Tuesday, June 30, 2020

THE ZAPPANALE UPDATE


A message from the Zappanale team :

Dear Zappanale fans,

here are further information about ZAPPANALE # 30.5.

Here is what you need for the "virtual Zappanale":
A screen, laptop, smartphone or a cinema screen with an internet connection.
Get enough drinks, food to have enough energy for 4 days of Zappanale, good friends (of course in accordance with the pandemic regulations) and be prepared for a long Zappanale weekend.

We have so much excellent video stuff that we can want to start with the "Warm up" event already on Thursday, July 16, 2020, at 10 a.m. (Europe / Berlin, CEST) at: www.zappanale.de
We will start with the special events from the exhibition of the last 11 years and shows from our virtual “Kamp Stage”.

From 17 – 19 July (Friday – Sunday) to 07/19/2020 we will start our program from the "virtual racetrack" from 10:00 (Europe / Berlin, CEST) until late at night in the livestream with many completely new contributions and the best shows from previous Zappanales.

In addition to the livestream there will be an optional opportunity of demanding selected concerts individually

What else is going on?
You can visit the dealers online, some dealers made their own contribution especially for you.
You can also visit virtually the exhibition (including a large number of special events) in which happens to be usually above “Joe's Garage” in Bad Doberan, . Robert is going to make this possible for you at home.

We will inform you about the detailed time schedule and lineup within in the next few days.

Music is the best!
Your Zappanale Team


CABALLERO REYNALDO - ANTOLOGIA VOL. 1 & 2


Luis G., better known as Caballero Reynaldo, recently released two anthology albums.
They're both available as downloads on Bandcamp, but Luis has produced a small number of CD's as well.
Celebrating his 25 years as Caballero Reynaldo, Luis had a lot of material available for these anthologies. The result is a nice mix and both albums do include a couple of FZ tunes.



PIERRE VERVLOESEM - PONOROGO (THE ART OF GOING SOMEWHERE)

Pierre Vervloesem is keeping his promise to release an album every month.
His June release is called "Ponorogo (The Art Of Going Somewhere)", after a region in Indonesia, presenting one 43-minute piece !!
Beautiful.

Bandcamp adds:
From his 'The Art of Going Nowhere' to his new album 'the Art of going Somewhere' Pierre is demonstrating again all his craftsmanship when composing a 45 minutes piece of music. All his science and technique of mixing guitars, heavy basses and synthesizers is this time associated with Indonesian radio captations which add this time the spices to a road going Somewhere! A thrilling adventure as always with Pierre!

Check it out !
Your perfect road trip in these Covid-19 times.



VARIOUS ARTISTS - SEE AND HEAR - FAST FORWARD

Another nice addition to the Others Of Invention series.

This “See And Hear” promotional album got released in 1999. It presented musical excerpts by composers featured in forthcoming Fast Forward events. The CD included several Frank Zappa compositions, two of which were performed by the Britten Sinfonia, broadcast on BBC radio on June 17, 1998 : 'Igor's Boogie' and 'G-Spot Tornado'.

Looking for a YouTube movie with the Britten Sinfonia, I came across their collaboration with Jaga Jazzist :



VARIOUS ARTISTS - ISOTEK - THE ULTIMATE SYSTEM SET-UP DISC

The Opus 3 record label provided this CD as an insert for issue 351 of the German Hi Fi Choice magazine in 2011.
Intended to set up the Hi Fi installation, this album also included the Omnibus Wind Ensemble performing Frank Zappa's 'Dog Breath / Uncle Meat'.

The disc even got a re-issue with Audio Magazine in 2018 (with a slightly altered album cover, but with the same tracks !!)



VARIOUS ARTISTS - THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU (PROMO)


Frank Blake is duo: Norman Blake on vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards and percussion, plus Francis Macdonald on drums, vocals, keyboards, guitar and percussion. They recorded Frank Zappa's 'Anyway The Wind Blows' for a Shoeshine Records compilation album that got released in 1997 !
The track resurfaced on "Thank You For Being You", a compilation that got released in 2007 on the Electric Honey label.
This promotion CDR release came in a plastic sleeve with a paper insert.



NEW MUSIC BY ARTHUR BARROW AND LARRY KLIMAS


Arthur Barrow says:
My 2 man band with Larry Klimas, MVP=X, has released our first recording, "Martian Sunset." It is a very abstract piece, using a resonant piano technique, among other things. Thanks to Bob Rice for his mastering magic. Enjoy!



ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT - HUURO KOLKKO

  • alamaailman vasarat: huuro kolkko
        (2009, cd, europe, laskeuma)
Eclectic madness from Finland.
Alamaailman Vasarat's "Huuro Kolkko" is another gem.



VUELVETELOCA - SONORA

  • vuelveteloca: sonora
        (2017, cd, uk, fuzz club records)
Santiago, Chile based stoner rock.band Vuelveteloca released their first album in 2009.
"Sonora" is their fourth (or fifth?) release (from 2017) and it sounds pretty impressive.

A great discovery.

Check it out !!



