Exactly 17 years ago MoonJune Records started its unpredictable journey as an underdog brutally independent record label emerging from nowhere. Three albums were released at the same time in June 2001, and to celebrate label’s 17th moonjuneversary, FINISTERRE “Storybook” is available for a limited time for $4.44 (instant download), while the last copies of the original CD release, with different cover and album title, packaged in a jewel case are available for $15 +shipping.
In 2009, progressive jazz / rock band Korekyojinn released "Swan Dive", a DVD / CD set for the experienced listener. It was their fifth release.
Polyrhythmic madness.
I like it a lot.
With Kido Natsuki (of Bondage Fruit and Kazutoki Umezu's Kiki Band) on the guitar.
a message from Notopia : These are the raw isolated recordings of every instrument on the song "Celebrate" of our album "Celebrating Life". No EQ, no compressor was added. No effects or even panning. Please play around with them, rearrange them, mix them, cut them, put them in a different context. In short, please play around with these files and send your results to marc@mennigmann.com.
The best three remixes will be released as a free download EP here on our BandCamp site, of course mentioning your name as the one who created the remix.
Philip Lithman (or Snakefinger) only released a handful of albums during his short lifetime.
"Night Of Desirable Objects" was a project of Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins, a band that featured Eric Drew Feldman on keyboards and synthesizers. It got released in the year that he passed away.
Klanggalerie has done a superb job in making a number of Snakefinger albums available again. Housed in beautiful digipacks, they already released "Chewing Hides The Sound", "Greener Postures" and "Manual of Errors". "Night Of Desirable Objects" fits in perfectly.
Klanggalerie: Snakefinger surely needs not much of an introduction. Born Philip Charles Lithman in London, he moved to San Francisco in 1971. His roots lie in the British blues scene, but he soon became friends with The Residents who also gave him the name Snakefinger based on a photograph of Lithman performing, in which his finger looks like a snake about to attack his violin. In 1972 Lithman returned to England and formed the pub rock band Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers. After the lack of success of the second album, he returned to the states and work on his solo albums co-written and produced by The Residents began. Night of Desirable Objects was Snakefinger's fourth and final studio album, recorded with the Vestal Virgins and released by Ralph Records in 1987. It featured a variety of styles including jazz, folk, rock, gospel and polka, and displayed a compositional maturity. Snakefinger suffered a heart attack and died on 1 July 1987 in Linz, Austria while touring in support of the album, on the same day the album's first single was released: "There's No Justice In Life". As with all previous re-issues by us, this album will come remastered and with bonus tracks.
For the Klanggalerie record label, 2016 was the year of Renaldo And The Loaf. The label re-issued "The Elbow Is Taboo", plus the new "Gurdy Hurdy" album.
Also in 2016, Klanggalerie added two albums by The Darkening Scale to their catalogue.
The Darkening Scale is David Janssen's solo project. David Janssen aka Ted The Loaf (of Renaldo And The Loaf).
Fascinating.
Here's something completely different : The Darkening Scale Play The Residents
... Anyway, there’ll be no rest for the wicked as our heroes head straight back into the studio to add some finishing touches to the forthcoming ‘Intruders’ album, which is already sounding wonderful. Tyrone and Erkie will be busying themselves with that whilst Cha-Cha and Eekie oversee the completion of the ‘I AM A RESIDENT!’ project – news of that should be hitting your mailboxes any moment…
... The next two ‘pREServed’ releases are well underway too – everything The Residents can find related to ‘Eskimo’ and ‘The Commercial Album’ has now been excavated and worked into something digestible, and those releases are anticipated sometime around November – just in time to ruin your mother’s Christmas!
... There’ll also be a ‘Mole Trilogy’ box set, an ‘American Composers Series’ thing, ‘God In 3 Persons’, ‘Cube-E’ and, rumour has it, a ‘Pre-Residents 1971-1972’ pREServed set all heading your way in 2019 too.
... Oh, and on the subject of hearing shit, there’s the W***** B*** Album Record Store Day release to talk about too….. While The Residents hope you liked it (although THEY insist THEY never heard of it and have no idea where it came from), THEY are extremely grateful to anyone dumb enough to buy it. They also hope the artwork didn’t spoil anybody’s lunch. And not to worry, those of you without a turntable, a CD version of the album will be along as part of that Pre-Residents pREServed package before you know it, along with something called ‘B*** S**’ (which THEY also never heard of and we must never name) and a bunch of live and rehearsal recordings from that period in time. Word of warning, there are a lot of takes on ‘Kamikaze Lady’. A LOT. Like, dozens. ‘Kamikaze Lady’ this, ‘Kamikaze Lady’ that… If The Residents had their way, there’d be an entire ‘Kamikaze Lady pREServed’ set, but it just feels like too much. For now, anyway.
