FRED HÄNDL UPDATE

Sunday afternoon, October 8, 2021, Fred Händl will present his latest album.

"TOVARISHCHI"

Festivities include a concert and a drink.

location: The Hague, NL

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solo-piano-concert-and-cd-presentation-for-tovarishchi-tickets-180806155077

RACHEL FLOWERS RELEASES THIRD ALBUM

From GlassOnyon PR

Multi-instrumentalist and Composer Rachel Flowers to Release Third Solo Album “Bigger on the Inside” October 1, 2021

California multi-instrumentalist and composer Rachel Flowers will be releasing her eagerly awaited new solo album on October 1, 2021. Rachel demonstrates with her latest effort that she truly is, as the title suggests, “Bigger on the Inside.” As a composer, Rachel seamlessly weaves together elements of progressive rock, jazz, classical, and pop music with cinematic orchestrations, soaring melodies, and virtuosic playing. Top this off with Rachel's 3 1/2 octave vocal range and her uncanny ability to explore universal themes ranging from love, joy, and hope to depression, bullying, and fear of an uncertain future with sensitivity and optimism, and you have an album that is destined to stand the test of time.

Says Rachel, “I was inspired by composers and bands like Ambrosia, Frank Zappa, and Keith Emerson while writing the songs on ‘Bigger on the Inside.’ Some songs were inspired by or even heard in dreams. Others were improvised during the recording process. Sometimes just hearing a new piano sound can lead to inspiration. Some of my lyrics just come from my imagination and others come from real experience.”

Rachel Flowers is recognized worldwide as a multi-instrumentalist and composer whose music spans multiple genres. She first gained recognition for her talent as a young child and has been admired and mentored by those at the top of their field including Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, Dweezil Zappa, Conductor Terje Mikkelson, and a series of jazz greats, most notably Herbie Hancock. As a teenager she won numerous awards as a pianist and flutist, and has matured to perform and record on the global stage.

The award winning documentary “Hearing Is Believing” was produced about her unusual life and talents.

Among Rachel’s recording credits are her solo albums “Listen” (2016) and “Going Somewhere” (2018), “Music From the Soundtrack: Hearing is Believing” (2017), collaborations with Michael Sadler of Saga and fusion band Stratospheerius, and appearances on the albums of Telergy and Marcelo Paganini. Rachel is prominently featured on “Keith Emerson - Beyond the Stars,” and the much awaited CD and DVD set, “Fanfare For The Uncommon Man: The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert.”

Rachel continues to defy expectations, refusing to be pigeonholed by genre or by instrument. Her classical piano training started when she was only 4 years old. At 9 she discovered jazz and was immediately transfixed by the music of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Ella Fitzgerald. As varied as her musical background had already been, hearing Emerson, Lake & Palmer proved to be a turning point. Rachel was captivated by keyboardist Keith Emerson's innovative integration of classical and jazz elements in a rock setting, and he became a musical role model.

While her favorite instruments continue to be piano and organ, she is also classically trained on the flute and plays the guitar, bass, saxophone, and Chapman Stick.

Says Rachel, “I’ve always wanted to create music that had those big sounds that I love. I was excited to incorporate more of the organ on this album, using my Nord C2D and Electro 4D as well as pipe organ sound libraries to get that iconic tone I was looking for. There is also a lot of electric guitar on this album. I was inspired by Steve Vai, John Mayer, Steven Wilson, and of course Adrian Belew, who was a direct inspiration for the opening track.”

In support of Rachel’s new album release she will be performing at ProgStock on October 1 - 3, 2021 (https://www.progstock.com/2021/). On November 6, 2021 Rachel opens for Asia featuring John Payne at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, New Jersey, and she is slated to perform at Synthplex, the “All Things Synthesizer” electronic music festival & gear expo, on October 27 - 30, 2022 at the Los Angeles Burbank Airport Convention Center.

Rachel’s future plans include completion of a jazz album, and a jazz/hip-hop fusion album, both started during the pandemic. There are no release dates as yet. Plans to record with a live orchestra are currently in discussion.

In closing Rachel has this to impart to her listeners, “The message I would like my listeners to come away with is that there will be darkness, but you can fly, you can love, you can be loved, and the darkness is only temporary.”

 

ALBERT MARCOEUR

On the recommendation of one of my friends, I'm filling the gaps in my Albert Marcoeur album collection.
Early two thousand something, Albert re-issued most of his albums as beautiful series of digipack CDs.
In short, I'm not only filling gaps, I'm also replacing a couple of my older jewel case copies with these fine looking digipacks.
They look good, and they sound great.

Albert first couple of albums, "Albert Marcoeur" and "Album A Colorier", were released in 1974 and 1976. Next to Albert, the line-up featured his brothers Claude et Gérard among others.
Lots of great stuff. Reminds me a lot of the early Mothers ("Uncle Meat").

"Armes & Cycles" (1979) and "Celui Où Y'a Joseph" (1984) continued and developed in the same direction.

There's lots of great examples to be found on YouTube. Check them out !

To be continued.
Happy Marcoeur Day !

ZAPPAUNION FESTIVAL 2022

The promo sheet for the Ed Palermo Big Band's latest release says that it's scheduled to play at the Zappaunion in Oslo, Norway, on May 27, 2022.

 

ANOTHER FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW BOOTLEG RELEASE

Frank Zappa - The Manchester Mystery

= Manchester 1979

-- info: Danny Mathys

Z.E.R.O.

Z.E.R.O. has announced a new album, "Make An Arf Noise Here".
Should be out on Cordelia Records near the end of October.

Really looking forward to this.

