, along with an advanced musical methodology which blurs the lines between composition and improvisation, makes for utterly unique music which truly lives up to the admonition on the back of the original LP jackets, "YOU NEVER HEARD SUCH SOUNDS IN YOUR LIFE."

Now, exactly fifty years later, ScienSonic Laboratories has created an historic recording in the spirit of Heliocentric Worlds. On April 20, 2015, original participant Marshall Allen (now 91, and highly active as leader of the Arkestra) was brought in from Philadelphia, along with longtime Arkestra member Danny Thompson, to bring this music to life. Original engineer Richard Alderson - who had not worked with Allen since the Heliocentric sessions in 1965 - was tracked down and recruited to engineer the date. Making it all even more remarkable was the presence of th e original bass marimba that Sun Ra played on Heliocentric Worlds - the very same instrument - which is in the possession of ScienSonic laboratories, and resides in its New Jersey facility. This made for a truly historic three-way reunion - fifty years later to the day! - between Allen, Alderson, and the original instrument that figured so prominently on the 1965 LP. This in itself was quite a remarkable confluence of events... but yet another strange twist was added when word reached us, during the sessions, of the passing of Bernard Stollman - the man whose ESP label issued the iconic Heliocentric LPs - on the very same day.

In what may be another historic first, Marshall Allen played ScienSonic's Steinway grand piano on the new recording, in addition to his customary alto sax and EVI. He also performed on the bass marimba (as did tenor saxophonist and mastermind of the project, Scott Robinson) and did some directing. Danny Thompson played baritone sax and flute.

The rest of the original instrumentation was duplicated exactly, with an incredible cast of some of New York's most creative musicians: Frank Lacy, Philip Harper, Pat O'Leary, Yosvany Terry, Tim Newman, Matt Wilson and JD Parran. It was a marathon day, with the second half being devoted to the slightly smaller instrumentation of Heliocentric Worlds, Volume 2. For this, the two-octave set of "tuned bongos" and the electronic Clavioline were brought into play, as these are also a part of ScienSonic's vast and unmatched instrumentarium. Despite a pouring rain, and some technical difficulties which had to be overcome before the recording could proceed, everyone persevered and saw this project through. The result of this massive effort is some truly startling and unforgettable music, captured by Alderson with extraordinary clarity and sonic detail.

It is important to note that these sessions are NOT re-dos or recreations. None of the original music was duplicated. Rather, the idea was to assemble the sonic palette of the original recordings - the same instrumentation and distinctive sounds - and then create new and imaginative music... music that would honor the spirit of the original sessions, while also setting off into new and completely uncharted terrain. This was ScienSonic's most ambitious project to date, and the results are remarkable. From an audiophile standpoint, Alderson calls it "the best recording I have ever made." This is music that takes you somewhere... somewhere utterly unfamiliar, yet strangely inviting. Or as Sun Ra used to say, "somewhere there." It is music that could only have taken place at ScienSonic Laboratories, with these musicians, these sounds. And while it is unlike any other ScienSonic production to date, it is music that certainly lives up to the ScienSonic motto, "Worlds of Tomorrow Through Sound."

Look for Volume One of this material to be issued on both CD and vinyl LP formats on Nov. 16, 2015... which happens to be the 50th anniversary of the recording of Heliocentric Worlds, Volume 2.

http://www.sciensonic.net/

ARISTOCRATS EUROPEAN TOURDATES

THE ARISTOCRATS
TRES CABALLEROS

EUROPE TOUR WINTER 2015

November 16th: Cologne (Germany) – Kantine
November 17th: Dortmund (Germany) – Piano
November 18th: Frankfurt (Germany) – Zoom
November 20th: Nurnberg (Germany) – Luise Cultfactory
November 21st: Stuttgart (Germany) – Venue TBA
November 22nd: Reichenbach (Germany) – Bergkeller
November 24th: Munich (Germany) – Strom
November 25th: Bratislava (Slovakia) – Majestic Musik Club
November 26th: Nove Mesto (Slovakia) – Blue Note
November 27th: Bochnia (Poland) - Oratorium Sw. Kingi
November 28th: Warszaw (Poland) – Venue TBA
November 30th: Berlin (Germany) – Kesselhaus
December 2nd: Hamburg (Germany) – Fabrik
December 4th: Larvik (Norway) – Bolgen
December 6th: Istanbul (Turkey) – Venue TBA
December 7th: Bucharest (Romania) – Silver Church
December 9th: Zoetermeer (Netherlands) – De Boerderij
December 10th: Verviers (Belgium) – Spirit of 66
December 13th: Edinburgh (Scotland) – Liquid Room
December 15th: Manchester (England) – Club Academy
December 16th: Birmingham (England) – Temple
December 17th: Bristol (England) – Bierkeller
December 18th: London (England) – Heaven
December 19th: Brighton (England) - The Haunt
December 20th: Paris (France) – La Maroquinerie