... The coming months will also see news of the ‘Double Trouble’ movie, which you may or may not be aware of – you can watch the trailer if you need to catch up. There are, of course, a handful of legal issues to figure out with Randy, as ever, but nothing a few bucks or a hot meal won’t put to bed. That guy is a mess right now, so he won’t be a problem.
Alan Jenkins, the man behind Cordelia Records and responsible for releasing Andrew's / The Idiot Bastard's Zappa Tribute albums, has a new album out.
You might also know Alan from his Deep Freeze Mice and his Thurston Lava Tube projects. Or from his recent collaboration with R.Stevie Moore.
"Commencing Countdown" is the second album by Berlin-based hard rock band Travelin Jack.
I bought it because the liner notes mention a Frank Zappa quote : 'The mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open.'
I don't really know if this is a Zappa quote. I've seen it linked to Albert Einstein and even to the Dalaï Lama...
Stevie's website (Parachute Mind) even goes a bit further back :
'Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open'. Sir Thomas Dewar (1864 - 1930)
Anyway, despite mentioning Frank Zappa in the liner notes, there's not really a musical link. "Commencing Countdown" isn't a bad album. Not at all. It's just that I had expected a musical reference as well...
Legendary keyboardist Rick Wakeman is launching his official YouTube channel!
The channel will feature many rare and unreleased videos, as well as the exclusive premiere of Rick's forthcoming film “Live Portraits.”
Turn On, Tune In, and Drop Out with The Ed Palermo Big Band!
We'll take you on a trip back to 1967 The Summer of Love.
Don't Miss It! TWO Groovy Nights of Musical Bliss!!
Trailer for The Residents' Double Trouble film that updates and expands Vileness Fats, their unfinished 1970's masterpiece. Coming soon to a theater or drive-in near you.
The OTPMD, short for Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, has a new album out.
The band performed at Zappanale in 2017 and made a fine impression.
The new disc is entitled "Sauvage Formes" and is made available on CD, LP and as digital download.
Upcoming concerts
Jun 13 - Rouen, France
Jun 15 - B Sides Festival - Luzern, Switzerland
Jun 16 - Le Port Franc - Sion, Switzerland
Jun 17 - Festi'Neuch - Neuchatel, Switzerland
Jun 30 - Fusion Festival - Lärz, Germany
Jul 01 - Halfway Festival (trio) - Białystok, Poland
Jul 04 - arkaoda - Berlin, Germany
Jul 06 - La Ferme Electrique - Tournan-En-Brie, France
Jul 07 - Oh2 Festival - Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, France
We're delighted to announce that our first full-length album is coming out after summer this year, recorded by the great 'Roo' Laurent Eyen at Koko Studio.
TODAY we share the first track 'ALMADRABA' with this music video created, filmed and edited by visual artist Léo Lefrançois André.
Also we're going on tour in Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Italy this June (check out gig dates below).
See you on the road ladies & gents!
ALMADRABA TOUR' 18
02.06 : FR, Angoulême - Chez Zi
05.06 : ES, Bueu - Nova Labranza
06.06 : PT, Lisbon -MUSICBOX LISBOA
07.06 : PT, Leiria - Texas Bar
08.06 : PT, Figueira da Foz - DRAC - Direito de Resposta Associação Cultural
09.06 : PT, Praia da Tocha - Piolho - Praia da Tocha
10.06 : PT, Porto - Woodstock 69 Rock bar
12.06 : ES, San Sebastian - Gross
14.06 : FR, Bourges - Le Nadir
15.06 : FR, Biarritz - Wheels and Waves Festival
16.06 : FR, Pay - Le pingouin alternatif
22.06 : BE, Liège - l'An Vert, Fête de la Musique
23.06 : BE, Brussels - Pacrock Festival 2018 Warm up
24.06 : BE, Fleurus - Soviet Bloem Fête de la Musique
27.06 : CH, Chaux-de-Fond - Le LAC
28.06 : IT, Firenze - TBA
29.06 : IT, Pescara - IndieRocket Festival
30.06 : IT, Cupramontara - Musica Distesa 2018
Bardo is a Belgian jazz / improvised music quintet.
