JOHN CAGE, SUN RA - JOHN CAGE MEETS SUN RA

•  john cage, sun ra: john cage meets sun ra
      (2019, 7" + dvd, usa, modern harmonic mh-119)

Audio of this 1986 collaboration can be found on various media : a vinyl album, both as single and as double album, a cd and a 7" have been released, documenting the encounter.
More recently, as part of the 2019 record store day, Modern Harmonic re-released their 7" but this time with an added DVD that presents the entire footage.

Nice extras as well.

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - ARTISTE BELGE

• pierre vervloesem: artiste belge
      (2019, cd, bel, off records)

Pierre Vervloesem is back !
Well, he's never been away but he has a new record out. An excellent record, if I may say so.

"Artiste Belge" is unmistakably Pierre Vervloesem.
Performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Pierre.
Pop songs that you can't tap your foot to, futuristic sounding sequencer pieces that make you want to watch Star Trek reruns, all intertwined with magnificent guitar lines and solos.

Weird rhythms, quirky melodies. I love it.
Essential listening !!
Digital download on Bandcamp, but also out on CD !!

http://off-recordlabel.blogspot.com/2019/03/opv014-pierre-vervloesem-artiste-belge.html

THE FURIOUS BONGOS PLAY ZAPPA

The Furious Bongos, featuring Arthur Barrow, will be performing the music of Frank Zappa

May 12th Metro Gallery, Baltimore, MD 8pm
May 14th Tralf Music Hall, Buffalo, NY 7pm
May 15th The Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH 8:30pm
May 16th Martyrs', Chicago, IL 9:30pm (double bill)
May 17th The Acorn, Three Oaks, MI 8pm
May 19th High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI 8pm

ADRIAN BELEW - SIDE FOUR (LIVE)

• adrian belew: side four (live)
      (2008, cd, usa, adrian belew presents abp2167)

Despite the fact that Adrian Belew's "Side Four (Live)" album is quite hard to find, it is a must-have.
The album captured the power trio (Adrian Belew - Julie Slick - Eric Slick) on a February night in 2007 in Ohio and they were in fine shape.
Released ten years ago, it brings back vivid memories of seeing the band live in Tilburg...
Beautiful.

THE RESIDENTS' ESKIMO DECONSTRUCTED TRAILER

Cherry Red's promo for "Eskimo Deconstructed"

R.I.P. JOHN SMOTHERS

John Smothers, Frank Zappa's bodyguard for quite a number of years, has passed away.

SUN RA - WHEN ANGELS SPEAK OF LOVE

• sun ra and his myth science arkestra: when angels speak of love
      (2017, cd, uk, grey scale gsjgz013cd)

"When Angels Speak Of Love" is one of my favourite Sun Ra albums.
It got released in 1966 on Sun Ra's Saturn record label and it remains hard-to-find.
I'm very happy with the CD version that got released by Evidence in 2000.

So two years ago, when the malicious Grey Scale record label started re-issuing five or six of these older Saturn albums, I wasn't surprised that they added "When Angels Speak Of Love" to their list.

The perfect balance between melody, rhythm and free improvisations. Perfect !!

Just listen to 'Celestial Fantasy' !

ULTRA ZOOK RELEASES FIRST FULL ALBUM

After three mini-albums, Ultra Zook has finally released their first full album.
This is fun !!
They remind me of that other French band, Ni.
Chaotic and fun.

Out on vinyl, on CD and as digital release on Bandcamp.

EVIL DICK UPDATE

February 9, Richard Hemmings, or Evil Dick, released a new track on bandcamp.
Musique concrete.

CAL SCHENKEL

Cal Schenkel is the man (and mind) behind some iconic Frank Zappa album covers not to name Captain Beefheart's "Trout Mask Replica" album.
He's selling his artwork through his website :
https://www.ralf.com/galerie/

But more recently, he put op some artwork for sale on ebay as well.
Some paintings of the famous album covers, but also a couple of limited edition silk screen prints from 1978 / 1979.

"Zappa Lints"

"Apesma", 1979

"Cruisin' ", 1979

"Wild Meat", 1979

"Lumpy Ralf", 1978

ROCK IN OPPOSITION FESTIVAL 2019

ROCK IN OPPOSITION 2019
Festival Des Musiques Indomptables
9, 10, 11 MAI 2019
Lyon, France

2 SALLES, 2 VILLES, 3 JOURS UN FESTIVAL

May 9, 2019
John Greaves and Annie Barbazza
Mange Ferraille
Poil

May 10, 2019
Koenjihyakkei
a.P.A.t.T
Schnellertollermeier

May 11, 2019
Pinoil
The Watts (Cutler, Leigh, Holdgkinson, etc)
Present
The North Sea Radio Orchestral with John Greaves and Annie Barbazza

http://www.lesabattoirs.fr/2019/05/09/rock-in-opposition--9-10-et-11-mai-2019-mange-feraille-poil-concert-special-schnellertollermeier-koenji-hyakkei-a-p-a-t-t-robert-wyatt--s-rock-bottom-present-piniol-the-watts-geoff-leigh/

MOSAE ZAPPA

The Mosae Zappa crew teams up with the Limburgzaal in Heerlen to make Dweezil Zappa's concert part of a Mosae Zappa Weekend !
All in and around Heerlen.

