KHATIA BUNIATISHVILI PLAYS MUSSORGSKY

Khatia Buniatishvili has an album out on which she performs Mussorgsky, Ravel and Stravinsky, called "Kaleidoscope".

Here's Khatia on the Vrije Geluiden TV-show.


-

VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNMATCHED! - COME DANCE WITH ME

• various artists: unmatched - come dance with me !
      (2017, cd, spain, hall of fame)

Last year, the Hall Of Fame record label released a sampler on CDR to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
A couple of weeks ago, the label released a second sampler, "Sensations Over Night". This time on CD.
At the same moment, the "Come Dance With Me!" sampler got upgraded to a CD-release as well.

12 bands performing the music of Frank Zappa. All tracks taken from the "Unmatched" series.

Top !!

https://halloffame.es/

FRANK ZAPPA - LIVE ON AIR

• frank zappa: live on air
      (2017, 4cd, ??, ??)

Here's another so-called 'radio-show' album. A recording that was broadcast on the radio and of which the rights of the recording belong to the broadcasting company (and not to the artist...).
"Live on Air" must be about the twentieth Zappa 'radio-show' release.

Due out in early May.
4CDs that we probably already have (a couple of times) as they're using the same recordings over and over again...

SINISTER SISTER PLAYS BARTOK

We all know Pieter Claus' Sinister Sister project as an ensemble that performs the music of Frank Zappa.
In a superb way.
What these guys do with the music of FZ is amazing.

And it looks like Sinister Sister is taking on another great composer.
December 15, they will be performing the music of Béla Bartók at 'De Singel' in Antwerp, BE.
Béla Bartók with a groove. I'm curious.

https://desingel.be/nl/programma/muziek/sinister-sister-plays-bartok-made-in-desingel?id=a0Jb000002LuyLSEAZ

Pieter Claus - vibes
Lander Gyselinck - drums
Michel Hatzigeorgiou - bass
Maayan Smith - sax
Jan Ghesquière - guitar

Here's Sinister Sister performing the music of Frank Zappa at the Ham Sessions festival in Ghent last year :

SWIM WITH THE CURRENT

SWTC, Swim With The Curent", is a  music festival that will be held at 'De Singel', Antwerp, BE from June 8 until June 11.

https://desingel.be/nl/programma/muziek/swtc-2017-swim-with-the-current-early-summer-music?id=a0Jb000001pU8huEAC

Especially day two looks interesting as it will feature Flat Earth Society with David Bovée and also Beraadgeslagen (a project with Lander Gyselinck (Stuff., LABtrio) en Fulco Ottervanger (De Beren Gieren, Stadt)).

GRUPPO DI PAWLOWSKI - IN INHUMAN HANDS

• gruppo di pawlowski: in inhuman hands
      (2017, cd, bel, stahlmus)

Mauro Pawslowski !
It has been a couple of years since Gruppo Di Pawlowski released an album.
"In Inhuman Hands" was worth the wait.
Lots of energy, combined with crazy sounds and effects.

Right up my alley.

LE PRINCE HARRY UPDATE

Available on May 12, 2017 : the new Le Prince Harry album, "Synthetic Love" !!


I love that album cover.

VAN BINSBERGEN PLAYSTATION - TALES WITHOUT WORDS

• van binsbergen playstation: tales without words
      (2017, cd, nl, brokkenrecords / challenge records international)

"Tales Without Words" is the latest album by Van Binsbergen Playstation, a project by Dutch composer and guitarist Corrie van Binsbergen.
In recent years, Corrie did a lot of literary concerts: providing music while a writer reads from his work. She collaborated with Toon Tellegen, Josse De Pauw, Kees van Kooten and many others. Each time with much acclaim.

"Tales Without Words" takes it one step further. A logical step.
The album presents 15 pieces that were inspired by books or by poems, fragments of which can be found in the CD booklet.

A beautiful concept with a very impressive result.

Vanbinsbergen Playstation is Corrie (guitar), Mete Erker (sax, clarinet), Miguels Boelens (saxes), Morris Kliphuis (french horn, cornet), the ever amazing Joost Buis (trombone, lap steel guitar), Albert van Veenendaal (piano), Dion Nijland (double bass) and Yonga Sun (drums).

Highly recommended !


26/05/2017 20:30 - TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht

26/08/2017 12:30 - ZomerJazzFietsTour, tent in Garnwerd

http://corrievanbinsbergen.com/

ASKO / SCHÖNBERG ENSEMBLE PERFORMS ZAPPA (AND MORE)

February 22, 2018,
'Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ',
Amsterdam, NL

the Asko / Schönberg Ensemble

"Zappa's Playlist"

Edgard Varèse  - Poème électronique
Edgard Varèse - Octandre
Anton Webern - Concerto op. 24
Frank Zappa - None of the Above
Igor Stravinsky - Three Pieces for Clarinet solo
Igor Stravinsky - Ragtime
Luc Brewaeys - Oban

plus arrangements of Zappa pieces by Luc Brewaeys, Raphael Vanoli, Pete Harden and Ron Ford.

https://www.muziekgebouw.nl/agenda/Concerten/6727/Asko_Schonberg/Zappas_playlist/

CLARON MCFADDEN

June 2000, Claron McFadden took part in a concert with the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest, Cappella Amsterdam, Morgan Ågren and Mats Öberg performing Frank Zappa's "200 Motels, The Suites" in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The concerts were part of the Holland Festival.

In 2010, Claron was featured in a Josse De Pauw / Corrie van Binsbergen project: "Over De Bergen".

Saturday, March 26, 2011, during Dutch TV's "Vrije Geluiden" broadcast, Claron performed John Cage's 'Aria'.

Just  to mention that opera singer and all-round vocalist Claron McFadden has a couple of links with the United Mutations Universe.