They just released an album on the RatRecords label. http://www.ratrecords.biz/
Gilles Vandecaveye-Pinoy: keyboards, vocals and spoken word
Cesar De Sutter-Pinoy: guitar, vocals
Elias Devoldere: drums
Lieven Van Pee: electric bass, double bass
Rob Banken: alto sax, bass clarinet
Bardo is the graduation project of Gilles Vandecaveye-Pinoy at School Of Arts/ Conservatory Gent, Belgium. He received the PlayRight price at the graduation ceremony.
All members are currently very active in the contemporary rock and Jazz/impro scene of Belgium with bands like Nordmann, Steiger, Peenoise, De Beren Gieren, HAST and many more.
Derek Smalls, bass player for Spinal Tap, has released a solo album that features an impressive list of guest artists.
Next to the Hungarian Studio Orchestra (an essential asset if you want the 'symphonic' aspect), there's JC Vanston, Jim Keltner, Chad Smith, Donald Fagen, Larry Carlton, David Crosby, Toss Panos, Richard Thompson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Lukather,...
And if that's not enough, 'MRI' features Dweezil Zappa, 'Gummin' The Gash' has a guitar solo by Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani plays the lead guitar on 'When Men Did Rock'.
Bombastic, pastiche,... I love it.
Available on CD and on LP !
Brazilian band DIALETO is releasing its fifth CD, a live album with the guest participation of violinist David CROSS, ex-King Crimson.
The album, entitled simply “Live with David Cross”, was recorded in 2017 at São Paulo, Brazil, on the second of a pair of concerts held to promote the band’s then new album, “Bartók in Rock”.
As such, the material of this album includes some live versions for the Béla Bartók pieces that were adapted by DIALETO, as well as renditions of a few Crimson classics and one track by the David Cross Band.
A Deep Journey Into the Music and Poetry of Greg Lake - Annie Barbazza & Max Repetti's MOONCHILD
Produced by Greg Lake! Limited edition 1000 papersleeve CD and 500 gatefold coloured audiophile vinyl!
Italy - Much to the excitement of Greg Lake and ELP fans worldwide, Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti are releasing MOONCHILD - A deep journey into the music and poetry of Greg Lake! To be issued as Limited edition 1000 papersleeve CD (MAN002) and 500 gatefold coloured audiophile vinyl (MANLP002) on Manticore Records on May 18, 2018, this album marks Greg Lake's final production before his passing on December 7, 2016.
“Amongst the many projects Greg Lake and I planned for Manticore was the re-arranging of his favourite songs in a black and white, contemporary way. A sort of back to the bone, vocals and guitar setting, as simple as that. I remember Greg became an advocate of the new 'less is more' concept and he often reminded us that 'simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.' “As we went further into the project, we soon discovered that an acoustic guitar could be fine for some tunes, but not suitable for others; so Greg decided we should go for piano and vocals and asked me to look for a talented piano player. I knew Max Repetti who I considered to be the perfect pianist for Greg. Apart from the fact that he had the entire ELP songbook in his repertoire, he is a very able musician. The audition lasted just a few minutes in a countryside restaurant on an upright piano which had seen better days, slightly out of tune, where Repetti dared to propose a medley of 'The Stones Of Years,' from 'Tarkus,' and 'Take a Pebble.' Greg was so delighted that he immediately asked Max to arrange for him a list of tunes he intended to put on the album that we called 'Moonchild,' after one of our favourite early songs. “Sadly, in early 2014 Greg called me with the very worst news. Shortly after that, he decided to ask his young friend and talented singer and musician Annie Barbazza to take his place and carry on his legacy with this album. He patiently trained Annie using all the available technology to keep him up to date with our progress, while continuing to work with Max Repetti and me on the arrangements and production. We all spoke on Skype several times a week to ensure this project matched his standard of perfectionism and musical integrity. “When Greg was awarded with an honorary degree for lyrics and music composition by Conservatorio Nicolini in January 2016, he was already too ill to attend the ceremony in person. I decided to surprise him by having Annie and Max perform his music on his behalf in front of the dignitaries. Greg was attending via Skype and you may listen to his encouraging comments on Greg Lake's Official Channel on Youtube. He was so happy with the results that he pushed even harder for Annie to improve her skills as a singer. Annie Barbazza and Max Repetti performed Moonchild again at a sold out concert for Greg's last birthday on November 10, 2016. As Greg wanted, we will keep the flame alive by playing his music. So this is for you, Grande Gregorio wherever you are. May your music resound forever in our hearts.” - Max Marchini
“Annie and Max recorded such a wonderful and touching tribute to the music I have made during my lifetime. Max's arrangements are absolutely superb! What a magical touch he has and Annie's vocals are at the same time beautiful, brave and heartfelt. It is a very moving experience for me to hear them perform these songs so passionately.” - Greg Lake, 2016
Tracks
01. In The Court of the Crimson King - 21st Century
Schizoid Man
02. Trilogy - The Endless Enigma part II
03. Moonchild
04. The Stones Of Years - Take A Pebble
05. C’est La Vie
06. Battlefield including Epitaph
07. Karn Evil 9 1st impression, part 2
08. Memories Of An Officer And A Gentleman
09. In The Wake Of Poseidon
10. Lucky Man
11. The Sage / The Great Gates Of Kiev
Josh Haden with the Haden Triplets (his three sisters).