SUN RA - HELIOCENTRIC WORLDS 1 & 2 REVISITED



Another Sun Ra reissue appeared a couple of months ago.
The album combines the two "Heliocentric Worlds" albums on one CD.


VARIOUS ARTISTS - LET'S PARTY! RAMBA ZAMBA 93

My search for Frank Zappa cover versions brought me to "Let's Party! Ramba Zamba 93", an Austrian radio hit compilation album from 1993.
It included Ostbahn Kurti's German version of FZ's 'Bobby Brown'.



VARIOUS ARTISTS - SE IL CIELO FOSSE CARTA

Paolo Lotti's version of FZ's 'Muffin Man' can be found on the "Sonora" magazine CD, released in 1994.
On year later, the track got re-issued on the Se Il Cielo Fosse Carta album, an album that got released in remembrance of the victims of WWII.



ZAPPA - THE MOTHERS 1970



I received this brand-new Zappa album yesterday.
Number 116...
Listening to disc one again while I'm typing this.
Great stuff.

https://www.zappa.com/news/mothers-1970


Saturday, June 27, 2020

MATS AND MORGAN LIVE ON YOUTUBE

Yesterday evening, 26/6, Mats and Morgan performed live on Youtube.
Goosebumps.

It's still available, so if you've missed it, you can still watch it.


the setlist was shown at the end :


ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT - MAAHAN

  • alamaailman vasarat: maahan
        (2007, cd, finland, silence)
The last couple of days, I have been enjoying several albums by Alamaailman Vasarat, the Finnish avant-garde ensemble.
"Maahan" got released in 2007 and presents again Alamaailman Vasarat's eclectic mix of rock, folk and jazz.
I love the crazy rhythms.



Friday, June 26, 2020

ALBERT AYLER'S NEW GRASS ALBUM GETS RE-RELEASE


Albert Ayler played his tenor saxophone and sang on the R&B-influenced New Grass. The album was seen as divisive received upon its release. New Grass opens with “Message From Albert / New Grass,” on which Ayler says, “The music I bring to you is of a different dimension in my life. I hope you will like this record,” and, “The message I bring to you is one of spiritual love, peace, and understanding.”



ELECTRIC SUN


Electric Sun was a German hard rock trio, lead by Scorpions guitarist Uli Roth.

Their first album has been made available on Bandcamp.



Thursday, June 25, 2020

MORE INFO ON "THE MOTHERS 1970" RELEASE


Here's more info on "The Mothers 1970" release :
http://exystence.net/blog/2020/06/25/frank-zappa-the-mothers-1970-2020/

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

MAURO PAWLOWSKI - ALWAYS SOMEONE


Taken from Mauro Pawlowski's upcoming album "Eternal Sunday Drive".

A brand-new Mauro Pawlowski single;
Gold Swirl vinyl 7", limited to 300 copies.




Wednesday, June 24, 2020

THIERRY MAILLARD ZAPPA TRIBUTE ON HIS 2016 "ETHNIC SOUNDS" ALBUM


"Ethnic Sounds" is an album by the Thierry Maillard Trio with Philharmonic Orchestra (the Prague Philharmonic to be exact).
It includes Thierry's 'Zappa' piece, with beautiful guitar lines by Nguyen Le.

The title piece :


-- info: Danny Mathys

TATVAMASI - HALDUR BILDUR

  • tatvamasi: haldur bildur
        (2019, cd, poland, audio cave)
Mixing jazz and rock with an ethnic flavour, Polish band Tatvamasi's "Haldur Bildur" album sounds fabulous.
This is the kind of music that brings a smile on my face.

"Haldur Bildur" is the quartet's latest album, released in 2019!
http://www.tatvamasi.pl/

A Polish quartet performing instrumental rock music enhanced by the tenderness of jazz,dimmed with psychedelic mist, distorTed with tensions of underground. Music built on twisted riffs, seducing pulsations, intriguing improvisations, fictitious images, magical stories. Music of the third ear.



VARIOUS ARTISTS - TOP OF THE DIAL - A SWINGIN' TRIP THROUGH 60S KIWI RADIO

This “Top Of The Dial” compilation album got released in New Zealand in 2004.
It included New Zealand blues rock band The Underdogs’ version of Frank Zappa’s ‘Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance’, retitled ‘There Will Come A Time’ and originally released on 7” in 1969.
Another addition to "The Others Of Invention".
http://www.united-mutations.com/z/frank_zappa/fz_ooi_albums.htm



THIERRY MAILLARD BIG BAND - ZAPPA FOREVER

The album cover might be a bit misleading as the Thierry Maillard Big Band does not perform the music of Frank Zappa on "Zappa Forever".
All compositions are by Thierry Maillard. Modern big band jazz, in the spirit of and in tribute to Frank Zappa although the first track does sample a Frank Zappa interview.

I do like the album a lot.
Apparently his third release after "Ethnic Sounds" with the Prague Symphony Orchestra (2015) and "Pursuit Of Happines" (2018).

Love the packaging / artwork (by Mister K) !






Monday, June 22, 2020

FREAK KITCHEN - RAW

Adding bits of info to the United Mutations Archives, here's a picture of the promo single that got released for Freak Kitchen's first album, "Appetizer".
Featuring Mattias IA Eklundh on guitar and vocals.
Data has been added to the Archives.