Next Saturday, Claron is participating in another remarkable event :

At De Singel in Antwerp, BE :

In 'Nightshade: Aubergine', Claron McFadden seeks common cultural roots on the basis of the culinary qualities of the aubergine. This nightshade-like vegetable has migrated huge distances, but has been able to put down roots everywhere. Lisa Tahon and McFadden followed the route in the reverse direction: from the West, via the Mediterranean countries, to the Far East. Among each of the local peoples they discovered a dish and a song. In this way, McFadden adds a new chapter to the tradition of migration together with musicians from many 'nightshade cultures': Roma, Belgian, Iraqi, Greek and Afro-Anatolian. In 'Nightshade: Aubergine' you can taste the rich cooking of the aubergine in combination with live music and a travel documentary about what links people together and how cross-fertilisation enriches our identity.

The concert will end with drinks and aubergine snacks. Tasty !!

From 2016 : Italian Opera meets Jazz

BRUCE BICKFORD UPATE

Regarding the Bruce Bickford expo in Ulm, Germany, I received the following reply from Tommi Brem :

 The catalog is currently with Bruce to give his OK on the images used, then it can go to print.

So for those of us who, for one reason or another, won't be able to visit the expo, the catalog is in the works...

VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNMATCHED - SENSATIONS OVER NIGHT

• various artists: unmatched - sensations over night
      (2017, cd, spain, hall of fame)

Celebrating 20 years of the Unmatched Series (band performing the music of Frank Zappa), the Hall Of Fame record label has compiled a sampler with the tracks of Frank Zappa's "Over-Night Sensation" album.
All of the tracks have been taken from previous Unmatched releases, except one, Z.E.R.O.'s 'Fifty/Fifty'.

1. andrès mastrangelo: camarillo brillo
2. joni kontrol band: i'm the slime
3. taboo zoo: dirty love
4. the zappa early renaissance orchestra: fifty fifty
5. maese manacho & the orchestra of the age of recycling: zomby woof
6. caballero reynaldo & tgk: maria asuncion ('dinah moe-humm')
7. guillermo urìa: montana

Beautiful !! And Z.E.R.O.'s contribution stands out.
We want more ! We want more !

https://halloffame.es/tienda/unmatched-sensations-over-night/

VINNIE COLAIUTA AND WALT FOWLER

Vinnie Colaiuta and Walt Fowler took part in the recording of Randy Waldman's 1998 album "Wigged Out".

This was the first record released by the brilliant American pianist Randy Waldman. The project had the participation of great names of the contemporary jazz, led by the exquisite trio formed by Waldman, Patitucci and Colaiuta, and the participation of Freddie Hubbard, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Brecker and other great instrumentalists. The idea of making "classic in jazz" was nothing new, but interesting to note was how Waldman rearranged these famous compositions by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Beethoven, Rachmaninov for exemplo, making a beautiful dialogue between the harmonies of jazz and classical music, mixing with the varied contemporary rhythmic everything with very good taste and beauty.

http://modusvivendiblogspot.blogspot.be/2017/04/randy-waldman-1998-wigged-out-portugues.html

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

NEW ALBUM BY FRANCESCO ZAGO AND MARKUS STAUSS

Zauss (Francesco Zago and Markus Stauss) has a new album out !
Out on the Italian Altrock record label.

THE RESIDENTS' GHOST OF HOPE

The Residents return with their brand new studio album 'The Ghost Of Hope' on Cherry Red Records.

"In a lot of ways I think for them this kind of harkens back to their [1979] Eskimo album than stuff they've done more recently." — Homer Flynn, Residents' manager and president of The Cryptic Corporation

WALT FOWLER UPDATE

The Steve Gadd Band (featuring Walt Fowler) are about to start their 2017 European tour !

Check the James Taylor facebook page for details.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

ZAPPA U / THE FILM

Last week, I put up the trailer for this movie.

Here's the complete thing :

MUSICA DE SELVAGEM - S/T

• musica de selvagem: musica de selvagem
      (2016, cd, bel, risco records / el negocito records enr045)

Last year, the Musica de Selagem ensemble released their first album. It was a joint release between the Risco Records label (from Brazil) and El Negocito Records (from Belgium).

With the intention of broadening their musical horizon, Arthur Decloedt and Filipe Nader moved from Brazil to Europe in 2007. Arthur settled down in Paris while Filipe first moved to Paris and later to Brussels where he joined Ifa y Xango, a.o.
Mid 2013, they both returned to Brazil and formed a band with Guilherme Marques, Celio Barros and Marcelo Coelho. The name, Musica de Selvagem (Savage Music) comes from an encounter that Arthur had with musician who refused to play some of the written music, calling it "Savage music".

Their first (and eponymous) album presents improvised pieces as well as compositions by Arthur Decloedt and Guilherme Marques. It's a nice equilibrium.
The album is rather short. It includes six pieces and clocks at 40 minutes, but that all adds to the power and the dynamics of the pieces.

Here's a live fragment, recorded for Balcony TV, from 2016.
Add another saxophone and a trumpet and you can imagine what you'll get !!

Available from El Negocito records.
http://elnegocitorecords.com/releases/eNR045+.html

MORE INFO ON THE BRUCE BICKFORD EXPO IN ULM - MARCH > JUNE 2017

Bruce Bickford's latest newsletter had a link to a tour of the expo.
See below.

"Mr. Bickford Discovers A New Land"

In 2015, Tommi Brem contacted animator extraordinaire Bruce Bickford about exhibiting his works at the Stadthaus Ulm. Forward to March 2017, the exhibition opened on March 10th, attracting over 1,000 visitors in the first four days and being featured in major German television networks.

Since everybody here at the publishers love Bickford's work, we planned on having a small publication about Bickford, accompanying the exhibition. Since people have been repeatedly asking about a full-fledged exhibition catalog, we have decided to oblige.