The Haden Triplets have an album out (country & traditional) that was produced by Ry Cooder.
Next September, Spain (Josh Haden's band) will do a concert in Belgium (De Warande, Turnhout), together with Belgian band Flying Horseman.
Should be fun.
Looking for the latest Mörglbl release (with guitar wizard Christophe Godin), I came across "Wax'in", a project by Magma bass player Philippe Bussonnet, world music percussionist and drummer Franck Vaillant, jazz trumpet player Médéric Collignon and the aforementioned Christophe Godin.
All four musicians regularly take the stage at Le Triton, a club in Les Lilas in Paris, performing as a leader or frontman of their trio or quartet. September 2016 was the first time they performed in the same band, as a quartet. At Le Triton. The result got recorded and released by the Le Triton record label.
Coming from different musical corners, this band offers an amazing mix of progressive rock and jazz. "Wax'in" will make you hold your breath.
Mental note to myself: next time in Paris, visit Le Triton.
Beefheart Jr. (???) is none other than Robert Arthur Williams, drummer for Captain Beefheart's Magic Band on "Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)" and "Doc At The Radar Station".
After releasing a 12" in 1981 and his first solo album, "Late One Night" in 1982, Williams only released two other albums: "Date With The Devil's Daughter" in 1998, and more recently "Temporarily Immortal".
Mike Miller guests on a couple of tracks.
Sun Ra's "Astro Black" album arrived last week. This is one great album.
Fine melodies (June Tyson on vocals) interspersed with freaky and free improvisations. Beautiful.
Originally issued on the Impulse label in 1973, and more recently (2014) made available through iTunes, "Astro Black" finally got a proper re-release on CD on the recent Record Store Day.
Guy Segers' Bandcamp says :
Aka Moon’s fourth album confirms the group’s progress and at the same time fully realises the "Akasha" project.
Beautifully balanced with Volume 1, this second part throws us further into the Indian mood with Indian musicians.
The band are gaining confidence - you only need to listen to the microcosms that Stéphane works into the percussion; or Michel’s bassline sliding through an avalanche of information before finaly blossoming into melodies which are each stronger and yet more subtle than the one before; and then Fabrizio, like the pilot of a spaceship, sfeering the whole trip to its finale and finishing the album on the first notes of the first volume.
It’s difficult not to listen to the whole of Akasha in a loop...
Ra led his Arkestra in a "Jazz Symphonique" at the Théâtre-Carré Saint-Vincent, Orléans, France, on October 27, 1990.
This rare concert was issued in the UK on a 2-CD set entitled Pleiades, on the Leo label in 1993. However, that album's audio sounds like a direct transfer from a source DAT with no attempt at sonic adjustments. Consequently, the instruments and channels are out of balance, and volume levels are erratic. The violins, drums, and tabla are well-represented, often at the expense of other instruments and soloists. In ensemble passages the horns generate enough collective power to blast through, but some soloists are exiled to the sonic shadows. The tabla (which sporadically seem to have been placed directly near a mic, or vice-versa) are often intrusively loud, and the bass drum accents explode above the limits of comfort.
Back in 1993, digital audio editing was a relatively young technology, and the more sophisticated systems were largely housed in professional studios. Software, plugins, waveform editors, and sonic juicers were primitive compared to what can be accomplished today at home on a laptop. Consequently, this 2018 digital edition offers a remarkable upgrade to that 1993 CD. Our version offers a better mix—the best that can be accomplished from a seemingly haphazard stereo capture with no isolated stems.
Here we go again.
I mentioned "Go Ape!" only a couple of days ago, and there's already a new release announced.