MANDOKI SOULMATES


from GlassOnyon PR

Art Rock Supergroup MANDOKI SOULMATES Release Full-Length Album Feat. Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, Al Di Meola and Others In Partnership With U.S. Label CLEOPATRA RECORDS!

Features performances by Ian Anderson, John Helliwell and John Siebenberg, Bobby Kimball, Chris Thompson, Jack Bruce PLUS Jazz-Rock giants Al Di Meola, Cory Henry, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Richard Bona and many more!

Los Angeles, CA - L.A.-based indie label Cleopatra Records and Hungarian-born songwriter/producer/musician Leslie Mandoki, the mastermind behind the living, breathing art rock project Mandoki Soulmates, are proud to announce the release of the first full-length album since the two entities joined forces earlier this year. Coming out on Cleopatra’s venerated progressive rock imprint, Purple Pyramid, home to such artists as Nektar, Tangerine Dream, Hawkwind-alumni project Hawkestrel, and Rick Wakeman, the album entitled Living In The Gap + Hungarian Pictures is actually a double album adding the 45-minute Prog Rock suite Hungarian Pictures, based on a musical concept by Deep Purple’s Jon Lord and ELP’s Greg Lake, to the original Living In The Gap album. Having already topped the Amazon Classic Rock Charts in Germany, Living In The Gap + Hungarian Pictures is poised to bring a whole new audience in North America, South America, the UK and beyond into the Soulmates’ family of fanatics.

As with his other projects under the Mandoki Soulmates banner, Leslie Mandoki has brought together a Murderer’s Row of rock icons and musicians from some of the biggest names in prog and classic rock including Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson plus current and former members of Toto, Cream, Supertramp, ELP, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band and this list goes on and on! The coming together of such a diverse cast perfectly expresses the album’s lyrical theme of unity, which couldn’t be a more timely message for today’s world. Mandoki explains in the album’s video trailer, “We know that music is the greatest unifier…[These are] songs against division, from the old rebels to the young rebels. This is our time to take a breath for a better world.”



JEAN-LUC PONTY - THE BEST OF THE PACIFIC JAZZ YEARS

My search for Frank Zappa compositions on recordings by other artists, lead me to this Jean-Luc Ponty compilation album from 2001.
"The Best Of The Pacific Jazz Years" included three tracks from Jean-Luc's 1970 "King Kong" album: the Ponty penned "How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That" plus FZ's 'Twenty Small Cigars' and 'King Kong'.

Here's a more recent performance of both Zappa pieces :
Jean-Luc Ponty in concert at Zappanale in 2010.



ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT - KÄÄRMELAUTAKUNTA

  • alamaailman vasarat: käärmelautakunta
        (2003, cd, finland, silence records)
My first encounter with Alamaailman Vasarat was at the Zappanale festival in 2008.
They called themselves The Finnish Prophets Of Fictional World Music.

"Käärmelautakunta" was their second album. Released almost twenty years ago !!
Check it out. You'll love it.


VARIOUS ARTISTS - KLASYKA / LIPIEC 1998

Another fine addition to The Others Of Invention.

The CD that came with the July 1998 issue of Polish “Klasyka” magazine, featured the Meridian Arts Ensemble performing ‘The Little March’, taken from Frank Zappa’s “Run Home Slow” soundtrack, originally released on the Merdian Arts’ 1996 “Anxiety Of Influence” album.

Frank's in good company : Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Pärt, Verdi,...


Sunday, June 21, 2020

VARIOUS ARTISTS - CLUB TRICATEL (PROMO)

Isn't it wonderful how FZ tunes can be found in all different types of music?

“Club Tropical” was a compilation of electronic music by the French Club Tricatel record label. The album included Supermoko Ultrabeaver and Olive’s recording of FZ’s ‘Any Way The Wind Blows’, originally issued on 7” by the Orange Records label in Japan in 2000

The French Club Tricatel record label released this CD to promote the compilation. Both this 5-track promo release (with a green album cover) and the final 17-track album (with a red album cover) included the Frank Zappa composition.


PS3 - PIETRO SANTANGELO TRIO - CLINAMEN

Italian saxophone player and composer Pietro Santangelo is part of the Slivovitz jazz ensemble, known for their eclectic approach to modern jazz. They have released several album on the MoonJune Records label.
More recently, Pietro recorded FZ's 'The Idiot Bastard Son' with his PS3 trio, featuring Vincenzo Lamagna on double bass and Salvatore Rainone on drums.
The track got released on their "Clinamen" album.

"Clinamen" presents 9 tracks.
Beautiful, modern jazz tracks.
All compositions by Pietro Santangelia except for a piece by John Zorn and one by Frank Zappa.
I have said it before and I will keep on saying it: I have discovered some great music listening to musicians who have recorded or performed Frank Zappa's music. The Pietro Santangelo Trio is a fine example of this.



THE RESIDENTS - EYEFUL


  • the residents: eyeful
        (2020, cd, austria, klanggalerie 336)
Brand-new compilation album, presenting material that had only been made available as download.