"Mr Bickford Discovers a New Land" an exhibition catalog for the exhibition of the same name, on show at the Stadthaus Ulm until June 18, 2017, published by Topalian & Milani. Release date: 2 May 2017. ISBN 978-3-946423-98-0

For pre-ordering the catalog, please contact us at kunst@topalian-milani.de or visit our website http://www.topalian-milani.de/ If you happen to be attending the exhibition, you can also arrange to pick up a copy directly from the curator at the exhibition by contacting Tommi Brem tb@tommibrem.de


Tour of the expo

part one

part two

part three

part four

THE MUFFIN MEN - CLETUS AWREETUS-AWRIGHTUS

A brand new recording by the Muffin Men taken from the forthcoming Hall Of Fame Records’ Unmatched XX anniversary re-imagining of Frank Zappa's 'The Grand Wazoo' album.

The MufFinZ on this occasion were Rhino, Waco, Phil, Roddie, Mike and Jumpy (who filmed proceedings).

GRUPPO DI PAWLOWSKI ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM

Gruppo di Pawlowski announces new album 'In Inhuman Hands'

http://www.frontview-magazine.be/en/news/gruppo-di-pawlowski-announces-new-album-in-inhuman-hands#.WPyWdvnyhhE

GAROSI, SIMMONS, JONES - ZAPPA IN RECITAL

• garosi, simmons, jones: zappa in recital
      (2015, cd, australia, fat rain music)

Recorded in concert on February 8, 2016 at 'The Salon' at the Melbourne Recital Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

alessandra garosi: piano
adam simmons: soprano / tenor saxophones, bass / contra alto clarinets
david jones: drums, percussion

Lots of Zappa material, plus some original compositions.
I like it a lot. The Garosi and the Simmons pieces are very nice. The Zappa stuff is performed excellent. Nice arrangements, lots of energy.

Three astounding musicians with a passion for musical adventure and surprise, performing the compositions of Frank Zappa.

Returning to Australia to present this special concert is Alessandra Garosi, an exceptional pianist of international standing based in Italy, from a classical background but with a passion for many styles of music. This is exemplified by her work with Harmonie Ensemble, who are known for their chamber ensemble versions of the music of Frank Zappa. Alessandra was one of the stand out performers at the 2014 Festival of Slow Music.

Adam Simmons has been collaborating with Alessandra for several years since they first met at Alternativa Festival (Prague 2010), with the release of their “Melting Pot” CD recorded in Tuscany (2013), and launched at the 2014 Festival of Slow Music.

Joining them will be master drummer, David Jones, who performed with Alessandra at Melbourne Recital Centre as part of Adam’s commissioned work for the Quiddity Project in 2014.

NEW STUFF. ALBUM

In about a week, the new Stuff. album will be released.
It'll be their second.
"Old Dreams New Planets".

Yesterday, April 22, Lander Gyselinck took part in a discussion about 100 years of jazz during the "Culture Club" tv-show on national belgian tv.
The show ended with Stuff performing a piece together with Jeff Neve, plus a track from their upcoming album.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnu/a-z/culture-club/2/culture-club-s2a7/

Here's Stuff. at "Vrije Geluiden", November 2015

PAUL VAN GYSEGEM 3 + 3 - TRAVERSE

• paul van gysegem 3 + 3 : traverse
      (2016, cd + dvd, bel, el negocito records enr052)

Last year, August 2016, the El Negocito record label released "Traverse", an album that documents two trios in which sculptor, painter and double bass player Paul Van Gysegem was the common factor.
Disc one, the audio CD, presents the recording of Paula Bartoletti (vocals), Bart Maris (trumpet) and Paul Van Gysegem (double bass) at Paul's workshop,July 2016.
8 adventurous, improvised pieces in which the musicians search for, as Bart Maris puts it in the liner notes, a delicate balance between politeness and officiousness, harmony and confrontation.

Disc two is a video registration of a concert that Giovanni Barcella (drums), Eric Vermeulen (piano) and Paul Van Gysegem (double bass) did at the 'Kasteel van Berlare', May 31, 2015.
3 long energetic pieces.

Both trios show why Paul Van Gysegem is considered an important figure in the Belgian free jazz scene.
Very impressive.

Available from El Negocito.
http://www.elnegocitorecords.com/


Here's a video snippet of :
Paula Bartoletti (vocals), Bart Maris (trumpet) and Paul Van Gysegem (double bass)
in concert in 2013.

NEW FLAT EARTH SOCIETY RELEASE

In 1927-1928, the Olsen family made a trip around the world in the S.S.Belgenland, a huge steam ship.
Only recently, their home movies surfaced and were restored.
Composer Peter Vermeersch made a 40-minute selection of scenes and put these to music, to be performed by Flat Earth Society.

I was at the premiere a couple of months ago and it was pretty amazing.
In the meantime, a second and third screening / concert were performed.

But the really good news is that the project got released on DVD.

Check out http://fes.be/

STEF KAMIL CARLENS - STUCK IN THE STATUS QUO

• stef kamil carlens: stuck in the status quo
      (2017, cd, bel, pias recordings piasb468cd)

Stef Kamil Carlens, frontman and galvanizer of Zita Swoon, has released a solo album.
His previous project, "Nothing That Is Everything", presented The Zita Swoon Group with music and fashion and dance in a dadaïstic environment. "Stuck In The Status Quo" shows a return to the source. Beautiful, accessible pop / blues songs. A singer-songwriter at his best.

I was fortunate to catch Stef Kamil and his band in concert at 'De Singer' last Thursday where he presented this new album.
He did a great job.

If you're able to catch the band live, don't hesitate.
In the meantime, get and enjoy "Stuck In The Status Quo".