An album with the exactly the same tracks : Stockholm 1967.
Festival DJ's take note !
Pierre Vervloesem did a Dub Version Remix of seven tracks of the Boggamasta album.
This is great. This is fun.
Familiar sounding and yet completely different.
A bit of sunshine, a beer, and a bit of dub in the background. This needs a vinyl version !!
I know, I know. I can be rather delighted or even exalted when I mention some of the albums that I'm listening to, but I can't help it. That's just me.
"Nos Âmes Saoules - Live 2016" captured Lazuli in concert at 'De Boerderij', in Zoetermeer, NL in December 2016.
The video recording of this concert got packed in a 10" picture book.
Beautiful !
SoundSpace is raising funds to create Asheville’s first full-fledged music practice space facility, to serve the needs of our vibrant music community. We are musician-run, creating state-of-the-art music spaces in a creative hub that will help to enrich and grow Asheville’s music scene. Featured in an African American cultural landmark property, we are recreating a soul-food cafe, and honoring Asheville history in murals! We thank all of the supporters for our Round 1 fundraiser!!
"33 minutes of pure, unadulterated, psychedelic Krautrock courtesy of PYRAMID: an obscure studio project produced by Toby Robinson aka The Mad Twiddler. These sessions were recorded circa 1975–76 in Cologne for the underground Pyramid label, which was operated by Toby and his friend Robin Page (the Fluxus artist). During that time, Toby worked as engineer and assistan at varios studios in Cologne, including the famous Dieter Dierks studios, where most of the albums from the Ohr/Pilz/Cosmic Courier catalogue were registered. Having access to the studios during dead hours, Toby recorded lot of sessions just for fun without any commercial interest, featuring friends and musicians who frequented the studios and the underground art/music scene of Cologne. Some of these sessions were later relesed as hand–made vinyl micro pressings on his Pyramid label with help from artist Robin Page."
Read a fine review of the Heliosonic Tone-tette's "Heliosonic Toneways, Vol.1" album,
celebrating the 50th anniversary of Sun Ra's "Heliocentric Worlds".
(Zappatika's) Zap McInnes new project is called Spoonfish.
SPOONFiSH, is a new band formed in 2017 by singer/guitarist of international Frank Zappa tribute Zappatika, , Zap Mcinnes. SPOONFiSH dropped their debut single Psycho Bitch on April 1st 2018. The band has two other members (Hieronymus van Dam and Joep Oosterbaan) from the previous Frank Zappa project , plus new drummer Samuel T.
The band plays original material written by Mcinnes, a mix of "rock, jazz and progressive themes and as funky as fuck" with a lot of Frank Zappa influence when it comes to arrangements
The band will be doing their first full concert on the 25th of May at the Muziekhuis in Leiden, NL.
In the meantime, you can listen to them on bandcamp :
Spoonfish is preparing the release of their first album, "Devil's Delight". It's being mastered at The Soundlab in New Jersey.
They will be releasing their second single, "Open Your Head", on the 25th of May as well.
The board of Association Art Zoyd 3 is deeply saddened to announce the death of Mr Gérard Hourbette, its director and composer, which occurred on Friday, May 4th, 2018 at the age of 64.
Japanese Prog Ensemble Yuka & Chronoship Announce the Release of Their New Album SHIP
Yuka & Chronoship was formed in 2009 by Yuka Funakoshi (a rare female prog rock artist in the world) and three experienced session musicians (Shun Taguchi, Takashi Miyazawa, and Ikko Tanaka).
The band's previous album, received critical acclaim worldwide and was helped establish the band as an intriguing discovery for fans of the progressive rock genre.
The first seven songs of the band's new album SHIP are a suite based on the Greek mythology “ARGO”. The opening song “Tears of the Figurehead” is sung by special guest singer Sonja Kristina of Curved Air.
Band member Shun Taguchi said: The last song “Did You Find A Star?” was originally planned to sung by John Wetton, but he passed away from cancer and at first we planned not to include it on the album. However, although unfortunately our dream didn't come true, we decided to still record the song for the album as a tribute to him.
The album will be released on 11th May via Cherry Red Records worldwide excluding Japan where the album is available via King Records.
Bass Legend Jeff Berlin To Release 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch Vinyl “Joe Frazier - Round 3” Feat. Steve Vai and David Sancious!