THE GIRLS IN THE MAGNESIUM DRESS STARTED A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

 The Girls In The Magnesium Dress

= Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli and Anna Astesano

are recording their first album.
It will include their arrangement of Frank Zappa's 'Cheepnis' !!

message from the Facebook page:

A big good morning to all our friends and supporters here on Facebook!
After insomniac nights, a lot of research and music, we are incredibly excited to announce that
THE GIRLS ARE RECORDING THEIR FIRST ALBUM!!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Rūtsu will surprise you with an innovative repertoire, all inspired by Japan and its culture..if you would like to learn more about the project click here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rutsu/rutsu-roots

 The Kickstarter campaign has just launched!! If you can support us, any help can have a huge impact on our work... a huge thank you for now, we'll give you more updates really soon!

ANOTHER UNIVERSE

Last week, when my wife came home from a session with her physiotherapist she told me that they had listened to the latest Pierre Vervloesem album on Spotify during her entire session.

Her physiotherapist has a fine taste in music and when she told him that I was overwhelmed with Pierre's latest "Flambant Neuf" album, he checked it out at that very same moment.

It made me smile.
Sometimes I wonder if I live in another universe.

https://pierrevervloesem.bandcamp.com/album/pierre-vervloesems-flambant-neuf

Pierre's also featured in the August issue of Euro Rock Press magazine.

THE ARF DOSSIER - VOL.109

Arf Dossier #109.

the arf-dossier no.109 - 2021/09
incl.

• leserpost
• zappanale 31,75 - little picture mix
• the hot platters heaven from the arf office
• the greenaway essays - gail & the sloatmans
• lynn goldsmith
• the rare pictures gallery
• the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope
• news from belgium - live from United Mutations
• ullis ecke
• info behind the photo(s)

DAVE SAMUELS

Vibraphonist Dave Samuels (who worked with Frank Zappa on various occasions) contributed to Don Sebesky's "I Remember Bill - Tribute To Bill Evans" (1997).

Lots if excellent musicians on this album.

Just take a look at the credits in this YouTube movie:

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

THE DEREK TRUCKS BAND - ALREADY FREE

• the derek trucks band: already free
      (2009, cd, usa, legacy recordings)

"Already Free" is a great sounding blues rock album by Derek Trucks.
It opens with a Bob Dylan's 'Down In The Flood', Suzanne Tedeschi guests on vocals on 'Sweet Inspiration', and 'Back Where I Started' was co-written by Warren Haynes.
Reason enough to investigate.

Here's a live version of 'Sweet Inspiration':

And one of my favorite tunes (not on this album), featuring Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi and Warren Haynes.
Performed at The White House with Booker T. in the backing band !!
February 2012.

-- info: Danny Mathys

JEAN-LUC PONTY IN CONCERT

 Jean-Luc Ponty is doing a concert in Germany and in France next month.

OCT 17, 2021 - ESSLINGEN - GERMANY
Württembergische Landesbühne
Esslingen, Germany
JLP TRIO
= JLP violin - CLARA PONTY grand piano / keyboards - GUY NSANGUE AKWA bass
Esslinger Jazzfestival (at 20:30)

OCT 29, 2021 - SAINT-GAUDENS - FRANCE
Parc des expositions du Comminges
Saint-Gaudens, France
PLE Trio (PONTY-LAGRENE-EASTWOOD)
= JLP violin - Bireli Lagrene guitar - Kyle Eastwood double bass
Festival Jazz en Comminges

LIVE AT THE GONG FAMILY UNCONVENTIONAL GATHERING

From GlassOnyonPR

Gong “Live At The Gong Family Unconventional Gathering” 15th Anniversary DVD Reissue and First Time Release on DBL CD!

The classic line-up performing together for the first time in 31 years!

The Gong Family Unconvention at the Melkweg club in Amsterdam in November 2006 was a unique 3-day event in which all the surviving original members of this legendary psychedelic band came together and, after performing their own individual sets, performed once again as Gong. This climactic and joyful 2hr 16min Gong live set was beautifully captured for this DVD video and for the first time CD audio recording! This was the last time that Gong played with the full “classic” line-up (minus just Pierre Moerlen on drums, who died the year before).

• Daevid Allen - Guitar, Voice
• Gilli Smyth - Voice, Space Whisper
• Steve Hillage - Guitar
• Didier Malherbe - Flute, Soprano Sax, Duduk
• Theo Travis - Tenor Sax
• Tim Blake - Synthesiser, Voice
• Miquette Giraudy - Synthesiser
• Mike Howlett - Bass
• Chris Taylor - Drums

 

ANOTHER FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW BOOTLEG ANNOUNCED

 Another Frank Zappa radio show bootleg will be released next month.

Disc 1 Concertgebouw, Amsterdam October 20th 1968 VPRO Jam / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 2. Drum Solo 3. Help, I’m a Rock 4. Transylvania Boogie 5. Dog Breath 6. The String Quartet 7. Gas Mask 8. Orange County Lumber Truck Medley

Frank Zappa - guitar, vocals Roy Estrada - bass, vocals Jimmy Carl Black - drums Arthur Dyer Tripp III - drums, marimba, xylophone Ian Underwood - keyboards, flute, clarinet, saxophone Don Preston - keyboards John Leon Gardner - woodwind Euclid James Sherwood - soprano/baritone saxophone

Disc Two The 'Piknik' Show In Uddel, Netherlands, June 18th 1970 VPRO 1. Interview - Band Intro 2. Wonderful Wino 3. Concentration Moon 4. Mom & Dad 5. The Air 6. Dog Breath 7. Mother People 8. You Didn't Try To Call Me 9. Call Any Vegetable 10. King Kong 11. Igor's Boogie 12. King Kong Part 2

Frank Zappa – guitar, vocals Aynsley Dunbar – drums George Duke – keyboards Howard Kaylan – vocals Ian Underwood - keyboards, flute, clarinet, saxophone Jeff Simmons – guitar Mark Volman – vocals

LEX BRONKOWITZ ORCHESTRA ON YOUTUBE

Recorded in concert in 2016 : Lex Bronkowitz Orchestra.
Amazing.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA UPDATE

 a message from Dweezil Zappa to his Reward Music Platform subscribers :

https://www.dweezilzappa.com/songs

Hello Everyone,

I hope you're doing well. This week marks the 1 year anniversary of my website and the Reward Music platform. I really appreciate all of the support you have shared over the years.