The Eyeful series of online releases was active from 25th August 2011 to 26h August 2012. It was called "a Bog benefit", with the Bog being The Residents' blog and chat group. Each download cost 79c when originally issued. So far, this series has never been collected and released on a CD. Now, for the first time ever, we present you The Residents' Eyeful as an album. Liner notes by Brian Poole of Renaldo and The Loaf.

1. Life Would Be Wonderful (NY)
2. Edge Test 1
3. WLL Test
4. Ghost Child
5. Jam In Bb Minor
6. Oddo's Mood
7. Horsing Around
8. Dix Freed Under
9. Barstow
10. Emmy Theme From Conceiving Ada
11. Wanda Wanda
12. Bunny Selections Live In Linz
13. Bunny Selections Live In Oslo
14. Where Is She? (Karlsruhe)
15. Box Arm
16. Baby Skel
17 Heaven Nose 16
18. Heaven Nose 46
19. Heaven Nose 141
20. Die Stay Go (Lounge Version)
21. Baboon
22. Bad Dog
23. DDA Instrumental
24. Smack Your Lips.

ACTION & TENSION & SPACE - EXPLOSIVE MEDITATIONS


Action & Tension & Space
Lo-fi lounge music from Norway.
Out on the Kapitaen Platte record label.

Beautiful.
Sunday morning music at the UM Headquarters !!



Saturday, June 20, 2020

SUN RA RESEARCH


Sun Ra Research keeps making wonderful recordings available through Soundcloud.

@ Ruthie's Inn, Berkeley, Ca. With Ronald Wilson tenor saxophone. December 1, 1985.
Photo from Ruthie's Inn by John Hinds.






MARTHA DAVIS & ARTHUR BARROW


Martha Davis is scheduling to release an album she co-wrote with Arthur Barrow.
On vinyl.

Here's the first track :



not long ago i mentioned that i would be coming out with new projects on my label, #RemarkableRecords ...well today we launched the first in the #COLLABORATION series...

Over the years I've co-written with some amazing and very talented humans! one of my favorite collabs has to be with the wonderful Arthur Barrow...we first met when he did work on the SHOCK album and then on the POLICY album. Arthur is a stellar bass player and an equally amazing synthesizer player/programer..we hit it off right away, both in love with Stravinsky, Astronomy and many more eclectic and diverse subjects...we started writing and man
it was GOOD!

over the next year my plan is to put out a single a month from the ARTHUR and MARTHA project...at the end of a year the songs will be available on a vinyl compilation...the first song we will offer up seemed so appropriate at this moment in time, a time when most of us feel afraid, heartbroken and disillusioned...so here is the #ComfortMe Lyric Video...thank you, #takecareofeachother, love...m.

THE RESIDENTS - THE HEALER AND THE ARCHER


Spoken Word album by The Residents.
Originally issued on vinyl by Astres-D'or earlier this year,
a digital version of "The Healer And The Archer" has now been made available through Bandcamp.


Read more about the vinyl edition here:
https://www.astres-dor.com/the-residents/



ADAM MINKOFF - UNIMAGINARY DISEASES


Guitar player and vocalist Adam Minkoff toured and recorded with Dweezil Zappa’s “Zappa Plays Zappa” band.
His brand-new and stunning “Unimaginary Diseases” mini album presents 4 tracks, all composed by Frank Zappa.

Next to Adam, who played most of the instruments, the recordings featured Scheila Gonzalez (sax), Chris Norton (piano), Gabby Sherba (vocal, percussion), Bob Stander (guitar), Nick Barber (snork), Michael Eaton (sax), Maria Eisen (sax), Robbie ‘Seahag’ Mangano (guitar), Brad Whiteley (keyboard) and Kurt Morgan (bass).

Check it out !!



Friday, June 19, 2020

LAUREL CANYON


Part one (of two) of the Laurel Canyon documentary was shown on Belgium TV yesterday evening.
Had a couple of short snippets on FZ.

Not bad, but nothing new either.

https://bestclassicbands.com/laurel-canyon-documentary-series-epix-5-01-2000/


Here's another feature on Laurel Canyon (with Gail interviewed at 16 minutes something) :



I guess we'll just have to wait until the Carl Franzoni documentary gets finished...
http://www.united-mutations.com/f/barboa_franzoni.htm



ANOTHER VIDEO SNIPPET FROM THE UZ JSME DOMA / RANDY SHOW


The entire Uz Jsme Doma / Randy concert from October 2010 is up on YouTube.
And a week ago, the audio version got released on CD by Klanggalerie.

Can't get enough of this.
There was one track on the recent Hardy Fox tribute disc, but listening to the entire show does something to me.
Here's a track that I'm happy to have on repeat.
If you want to hear it excellent audio, buy the album !




NEW ALBUM ANNOUNCED BY THE SUN RA ARKESTRA



Seductive Fantasy is the first track taken from our first Studio album for over 20 years, coming out early October.
It's a new version of an Arkestra classic, first released on the "On Jupiter" album in 1979.

The track (and forthcoming album) were recorded at Rittenhouse Soundworks in Philadelphia.