Joe Frazier - Round 3 smokes because the players are smoking. They took a wonderful piece of music and lit a fuse under it! - Jeff Berlin
Nashville – Legendary bassist Jeff Berlin will be releasing on May 11th a 30th Anniversary Edition 12-inch vinyl of his signature song “Joe Frazier.” The EP “Joe Frazier - Round 3” will include a newly remastered version of the original song from his critically acclaimed 1987 album “Pump It!” and a completely re-imagined version, composed and performed by Jeff, Steve Vai (lead guitar), David Sancious (keys), Keith Carlock (drums) and Tom Hemby (rhythm guitar). This limited-edition EP will be available as signed audiophile vinyl, signed CD, or digital release, with collector's editions including an autographed chart of the new arrangement. Digital “mix minus” tracks of the single will also be offered so you can play along with these iconic musicians.
Says Jeff, “'Joe Frazier' is a song that has remained with me throughout my career. No matter where I am in the world, people ask to hear this song. 2017 marks the 30th anniversary of the rendition that I recorded on my second solo record, 'Pump It!' While chatting about the tune with producer John McCracken, we thought to come up with a new version, calling it 'Joe Frazier - Round 3.' For me, this new song is almost entirely different from the previous two renditions and, quite honestly, I think that this is one of the best tunes I ever wrote.”
Musicians:
Bass and Keyboards: Jeff Berlin
Guitar Solo: Steve Vai
Additional Keyboards: David Sancious
Drums: Keith Carlock
Rhythm Guitars: Tom Hemby
Shakers: Gabriela Sinagra
Says Jeff, “Steve Vai's guitar solo was searing. He showed why he is one of the greatest of the great guitarists in the world. David Sancious' keyboards put color and style into JF. The man is a legend and helped to put the 'orchestra' into 'Joe Frazier.' Keith Carlock’s drumming is like a train clicking down the tracks. He instantly grabbed the quarter note and never let it go for over seven minutes of musical percolating. Tom Hemby is one of Nashville's top studio guitarists. But on 'Joe Frazier,' he sounded like the guitarist for James Brown and AC/DC.”
Spinifex presents the new SOUFIFEX project, with music inspired by Sufi traditions from around the world, at Moers Festival, Germany (19 + 20 May) and Houtfestival, Haarlem (17 June).
Try-outs at Space is the Place (De Ruimte, Amsterdam) on 17 May and Paviljoen Ongehoorde Muziek, Eindhoven on 18 May.
In October, Spinifex will perform SOUFIFEX at the Jazz Goes To Town Festival at Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic) and on tour in Central Europe.
In 2017, Spinifex adapted two pieces and recorded them for the CD ‘Amphibian Ardour’: a Sufi traditional of Kurdish/Iranian origin, and a Qawali traditional from Pakistan. Both the Spinifex musicians and the concert audiences (and also many music journalists) liked this music so much that it was decided to create a whole project, SOUFIFEX, dedicated to music inspired by Sufi traditions. Deeply rooted in their musical approach of combining cutting-edge composed structures with free improvisation, Spinifex dives into the magic of ritually repeated patterns and concentration on the beat.
Line-up: Tobias Klein - alto saxophone, John Dikeman - tenor saxophone, Jasper Stadhouders - guitar, Gonçalo Almeida - bass, Philipp Moser - drums, special guest in Moers and Haarlem: Bart Maris - trumpet
In October, Spinifex will record the SOUFIFEX project for a new CD to be released in December 2018.
Released in 1990.
Woodentrucks was a project by Bernard Plouvier, who later was a part of Mad Dog Loose, and by (bass) guitarist and composer Pierre Vervloesem.
Among others, the band also included Anne Fontigny (A Group, Pierre Vervloesem), and three of the compositions were written by Thierry Mondelaers (X-Legged Sally, A Group).
Adding data to the Lazuli discography over at the United Mutations Archives, and enjoying the album at the same time. That's what it's about.
Lazuli's "Nos Âmes Saoules" (Our Drunken Souls) got released in 2016. It presents ten tracks. Seven powerful and dynamic typical Lazuli compositions, plus three instrumentals.
I love the songs and the arrangements.
Another highlight in the Lazuli discography.
Intense and beautiful. I can't stop listening to this.
Mixing exotica with jazz, and adding some psychedelic flavour, The Golden Dawn Arkestra released their first (mini-) album four years ago.
In 2016 they (the Texas-based ensemble !!) made their first full-length album, "Stargazer".
They will have a new album out in about three weeks !
"Children Of The Sun".
THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION, SHENKAR (L. SHANKAR), RONNI LE TEKRØ, and the NORWEGIAN WIND ENSEMBLE
organised by the ZappaUnion team.