In chronological order :

29/11 - The Dangerous Kitchen at Oefenbunker, Landgraaf, NL
29/11 - Zappa Talks at Oefenbunker, Landgraaf, NL
30/11 - Let's Make The Water Turn Black at Coasters, Heerlen, NL
30/11 - Dweezil Zappa at the Limburgzaal, Heerlen, NL
30/11 - The Disco Boyz at Café Bluff, Heerlen, NL

I assume that The Disco Boyz is a DJ set, and I hope all the rest is live music...

Get your combined tickets here :
http://mosaezappa.com/

SUN RA

Here's a bit of extra info on "The Antique Blacks"

http://zerosounds.blogspot.com/2019/04/sun-ra-antique-blacks.html

-- info : Jan van Kemenade

MARBIN TOURDATES

Chicago-based progressive jazz-rock band Marbin is touring.


APR 27 Memphis, TN The P&H Cafe
APR 28 North Little Rock, AR Four Quarter Bar
APR 29 Tyler, TX The Nine Muses
APR 30 Houston, TX Bohemeo's
MAY 01 San Antonio, TX 502 Bar
MAY 02 Austin, TX Sahara Lounge
MAY 03 Dallas, TX The Free Man Cajun Cafe & Lounge
MAY 04 Norman, OK The Deli
MAY 05 Wichita, KS Barleycorn's
MAY 06 Tulsa, OK The Vanguard
MAY 07 Bentonville, AR Meteor Guitar Gallery
MAY 08 Springfield, MO Outland Ballroom
MAY 09 KCMO, MO Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club
MAY 10 Jefferson City, MO The Mission
MAY 11 St. Louis, MO BB's Jazz

JIM PONS

Jim Pons played bass for The Leaves and later for The Turtles.
He joined Frank Zappa's band in 1971.

https://fissurarock.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-leaves-discografia-essencial.html

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

PATRICK O'HEARN UPDATE

Former Zappa bass player Patrick O'Hearn can be heard playing the bass on John Hiatt's "The Eclipse Session" album from 2018.

• john hiatt: the eclipse sessions
      (2018, cd, usa, new west records)

-- info: Danny Mathys

SUN RA & HIS SOLAR ARKESTRA - SECRETS OF THE SUN

• sun ra & his solar arkestra: secrets of the sun
      (2017, cd, uk, grey scale gsjgz011cd)

The above pictured "Secrets Of The Sun" is another (unauthorised) re-issue of one the older Sun Ra albums by Grey Scale.
This Grey Scale disc has the same tracklist as the 2008 Atavistic re-issue, meaning that it has one extra track 'Flight To Mars', taken from an unreleased album that was to be released on Sun Ra's Saturn record label.

Classic Sun Ra !

IKE WILLIS & ZAPPATIKA'S THREE DAY INTERNATIONAL TOUR

Zappatika with special guest Ike Willis will be performing on :

• Friday - May 3, 2019 - in Leiden, The Netherlands, at 'Het Muziekhuis';
• Saturday - May 4, 2019 - in Essen, Germany, at 'Freakshow'
• Sunday - May 5, 2019 - in Lens, Belgium, at the 'Titans Club'

SUN RA - PICTURES OF INFINITY

• sun ra and his arkestra: pictures of infinity
      (2017, cd, uk, grey scale gsjgz005cd)

Originally released in 1971 and re-released by various labels with a different album title, the best-known being "Outer Spaceways Incorporated" on the Black Lion label.
Anyway, the UK Grey Scale label did release this (unauthorised) version in 2017 with the original title.
On CD with one bonus track compared to the original release : 'Intergalactic Motion'.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA TOURDATES

Next September, Dweezil Zappa will be embarking on another tour,
performing the music of Frank Zappa's "Hot Rats" album.