ORANGE CLAW HAMMER - COOKS THE BEEF

• orange claw hammer: cooks the beef
      (2017, cd, uk, clocktower records ctcd001)

It always gives me great joy to see musicians dedicate themselves to perform the music of Captain Beefheart. Holding Orange Clawh Hammer's "Cooks The Beef" in my hands proves that these kind of people go all the way. They rehearse, perform, record and make a superb little album. How commited can you be?
On "Orang Claw Hammer Cooks The Beef", Steve Kettley (tenor and soprano sax, vocals), Stuart Allardyce (gutiars), Deve Beards (bass) and Des Travis (drums) present seven tracks, plus one live track.

1. hot head
2. i love you, you big dummy
3. click clack
4. ice rose
5. ant man bee
6. when i see a mommy, i feel like a mummy
7. when it blows it stacks
   
   bonus live track
8. flavor bud living / veteran's day poppy

I love it.
The sound is very clean and the arrangements have a very jazzy approach.
Superb playing and beautiful improvisations.

Highly recommended !


-- info: Andrew over at http://www.idiotbastard.com/

LUIS PRADO - PLAYS STANDARDS VOL.1

• luis prado: plays standards vol.1
      (2016, cd, spain, hall of fame records hif 133-cd)

Last December, our friends at Hall Of Fame Records released a new album by Luis Prado.
Pop singer and pianist Luis Prado has been part of The Flauters and has also performed and recorded as Señor Mostaza. "Luis Prado Plays Standards" is his third solo album.
As the title suggests, Luis interpretes a number of his favorite pop tunes.

Bowie, Led Zeppelin, John Sebastian, The Band and a couple of Spanish tunes that I'm not familiar with. All in a great package.

Nice. Very nice. And the subtitle, "Vol.1" might even imply that we might get a sequel...

And I don't know if it was intended but tracks 8 and 9 were switched on the CD. Not inexplicable as one of the tracks is 'Substitute' by The Who.

MARBIN SPRING 2017 TOUR DATES

Marbin Spring Tour Dates :

http://bandsintown.com/marbin

Marbin on YouTube :

MULATU ASTATKE

Out on Friday 19th May: Mulatu Astatke’s Mulatu of Ethiopia.
A re-issue of his 1972 album.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

Dweezil Zappa in his latest newsletter, 2017 04 17:

I was saddened to hear about the loss of my friend Allan Holdsworth. It may not be obvious but he was a major influence on my musical outlook. His approach to guitar was so unique and quite honestly baffling, especially to the 13 yeard old me who spent a summer trying to learn licks from his “Metal Fatigue” album. My dad was an admirer of Allan’s playing as well. He talked about him in high regard in several interviews.

One day Allan came to our house to visit my dad. I don’t recall the exact circumstances but it may have had something to do with Chad Wackerman who used to play drums with my dad and also played with Allan. In any case, I remember that I was 13 and I couldn’t understand the scales Allan was using or the chords he was playing over. I had the opportunity to ask him a few questions that day and he was very patient with me as I attempted to show him some of the things I had tried to learn. He showed me a few easier licks and some two hand tapping ideas.

As the years went by the scales never got any easier nor did the uncommon chords he reached for. Little by little, elements of his approach to guitar entered my own vocabulary and passed through my own musical filters. I believe that Allan’s influence on my playing isn’t heard as a derivative in terms of playing his licks, it’s more of my own interpretration of how to apply the elements that I love in his playing, spontaneous risk and reward, tension and release. His ability to effortlessly move through rhythmic contours with harmonic variety is what all guitarists who’ve heard him, have marveled at. It seemed to me that he had total freedom in his playing.

I was lucky enough to know Allan after my dad had passed away. He was very kind and spoke fondly of the time he visited with my dad. Allan even played with my band on stage a few times. He was so humble and was allergic to compliments. If I mentioned something about his playing on a record or even in the moment while playing together he would say with a smile, “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

I’m writing about Allan Holdsworth here on Pledge because I have become inspired to include a solo on my FOH Live In The Moment Part II as a Tribute to Allan. I know I have reached outside my comfort zone on recent tours and sought to get into the zone of “total freedom.” I need to find the most successful example of that style of solo and include it on the new record. With that said, I will be making some changes to the album in order to make this happen. It will cause a short delay which I apologize for in advance but it’s important to me to make this tribute part of the record. I think I will call it “I’m Sorry You Had To Hear That.”

RIP Allan Holdsworth, I will always appreciate your musical voice and your creativity and I’m glad I got to hear that!

DZ

STANLEY JASON ZAPPA - SING-SONG SONGS

• stanley j. zappa: sing-song songs
      (2016, cd, --, private release)

Last year, Stanley Jason Zappa released "Sing-Song Songs".
Experimental. And then some.

13 compositions / exercises.
Nice. Very nice.
Perfect for a Monday evening. Or any other day of the week.

Available as a download, but also on CD !
http://newtextureshop.tumblr.com/post/145592646669/sing-song-songs-by-stanley-j-zappa-buy-the-cd-via

-- info: Danny Mathys

R.I.P. ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

HOWARD SMITH AND FRANK ZAPPA

June 6, 1971, journalist and radio broadcaster Howard Smith did an interview with Frank Zappa.

A recording of this interview got released on CD as part of The Smith Tapes series in 2013.

http://thesmithtapes.com/cds/

One year later, the Zappa interview CD got re-released as part of the The Smith Tapes Box Set.

In 2015, Ezra Bookstein released "The Smith Tapes: Lost Interviews with Rock Stars & Icons 1969-1972", a 400-page book.

More recently, Blank on Blank did a bit of a Zappa special using a fragment of the Howard Smith interview.

http://blankonblank.org/interviews/frank-zappa-mothers-of-invention-women-fads-fans-politics-censorship/#read-more

GOV'T MULE

When you order the new Gov't Mule album, you can already download two tracks from this upcoming album.
The tracks are called 'Sarah, Surrender' and 'Stone Cold Rage' and they sound great.
Really looking forward to this album.