UZ JSME DOMA & RANDY - MORAVIAN MEETING

  • uz jsme doma and randy: moravian meeting
        (2020, cd, austria, klanggalerie 328)
The show on this album was performed in Olomouc, Czech Republic, at the Moravian Theatre, in the year 2010. The Ceasar gallery organized a retrospective exhibition called “The Residents Residence“ in Olomouc. The exhibition contained art, costumes, masks and other artefacts of The Residents and Už Jsme Doma were asked if they could create their own versions of The Residents’ songs, and play them to support the exhibition. As Randy, the Residents’ singer, was invited for the opening and staying in Olomouc for a couple of days, it was a good opportunity to have him on one stage with Už Jsme Doma. 13 songs were chosen, partly by Miroslav Wanek and partly by Randy. Miroslav turned the original arrangements into the UJD sound with full respect to The Residents' style and mood.

Beautiful.
UJD is a great band. Superb combination with Randy.


VARIOUS ARTISTS - THIS IS MY STORY - IL NUOVO BLUES IN ITALIA VOL.3 / 1997

Volume 3 of the “Il Nuovo Blues In Italia” series included Capitano Elica and Muffin Blues Band’s recording of FZ’s ‘In France. In 1999, the track would be released on the “Frank You, Thank” compilation album.



Monday, June 15, 2020

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN AND THE 4TH DIMENSION


John McLaughlin And The 4th Dimension
"Lockdown Blues"



THIERRY MAILLARD RELEASES ZAPPA TRIBUTE ALBUM


"Zappa Forever", the new album by Thierry Maillard's Big Band presents music that is inspired by the music of FZ.

No cover versions, but modern big band jazz.



» Pour ce faire, Maillard élargit son big band à 16 musiciens, s’adjoignant les services de 3 trombones, 3 trompettes et 5 saxophones. « J’avais aussi envie d’intégrer quelques instruments classiques comme la clarinette ou la flûte. Et il me fallait des marimbas et un vibraphone, si essentiels chez Zappa. » Avec la participation de sept invités prestigieux (Camille Bertault, chant ; Chris Potter, sax ténor ; Gilad Hekselman, guitare ; Stéphane Belmondo, bugle ; Franck Tortiller, marimba et vibraphone ; David Linx, chant ; Rhani Krija, percussions) l’ensemble de 23 instrumentistes part enregistrer chez Philippe Gaillot, dans son fameux studio de Pompignan (Gard). «




MUSIC BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM


Mentioned by Ed Palermo on FB.
Reason enough to check it out.



Sunday, June 14, 2020

CABALLERO REYNALDO RELEASES A SECOND ANTHOLOGY ALBUM



Also available on CD in a limited edition of 50 copies, so don't wait too long.


BILLY HULTING - THE HUNDRETH MONKEY


  • billy hulting: the hundreth monkey
        (1998, cd, usa, truemediajazzworks)
Billy Hulting, who played percussion in the Zappa Plays Zappa band, made solo album in 1998.
http://billyhulting.com/music/bio/

Strings on Nothing Is Sacred and On My Return :

  • Jean Sudbury, Harry Scorzo – violins
  • Novi Novag – viola  (assuming this is Novi Novog) !!!
  • Stefanie Fife – cello


-- info  : Jan van Kemenade

DAI KAHT - DAI KAHT


  • dai kaht : dai kaht
        (2017, cd, finland, private release)
I was happy to get introduced to the first album of Dai Kaht last week.
Discogs adds: "Finnish Zeuhl progressive avant rock band".

Here's the trailer for their second album.



ANOTHER ZAPPA RADIO SHOW CONCERT ALBUM


I thought I had seen this one before, but when it comes to all these so-called radio show concert album, it all becomes a bit blurry...

"Live In Montreal 1971", got released last week on the Mind Control label.


Friday, June 12, 2020

A KLANGGALERIE RECORD LABEL UPDATE


Two new releases on the Klanggalerie label

THE RESIDENTS Eyeful



UZ JSME DOMA & RANDY Moravian Meeting




NEW ALBUM BY STARING INTO NOTHING FEATURES TREY GUNN AND MIKE KENEALLY


from GlassOnyon PR

Prog Ensemble Staring Into Nothing To Release Second Album “Love” With Guest Appearances By Trey Gunn and Mike Keneally

Produced by Ronan Chris Murphy

Southern California based Staring Into Nothing wields a foundation of melodic progressive rock to explore new musical and thematic terrain. Founders Steve Rogers (keys and vocals) and Kurt Barabas (bass, vocals and guitars) take a Steely Dan-esque approach to music creation, using the studio and a revolving cast of world class collaborators to create music that observes and scrutinizes the human experience.