09.03.2019 Tue - Living Arts Centre - Mississauga ON - Canada
09.04.2019 Wed - Asbury Hall @ Babeville - Buffalo NY - United States
09.05.2019 Thu - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom - Hampton Beach NH - United States
09.06.2019 Fri - Stateside Amphitheater at Jay Peak Resort - Jay VT - United States
09.07.2019 Sat - The Newton Theatre - Newton NJ - United States
09.08.2019 Sun - Strand Theatre - York PA - United States (PENDING)
09.10.2019 Tue - Infinity Hall Hartford - Hartford CT - United States
09.11.2019 Wed - The Warehouse - Fairfield CT - United States
09.12.2019 Thu - Westcott Theater - Syracuse NY - United States
09.13.2019 Fri - Bergen Performing Arts Center - Englewood NJ - United States
09.14.2019 Sat - Avalon Theatre - Easton MD - United States (PENDING)
09.15.2019 Sun - The National - Richmond VA - United States
09.17.2019 Tue - Bijou Theatre - Knoxville TN - United States
09.18.2019 Wed - James K. Polk Theater - Nashville TN - United States
09.19.2019 Thu - Live at Ludlow Garage - Cincinnati OH - United States
09.20.2019 Fri - Michigan Theater - Ann Arbor MI - United States
09.21.2019 Sat - London Music Hall - London ON - Canada
09.22.2019 Sun - Music Box Supper Club - Concert Hall - Cleveland OH - United States
09.24.2019 Tue - The Arcada Theatre - St. Charles IL - United States
09.25.2019 Wed - Fargo Theatre - Fargo ND - United States
09.26.2019 Thu - Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg MB - Canada
09.28.2019 Sat - Bella Concert Hall - Calgary AB - Canada
09.29.2019 Sun - Myer Horowitz Theatre - Edmonton AB - Canada
11.21.2019 Thu - Cirkus - Stockholm - Sweden
11.24.2019 Sun - Concert House - Gothenburg - Sweden
11.25.2019 Mon - Sentrum Scene - Oslo - Norway
11.27.2019 Wed - Fonden VoxHall - Aarhus - Denmark
11.28.2019 Thu - Amager Bio - Copenhagen - Denmark
11.30.2019 Sat - Parkstad Limburg Theater - Heerlen - Netherlands
12.01.2019 Sun - TivoliVredenburg - Utrecht - Netherlands
12.02.2019 Mon - La Cigale - Paris - France
12.04.2019 Wed - Royal Festival Hall - London - England
12.05.2019 Thu - Palace Theatre - Manchester - England
12.06.2019 Fri - Southampton Guildhall- Southampton - England
12.08.2019 Sun - New Theatre Oxford - Oxford - England
12.09.2019 Mon - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - Glasgow - Scotland
12.10.2019 Tue - Leeds Town Hall - Leeds - England
12.11.2019 Wed - Town Hall - Birmingham - England

SUN RA - MONORAILS & SATELLITES

• sun ra: monorails & satellites
  (2018, cd, uk, grey scale gsjgz006cd)

Sun Ra's 1968 "Monorails & Satellites" is one of his classic albums. It has been re-issued a number of times with some sort of 'ultimate / final' re-issue earlier this year on the Cosmic Myth record label.
In 2018, however, the Grey Scale record label didn't hesitate put out this (unauthorised) re-issue with the original 8 tracks.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON THE COVER OF GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE

Dweezil Zappa is on the cover of the March 2019 issue of Guitar Player magazine, while Frank has articles in this month's Rolling Stone and in Rock 'n Folk.
FZ's music seems more alive than ever.

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

DEAD MAN RAY - CAGO

• dead man ray: cago
      (2002, cd, bel, heavenhotel)

Dead Man Ray (Daan, Rudy Trouvé, Elko Blyweert, Wouter Van Belle and Karel De Backer) have just released a follow-up to their 2002 "Cago" album.
After 17 years !
Reason enough to give "Cago" a spin.

THE MAPPA ZAPPA EP

New from Cordelia Records :
The Mappa Zappa EP

An accompaniment to the Mappa Zappa album.
Fred Händl, The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra, Caballero Reynaldo and Jerry Outlaw & Friends perform the music of Frank Zappa.

CD in a cardboard cover

http://www.cordeliarecords.co.uk/Pages/Buy%20Records.html

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND CELEBRATES "MOTHERS"

May 20th, 2019
THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND CELEBRATES "MOTHERS"
An Evening of Music dedicated to Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention,
and to the wonderful Mothers around the World.
We Salute You One and All!

The Iridium
1650 Broadway (corner of W. 51 St.), NYC
8:30PM - One set only

JINTA-LA-MVTA

Japanese Klezmer band Jinta-la-Mvta plays Zappa's "Peaches En Regalia" at KulturfestNYC;
June 15, 2015

MILLIONAIRE

Millionaire released a new single, "Don't".