Since COVID has taken away my ability to play live shows and tour as I have done in the past, I am focusing on creating music and video content on my website. I have a lot of new things in the works and I'm excited to share them with you. Fun collaborations and interactive stuff will be coming your way.

For those of you who have already subscribed to the SILVER PLAN, I am grateful and I hope you've been enjoying the monthly additions. Many of your subscriptions will be renewing this week and in honor of your support, I've just uploaded a FREE mini-concert gift for you.

1. Manx Needs Women (Norwegian Wind Ensemble plays with Kurt and Ryan)
2. Who Are The Brain Police? (Rock Version) {This is the rare Flo and Eddie version}
3. Who Are The Brain Police? (Freak Out Version) {This includes a postlude story about the song}
4. Apostrophe (Power Trio) {The guitar is super loud in the mix but I went with it anyway!}
5. Zomby Woof (Crazy Guitar Solo) This is one of my craziest solos!

 The mixes are all F.O.H. mixes and they have been spiffed up a little in my studio to bring out a little more character and detail. Everything is live without any overdubs.

For those of you who are not yet Silver Subscribers, you too will get all of these songs for FREE the moment you subscribe.

If you would like to purchase the songs a la carte you may feel free to do that.

Thank you for being a part of my community. I really appreciate all of you.
Be well! DZ

L.SHANKAR TO RELEASE CHRISTMAS ALBUM

from GlassOnyon PR

Electric Violin, Vocal Master L. SHANKAR Unwraps His First Ever Holiday Album!

Los Angeles, CA - Celebrate the holidays this year with a little international flavor, courtesy of one of the most widely revered violinists, vocalists and musical geniuses who has collaborated with everyone from Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel and U2 to Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and many, many more - Indian-born L. Shankar. Known for his incredibly dexterous playing and his unique singing voice, Shankar has earned accolades from across the musical spectrum and has been recruited to perform live for the world’s most demanding talents. Now, Shankar brings Christmas From India, a brand new set of recordings where he recreates some of the most treasured holiday classics with the sound of tablas, sitar and, of course, violin and vocals to craft a Christmas album like no other. The album also includes 2 original compositions written by Shankar, “Christmas Time” and “Saviour.”

Shankar had this to say about the project, “It was a thrill and pure joy to work on my new album Christmas From India. It brought back fond memories of working on the music for both of the Jesus movies, first with the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Peter Gabriel on ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ and then with Mel Gibson and John Debney on ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ Christmas From India is like a third chapter.”

Today, Shankar brings the Christmas joy a little early, sharing his gorgeous take on the ‘80s Band Aid classic “Do They Know It’s Christmas.”

THE ZAPPA BAND ON QOBUZ

The Zappa Band has made four shows available for streaming and/or download through Qobuz.

https://www.qobuz.com/be-fr/interpreter/the-zappa-band/download-streaming-albums

• Saratogo Springs - 2021/08/23
• Springfield - 2021/08/24
• Canandaigua - 2021/08/26
• Rochester Hills - 2021/08/28

Short set as they were opening for King Crimson and were only allowed to play for 45 minutes.
Also no big surprises as the setlist stayed the same.
But great to hear some Zappa music performed live by some of my favorite musicians.

Mike Keneally (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Scott Thunes (bass), Joe Travers (drums, intro), Ray White (guitar, vocals), Jamie Kime (guitar), and Robert Martin (keyboards, sax, vocals).

ROCK PHOTOGRAPHER GIE KNAEPS

Rock photographer Gie Knaeps has an expo at the library in Stekene, BE.

It does include a couple of shots of Frank Zappa (unfortunately not pictured on the website) :

https://stekene.bibliotheek.be/agenda/gie-knaeps-40-jaar-concertfotografie

https://www.pppush-it.be/gie-knaeps

Until the 10th of October.

-- info: André Oomen

TOYAH & ROBERT'S SUNDAY LUNCH

Robert is back at home and he's seated in the kitchen for a very special performance from Toyah that might just shake *and* stir. No Martini required.

Toyah & Robert's Sunday Lunch - Goldfinger

EXOTICA

Another Exotica sampler on the Cherry Red label.
Lots of names on here that I've never heard of.
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/total-exotica-as-dug-by-lux-and-ivy-2cd/

NEW ALCATRAZZ SAMPLER

This new Alcatrazz sampler includes 5 tracks from "Disturbing The Peace", the album that featured Steve Vai (and for which Steve co-wrote most of the songs).

MORE GOV'T MULE

 With the new Gob't Mule blues album that recently got announced, I'm re-listening most of their album (and filling some gaps in the discography).

Today's treats included "Life Before Insanity" (I have the CD that combines "Life Before Insanity" and "Dose") and "By A Thread".

• gov't mule: life before insanity
      (1999, cd, usa, evil teen)

• gov't mule: by a thread
      (2009, cd, europe, provogue)

Here's a snippet of "By A Thread": the first track 'Broke Down On The Brazos', with Jorgen Carlssons's pumpping bass and Billy Gibbons on guest guitar !!