ZAPPATIKA WITH IKE WILLIS, JEFF HOLLIE AND TWISTER STEWARD

Zappatika will be performing at Zappanale.
Performing the music of Frank Zappa.
With former Zappa sidemen Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Twister Steward.

On their way back to Holland, Zappatika will do two more gigs.
One in Osnabruck, and another one in Leiden.
Check your calendar...

THE PURPLE LAGOON FUSION MIX

original composition by Frank Zappa,
fusion mix by Bert Butler :

VARIOUS ARTISTS - DRAAA !

• various artists: draaa!
      (1994, cd, sweden, birdnest records) 

This compilation album got released in 1994 on the Birdnest Records label. It includes punkish coverversions of songs by Kiss, CCR, the Sparks, The Pet Shop Boys, Elvis Presley and... Frank Zappa.
Stukas performs 'Wind Up In A Gas Station", previously released on his "9" CDEP (also in 1994 and on Birdnest Records).

A nice addition to The Others Of Invention, performing the music of Frank Zappa.

SUN RA ARKESTRA UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARSHALL ALLEN - BABYLON LIVE

• sun ra arkestra under the direction of marshall allen: babylon live
      (2015, cd + dvd, ger, in+out records ior 77122-9)

Brand-new release on the German In and Out record label : The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen, live at the 'Babylon' club in Istanbul.
There's two editions being released: a single audio CD, and an audio CD / video DVD package.
Don't hesitate. Go for the CD/DVD package. It has quite some extra material and it's great to see the band in action, next to only hearing them.

NEW BEEFHEART ALBUM ON THE OZIT LABEL

• don van vliet & the magic band: rough, raw and amazing
      (2015, 2lp, uk, ozit records)

April 18, as part of Record Store Day 2015, Ozit / Morpheus released another Captain Beefheart album. The 2LP set was entitled "Rough, Raw and Amazing" and offers a recording of a 1972 concert. Unfortunately, the recording is of ridiculously awful quality.
This limited, numbered edition (of 1500 copies) got released on yellow semi-translucent vinyl.

For a reason that you can imagine, Ozit / Morpheus is now re-releasing "Rough, Raw And Amazing" on yellow and on blue vinyl.
Got to keep the collectors happy...

5 x MAURO PAWLOWSKI

Cultural Centre Mechelen (B) will be putting Mauro Pawlowski in the spotlight.

2015 10 23 - Ferdnnd : Transkamer
2015 11 14 - Maurits Pauwels & Mauro Pawlowski solo
2016 02 05 - Paul Mennes & Pawlowski
2016 03 12 - Hamster Axis of the One Click panther & Mauro Pawlowski : play the music of Peter Houben
2016 06 03 - Mauro's Slotshow

www.cultuurcentrummechelen.be

SEBKHA-CHOTT UPDATE

Sebkha-Chott is preparing a new album : "Carpets & Tapestries".

You can pre-order it (along with a bunch of goodies) at :

http://www.sebkhachott.net/carpets-tapestries-precommandes

Moquettes et Tapis - Teaser Numma Eins from SebkhaChott on Vimeo.

Sebkha-Chott | Carpets & Tapestries Teaser #2 (Numma Zwei) from SebkhaChott on Vimeo.

MOTION

DANCE ME THIS UPDATE

a message from the Zappa Family Trust :

Dear People of Earth,

Just in time for FZ’s half birthday we are pleased to confirm that we WILL commence shipping Dance Me This the week of the Summer Solstice. Until then, the pre-order shall remain in effect.

And let’s also talk about ZAPPA 101: 200 MOTELS, Conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, performed at Disney Hall by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.

And yes. There will be Vinyl.

And we hope to see you at the Movies!

xxx,

the barfies