"Don’t" is the first new music from Tim Vanhamel's Millionaire since their hugely acclaimed Sciencing album from 2017. We are still clueless over whether this track is also a peek into the next Millionaire record, but we do know for sure Don't is an essential funky groover.

SUN RA - SOLO KEYBOARDS, MINNESOTA 1978

• sun ra: solo keyboards, minnesota 1978
      (2019, download, --, bandcamp)

Next to the "Space Is The Place - Music For The Film" re-release, this brand-new recording turned up on Bandcamp earlier this month.
Sun Ra on solo piano and on Crumar Synth.

Recorded at a Minnesota club in 1978.
Sounds pretty good !!


-- info: Danny Mathys

THE RESIDENTS RSD

If you want to know more about the two recent Record Store Day releases by The Residents,

2018 : The W*** B*** Album

and
2019 : B.S.,

you can find it here :

http://exystence.net/blog/2019/04/18/the-residents-b-s-rsd-2019/

http://exystence.net/blog/2019/04/18/the-residents-the-w-b-album-rsd-2018/

--- info: Jan van Kemenade

GEORGE DUKE RADIO SHOW ALBUM

• various artists: rock around the world #199 (radio show)
      (1978, lp-promo, usa, rock around the world)

Here's a nice find.
A promotional radio show album. Rock Around The World #199.
With the spotlight on George Duke and on Dirk Hamilton.

It features a nice interview with George (about his time with Frank Zappa) while (a.o.) 'Fifty-Fifty', 'Be-Bop Tango' and 'Inca Roads' are played.
Broadcast  on May 28, 1978.

SNARKY PUPPY - SYLVA

• snarky puppy with metropole orkest: sylva
      (2015, cd, usa, impulse)

Keeping the best for last in my Snarky Puppy updates...
Sylva is the result of the contribution of Snarky Puppy with the Dutch Metropole Orkest.

Simply amazing.
Essential listening.

SNARKY PUPPY - FAMILY DINNER VOLUME 1

• snarky puppy: family dinner volume one
      (2013, cd+dvd, usa, groundup/ropeadope)

Snarky Puppy has recorded two album with guest vocalists. Plural, as it's another vocalist on (almost) every track.
As the title suggests, "Family Dinner Volume One", released in 2013, was the first one.
It did get the band some extra attention as they won a Grammy Award for their rendition of 'Something', with Lalah Hathaway on vocals.
Well deserved.

SNARKY PUPPY - TELL YOUR FRIENDS

• snarky puppy: tell your friends
      (2010, cd+dvd, usa, ropeadope)

Catching up with the Snarky Puppy catalogue, here's "Tell Your Friends".
Recorded (and filmed) in front of a live audience on November 21, 2009, at the Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana.
5 tracks and if you get the edition with the dvd, you'll have a couple of bonus tracks as well.
Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.

PASQUALE GRASSO AND THE WDR BIG BAND

The WDR BIG BAND featuring Pasquale Grasso performing "A Parisian Thoroughfare" written by Bud Powell. The Arrangement is written by Chris Byars, who also is leading the WDR Big Band. Soli by Johan Hörlén, on Altosaxofone, Andy Hunter on trombone, Pasquale Grasso on guitar, John Goldsby on bass and Hans Dekker on drums. Produced at the rehearsal in April 2019 at the WDR Funkhaus Studio 4 in Cologne.

THE OAKLAND ELEMENTARY ARKESTRA

From Bandcamp :

Unless you attended elementary school in Oakland, California in 1997, you probably had no idea that this meeting of elementary school music students and improvisational jazz luminaries existed.

Working within and beyond the vision of elementary school music teacher Randy Porter, The Thornhill Sound presents the odyssey of 4th, 5th & 6th grade students from novice musicians into an avant garde ensemble. The extremely rare, once cassette only, The Thornhill Sound features 29 mini opuses of imprecise, meditative, ethereal soundclouds of wonder and joy, the children were joined by such luminaries as Terry Riley, Fred Frith, Dave Slusser, and Dave Gordon, Tyrone Hill, & Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra! Among these amazing interplanetary improv pieces are a few Sun Ra covers. Highlights of this cassette combined with the Big Music, Little Musicians recordings went on to form The Saga Of Padani.

Data has been added to the United Mutations Archives.


-- info : Danny Mathys

THE OAKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARKESTRA - THE SAGA OF PADANI

• the oakland elementary school arkestra: the saga of padani
      (2018, cd, usa, modern harmonic)

Last year, Modern Harmonic released a follow-up to the 1994 "Big Music, Little Musicians" album by The Oakland Elementary School Arkestra.
This time, the Little Arkestra got a little help from none other than Marshall Allen, Terry Riley, Fred Frith, Dave Slusser, Dave Gordon and Tyrone Hill !!