RUN HOME SLOW (SOUNDTRACK BY FRANK ZAPPA)

Just in case that you might need this :

The 1965 movie with a soundtrack by FZ.

http://www.j4hi.com/page7/page145/run-home-slow-dvd.html

-- info: Zappateers

FRANK ZAPPA FOOTAGE FROM THE VAULT

FZ observes and coaches pianists practicing his scores. Sections of Pedro's Dowry and Sinister Footwear were adapted for two pianos.

Unfortunately, the pianists names are unknown and it’s unclear who did the adaptation. Any backers with more info, send it on in!

GOV'T MULE

Gov't Mule have announced the release of their anticipated 10th studio album "Revolution Come... Revolution Go" out June 9th on Fantasy Records.

Steeped in the roots and mystique of rock, blues, soul, jazz and country, Revolution Come.. Revolution Go enriches Gov't Mule's distinguished legacy with cleverly-crafted songs, intelligent and timely lyrical commentary, and downright incendiary playing, while the depth and breadth of the band's stunning songwriting is displayed with full force.

The deluxe version will contain some extra tracks, and has a different album cover :

NEW PROJECT BY HARDY FOX / CHARLES BOBUCK

Hardy Fox / Charles Bobuck says :

++++ Continuing with our experimentation of WORD BASED forms, today we release a third word project, WALLPAPER. This time we have a short story that combines music, images and text, but we have made it an audio book. The entire story is read for you. Read along or just sit back and enjoy. It is presented as a website and is free to experience.

http://www.hardyfox.com/tarnation/WALLPAPER/

LE PRINCE HARRY

Belgian band Le Prince Harry will be releasing their new album in about a month.
It will be called "Synthetic Love" and it will be released by Rockerill Records and Teenage Menopause.

https://teenagemenopause.bandcamp.com/

http://www.rockerillrecords.com/

http://www.mandai.be/

It will be released on vinyl (limited) and on CD.

Here's a sneak peek:


Also note the superb artwork by Elzo Durt. It reminds me of one of my favourite magazines, Métal Hurlant.
And on the subject of comic book magazines, be sure to mark the expo "Révolution Bande Dessinée" on your whiteboard. At the parc la Boverie in Liège, BE.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WHO KILLED RALPH ? VOLUME FIVE

• various artists: who killed ralph? volume five
      (2017, download, --, bandcamp)

Volume six of this excellent Residents tribute series has been made available only a couple of days ago, but as I'm running behind (as always), I just added the data for Volume Five to the United MutationsArchives.
Again, a beautiful set of renditions of classic Residents tunes.

Superb artwork as well. It's a bandcamp-download thing. If it had been released on vinyl, the album cover would be up against my wall.

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - THE GREAT UN-AMERICAN SONGBOOK VOL. I & II

• the ed palermo big band: the great un-american songbook - volumes I & II
      (2017, cd, usa, cuneiform records)

The immensely kind and always surprising Ed Palermo is back with a new album.
For "The Great Un-American Songbook - Volumes I & II", Ed took a look at his favorite British pop and rock tunes and gave them the unmistakable Palermo-treatment :

Take a dose of The Beatles, E.L.O., The Rolling Stones, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, ...
Arrange for jazz combo;
Add horn arrangements;
Leave room for excellent solos;
Season à la Ed Palermo;
et voilà !
(if only it would be that easy...)

This 2 CD set sounds absolutely great. I've been playing it over and over again the last couple of weeks and it's just fabulous.
Lots of Zappa teases in there as well.

Highly recommended !!

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

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

Here's a video recording of the complete benefit concert the Ed Palermo did in NYC last March :

GENE PRITSKER UPDATE

Here's a nice little video from Gene's most recent newsletter.

Ineffably Still by Gene Pritsker. Performed by Gene Pritsker (electric guitar) and Michio Suzuki (bass clarinet) February 19th at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. Ineffably Still © 2017 by Gene Pritsker. Ineffably Still video © 2017 by Sandy Emma for 2112 Productions.

Ineffably Still from www.2112productions.org on Vimeo.

RECORD STORE DAY 2017

Just finished my list

Residents
Diskomo/Goosebump
180 gram audiophile vinyl
Expanded Edition featuring 3 bonus tracks ; “Diskomo 1992”, “Diskomo 2000” & “Twinkle 2000”
Limited edition of 1000 numbered copies on Transparant Red

Sun Ra
Hello Mr. Schimmel
7"

Sun Ra
Discipline 27-11

Sun Ra
Janus
LP
Limited remaster on 180 gr. coloured swirl LP

Zappa, Frank
Rollo / Portland Improvisation
10″
clear vinyl
Zappa Records celebrates RSD 2017 with an exclusive 10” clear vinyl release featuring The Petit Wazoo, a 10-piece band heavy on horn instrumentation that Zappa toured with in late 1972. Side 1 contains the song “Rollo” in it’s complete form, first released on Little Dots in 2016. Side 2 contains the unreleased track “Portland Improvisation,” produced by FZ himself and mastered by Bernie Grundman

SUN RA'S "DISCIPLINE 27-II" ALBUM RE-ISSUED

Sun Ra's 1972 LP Discipline 27-II Re-Issued For Record Store Day 2017

Strut and Art Yard present a special release for Record Store Day 2017, the first ever official reissue of Sun Ra’s revered Discipline 27-II LP from 1972.

A product of the same sessions that would yield the legendary Space Is the Place LP (Discipline 27-11 has been referred to as its "occult cousin"), the recordings for the album took place on the 19th and 20th of October, 1972 at Streeterville Studios, Chicago, with the largest Arkestra line-up Sun Ra had yet taken into a studio session. The date was produced by Impulse! and Riverside veteran Ed Michel and, for the first time, the Arkestra was recorded in quadraphonic sound.

This first official reissue of Discipline 27-II was prepared in conjunction with Art Yard and Sun Ra LLC. The album is restored from the original master tapes and features complete original artwork and new sleeve notes by Francis Gooding.