A SUN RA ARKESTRA UPDATE

 a message from the Strut Records label:

SUN RA – LANQUIDITY

The single LP version of Sun Ra’s classic ‘Lanquidity’ is now available, faithfully reproducing the original Philly Jazz version of the album from 1978, complete with metallic foil sleeve. Includes liner notes by Bob Blank and the Arkestra’s Michael Ray and Danny Ray Thompson (RIP).

FRANK ZAPPA'S 200 MOTELS BOX AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER

 While some Yuripean shops list it as being available on October 29...

https://www.zappa.com/news/200-motels-50th-anniversary-edition-available-november-19-zappa-recordsume

6 CD box,
2 CD
and / or
2 LP (black vinyl edition + red vinyl edition)

WHAT A WEEK...

What a week...

An amazing new album by Pierre Vervloesem  ("Flambant Neuf"), also out on CD !!,
Dweezil Zappa released some Zappa Plays Zappa material to celebrate the first anniversary of his Music Platform,
The Zappa Band released three shows on Qobuz,
FZ's 200 Motels has officially been announced as a 6 CD box set,
And yesterday evening, the Zappa documentary got shown on Belgian national TV.

BODIES ELECTRIC

Bodies Electric Celebrates the Music of Edgard Varèse, and Frank Zappa and the Psychedelic Circus

https://www.thevillagetrip.com/event/bodies-electric/?

GOV'T MULE - DOSE

• gov't mule: dose
      (1998, cd, usa, capricorn)

Adding data to the United Mutations Archives (and enjoying the album at the same time).
Gov't Mule's third release, their second studio album, "Dose", in 1998.
(Almost) all the tracks became classics during Gov't Mule concerts.

THE SPECIALS RECORDED FZ'S 'TROUBLE EVERY DAY' FOR THEIR NEW ALBUM

"Protest Songs 1924 - 2012"

https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-specials-announce-new-album-of-protest-song-covers-injustice-is-timeless-3021038

1. ‘Freedom Highway’ (The Staple Singers)
2. ‘Everybody Knows’ (Leonard Cohen)
3. ‘I Don’t Mind Failing In This World’ (Malvina Reynolds)
4. ‘Black, Brown And White’ (Big Bill Broonzy)
5. ‘Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around’ (traditional)
6. ‘Fuck All The Perfect People’ (Chip Taylor & The New Ukrainians)
7. ‘My Next Door Neighbour’
8. ‘Trouble Every Day’ (Frank Zappa & Mothers of Invention)
9. ‘Listening Wind’ (Talking Heads)
10. ‘Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes’ (Rod McKuen)
11. ‘I Live In A City’ (Malvina Reynolds)
12. ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ (Bob Marley)

 

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND RETURNS TO THE STAGE

The Ed Palermo Big Band returns to The Falcon

Saturday October 2
it's
The Return of the Big Band!

The Falcon
1348 Rt. 9W
Marlboro, NY
845-236-7970

Reservations
https://www.liveatthefalcon.com/

FRANK ZAPPA BIOGRAPHY

Announced for June 2022 :

Alan Clayson's "Mother Superior" book,
The Saga of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: The Authorised Biography

To be published by the Little Brown Book Group,
Hardcover,
320 pages.

I don't think about the composers of pieces I enjoy listening to,' reflected Frank Zappa shortly before his death in 1993, 'I'm only listening to the results.' That might be true for Zappa but it's his extraordinary life as much as his creative output that continues to fascinate countless devotees across the globe. Nothing concerning him is too inconsequential to captivate present-day 'Frankophiles', seeking to explain and clarify his artistic conduct and, generally, get closer to what made him tick - though, even when Frank was around to tell them himself, he left less answers than further questions.

Mother Superior will cover the early years - 1964 to 1973. It will both re-assess the old yarns and bring to the surface new and rediscovered information via an array of interviewees from every trackway of Zappa's fifty-three years on this planet. It will draw on a huge archive, some of it quite obscure, from public domain and personal collections. It will animate not only Zappa but also those who interacted with him, and the social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts in which this much misunderstood cultural icon lived and worked.

Alan Clayson also wrote a book on Edgar Varèse:

ED PALERMO BIG BAND NEWSFLASH

Ed Palermo revealed the album cover of his next album on Facebook:

 

NEW SPINEFEX ALBUM ANNOUNCED

from the Trytone record label :

Spinifex is busy finishing their new album "Spinifex Beats The Plague", recorded in June, mixed and mastered by the legendary Pierre Vervloesem and due for release end of October. On 28.10., Spinifex will perform at Belgrade Jazz Festival.
A tiny, yet unmastered CD preview:

 

TONY ZAWINUL TALKS ABOUT JOE ZAWINUL

Episode 79 of Gernot Friedbacher's radio show :

Zawinul about Zawinul – Talk and Music with Tony Zawinul
Folge 79 - Music Across

Studio guest in this edition of “Music Across” is filmmaker and composer Anthony “Tony” Zawinul, son of world-famous legendary Jazz musician Joe Zawinul. The first passion in his youth was sports, being Californian champion in long jump, who could not participate in the Olympic games in 1980 in Moscow, because they were boycotted. His father was also a big sports fan, and the world of arts was primarily opened up for him by his mother, Maxine Zawinul. He made his first film in New York when he was still a kid. Tony talks about how he came to the film business, how the corona pandemics affected his life and his work in the last two years, about his brother Erich who died in February 2021 following COVID-19 disease, and about upcoming events and releases celebrating the 90th birthday of his father, Joe Zawinul, in July 2022.