Elementary school kids performing music from outer space...
Don't you just love this ? I know I do.
The vinyl version of this album comes with a Sun Ra Colouring Book. True.


-- info : Danny Mathys

THE OAKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARKESTRA - BIG MUSIC, LITTLE MUSICIANS

• the oakland elementary school arkestra: big music, little musicians
      (1994, cd, usa, modern harmonic)

Working within and beyond the vision of elementary school music teacher Randy Porter, Big Music, Little Musicians presents the odyssey of 4th, 5th & 6th grade students from novice musicians into an avant garde ensemble. An ensemble that engenders an array of sonic textures which never remain static or stagnant, but flow in a way that it's always surprising, often starling and astonishing. BMLM, released in 1994 exclusively on CD, is the earliest elements of The Saga Of Padani which curates the best moments from both volumes of the “little Arkestra's” journey through sonic space. 43 original compositions and one iconic Sun Ra cover. Includes the prophetically named 55 second opus “Trump Bone Music.”


-- info : Danny Mathys

SNARKY PUPPY - BRING US THE BRIGHT

• snarky puppy: bring us the bright
      (2008, cd, usa, sitmom)

From 2008 !
Album number four for Snarky Puppy and the last one that they released independently on the Sitmom label. The album did get a re-issue on the GroundUp label later on.
Beautiful.

Here's the odd one out, 'Loose Screws' :

SUN RA ARKESTRA TOUR DATES

from Outerspaceways :

Below is the current concert itinerary for the 2019 European Tour along with the upcoming USA engagements following the European Tour. Please use the weblinks on the Sun Ra Arkestra website for additional information for each Arkestra manifestation. Also, please keep checking the "Tourdates" section of the Sun Ra Arkestra website for new additional appearances that will likely be expanding the 2019 World Tour by visiting:

http://www.sunraarkestra.com

Fri April 19th., London, England, Ronnie Scott's
Sat April 20th., London, England, Ronnie Scott's
Sun April 21st., Lewes, England, Lewes Con Club
Mon April 22nd., Lewes, England, Lewes Con Club
Tue April 23rd., Bristol, England, Colston Hall
Wed April 24th., Edinburgh, Scotland, Summerhall
Fri April 26th., Wroclaw, Poland, Jazz Nad Odra Festival
Sat April 27th., Budapest, Hungary, Trafo
Sun April 28th., Vienna, Austria, Porgy & Bess
Mon April 29th., Innsbruck, Austria, Treibhaus
Tue April 30th., Brussels, Belgium, Bozar
Wed May 1st., Manchester, England, Gorilla
Thu May 2nd., Leeds, England, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen
Fri May 3rd., Wuppertal, Germany, Caritas Verband
Sat May 4th., Mannheim, Germany, Alte Feuerwache
Sun May 5th., Kassel, Germany, Theater Stubchen
Tue May 7th., Strasbourg, France, Espace Django
Thu May 9th., Milano, Italy, Blue Note
Tue May 14th., Stockholm, Sweden, Fasching
Wed May 15th., Paris, France, New Morning
Thu May 16th., Liege, Belgium, Jazz a Liege
Fri May 17th., Mainz, Germany, Frankfurter Hof Mainz
Sun May 19th., Utrecht, The Netherlands, Tivoli Vredenburg
Thu May 23rd., Prague, Czech Republic, Palac Acropolis
Fri May 24th., London, England, Union Chapel
Sun June 2nd., Berlin, Germany, Berlin Jazz Experiment
Fri June 7th., Moers, Germany, Moers Festival
Sat June 8th., Oxford, England, Oddball 2019, Isis Farmhouse
Thu-Sun July 18th.-21st., San Francisco, CA, San Francisco Jazz Center
Mon-Tue July 22nd. & 23rd., Los Angeles, CA, Zebulon
Fri August 2nd., Newport, RI, Newport Jazz Festival
Sat August 3rd., North Adams, MA, Bang on a Can Loud Weekend at Mass Moca

SNARKY PUPPY - THE ONLY CONSTANT

• snarky puppy: the only constant
      (2006, cd, usa, sitmom)

Snarky Puppy released their firstborn, "Live At Uncommon Ground" in 2005. Their second album, "The Only Constant" followed in 2006.
If you've never heard of Snarky Puppy, this is a great way to start.
Modern jazz. Contemporary big band music.
All tracks written Michael League. Produced by Michael League and Erik Herbst.

MWM TALKS HOLOGRAM

Make Weird Music talks about the Zappa hologram tour.