The album will be released 22nd April 2017 in conjunction with Record Store Day. Check the Record Store Day site for participating retailers.

JIM PONS WROTE A BOOK

The Turtles/Zappa & The Mothers Legend Jim Pons Pens New Book
“Hard Core Love: Sex, Football, and Rock and Roll in the Kingdom of God”

From the Sunset Strip to the White House and stadiums throughout the NFL, Jim Pons' journey through rock and roll to filming professional football becomes a one-of-a kind spiritual autobiography. “Hard Core Love” connects the dots behind the scenes of Jim's years with The Turtles, Frank Zappa and The New York Jets, all of which lead to his finest achievement, a long-sought peace with God.
Says Jim, “People I have worked with, played with and lived with always told me I should write a book someday and I always thought it would be entertaining to people. It was Neale Donald Walsch who convinced me. He told me it would be helpful to people.”

Jim Pons is a former bass guitarist and singer for several legendary 1960's and 70's rock bands, including The Leaves, The Turtles, Frank Zappa & The Mothers and Flo & Eddie.

In 1973 Pons left the music industry to become the film and video director for the New York Jets football club. He held this position until his retirement in 2000. Pons and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, where he did game day video for the Jacksonville Jaguars for three more years before finally leaving the NFL. He now sings and plays upright bass in a bluegrass band called Lonesome Ride.

“If you’ve been taught to believe that fame and fortune are the keys to happiness—and most of us have—Jim Pons’ remarkable story is for you. If you’ve been taught that your questions about the meaning of life should be left in the hands of religious experts—and most of us have—Jim’s personal quest to know God offers the gift of spiritual freedom. His transparency shines throughout and cannot help but assist other seekers—covertly, even those who buy the book for the football and rock n’ roll. Having known his story for several years, it has been our sincere desire that Jim share it with the world. Thankfully that time has come. We invite you to open these pages, enjoy his story and come away the better for sharing his experience.” - Lee and Steven Hager, authors of The Gospel of Thomas: Where Science Meets Spirituality

In closing Jim has this to impart, “There is more to life than fame and fortune. We haven’t learned all there is to know about God.”

BLACK FLOWER

Ethiopian jazz by Belgian band Black Flower.
They recently released their second album, "Artifacts"
Here's a snippet from their recent appearance at Vrije Geluiden, a Dutch TV show.

MUFFIN MEN UPDATE

You won't hear me complaining. Living in Belgium is great.
On the other hand, one week in the UK sounds tempting right now.
Just look at the below dates.
The Muffin Men featuring Denny Walley !!

ZAPPATIKA UPDATE

Zappatika! is touring the UK as I'm writing this.

There's lots of stuff going on.
Yesterday, the concert at The Underworld featured three bands: Thomas G. Waites, Guranfoe, and Zappatika !
The Oxford gig (tonight !!) will feature Acton Zappa as an opener.

It's Freak Out Time indeed.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WHO KILLED RALPH? IV

• various artists: who killed ralph? IV
      (2017, download, --, bandcamp) 

"Who Killed Ralph?" is a fine tribute to The Residents. It's a bandcamp-download-series of which six volumes have been published up until now.
Volume 4 got released in January 2017. I just added the data to the United Mutations Archives.

I live coverversions. It not only gives you an impression of someone else's view, it also makes one look / listen to the original version in another way.
Volume Four presents 24 tunes by the likes of Duck Stabber, Bunny Boy, and Mr Mute just to name three.
A 'Name Your Price' download.
Check it out !

GEORGE DUKE'S ZAPPA MEDLEY

The late George Duke...

-- link: Jan van Kemenade

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF THE UNMATCHED SERIES

... with a great looking sampler :

https://halloffame.es/tienda/unmatched-sensations-over-night/

ZAPPA U, THE FILM

Since 2013, the University of Hawaii Hilo Jazz Orchestra has performed annual Frank Zappa tribute concerts. This is their story... from classroom to concert hall.

https://www.zappaufilm.com/

Here's the trailer :

VARIOUS ARTISTS - WHO KILLED RALPH? VOLUME SIX

• various artists: who killed ralph? volume six
      (2017, download, --, bandcamp)

Tom-Erik Løe has compiled another set of Residents coverversions. As far as I know, these tunes have not been available anywhere else.
And, yes, it's volume six already. Somehow I missed volumes four and five. More about these later.

Download only and presenting Thom Eck, The Boarding People and many others.
'Name your price'-download.
Here's the link to Volume Six :

COMPRO ORO

Meet Belgian band Compro Oro.

• Wim Segers - vibrafoon, marimba
• Bart Vervaeck - gitaar
• Matthias Debusschere - bas
• Amel Garcia Serra - percussie
• Frederik Van den Berghe - drums

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DWEEZIL ZAPPA - VIA ZAMMATA' DELUXE DOWNLOAD

• dweezil zappa: via zammata' deluxe download
      (2017, download, usa, private release)

The Zappa Family Trust (Ahmet and Diva) has a problem with the way that Dweezil is performing the music of Frank. Not artistically, I imagine, but in his financial relation to the ZFT.

The same ZFT asked Alex Winter to make a documentary for which they started a kickstarter campaign. The same money supports other ZFT activities like restoring the vault and protecting the ZFT legacy.
Dweezil Zappa, on the other hand, started a funding campaign to protect his right to operate as a 'Zappa'.
This probably created some very, very happy lawyers.

Don't they understand that this all is rather silly.
I want to see Alex Winter's documentary and I supported the kickstarter program.
Same goes for Dweezil. I want to hear his new album "Live In The Moment II" and I'm happy to support his pledgemusic campaign.
Too bad that I'm paying for both parties' lawyers as well...
I'm only in it for the music...

Dweezil Zappa offered a "Via Zammata' Deluxe Download" as part of his pledgemusic project.
This download package included 3 unreleased tracks and 2 demos.