September 22, 2021 at 20h00
Auf ORANGE 94.0 dem Freien Radio in Wien:
im Radio: Frequenz UKW 94.0 MHz – im gesamten Großraum Wien
über Telekabel: Frequenz 92.7 MHz – in Wien
über Internet Live Stream: http://o94.at (oben auf Live Stream (grünes Dreieck) klicken) – weltweit

and available afterwards through the Cultural Broadcasting Archives:
http://cba.fro.at/series/music-across

PIERRE VERVLOESEM - FLAMBANT NEUF

• pierre vervloesem: flambant neuf
      (2021, cd, bel, off records)

Last year, Pierre Vervloesem released a Bandcamp download-only album each month. You didn't hear me complaining as some of these were really great.
Earlier this week, however, Pierre released "Flambant Neuf". Not just as a download-only album, but as a real CD.

The astonishing artwork by Thierry Mondelaers might need a bit of explanation: 'Flambant' = brand-new, or burning.  And 'Burning' or 'Fire' translates in the Flemisch language as 'Brand'.
The number nine on the cover is 'Neuf' in French, but 'Neuf' also means 'New'.

All this to say that it's "Flambant Neuf".
And it's brand-new.

The liner notes on Bandcamp tell us:
Pierre Vervloesem's Flambant Neuf is the return of Pierre in a quintet format. Surrounded by some of the best Belgian musicians with whom he shared music already in various bands ( Bruno Vansina band, Flat Earth Society, Pierre Vervloesem Group...), Pierre allowed everyone to add what they wanted on his tracks then mixed the music to a grand spectacle which reminds various styles but with a definitive modern and vigorous joy behind them!

The album features Teun Verbruggen (drums), Falk Schrauwen (percussion), Thomas Mayade (trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboard), Bruno Vansina (sax, keyboard) and Pierre Vervloesem (guitar, bass).

In one word, the result is amazing !
Odd meters, exotic melodies, modern jazz,... I love it.
This just might be one of the best albums I've heard all year.

This album definitely needed to be released on CD. And I can only hope that we will be able to see this music being performed in concert !

Check this out ! You need to hear this.
And don't wait too long if you want a CD as there's only 300 copies being produced.

MATS & MORGAN ANNOUNCE 6 CD BOX SET

Mats Öberg & Morgan Ågren will be releasing a 6 CD box early November.

Morgan says:
Box ready for printing!!
Six remastered CDs w. great artwork by Jimmy Ågren
40th Anniversary Box Set will be available early November.

CD1: Radio Live Stream

CD2: TRUM

CD3: Schack Tati

CD4: Trends And Other Diseases

CD5: Thanks For Flying With Us

CD6: Live w. NO. Symph. Orch.
(+ a bunch of unreleased music)

ANOTHER AUDIENCE RECORDING OF THE ZAPPA BAND SURFACED

From DimeADozen

The Zappa Band

2021/09/10 - Leader Bank Pavilion, Boston, MA

Opening for King Crimson

Mike Keneally - guitar, keyboards
Scott Thunes - bass
Joe Travers - drums
Ray White - vocals, guitar
Jamie Kime - guitar
Robert Martin - vocals, keyboards, sax

guest: KC drummer Jeremy Stacey on 'Village Of The Sun'

Zomby Woof * Peaches En Regalia * I Ain't Got No Heart * What's New in Baltimore? * Village Of The Sun * Echidna's Arf (Of You) * City Of Tiny Lites * Alien Orifice * Florentine Pogen * Andy

THE STINKFOOT ORCHESTRA, FEATURING NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK

The Stinkfoot Orchestra Featuring Zappa Alum Napoleon Murphy Brock Makes Debut In San Jose.

https://www.jambase.com/article/stinkfoot-orchestra-zappa-napoleon-murphy-brock-debut-setlist?

 

GOV'T MULE - LIVE AT ROSELAND BALLROOM

• gov't mule: live at roseland ballroom
      (1996, cd, usa, foundation records)

I received a digital download of Gov't Mule's "Live At Roseland Ballroom" earlier today. I have several albums by Gov't Mule, but hadn't heard this one before.

Allen Woody, Matt Abts and Warren Haynes.
Recorded in concert at New Year's Eve 1995 (/1996) in New York City.
What a concert...
The CD has been ordered in the meantime.

The opener: 'Trane':

CHRIS OPPERMAN'S "STILL WATERS" PROJECT GOT FUNDED

With 144 backers and 6.600 US $ pledged, Chris Opperman's "Still Waters" project got funded.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chrisopperman/still-waters

THE RESIDENTS - GOD IN 3 PERSONS PRESERVED

• the residents: god in three persons
      (2019, 3cd, uk, cherry red)

Earlier today, I gave The Residents' "God In Three Persons" another spin. The Preserved version (the 3 cd set that presented the original album, soundtrack and demos).
Love it.

Amazing.

LEX BRONKOWITZ ORCHESTRA

Lex Bronkowitz Orchestra plays the music of Frank Zappa.

 
Alex added : "We're still working on the new album!"

 

JIMMY BRUNO TALKS ABOUT DINNER WITH... FRANK ZAPPA, TOMMY TEDESCO, JOHN PISANO & JOE PASS

The Night Everyone ‘Showed Up’

Jimmy Bruno talks about the dinner with…Frank Zappa, Tommy Tedesco, John Pisano, & Joe Pass.

 

MARKUS REUTER PODCAST #050 : ALEX MACHACEK

Markus Reuter talks to Alex Machacek.

RAGINI TRIO - RAGINI TRIO

• ragini trio: ragini trio
      (2013, cd, bel, werf records)

The Belgian Ragini Trio has two albums out, their eponymous 2013 album (pictured above), and the "Peace The New Jazz" album from 2019 (that I talked about earlier).

Superb stuff.
The thing that surprised me the most was that 7 out of the 9 tunes on this album were Indian traditionals that had been reworked by Nathan Daems, Lander Gyselinck and Marco Bardoscia: re-arranged and used as a vehicle for their improvisations.
I just love this.