AKKU QUINTET

from Glass Onyon PR

Swiss Minimalistic Jazz Ensemble Akku Quintet To Release Fourth Album “Depart” On Trey Gunn's 7dMedia Label

Featuring Sonar drummer Manuel Pasquinelli

The Akku Quintet was founded by drummer and composer Manuel Pasquinelli. Says renown writer Sid Smith, “Best-known for his work in Swiss post-rock minimalist outfit, SONAR, Pasquinelli's writing contains an almost cinematic dimension that encompasses bittersweet moods and moments of unfolding drama.” The band is based in Switzerland, from where they dispense a minimalistic jazz groove to great effect.

Since their first concerts in 2011 the band gained more and more international attention (North-America tour in autumn 2018). Their debut album “Stages of Sleep” was released in May 2013 (Morpheus Records). The quintet then set the different phases of sleep to music. Following their acclaimed 2015 album “Molecules” Akku Quintet released their third record “Aeon” in 2017. In October 2018 the band toured Canada and USA.

Their fourth album “Depart” is the first to be released on Trey Gunn's (King Crimson, Security Project) 7d Media label on May 17th.

HARD RUBBER ORCHESTRA - KENNY WHEELER, SUITE FOR HARD RUBBER ORCHESTRA

• hard rubber orchestra: kenny wheeler, suite for hard rubber orchestra
      (2018, cd, canada, justin time records jtr 8614-2)

On their latest release, John Korsrud's Hard Rubber Orchestra performs  a jazz suite that was written for them by composer and trumpet player Kenny Wheeler.
Kenny Wheeler (1930 - 2014) performed with Anthony Braxton, Paul Rutherford, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey and Dave Holland, but he also composed for large jazz ensembles.
In 2013, Kenny Wheeler was commissioned to write a piece for the Hard Rubber Orchestra.
The HRO premiered the music in October 2013.
November 2016 it got recorded for this release.

BUKURU CELESTIN & SNARKY PUPPY - AMKENI

• bukuru celestin & snarky puppy: amkeni
      (2013, cd, usa, ropeadope)

When chief pup Michael League met Bukuru Celestin at the Music Lab at Jefferson Center in 2009, Bukuru had about 40 songs fully composed, recorded and produced on one of the Music Lab's computers.
As Michael explains in the liner notes: "... so my role was basically to take the music out of a 100% authentic Tanzanian / Burundian context and meld it with Snarky Puppy's sound and strengths."

The result got released in 2013. "Amkeni" is a beautiful mix between two musical cultures.
Bukaru Celestin, Ephrazie Niyonzima, Elvanie Niyibigira and Furaha Ndayishimiye on vocals, plus Snarky Puppy with guest drummer Jason 'JT' Thomas.

THE 180 GS - COMMERCIAL ALBUM

• 180 gs: commercial album
      (2019, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

The 180 Gs (David Minnick) recorded an a capella version of The Residents' "Commercial Album".
The entire thing.
I've listened to it a couple of times already.
Astonishing.
Available on Bandcamp.
CD released by Klanggalerie.

THE BEASTS - STILL HERE

• the beasts: still here
      (2019, cd, spain, bang! cd128)

Australian rock band The Beasts Of Bourbon lost frontman Spencer P. Jones in 2018. Brian Hooper also passed away in 2018. Both by a terminal disease.
The remaining band members continue as The Beasts.
"Still Here" includes fine versions (loud and proud !) of Warren Zevon's 'My Shit's Fucked Up' and of Frank Zappa's 'The Torture Never Stops'.

Out on CD and on LP.

SNARKY PUPPY - WE LIKE IT HERE

• snarky puppy: we like it here
      (2014, cd+dvd, usa, ropeadope)

Four days to rehearse the new songs...
The drummer flew in and arrived the day of the recording...
Recorded live at Kytopia in Utrecht, NL.

This is it.
This makes me happy.
If you go for the physical copy, get the one that includes the DVD.

SNARKY PUPPY - FAMILY DINNER VOLUME TWO

• snarky puppy: family dinner vol.2
      (2016, cd+dvd, usa, groundup)

Adding data to the United Mutations Archives, today's featured album is Snarky Puppy's "Family Dinner Volume Two".
Not quite the uptempo groovy music that became their trademark, "Family Dinner Volume Two" still is a fine album to listen to.

THE DARKENING SCALE - STUCK BAD

• the darkening scale: stuck bad
      (2019, cd, austria, klanggalerie)

Anyone who is fascinated by The Residents' "Duck Stab" EP or album should give "Stuck Bad" a listen.
The Darkening Scale is the solo project of David Janssen aka Ted The Loaf of Renaldo And The Loaf. It's a purely digital affair, DS started in 2006 when RATL was put on hold.
Originally, "Stuck Bad" was made available as an mp3 by David in 2011.