The complete package became available last week.

1. fucked up
2. saturday girl
3. bulgarian guitar suite
4. saturday girl (original demo)
5. what if (original demo)

Nice.

STRATOSPHEERIUS UPDATE

Joe Deninzon's Stratospheerius has some gigs scheduled :

Thursday, April 13th, 7:30 P.M.

Stratospheerius, Callooh Callay, and Ad Astra Perform LIVE at 89 North!
89 N Ocean Ave, Patchogue, NY 11772

Friday, June 23rd, 10 PM

Stratospheerius, Trio of Madness, & Thrilldriver
Olive's
118 North Main St.
Nyack, NY

And !!
Stratospheerius is to Perform at PROGTOBERFEST 2017 IN CHICAGO!

An amazing festival that is quickly becoming the premier prog rock festival in the Midwest! We are honored to be on the bill alongside great artists like Jethro Tull's Martin Barre, Mike Keneally, Nick D'Virgillio, Randy McStine, Thank You Scientist, and Consider the Source!

STEFANO TAMBURINI - MONGOHOLY-NAZY / THALIDOMUSIC FOR YOUNG BABIES

• stefano tamburini: mongoholy-nazy / thalidomusic for young babies
      (2017, 2lp, italy, plastica marella)

The late Italian comic book artist and writer Stefano Tamburini has used a Zappa-like figure in some of his comic books. You can find pictures of his Fuzzy Rat character in the United Mutations Archives.
Stefano also is the writer of RanXerox, a comic that he made with Tanino Liberatore.
The album cover of "The Man From Utopia" shows Frank Zappa as RanXerox.

The below picture shows Stefano Tamburini - Frank Zappa - Tanino Liberatore in Rome 1982.

Stefano Tamburini also was a musician. In 1981, he released "Mongoholy-Naz / Thalidomusic For Young Babies" as a slim cassette release in an edition of a few dozen copies. This album got re-released by the Plastica Marella record label in 2017 on vinyl. 200 copies on black vinyl and 100 copies on clear vinyl.

Here are some samples of the re-released album :

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BILLY CHILDS - HIS APRIL TOUCH

• billy childs: his april touch
      (1991, cd, usa, windham hill jazz)

Billy Child's 1991 album "His April Touch" features two former Zappa band members : Walt and Bruce Fowler. Trumpet and trombone, as you might have guessed.

Modern jazz.
Very nice.

-- info : Jan van Kemenade

NEW VIDEO BY THE UNIVERSE BY EAR

The Universe By Ear have released a new video, and it is a beautifully orchestrated mash up of old film footage and psychodelic sequences, ready to blow your mind;

Here is what the band has to say about it:

"You gotta hit them when they’re down. That’s why The Universe By Ear delivers the next punch hardly two weeks after the release of their untitled debut album. This time it’s a clip and a boneshaking one at that. The song (the third song from the aforementioned album turned into a visual experience) is an almost-instrumental one that makes sparse but effective use of the bands three voices. In layered harmonies only the title is sung, but it prooves to be a memorable line: “Slam Your Head Against The Wall (Carefully).”

In between these rays of light, the three-piece-bands heavy riffs and shattering drums dominate the scene, fittingly illustrated with retro-colored images of cars racing and crashing and old-school-rocketts taking off into space. But The Universe By Ear neither indulge in pure lust for destruction nor do they advertise violence in any form. However… slamming your head against the wall (carefully) can surely lead to mind-altering states – or if you prefer a way to do that without covering your walls in blood: check out The Universe By Ear."

VARIOUS ARTISTS - MR. MOONJUNE RECOMMENDS - VOLUME 2 - LETTING GO

Here's Leonardo's (Mr. MoonJune)'s second sampler : "Letting Go".
Another 5 hours of excellent progressive fusion.
Available as a free / name your price download.
This is Volume 2. Be sure to check out Volume 1 as well.

Track 23 is The Wrong Object : Filthy Habits (Frank Zappa) !!
from their 2007 "Platform One" release.

MORE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT

Hidden away in the Comment section of a previous post, but too good not to mention again :

More Rudy Schwartz Project animated movies by Zontar !


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-

VARIOUS ARTISTS - MR. MOONJUNE RECOMMENDS - VOLUME 1 - THE OPEN ROAD

The MoonJune Records label has released a fine sampler.
It's called "Volume 1 - The Open Road" and it's a joy to listen to.
A superb introduction if you don't know what Moonjune is about.
And even if you're familiar with most of the material, there's still quite some nice things to discover.
(Free / Name your price download)

THE MUFFIN MEN & DENNY WALLEY - LIMITED EDITION LIVE IN THE NORTH OF ENGLAND

• the muffin men and denny walley: limited edition live in the north of england
      (2017, cdr, uk, private release)

Those lads from Liverpool, you know, those guys who named their band after something that you can eat.
What are they called? The Biscuit Boys,... The Cupcake Quartet,...
Oh yes, The Muffin Men !

Well, these Muffin Men recently performed at the Moo-Ah Festival with special guest Denny Walley.
Those very same Muffin Men are kicking off their tour tonight, and they're bringing Denny Walley along.
To celebrate all this, the band released this 5-track CD called "Limited Edition - Live In The North Of England". Five tracks of Muffin Men with Denny Walley.

"Live In The North Of England" will show you what The Muffin Men are all about.
Here's a band that does a sensational job performing the music of Frank Zappa (and of Captain Beefheart) and this little album proofs it.
'Dead Girls In The City' is just great. It's a mix of 'Dead Girls Of London', 'City Of Tiny Lites' and 'Tryin' To Grow A Chin', with Jumpy and Denny playing some fabulous guitar lines.
I love it.
And 'I Want Kong' is even better. The perfect mash-up of a Beatles and a Zappa tune.

