J. M. SMIG - BLACK COFFEE WALTZ (REVISED ARRANGEMENT°

Black Coffee Waltz (revised arrangement for virtual wind quintet and percussion)

By J. M. Smig

Nice. Really nice.
Check it out !

THE RESIDENTS' VINYL UPDATE

Albums six and seven in the series of Residents vinyl re-issues.
& Cherry Red will be issuing a white label 7" single with both of these !

• "Eskimo"

• "Commercial Album"

MARTIN DENNY

Martin Denny's "Exotica", "Exotica II", "Exotica III", and "Quiet Village" are being released as a 2 CD set. Plus bonus material.

Quiet Village

INEZONA

info from Czar Of Crickets Productions

A power song with western flair. INEZONA as a full band in the sun with the dust kicking up from a horse all around them. With longing, the song takes you far away to a place of power. The horse as a symbol for the power and movement of our existence.

An upbeat of Gabriel Sullivan's (Tucson, Arizona) signature guitar sound begins the song, inviting the band to engage with a heavy but rolling groove. Ines' rhythm guitar leads drivingly through the whole song and her voice hovers over it and talks questioningly about the universe and our existence. Fabian Gisler's synthesizer bass provides the deep bottom and Eric Gut's backbeat is the pulse of the song with every beat.

'Stardust' is the name of the second single from INEZONA's upcoming album, "Heartbeat" - visually stunning, spherical and timeless, as we know it from the multi-instrumentalist and singer. The song was originally created for a dance piece by the dancer and choreographer Seraina Duveen (onemovement), in the context of which Ines Brodbeck performed it solo for the first time, before the song was then recorded with the whole band in the Onedrop Studio, Basel with Gabriel Sullivan, Fabian Gisler and recorded from and with Eric Gut.

JOSH FREESE

Dave Grohl introducing new Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese on stage for the first time (5/24/23)

I wonder if Josh still does this warm-up exercise from time to time.

PHI YAAN-ZEK'S DOCUMENTARY OF "INTERDIMENSIONAL GARDEN PARTY"

Phi Yaan-Zek says:
I'm happy to announce that the long awaited mini-documentary of my latest album 'Interdimensional Garden Party' is here: featuring Andy Edwards, Bryan Beller, Chanan Hanspal, Lalle Larsson, Ellie Williams, and Mike Keneally. Discover musical stories about the danger of puffball mushrooms, how to get Bigfoot to possibly appear on your album, uncovering your favourite UFO and having a pink elephant as a spirit guide.

GRUBER RUESZ QUARTET - SUNNY - LIVE AT AERA

• • Gruber Ruesz Quartet: Sunny – Live At Aera
      (2013, cd, Europe, cgr / private release)

I only discovered this little gem a couple of weeks ago !

Mandoline, gypsy-guitar and bouzouki player Christian Gruber-Ruesz recorded recorded FZ’s ‘Black Napkins’ with his quartet. It got released on his “Sunny – Live At Aera” album in 2013 !!
Out on CD but also available for download and streaming on several digital music platforms.

And it's an amazing album.
Christian's version of FZ's 'Black Napkins' is great and it's part of a very fine album.

HANS ANNELLSSON - THE TORTURE NEVER STOPS

Performed by Hans Annellsson with John Tabacco (Rap) & Jonathan Mehler (Guitar). Produced by HA.
Composed by Frank Zappa, Munchkin Music
Mastering & layout Janne Brovall, Brovall Production
From the upcoming album "Does Humor Belog In Rap Music?"
© Annellssongs 2023

 

RICK LABAN REWORKED / REARRANGED / RESAMPLED A COUPLE OF FRANK ZAPPA PIECES

New York City-based musician Rick Laban reworked / rearranged / resampled a couple of Frank Zappa pieces.
The latter (and most recent) one: "Lumpy Gravy Phaze 4" is quite interesting.

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE & THE MELTING PARAISO U.F.O. - ACID MOTHERLY LOVE

• Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. : Acid Motherly Love
      (2023, 2lp, UK, riot season)

Originally released on CD in 2007, the “Acid Motherly Love” album by Kawabata Makoto’s Acid Mothers Temple got re-issued on vinyl (and with different artwork) !
It's the third release in a series of 'first time on vinyl' releases.

2 LP – 300 copies - on transparent magenta vinyl
2 LP – 500 copies – on transparent orange vinyl

It was another reference to Frank Zappa and The Mothers in one of the (many) Acid Mothers Temple album titles.

ROBBY STEINHARDT - MOTHER EARTH

From GlassOnyonPR

Taken from Robby Steinhardt’s Swan Song Album “Not in Kansas Anymore”

Orlando, FL - Robby Steinhardt, the renowned violinist and vocalist known for his work with the band Kansas, second installment of a series of videos accompanying his critically acclaimed solo album “Not in Kansas Anymore” has been unveiled. The video for the song “Mother Earth” comes following the completion of the album, which occurred three months before Steinhardt's untimely passing July 17, 2021.

THE OTHER PEOPLE

In Tina's words: "The other, Other People of Zappanale & Beyond!"

Artwork / design by Angel Tejeda !!

SUGARCANE HARRIS & JEAN-LUC PONTY - ABSOLUTELY LIVE

• sugarcane harris & jean-luc ponty: absolutely live
      (????, lp, the netherlands, boots productions)

The label name, "Boots Productions", gives it away: this is an unofficial release.

Recorded during two concerts at the Berlin Jazz Festival in Germany in 1971, the songs got released on Sugarcane Harris' "Sugar Cane's Got The Blues" LP (= side A) and on Jean-Luc Ponty's "New Violin Summit" (side B).