As David says : "Stuck Bad" : music inspired by and remixed from The Residents' "Duck Stab".

Beautiful.

Klanggalerie has put in on CD as a tribute to the late Hardy Fox.

BACKBACK - 4

• backback: backback 4
      (2019, cd, bel, el negocito records enr086)

Recorded in 2017 and released in 2019.
It's the new Nordmann album.
Yippee !!

• marc de maeseneer: bariton, tenor sax
• giovanni barcella: drums, korg
• filip wauters: electric guitar, baritone guitar, lapsteel

JIMI DROUILLARD - ZAPPA'S SONGS

• jimi drouillard: zappa's songs
      (2018, cd, france, le triton)

Next to being a concert hall in Paris, France, 'Le Triton' also hosts a record label.
July 2018, Jimi Drouillard and his companions Thierry Eliez, Laurent Vernerey, Francis Arnoud and Franck Tortiller recorded a bunch of Zappa tunes for the label.
November 24 saw the release concert of the album at the 'Le Triton' club.

16 laid-back interpretations of classic Zappa tunes.
I like it.
I like it a lot.

jimi drouillard: guitars, vocals
thierry eliez: keyboards, vocals
laurent vernerey: bass
francis arnaud: drums
guest
franck tortiller: vibraphone, marimba

RE-RELEASE OF SUN RA'S "SPACE IS THE PLACE"

Digital re-release of Sun Ra's "Space Is The Place" album on Bandcamp :

...These tracks were first issued on CD in 1993 by Evidence Records; the package was subtitled "Soundtrack to the film" and featured different cover art. That CD is long out of print, but can be purchased on the secondary market. The contents of the album were issued on LP by Sutro Park in 2010, and they created new cover art. (So did we.) Yet another CD edition was included (along with a DVD of the film) in the 40th Anniversary coffee-table book published in 2014 by Harte Recordings.

The audio for this digital release has some minor improvements over the Evidence and Harte CDs (including the reduction of 60Hz electrical hum during quiet passages), but the respective editions are largely comparable. Wherever the tracks were originally recorded, they were well-recorded. However, according to Jim Newman, the original master tapes were destroyed in a studio fire. All that remains is a quarter-inch stereo mixdown tape.

FRANK NUYTS - SONATAS 22, 23 AND 24 FOR PIANO

• frank nuyts: sonatas 22, 23 and 24 for piano
      (2019, cd, bel, de bijloke)

This is the final album of Frank Nuyts' recent series of Sonatas.
Spellbound.

https://www.franknuyts.com/

THE EVIL EMPIRE ORCHESTRA

Belgian band Evil Empire Orchestra.
They released their first album in 2017.

CARL LUNDGREN

Graphic artist Carl Lundgren drew posters for various gigs at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit.

Two of his posters for the concerts of Frank Zappa / The Mothers Of Invention can be found in the book "The Psychedelic Rock Art Of Carl Lundgren", Hermes Press 2015.

The Psychedelic Rock Art Of Carl Lundgren", Hermes Press 2015

Poster for the December 2 and 3, 1967, gigs

BESTIAPLANETE

Yesterday afternoon we had the pleasure to meet Mariano Alvarez and Cynthia Eisenberg in Brussels.

Cynthia has some of her paintings in expo at the Partage Galerie and Mariano is the vocalist and composer for (and main force behind) Bestiaplanete.

Check out the galery here : http://www.partagegalerie.com/

And check out Bestiaplanete over at Bandcamp :
Funky and zappa-esque !

POIL - SUS

• poil: sus
      (2019, cd, france, dur et doux)

The last year, French trio Poil has been doing a side project with Ni (called Piniol) but they also found the time to make a new album.
"Sus" includes 5 tracks.
Powerful and crazy. Exactly what I had hoped for.
Digipack CD release, or Bandcamp if you prefer.

FRANK ZAPPA - THE REHEARSAL BROADCAST

• frank zappa: the rehearsal broadcast
      (2019, cd, uk, unicorn uncd007)

This "Rehearsal Broadcast" album presents recordings of Frank Zappa's band in Philadelphia on February 14, 1988, as well as a handful of tracks from the concert they did later that evening.
It's another 'radio show album'.

Of course these recordings were never broadcast.
That's just a way to get this album in the semi-legal circuit as the rights for radio (and tv) broadcasts do not belong to the artist but to the radio (or tv) station.