Frank Zappa veterans Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Ed Mann and Christopher Garcia make up the Grandmothers of Invention. May 12 will be the last chance to see them in Norway.
The concert will be unique :
Legend Shenkar (L. Shankar, violin) flies in from India only to perform with The Grandmothers.
On request of The Grandmothers, Ronni Le Tekrø will join the ensemble on the guitar.
Plus, the band will be joined by the Norwegian Wind Ensemble (Norwegian Blåseensemble (DNBE)). The DNBE has played several concerts with Dweezil Zappa and has released albums with Frank Zappa compositions.
I'm assuming that various Zappateers will be attending the concert. Let's hope that an audio or video turns up.
On their first album, a privately released CDR, Finnish band Hörrihoovers paid tribute to their musical heroes. Next to pieces by amongst others Jimmy Reed, Muddy Waters, Elmore James and Chuck Berry, Frank Zappa's 'Willie The Pimp' also gets the Hörrihoovers make-over.
Nice.
October 2016, Joe Higham (sax, doudouk), Roland Binet (flute, sax), Guy Segers (bass), Dirk Wachterlaer (drums), Catherine Smet (keyboards) and Michel Delville (electric guitar) joined forces at 'De Studio' in Asse, BE, for an improviational session.
The session got recorded, was edited and mixed by Guy Segers and was mastered by Pierre Verloesem.
The end result of these spontaneous compositions has just been released by the Discus record label. It's available from Bandcamp, but also on CD.
Improvised music.
I like it a lot.
We’re delighted to make this music available. You’ll know Guy Segers from his days as bass guitarist with the influential and brilliant RIO group Univers Zero, but you may not know that Guy has been a tireless creator and releaser of music – often via his own Bandcamp page – up to the present day. This new release by Eclectic Maybe Band has a great vibe and atmosphere to it. A group of highly skilled and compatible players came together in the studio under Guys’s direction and made some improvisations. Although improvised the outcome is stylistically varied. Some tracks make you think of electric Miles filtered via zeuhl, while others are freer and open ended. Really flexible and great sounding bass and drums provide an ever shifting backdrop. The guitar is angular, surprising, expressive, a real stand out performance. Flute is the main horn at the forefront, blown by the wind eerily back and forth over the tracks, with the saxes digging in occasionally. Very original use of keys here too, especially when a rather icy grand piano cuts in. These initial improvisations have been carefully restructured in post production by Guy to produce a result very much in keeping with the Discus Music spirit.
Another 'radio show' recording. This time it's Stockholm 1967, better known as the "T Is The Season To Be Jelly" bootleg.
Nice package but nothing that you haven't seen or heard before.
Virtuoso guitar player Christophe Godin's Mörglbl trio released "Tea Time For Punks" a little while ago. I'm a big fan of the Mörglbl trio but for some reason or another I only recently got hold of the album.
"Tea Time For Punks" is great. It's album number six in an incredible series
Essential listening for guitar freaks.
Christophe godin: guitars
Ivan Rougny: bass
Aurélien Ouzoulias: drums
Tight, technically unlikely and hilarious, mixing metal and fusion.. That's Mörglbl.
Here's a short report on the band's recent tour in China.
The United Mutations Archives present data on various bands and artists that have links to Captain Beefheart, Sun Ra, The Residents and/or Frank Zappa.
Sometimes, when I'm impressed by a certain band, I just have to check them out, adding the info to the Archives when I move along. The result is that the United Mutations Archives carry a lot of extra data.
Gov't Mule falls in this category. The band has performed (and recorded) Frank Zappa tunes in concert but they're too good just to mention the one or two albums that carry 'Pygmy Twylyte'.
"Shout!" got released in 2014. It's a two-CD set. The first disc presents 11 tunes that are performed by Gov't Mule. The bonus disc has the same 11 tracks but this time with a guest musician taking care of the vocals. This is amazing. It's fun and it sounds great.
Featuring Elvis Costello, Dr.John, Ben Harper, Steve Winwood (!!), Dave Matthews,...
Check it out !
Progressive rock band Lazuli has a new album out.
"Saison 8" is disc number eight in their discography, not counting a couple of DVD's.
Lazuli has a very distinctive style: a strong rhythm, powerful yet fragile vocals, the screaming léode,... It's dynamic (prog) rock with a fine dose of eastern influences.
I love it.
At the end of their shows, everyone gathers around the marimba...