MAURO ANTONIO PAWLOWSKI - UNTERTANZ

• mauro antonio pawlowski: untertanz
      (2008, lp, bel, audiomer)

Mauro Pawlowski released "Untertanz" in 2008.
Experimental & improvised. Recorded live.
At times, even the digital release sounds as if you're playing a scratched LP.

Digital download available from Bandcamp.

LP with silk-screened cover. Released in a limited edition of 735 copies.
One of the many sides of musical genius Mauro Pawlowski !!

200 MOTELS BOX UPDATE

Only a minor update on the Frank Zappa / Mothers Of Invention "200 Motels" re-release, but the box will be released at the end of October.

In my imaginary world, this box would include the "200 Motels" performance from the Holland Festival, the more recent performance from London (from around the same time that the L.A. Philharmonic one was performed, recorded and released), and one of the two concerts that were staged in France a couple of years ago (Strassbourg, or Paris, from which at least one was recorded on video as well).
But as I said, that's my imaginary world...

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/frank-zappas-200-motels-suites/

That said, I'm really looking forward to the announced re-release.
Curious to see if it will just be audio material or if it will include video material as well.

ALBERT MARCOEUR

Albert Marcoeur's 'Mouvement No.3', performed by Quatuor Béla.

Which reminded me that I need to fill the gaps in my Albert Marcoeur collection...

-- link: Harald Häring

RAGINI TRIO FT. BOJAN Z & SAWANI MUDGAL - PEACE THE NEW JAZZ

• ragini trio ft. bojan z & sawani mudgal: peace the new jazz
      (2019, cd, bel, werf records / kaap)

The Ragini Trio features Nathan Daems (tenor & alto sax), Marco Bardoscia (double bass, electric bass) and Lander Gyselinck (drums).
The trio recorded a first album in 2013 on the Belgian WERF Records label.
"Peace The New Jazz" followed in 2019.

This most recent release has Sawani Mudgal on mesmerizing vocals and Bojan Z on piano, fender rhodes and synths.
"Peace The New Jazz" is perfect mix of modern jazz and Indian raga.
This is amazing.

I had heard snippets of this recent Ragini Trio release on a couple of occasions, as I try to keep an eye out on what both Nathan Daems (Black Flower, Echoes Of Zoo) and Lander Gyselinck (Sinister Sister, Stuff) are up to, and I'm glad that I finally acquired this album.

Here's a live session, taken from YouTube. Check out Marco Bardoscia's improvisation on the double bass !!

MAURO PAWLOWSKI - ETERNAL SUNDAY DRIVE

Mauro Pawlowski goes pop.
I was happy to see Mauro and his band in concert in Genk a little while ago. He's touring to promote his new album. It was fun. I'll try to catch him again in concert in the near future.

The album, "Eternal Sunday Drive", got released last week.
Where the concert presented raw versions of the songs, the album itself sounds way more polished. It suits the songs.
I like it a lot.

CHAD WACKERMAN FEATURED ON THE NEW MARCO MATTEI ALBUM

Chad Wackerman is drumming on one track on Marco Mattei's brand-new "Out Of Control" album.

KENT NAGANO TALKS ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA

In German.
Very interesting. 

-- info: Harald Häring

TINEKE POSTMA - FREYA

• tineke postma: freya
      (2020, cd, nl, edition records)

Tineke Postma (sax), Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Kris Davis (piano), Matthew Brewer (bass) and Dan Weiss (drums).

Modern jazz. My cup of tea.
This is great. Having both Tineke Postma and Ralph Alessi on the same album is just fabulous.

10 original pieces. All by Tineke.
Recommended listening.

Here's a live concert from 2019. It'll give you an idea of what the band sounds like.

-- info: Danny Mathys

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD ON NUGS NET

Nugs Net is offering 9 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard concerts through their download & streaming service.

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

The Australian based psychedelic-rockers are known for their genre bending sounds and energetic live performances, and to kick off this launch we've got audio of nine epic concerts, and video of three full performances!

https://www.nugs.net/

KENT NAGANO'S NEW BOOK

Kent Nagano's new book will have a chapter on Frank Zappa. And on Björk.
In German.

"10 Lessons Of My Life - Was Wirklich Zählt"

Life experience brings clarity about what really counts, and at some point you can tell about it.
The international star conductor gives a deeply personal account of ten encounters that have shaped him far beyond his artistic path and have therefore become important lessons in his life. All of these personalities gave him something to take with him on his way: a piece of advice, a life experience, perhaps even their own life principle. Nagano tells how Leonard Bernstein drove him to despair with a simple question, how he met the pop artist Björk or got to know the other side of Frank Zappa - and how these encounters changed his thinking.

-- info: Harald Häring

BEAT LOVE ORACLE

Beat Love Oracle has just finished a short tour in the Baltic states.

Their next gig will be closer to home:

Sunday - September 19, 2021, 17h30 in Ghent BE, in the Coyendanspark

https://www.burenvandeabdij.be/kalender/partout/

HUUN-HUUR TU TOURDATES

Tuva throat singers Huun-Huur Tu are touring.

• Sep 28 - Teatro da Trinidade - Lisbon, Portugal
• Oct 3 - Ampere, Muffatwerk - Munich, Germany
• Oct 4 - Porgy & Bess - Vienna, Austria
• Oct 8 - Konzertsaal, Universität der Künste (UDK) - Berlin, Germany
• Oct 17 - Bimhuis - Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Oct 19 - Huis Oostpool - Arnhem, Netherlands
• Oct 20 - Muziekgebouw Eindhoven Rabobank Zaal - Eindhoven, Netherlands
• Oct 21 - LantarenVenster - Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Oct 23 - Sendesaal Bremen - Bremen, Germany
• Oct 24 - Fabrik - Hamburg, Germany

ANTI-PANOPTICON

Belgian jazz ensemble Anti-Panopticon features Lennert Baerts on sax !