But the recordings do sound great. It's great to hear a rehearsal and the concert tracks feature a 16-minute version of 'King Kong' so what else do you need...

FRANK NUYTS - SONATAS 19, 20 AND 21 FOR PIANO

• frank nuyts: sonatas 19, 20 and 21 for piano
      (2019, cd, bel, de bijloke)

Album number two in the set of three new releases by contemporary composer Frank Nuyts.
Three sonatas, written in 2015 and 2016, and performed byLiang-yu Wang, Roland Peelman and Gabi Sultana in July and in December 2018.

Beautiful.

SATANIQUE SAMBA TRIO UPDATE

Next September, the Satanique Samba Trio will kick off another European tour.
September 13, SST will perform at Recyclart in Brussels, BE. This will also be the release concert for "Mais Bad", their new album (vinyl only on the Rebel Up Records label)

September 14, there's Leffingeleuren and after that Satanique Samba Trio will go to Humble, Kopenhagen, Malmö, Aarhus, Aalborg, Hannover, Moers, Leiden,...

-- info : Zjakki Willems

DEUS - WORST CASE SCENARIO

• deus: worst case scenario
      (1994, lp, uk, island bang!)

dEUS' 1994 "Worst Case Scenario" album includes a sample of Zappa's 'Little Umbrellas'. Next to the regular CD and LP release, an "Audiophile Limited Vinyl Album" was made available as well.
With a different album cover.

SUN RA

Interesting info on various Sun Ra albums can be found here :

http://surfingtheodyssey.blogspot.com/2019/04/


-- info: Jan van Kemenade

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART'S "TROUT MASK REPLICA" RE-ISSUED ON THIRD MAN RECORDS

• captain beefheart & his magic band: trout mask replica
      (2019, 2lp, usa, third man records tmr-546)

This beautiful re-release of "Trout Mask Replica" got released yesterday, on Record Store Day.
As far as I know, it's not a 'limited Record Story Day release', but a regular re-issue by Third Man Records, so everyone should be able to get their hands on a copy.
180 g vinyl + the original insert !!

In full partnership with the Zappa Family Trust and to celebrate the relaunch of the seminal Bizarre label imprint, Third Man Records is proud to announce Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band's Trout Mask Replica. Out of print on vinyl for nearly ten years, this remaster was helmed by industry legend Bob Ludwig and cut by the estimable Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Utilizing crystalline-quality safety masters kept in the Zappa family vault for decades by the trustworthy Joe Travers, the audio here is positively glorious. Every last skronk breathes full life into the room. Every twisted guitar figure uncurls onto paths previously unpaved. Every last bark and howl shines resolute through the vast emptiness of your mind. Previous countless Trout Mask Replica repressings used scans of scans of scans of the cover image, but the original Cal Schenkel cover photo has been tracked down and reproduced here at its clearest — its resolution from the original release in 1969. If you’ve only ever seen a jpg online or fuzzy, smeared-looking CD issues from the 90’s, be prepared to be wowed by the fully engaging spectrum this iconic image casts. This 2xLP is pressed on heavyweight 180-gram black vinyl for that full-on frenetic feeling.

BTW, did you know that there's a Facebook group called "I Honestly Love Trout Mask Replica".
I applied  :-)

THE RESIDENTS - B.S.

"B.S." (originally called "Baby Sex") is the most recent Residents related Record Story Day release by Cherry Red.
Limited to 1000 copies.

Includes Snakefinger's (speeded up) guitar version of Frank Zappa's 'King Kong'. The same version is also to be found on the 1991 "Day-Dream B-Liver" album, or on the "Eat Exuding Oinks" album from 2002, but here it is on the album it was intended for.

And there's also the second track on side two, the tribute to N.Senada (Bavarian composer and music theorist who collaborated with The Residents), but I like to think of this as a link to Ensenada Road, where Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band recorded "Trout Mask Replica".

SIDE ONE
1. WE STOLE THIS RIFF
2. HOLELOTTADICK
3. B.S.
4. DEEP SEA DIVER SONG
5. KING KONG
6. CANTATEN TO DER DYIN PRUNEN

SIDE TWO
1. INTRO TAPE / SOMETHIN’ DEVILISH
2. N. SENADA TRIBUTE
3. THE FOURTH CRUCIFIXION
4. JAMES DEAN’S DEATH
5. VERY LONG SUITE (INCORPORATING PINK LEMONADE, SANDMAN, EAT ME MOTHER, BUMBLE BEE, ELOISE, KAMIKAZE LADY, D IS FOR DOORKNOB, THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, ASSORTED ANNOUNCEMENTS, SNAKEFINGER’S WEDDING AND A SELECTION OF UN-TITLED INSTRUMENTALS).