Last year's edition of the Ham Sessions took place on May 8, 15 and 16. I was there during one of these days and I was very happy to catch the Laughing Bastards in concert.
This compilation album presents one piece of every band that performed at the Ham Sessions. For The Laughing Bastards it's the beautiful 'Weigh' by Jan-Sebastiaan Degeyter that got included on this disc. For me, the other highlight on this impressive collection is 'Cornucopia' performed by Fabrik.
Composer Gene Pritsker presents a concert of his vocal music. "I have written many chamber operas, various chamber music with voice, jazz songs, r&b songs, choral music and songs inspired by various genres and cultures. I thought it would be great to have a concert that features my eclectic vocal compositions. I assembled a group of great singers and picked repertoire that will feature each of their voices as well as combine them to perform some of my choral music." Sopranos Mary Illes and Sharon Harms, mezzo soprano Jessica Bowers, counter tenor Juecheng Chen and baritone Charles Coleman, with special guests Franz Hackl on trumpet and guitarist Sean Satin, will perform many of my compositions, including the premieres of: 'Whitman's Strangers Electronic' for mezzo soprano and Samplestra (pre recorded electronics), Nun Tuv Hey' from 'Four Choral Pieces On Hebrew Letters' for chorus and 'Turn Back?' for counter tenor and guitar, as well as older music such as the duo 'Renascence', the jazzy 'Funeral Blues' and my choral piece 'Wish + Faith = Kisses'. The concert will also include music of Mark Kostabi, Franz Hackl, Charles Coleman, and Shanan Estreicher.
Saturday, May12th at 9pm. The concert will be held at Bar Thalia - Symphony Space
Here's 'The Wall' from Gene's recent "Trump" concerto.
Recorded in New York City in 1973 and released as a Record Store Day album in 2018. Count the years. And it still sounds fresh and innovative.
Disc one is a reissue of the first disc of the 2000 "Cymbals & Crystal Spears"
album. Disc two is said to be previously unreleased (although two or three tracks can be found on other releases...)
Spanish Zappa tribute band Zappacadabra is a project by multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer Oscar Cuenca.
Oscar has worked with Caballero Reynaldo and The Grand Kazoo band. www.facebook.com/zappacadabra
The band did a concert in Madrid on April 20, 2018.
Zappacadabra - Sala Tarambana- Madrid - 20/04/2018
Oscar Cuenca: Keyboards and voices
Oscar del Ramo: Drums
Adrian Gonzalez: Vocals
Gorka Menchaca: Bass and; voices
Davo Garcia: Guitar and voices
Marina QuileZ: Vibraphone and percussion
Jesus Tenorio: Alto sax and percussion
Jose Luis Magro: Tenor sax and flute
Angel Rodriguez: Baritone sax
Ansar Zhamlijanov: Trumpet
Intro * Easy Meat * Bamboozled By Love * Cosmik Debris * Uncle Remus * Mr. Green Genes * Fifty-Fifty * I´m The Slime * Hot Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel * The Torture Never Stops * San Ber´dino * Dancin´Fool * Improvisation * Dirty Love * More Trouble Every Day * Tell Me You Love Me * Whippin´Post * City Of Tiny Lights
Cosmic Myth records has released another Sun Ra sampler : "Space Age Rhythm & Bop (The 1950s)".
Download-only.
The material offered here has been reissued over the years on various compilations on other labels (see below). Why recycle? Because on this digital collection, we've attempted sonic upgrades on most of these tracks. We've fixed dropouts, removed intrusive (non-musical) artifacts, reduced hiss, adjusted volume imbalances, lessened sibilance, and on one track repaired a skip that has been reproduced on every previously released version. Nothing fancy: no added reverb, no compression, no radical EQ, no ridiculous scrubbing of every sonic imperfection. We've retained the raw soul of these recordings, and flaws still abound.
The Cien Fuegos record label is re-releasing "Machine Gun" by the Peter Brötzman Octet, originally released 50 years ago.
At the same time, Cien Fuegos will release an album with alternate takes. Both on vinyl.
One of the most important albums of European Free Jazz , finally in the Cien Fuegos Series!
Peter Brötzmann: baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone / Peter Kowald: acoustic bass / Buschi Niebergall: acoustic bass / Sven-Ake Johansson: drums / Han Bennink: drums / Fred Van Hove: piano / Evan Parker: tenor saxophone / Willem Breuker: tenor saxophone
Recorded May 1968 at 'Lila Eule', Bremen