Total time about 35 minutes.
Best spent half hour of the day.

This little gem is only available at the concerts, so you know where you have to be !

Celebrating 27 years on the road around Europe. April 2017 sees the MufFinZ Power Quartet plus special guest Denny Walley on slide guitar and vocal play a short UK tour.

The Muffin Men have played nearly 2000 dates around Europe, often featuring ex-Zappa alumni. The band play their own arrangements of Zappa material, along with some note-for-note versions of some favourites.

At least 12 ex-Zappa musicians have performed with The Muffin Men along the years. Once again the band are joined by Denny Walley, ex Zappa guitarist notable for his work on the “Bongo Fury” and “Joe’s Garage” albums” Denny was also a member of Captain Beefhearts’s Magic Band, appearing on the classic “Bat Chain Puller” original album. He has previously played with the band many times adding his original slide guitar style and soulful vocal, expect renditions of Joe’s Garage favourites such as “Crew Slut” and even a bunch Beefheart pieces.

HARDY FOX / CHARLES BOBUCK

I guess you remember the 2015 dowload-only track by The Residents (Black Tar And The Cry Babies) called 'Season Of The Witch'.

Are we getting a sequel?

The latest Hardy Fox / Charles Bobuck newsletter  includes links to a number of mp3's of songs by Black Tar And The Cry Babies.

• Bunny Rabbits, Satan, Cheese And Milk
• Stop, I'm Watching TV
• Dork
• I've Got You Babe
• Think Of Me
• Fourteen

Also of interest is the scheduled release of "The Best Of Black Tar And The Cry Babies", plus the fourth volume in the TOOK-series.
On May 15.

POLYGON HEAD PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA

performed by Yugo Morikawa a.k.a Polygon Head


--

Uncle Meat

--
The Black Page #1

--
Sinister Footwear II

KILL FOR GOD

From the Rudy Schwartz Project's "Remembering A Summertime Rash" album, 2010.

I wanna join Islamic Jihad
I just want to kill for God
Praising Allah is the life for me

I'll use pipe bombs what the fuck
Killing Hebrews brings good luck
Gotta make Ruhollah Khomeini proud of me

Load a car with dynamite, drive it to a synagogue without any breaks
Nothing could be better than impaling your intestines on a big rusty steak
Hand grenades and cattle prods, lets go out and kill for God I can hear Mohammad calling me

Yawza, yawza, yawza.

Though the Corin seems quite odd, I still want to kill for God
Praising Jesus is the life for me
Fuck those Pagans they're such cynics
Let's go bomb the abortion clinic, Jerry Falwell is my cup of tea

Never thought I'd make it big by selling God to idiots on cable TV
What the fuck it's not GE but still what better way to use my business degree
Use a rifle, spare the rod, let's go out and kill for God
Praise the lord and hand that gun to me

THE MUFFIN MEN ON TOUR

Last Friday and Saturday, a bunch of melomaniacs gathered in Corby (UK) to enjoy bands performing the music of Frank Zappa and of Captain Beefheart.
They called it Moo-Ah and from what I heard and saw (= video snippets on FB) it sure looked like a lot of fun.

If you couldn't make it to Corby, there's still an opportunity to catch The Muffin Men with special guest Denny Wally (Zappa, Beefheart) somewhere in the UK one of the next weeks.

Be there or be a cookie.

THE RUDY SCHWARTZ PROJECT - TANGO LESSONS IN A FASCIST WHOREHOUSE

• the rudy schwartz project: tango lessons in a fascist whorehouse
      (2017, cd-promo, usa, dc-jam records)

In my world, RSP stands for The Rudy Schwartz Project (or Raymond Scott if you insist).
Whenever The Rudy Schwartz Project releases a new album, my eyebrows go up. Every new RSP release is always good for some excellent musical enjoyment (and for a lot of laughs as well).

"Tango Lesson In A Fascist Whorehouse" presents 19 tracks, most of which are original compositions. With titles like 'It's Time For Trump', 'Hamburger' and 'Nice Action Out The Backisde', one should understand that RSP doesn't avoid any topics.

Expect oriental twists, zappa-esque lyrics and rhythm changes, a sniff of polka, some exotica and loads of musical references and crazy sounds.

Here's 'Nice Action Out The Backside', about a certain Donald's Moscow adventure...

There's lots of great stuff on this album.
One of my favourite tracks is RPS' rendition of "Oriental Illusions", composed by Bob Nolan and originally performed by Slim Lamar and his Southerners in the 1920's !!

The message from RSP :
It's album release day chez Schwartz. Waldo is leaving ham and dessicated pig entrails in places like sock drawers and Pringles cans. All of the children are smiling, the sky is made of cotton candy, and there are two for one corn dogs at Barbecue Bud's.It's impossible to find an imaginary parking place anywhere near the imaginary Amazon and iTunes brick and mortar shops, where imaginary Edison cylinders are eagerly purchased by people wearing lavender bowler hats.

Download available from iTunes or from Amazon.

Highly recommended !

KNOEL SCOTT - BEBOP AND BEYOND

• knoel scott: bebop and beyond
      (2017, cd, usa expubidence publishing)

Knoel Scott has been performing with the Sun Ra Arkestra since 1979.

Last December, I mentioned Knoel Scott's "Live In Alaska" album. Classic jazz. A real treat.
Today, I'd like to mention "Bebop And Beyond", Knoel's second release.

Recorded live in Philly, "Bebop And Beyond" offers 5 original bebop tracks. The compositions were written and produced by Knoel Scott and were performed by Knoel (tenor sax) plus Eddie Jones (drums), Dr. Guy Ramsey (electric piano), Fahir Kendall (bass) and Cecil Taylor (trumpet).

Did I mention that the disc contains a track entitled 'Sun Ra'?

Great tunes. Amazing improvisations. Bebop at its best.

Superb !!

-- info : Danny Mathys