Staring into Nothing’s latest album “Love” probes the multiplicity and evolution of romantic love. The album was produced and mixed by Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Steve Morse, Ulver) and features an awesome line up of collaborators including Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Santana, Ringo Starr) on drums, Victor Bisetti (Los Lobos) on percussion, Mike Keneally (Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani) on guitars, Trey Gunn (King Crimson, John Paul Jones) on Warr Guitar, Dave Nachmanoff (Al Stewart) on background vocals/acoustic guitar and Danny T. Levin (Iggy Pop, Twenty One Pilots, Vampire Weekend) on horns. With this album, Murphy and the band sought to refine the melodies and structure of the songs even further than the previous album and provide ample room for the various collaborators to bring their voices to the album. While the compositions by Rogers and Barabas make up the core of the music on “Love,” the music was completely transformed by all the collaborators. The creative process allowed everyone involved to mold its final sound and spirit, and created space for stunning contributions, most notably several remarkable solos by Keneally and Gunn.

Says Steve, “We were trying to explore the varieties of romantic experience from a mature perspective that recognizes its not all good and not all bad, but its all we have. In the end, the message is uplifting because over time love endures and transitions into something even more fulfilling when it becomes legacy and a common set of memories and values. We recorded this album differently than our first one. We worked more closely with the producer, Ronan Chris-Murphy, during the actual arrangement of the songs and benefited from his insights, ideas and contributions. Ronan also brought a commitment to making the best album we could by bringing top shelf musicians to the project like Mike Keneally, Trey Gunn, Gregg Bisonette and Dave Nachmanoff. Also most of this album was recorded in our own studio in Costa Mesa California.”


Staring Into Nothing have crafted their own sound, but their love of strong melody and virtuosic musicianship has drawn comparisons to artists such as Marillion, Porcupine Tree, Flying Colors, early Genesis, Pink Floyd and Rush. Bassist Kurt Barabas is a veteran of the progressive rock scene. He was a founding member of Magna Carta Records artist Under the Sun as well as Amaran’s Plight with Nick D’Virgilio (Genesis, Peter Gabriel, Spock’s Beard). Kurt was also a founding member of Roswell 6, who recorded the album “Terra Incognita” that accompanied a science fiction novel of the same name written by Kevin J. Anderson. “Terra Incognita” featured a who’s who of musicians, including James LaBrie (Dream Theater), Michael Sadler (Saga), John Payne (Asia), and David Ragsdale (Kansas).

Following the break-up of Under the Sun, Barabas starting wring new material with longtime Under the Sun fan Steve Rogers. The two found they had instant and synergistic creative chemistry and set to work creating a trilogy of concept albums that delve into the complex facets of the human experience. They released their first album “Power” in 2017, which explores the many ways power is used to manipulate, control and subjugate people. It was produced and mixed by Mark Needham (The Killers, Elton John) and features drumming by Matt Chamberlin (A Perfect Circle, David Bowie, John Mayer).



CO LIVE PRESENTS STEVE VAI


Here's the playlist for the recent Steve Vai special that Co de Kloet did on Dutch NPO Radio during his Co Live radio show.

CO LIVE June 6, 20.00-21.00 Steve Vai Birthday Collage

1. Steve Vai Co Live station Call
2. Steve Vai- Candle Power (private sv recording/world premiere)
3. Steve Vai- Freak Show Access
4. Steve Vai/ Metropole Orkest – Lotus Feet NTR recording
5. Steve Vai- The Attitude Song (live in Nijmegen, 7/3/2000) NTR recording
6. Steve Vai Co Live Podcast Call
7. Frank Zappa – Moggio
8. Steve Vai- Fire Garden Suite
9. Steve Vai/ Metropole Orkest- For The Love Of God NTR recording
10. Steve Vai- Candle Power


KARL HECTOR AND THE MALCOUNS - NON EX ORBIS

  • karl hector and the malcouns: non ex orbis
        (2019, lp, usa, now-again records)
A quick search on Karl Hector And The Malcouns says "Afrobeat / jazz-funk / Krautrock / Space Jazz..."
Can't argue with that.

If my info is correct, it looks like this is the third album by Karl Hector And The Malcouns.
Even more important: it sounds great.


Thursday, June 11, 2020

THE VEGETARIANS - SPIRITS WILL COLLIDE (DEVIN TOWNSEND)


Devin Townsend's "Spirits Will Collide", performed by The Vegetarians.



Performed by Hans Annellsson with John Tabacco (lead vox), Robin Schell (harmony vox) and Morgan Ågren (drums).
Produced by HA, mix and mastering Janne Brovall Studio Loftet.


TODD RUNDGREN TO LANCH LIVE VIRTUAL TELEVISION SERIES


From GlassOnyon PR

Todd Rundgren To Launch Live Virtual Television Series “The Todd's Honest Truth”

Todd Rundgren, dubbed “Rock's Renaissance Man” in 1972 by Rolling Stone, will be premiering his bi-weekly live interactive virtual television series “The Todd's Honest Truth” on his 72nd birthday, June 22, 2020 at 6pm PDT/9PM EDT. A new episode will then go live every other Friday beginning July 3 in the same time slot.

Famously outspoken and opinionated (he was among one of Bill Maher's most frequent guests on the original “Politically Incorrect”), Rundgren will host the show live from his Kauai property, interlaced with his throwing to pre-recorded packages shot in front of a green screen to provide mood-appropriate settings (a recurring segment dubbed “The Word of Todd”, in which he will be waxing eloquent on any number of topics). He will also be answering audience questions in real time, there will be a live chat window open for viewers to interact, and Todd will encourage audience members to submit content which he will curate in between shows and select standouts for inclusion on upcoming episodes.