Scheduled to perform at De Singer jazz club in Rijkevorsel, BE next weekend.

-- info: André Oomen

LISA MEZZACAPPA'S BAIT & SWITCH - COMEUPPANCE

• lisa mezzacappa's bait & switch: comeuppance
      (2013, cd, poland, not two records)

With Lisa Mezzcappa on double bass (and on writing 5 out of the 7 pieces), her Bait & Switch quartet makes quite an impression with the 2013 "Comeuppance" album.

On the first "Bait & Switch" album, from 2010, the ensemble recorded Don Van Vliet / Captain Beefheart's 'Lick My Decals Off, Baby'. 
And her 2011 "Cosmic Rift" album,  included her version of Frank Zappa's 'Eric Dolphy's Memorial BBQ'.

"Comeuppance" does not present any Van Vliet or Zappa pieces, but it's a fine album as it is.
Improvised jazz.
Check it out.

GOV'T MULE ANNOUNCES A BLUES ALBUM

from the Gov't Mule newsletter: 

Gov't Mule is back! The band's first-ever blues album, Heavy Load Blues, will be released Friday, November 12 on Fantasy Records. The new record is available for pre-order now at all DSPs HERE and each pre-save will include an instant download of the first song, "Heavy Load." CD and Vinyl packages - including a deluxe edition featuring additional studio and live tracks - will be available from the webstore here: https://mule.shop.musictoday.com/dept/heavy-load-blues?.

"For me, personally, it's kind of been on my list of things to do for years. I didn't know if it was gonna be a solo album or a Gov't Mule record. We play some traditional blues on stage from time to time and although it's usually never more than a few songs per show, our approach to the blues is unique and based on our collective chemistry as a band. This album gave us a mission. Although in some way it was 'anything goes,' we wanted to stay true to the spirit of the blues in a traditional sense. It's not a blues/rock record - it's a blues record. We wanted it sonically to sound different from a normal Gov't Mule record." - Warren Haynes

200 MOTELS 6 CD BOX

The Japanese HMV website mentions a 6 CD 200 Motels box set.

https://www.hmv.co.jp/

Also listed as 2 CD version and on vinyl.

-- info from Knut Erlend Skogstad on Facebook

 

ROBERT MARTIN UPDATE

Robert Martin Zoom call with Dr. Dot Sept. 6, 2021

NATHAN DAEMS

Belgian multi-instrumentalist Nathan Daems has his roots in jazz and in oriental music.
He has participated in different projects but it's the two bands that he started that have impressed me the most : Black Flower and Ragini Trio.

Earlier today, I listened to Black Flower's "Abyssinia Afterlife". Wonderful.
And I also played the Ragini Trio's "Peace The New Jazz" on Bandcamp.
With Lander Gyselinck and Marco Bardoscia. And special guests Bojan Z and Sawani Mudgal.
In awe.

Does it get any better than this?

QUINN SULLIVAN PERFORMS BLACK NAPKINS

A bluesy version of Black Napkins (F.Zappa) by Quinn Sullivan.

 Here's an interview with Quinn:
https://www.hunnypotunlimited.com/hunnypot-does/item/2720-interview-quinn-sullivan-08-11-18

ZAPPA HOLOGRAM TOUR FLASHBACK

An audience recording from a 2019 concert from The Zappa Band's hologram tour got seeded on Dime recently.
Actually, it was the first concert of the tour.

The Zappa Band
Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
19 April 2019

"The Bizarre World of Frank Zappa" Tour

Mike Keneally (guitar, keyboard, vocals), Scott Thunes (bass), Ray White (guitar,vocals), Robert Martin (keyboard, sax, vocals), Ed Mann (percussion), Joe Travers (drums)
special guest: Ahmet Zappa (vocals on 'Dead Girls Of London)

Intro * Cosmik Debris * Montana * Trouble Every Day * Village of the Sun > Alien Orifice * Penguin in Bondage * Apostrophe * Zomby Woof * The Evil Prince * #2 * Why Does It Hurt When I Pee? * Peaches en Regalia * Stink‐Foot * Father O'Blivion * The Dangerous Kitchen * Dinah-Moe Humm * My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama > Dead Girls of London * Dirty Love * Cheepnis * Camarillo Brillo

ARF DOSSIER UPDATE

Adding pictures and stuff to the United Mutations Archives, here's the data for three issues of the Arf Dossier that got published last year.
The Arf Dossier is a quarterly magazine, A5 size, mostly in German.
For members of the Arf Society.

the arf-dossier no.103  -  2020/03 incl.

leserpost

info behind the photo(s)

the hot platters heaven from the arf office

das vermächtnis eines freiheitskämpfers

the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope

the rare pictures gallery

the vinyl bootleg releases

the yellow shark - hamburg 21.02.2020

news from belgium - live from United Mutations

zappanale info

ullis ecke

the arf-dossier no.105  -  2020/09 incl.

leserpost

info behind the photo(s)

the hot platters heaven from the arf office

the rare pictures gallery

the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope

news from belgium - live from United Mutations

the hot platters heaven from the arf office II

ullis ecke

the arf-dossier no.106  -  2020/12 incl.

arf-society e.v. - info

zappanale 30.5

leserpost

the hot platters heaven from the arf office

l'histroire du motocycliste by anreas rausch

the fine but unauthorized cd kaleidoscope

the rare pictures gallery

the vinyl bootleg releases

news from belgium - live from United Mutations

vinylrausch by jörg

co de kloet - frank & co

kosmische brocken im kino

frank out! news

back in time

ullis ecke

DJ MIXXXURUCA REMIXED STEVE VAI'S 'BALLERINA'

On his "Transgênico (Volume 6)" release, DJ MixXxuruca remixed Steve Vai's 'Ballerina'.
Track number one.

-- info: Zjakki Willems

ANOTHER ZAPPA COLOR BY NUMBER BOOK

• frank zappa - color by number
•     (2021, book, usa, private release)

You probably don't care about these sort of things, but another Frank Zappa inspired "Color By Number" colouring book has been released.
Again, by Donna Parker.

ADAM MINKOFF - ALL ARE YESTERDAYS

Adam Minkoff released three new tracks on his Bandcamp page yesterday.
Featuring Gabby Sherba, Chris Norton and Scheila Gonzalez !

RUSS STEDMAN UPDATE

Earlier this year, Russ Stedmann compiled twelve (!!) albums with previously unreleased material.
Last week, he added "Carpet Remants", the last scrape of the bottom of the outtake barrel, as he called it.

NEW ALBUM BY JULIE SLICK

Julie Slick (Adrian Belew Trio) has a new album out !

Digital bandcamp release + CD (ltd edition of 50 copies)

SUN RA'S "LANQUIDITY" 4 LP BOX SET

Sun Ra's "Lanquidity" recently got an expanded edition as a 2 CD set.
The same material is now being made a available on vinyl:

2 times 2 LP's (as pictured) in a box.

More info on Bandcamp :

PACÔME THIELLEMENT & THOMAS BERTAY - STUPOR MUNDI

I recently received the second DVD of Pacôme Thiellement and Thomas Bertay's "Stupor Mundi" movie, presenting book 3 and 4.

I watched parts of the first part (book 3) this morning and I have to say that the duo depicts a quite dark and disturbing view of our current world.
They tell a story using existing fragments from movies and documentaries, intertwined with snippets of musical fragments and interviews with a.o. Frank Zappa and Trey Spruance (Secret Chiefs 3).

I'll have to revisit this a couple of times. At least.
English and/or French subtitles for Book 3. Which is good.
Haven't checked Book 4 yet. It looks like it's a meeting / discussion with both Pacôme and Thomas.

Want to dive deeper into Pacôme Thiellement's world?
https://lelivresansvisage.blogspot.com/

And here's more info on how to get the Stupor Mundi digipack set:
https://lelivresansvisage.blogspot.com/search/label/Zappa

HALF A CHICKEN & GARY PANTER

Another album with artwork by Gary Panter:

Half A Chicken : Food For Thought.
LP, from 1988.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS & GARY PANTER

I bought this one for the Gary Panter artwork.
Not saying that I don't like the music.

Gary Panter artwork for The Red Hot Chili Peppers' "The Uplift Mofo Party Plan".
From 1987.

GOV'T MULE TOURDATES - - - UPDATED

GOV'T MULE - - - UPCOMING SHOWS

9.03 - Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville, DE
9.04 - MLK Jr. Memorial Park in Rochester, NY*
9.07 - Artpark in Lewiston, NY
9.09 - Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA+
9.10 - Bank of NH Pavilion in Gilford, NH^
9.11 - The Mann Center in Philadelphia, PA^
9.12 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga, NY^
9.14 - Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks in Bethlehem, PA
9.16 - Columbia Speedway Amphitheater in Columbia, SC*
9.17 - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater in Virginia Beach, VA^
9.18 - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC^
9.19 - PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, NC^
9.23 - Live Oak Bank Pavillion in Wilmington, NC*
9.24 - Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD^
9.25 - Gears and Guitars Festival in Winston-Salem, NC^
10.3 - Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, FL^
10.15 - Ak-Chin Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ^
10.16 - Five Point Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA^
10.18 - The Belasco in Los Angeles, CA
10.20 - Uptown Theatre in Napa, CA
10.22 - Hangtown Music Festival in Placerville, CA
10.23 - Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain VIew, VA^
10.24 - Toyota Amphitheatre in Wheatland, CA^

*co-headline with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
+with special guest Margo Price
^Outlaw Music Festival

URBEX IN CONCERT IN SINT-NIKLAAS BELGIUM

Antoine Pierre's Urbex will be doing a concert at 'De Casino' in Sint-Niklaas, BE, on September 8, 2021.

Music from their latest album, "Suspended", inspired by Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" album.

• Jean-Paul Estiévenart / trumpet
• Toine Thys / sax, clarinet
• Steven Delannoye / sax
• Bert Cools / guitar
• Bram De Looze / piano
• Félix Zurstrassen / bass
• Frédéric Malempre / percussion
• Antoine Pierre/ drums

ANDROID TRIO WITH SPECIAL GUEST MIKE KENEALLY TO RELEASE AN ALBUM IN OCTOBER

To be released on the Cuneiform Records label next October: 

Android Trio : Other Worlds

Andrew Niven – drums, percussion, synth, sequencers * Eric Klerks – bass, 8-string guitar, synthbass * Max Kutner – electric and acoustic guitar

with

Mike Keneally – keyboards, guitar, samples * Jonathan Sindelman – keyboards, organ * Daniel Rosenboom – trumpet * Jessica Lurie – baritone sax * Gregg Bendian – vibes

Produced by Mike Keneally and Android Trio

Cuneiform Records · ANDROID TRIO "Concentric Lines" from "Other Worlds" (Cuneiform Records)

-- info: Danny Mathys

(FIRST) DIGITAL RELEASE BY THE ZAPPA BAND

• the zappa band: live at saratoga performance arts center saratoga springs
      (2021, download, --, qobuz)
  

A first official digital release by The Zappa Band !