“Forty years ago I reserved a transponder on a satellite, hoping to broadcast to homes across the world. Apparently, that satellite got lost or blew up or something so a dream was put on hold… until now! And I don't even have to leave my house!!!”, Rundgren explained.

The virtual box office to purchase tickets for “The Todd's Honest Truth” episodes is open as of today: https://onlocationlive.com/category/honesttruth .

The series is being produced in partnership with Future Beat, the leading company producing VIP package experiences for concert tours — futurebeat.com. Todd's longtime manager, Panacea Entertainment chairman Eric Gardner, is executive producing. In addition to an unlimited number of “general admission” tickets priced at $15 per episode (which includes access via VOD for anyone who missed a live stream), forty virtual one-on-one meet and greet packages will be available for $95 per episode, which will include shipping of an item of exclusive series-related merchandise.

In other news, Todd Rundgren and some well known guest artists are re-recording his 1973 anthem “Just One Victory” and giving it away for free to the Democratic National Committee for use by candidates throughout the US running for public office this fall. Participants include Joe Walsh and Paul Shaffer, along with Don Was, who is co-producing with Todd.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Rundgren began playing guitar as a teenager, going on to found and front Nazz, the quintessential '60s psychedelic group. In 1969, he left the band to pursue a solo career, recording his debut offering, Runt. But it was 1972's seminal Something/Anything?, on which he played all the instruments, sang all the vocal parts, and acted as his own producer, that catapulted Todd into the superstar limelight, prompting the press to unanimously dub him “Rock's New Wunderkind.” It was followed by such landmark LPs as The Hermit of Mink Hollow and A Wizard, A True Star; evergreen hit singles include “I Saw The Light,” “Hello It's Me,” “Can We Still Be Friends,” and “Bang The Drum.”


STEVE VAI TURNED 60


Co de Kloet celebrated Steve Vai's 60th birthday on Dutch radio with a one-hour radio special.

You can find it here:
https://www.nporadio2.nl/soulenjazz/podcasts/co-live

(= second part of the 2-hour show)


--info : Jan van Kemenade

SOFT MACHINE


a message from MoonJune Records

Dear Friends in Music,
please check this 18 minutes video produced by Chris Hoard of Voices Electric, interviewing 4 members of the current SOFT MACHINE - John Etheridge, Theo Travis, Roy Babbington, John Marshall -, as well the MoonJune's honcho Leonardo Pavkovic, in the afternoon of this second night of SOFT MACHINE at the iconic The Baked Potato club in Los Angeles, when the band's brand new album "LIVE AT THE BAKED POTATO" was recorded.

Voices Electric Vidcast #1 - Soft Machine 2020 Interview and Live Footage



The albums is available now on CD and HD 24 bit Download format:
softmachine-moonjune.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-baked-potato

*******
"Vidcast" series are produced and directed by veteran music journalist, occasional record producer, and cloud-platform technologist Chris Hoard. It's a first in a series of "vidcasts" featuring master musicians from the "jazz-rock" era still influencing upcoming generations of innovative musicians into the present day of the new millennium. The planned two-part "Voices Electric" documentary will feature interviews Hoard has conducted with the jazz-rock era's most influential and accomplished master musicians who practice "genre blending" – jazz, rock, prog, R&B, electronica, hip hop and beyond. Upcoming vidcasts from Voices Electric Productions started with Soft Machine, and future episodes will feature interviews with Lenny White, Allan Holdsworth, Brand X, The Miles Electric Band (Darryl Jones and Vince Wilburn), Billy Cobham, Thundercat, Peter Erskine, Brian Auger, Kamasi Washington, Stick Men (Tony Levin, Markus Reuter, Pat Mastelotto), and many others. Stay tuned to our Voices Electric Youtube channel!


MYTHOS


Mythos.
70's Space Rock on bandcamp :



AN ANALYSIS OF FRANK ZAPPA'S MUSIC


Check out the ZLibrary's search result for "Frank Zappa" :
https://booksc.xyz/s/frank%20zappa

and while you're at it :
Here's Kasper Sloots' https://www.zappa-analysis.com/

--info: Jan van Kemenade

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

THE TROUBLE EVERY DAY FUNDRAISER


a message from Z.E.R.O.

The Trouble Coming Every Day Fund Raiser

One way to deal with the Trouble Coming Every Day is to listen to the music that makes you happy.
Another way is to try to help people out in need and to support the efforts of the folks you know and organizations that exist to assist those that need help.

The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra is attempting to combine the two by playing a song we love and giving it away to inspire people to donate towards a worthy cause.

This project began as part of a fund raising effort for a studio in SF (https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-hss-open) who is suffering from the pandemic shut down, but then the protests over police butality began and we expanded our concept.

Given what the song "Trouble Coming Every Day" is about, we couldn't be more on target. Our idea was put it online for free and ask the folks that download it to donate a few dollars to an organization that is against fascism, or racism, or police brutality. Or to give something to folks helping the homeless; or whatever little thing they can do to help. No strings attached, just hope that some people will take the request seriously and help somebody that needs it.

So here you go. There are links below to download a format of your choice. Please enjoy the music and PLEASE donate whatever you can afford to a cause, organization, or human being that needs the help. We are trusting you on this.

http://zeroensemble.com/free/TroubleFundRaiser.htm


NEW ALBUM BY CHROMB!


Chromb! has a new album out !



MICHAEL LEAGUE


Tonight, or tomorrow, (or a little while ago) depending on when you're reading this.

Michael League : Snarky Puppy is a large band (you probably know this already). We have members from 5 continents who have lived very different experiences, each with a unique perspective based on where they come from and what they have seen. Given what is happening right now in our country (and consequently in different ones around the world), I thought it would be a good thing to bring the members of the band together to have a candid conversation about race and what can be done right now to help in creating a more just and equitable society. We will be joined by Dr. Kimani Nehusi, Professor of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University. Regardless of where you stand on this issue right now, I think it will be a good thing to hear what the members of the band have to say. We hope you can join us.



Monday, June 8, 2020

PETER VERMEERSCH AT RADIO KLARA


Belgian composer and big band (Flat Earth Society) leader Peter Vermeersch is this week's guest at Belgian national radio Klara.
From Monday to Thursday, from 12h00 to 14h00.

https://klara.be/programma/music-matters


-- info : Willy Geets

Friday, June 5, 2020

NEW SINGLE BY YIN YIN


To be released next month.


Thursday, June 4, 2020

SPIKE JONES DOCUMENTARY




VOLKER KRIEGEL


German jazz and fusion guitar player Volker Kriegel was part of the Dave Pike Set and even recorded FZ's 'Mother People' with this quartet. It can be found on Dave Pike's 'Noisy Silence - Gently Noise".

Another version got recorded during a 1971 (!!) session for German radio.
The recording can be found on a recent album, "At Studio 2" from 2016.

A recent Facebook post made me check out some more stuff from Volker Kriegel...



Tuesday, June 2, 2020

THEODORE BIKEL


Probably a bit different from the stuff he recorded for Frank Zappa...

"Theodore Bikel - Sings Jewish Folk Songs"

http://zerosounds.blogspot.com/2015/09/theodore-bikel-sings-jewish-folk-songs.html


-- info: Jan van Kemenade

Monday, June 1, 2020

KLOOT PER W GROUP - JE T'AI TOUJOURS AIMÉE


Kloot Per W Group recorded 'Je T'ai Toujours Aimée'.
It's a reworking of an old Polyphonic Size number that JJ Burnell of The Stranglers original sang. Pascal Deweze produced it. Uwe Teichert mastered it.



The video :


The original version :



COMPRO ORO TO RELEASE A NEW ALBUM


Belgian psychedelic jazz collective Compro Oro released their debut album ‘Transatlantic’ in 2015.
In 2017, they released the ‘Bombarda’ 10" EP, adding the "Suburban Exotica" album to their discography in 2019.

Their latest album is a collaboration with Murat Ertel (co-founder and frontman of Istanbul's cult psychedelic folk band BaBa ZuLa) and his singer partner Esma Ertel.
Entitled ‘Simurg’, the album is set for release on the 19th June on the Sdban Records label.


Compro Oro are:

  • Wim Segers – vibraphone, marimba
  • Bart Vervaeck – guitar
  • Matthias Debusschere – bass
  • Falk Schrauwen – percussion
  • Frederik Van den Berghe – drums
Special guests:

  • Murat Ertel – Electric Saz
  • Esma Ertel – vocals


HENRY KAISER UPDATE


Shared by the Cuneiform record label :



DEVIN TOWNSEND'S EMPATH ALBUM DELUXE EDITION


Devin Townsend's "Empath" album is being released as a 2 CD + 2 BluRay / artbook set.

Featuring Mike Keneally and Morgan Agren !


CABALLERO REYNALDO - ZAPPA COUNTRY SPECIAL EP 2019


How did I miss this one?

Caballero Reynaldo And The Grand Kazoo’s “Zappa Country Special“ got released to support their 2019 “Zappa Crimson Freak Show” tour.

Released about a year ago, on the Spanish Hall Of Fame Records label.
Digital-only release on Bandcamp.




MORE FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW ALBUMS


It says "Volume Two", so there's probably another volume out as well.



KURT MCGETTRICK


Saxophone player Kurt McGettrick was part of Zappa's 1988 band.

He participated in Leslie Smith's 1982 "Heartache" album.

... re-released on SHM CD on Japanese Vivid Sound...
 

more info :  https://www.discogs.com/Leslie-Smith-Heartache/release/4686873

even more info : https://rutracker.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4989609


-- info: Jan van Kemenade

IAN UNDERWOOD


Ian Underwood can be heard on :

eric tagg: dreamwalking
    (1982, lp, japan, agharta)

more info : https://www.discogs.com/Eric-Tagg-Dreamwalkin/release/3411902

on youtube :


-- info: Jan van Kemenade