Next to Sugarcane and Jean-Luc, the recordings feature Neville Whitehead on bass, Robert Wyatt on drums, Terje Rypdal on guitar on one track and Volker Kriegel on guitar on two other tracks, plus Wolfgang Dauner on keyboards, and special guest Nipso Brantner also on violin.

Guitar player Volker Kriegel, as you might know, was part of the Dave Pike Set with whom he recorded FZ's 'Mother People', released on the "Noisy Silence - Gentle Noise"  album, with another version to be found on one of Volker's solo albums.

from "Sugarcane's Got The Blues" :

SUN RA - RA TO THE RESCUE

Somehow, I had missed last year's release or Sun Ra's "Ra To The Rescue!".
Originally released in 1983 on Sun Ra's Saturn Records label, it had become pretty rare, so it's good that the album got a proper re-release: on (green vinyl) LP, on CD, and as a digital download.

Modern Harmonic did a great job on the CD release.
The sound is great and the three-fold cardboard digipack looks perfect.
Some bluesy stuff, some pretty experimental material and even a couple of vocal tracks.
A mixture one could only expect from Sun Ra & His Arkestra.

Be sure to check out the beautiful version of 'Fate In A Pleasant Mood'.

JOE DENINZON JOINS KANSAS

From Anne Leighton Media

Joe Deninzon Joins Kansas

The band KANSAS is excited to announce the addition of violinist/guitarist Joe Deninzon to the band. He is replacing the departing David Ragsdale.

Joe Deninzon has been hailed by critics as “The Jimi Hendrix of the Violin,” because of his innovative style on the “Viper” seven-string electric violin. Joe is the lead singer and violinist for the progressive rock band, Stratospheerius, which has just released their 6th album—a box set with double live CDs/DVD-Blu-rays-- “Behind the Curtain (Live at ProgStock)” (Melodic Revolution Records). He can be heard on over a hundred albums and jingles as a violinist and string arranger.

KANSAS original member and drummer Phil Ehart comments, “We are extremely excited for Joe Deninzon to be the newest member of KANSAS. We believe KANSAS fans will enjoy what Joe will bring to the band. We are excited to kick off the KANSAS 50th Anniversary Tour. As the paragraph in the band’s first album said, ‘KANSAS IS A BAND’ and we remain so to this day.”

Deninzon adds, “As a lifelong fan of Kansas, I am overwhelmed and humbled to have been invited to join this legendary band! I have the deepest respect for Robby and David and will do my best to honor and build on their musical legacy.”

Joe Deninzon’s first performance with the band will be in Pittsburgh, PA on June 2 at the Benedum Center during the premier date of the KANSAS 50th Anniversary Tour – Another Fork in the Road.

ECHOES OF ZOO - SPEECH OF SPECIES (LP)

• echoes of zoo: speech of species
      (2023, lp, belgium, werf records)

Having enjoyed the bandcamp download, I was happy to receive the actual LP at the United Mutations Headquarters yesterday.

One superb album.

Modern jazz, infused with eastern elements.

And even on a larger size, the album artwork (by Felix Ysenbaert (aka Ysbear) keeps me puzzled.

Check it out !

• May 26 - Brussels Jazz Weekend
• July 8 - Brusella Jazz Festival, Brussels, BE

MAKE IT JAZZ ! FESTIVAL

Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th of September, Tilburg, NL, will be the place to be as the Dutch town will host the Make It Jazz! festival.

Friday in the Paradox jazz club, and Saturday in different location in the town.

Dishwasher, Lara Rosseel Quintet, Ella Zirina, Paloma Lazaro Artega, Antares Flare, and others.

https://paradoxtilburg.nl/programma/make-it-jazz-lara-rosseel-quintet-be-ella-zirina/

Ella Zirina trio

• Ella Zirina - guitar
• David Macchione - double bass
• Eloi Pascaul Nogue - drums

THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION / 1968

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, the Group Shot of the Musicians With Children by Art Kane in 1968;

https://www.vintag.es/2023/05/frank-zappa-and-mothers-of-invention.html

From Life Magazine,

https://www.afka.net/Mags/Life.htm#1968Jun

-- link: Zjakki Willems

 

THE BIZARRE WORLD OF FRANK ZAPPA - - - VIMEO CLIP

The Bizarre World Of Frank Zappa
"Dinah Moe Hum"

https://vimeo.com/417854827/395c7726bd?

LEFTOVER SALMON - GRASS ROOTS

Boulder, Colorado-based bluegrass / jam band Leftover Salmon has a new album out.
"Grass Roots" has the band investigating their roots and the result sounds pretty good.

01 - Country Blues (Dock Boggs)

02 - Blue Railroad Train (Alton Delmore, Rabon Delmore)
03 - Riding On The L&N (William Shields Bryson)

04 - Simple Twist Of Fate (Bob Dylan)
05 - California Cottonfields (Dallas Frazier, Earl Montgomery)

06 - Fire And Brimstone (Link Wray)

07 - Black Peter (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter)
08 - The New Lee Highway Blues (David Bromberg)
09 - Nashville Skyline Rag (Bob Dylan)
10 - Fireline (John Doan)

Out on CD, LP and as a download/streaming release on Bandcamp.

On a side note: the band has performed several Frank Zappa tunes in concert but (unfortunately) never released these on an album.

PHOENICIAN DRIVE - GLOW

Phoenician Drive has just released "Glow".
5 tracks.
Already available for streaming & download.
LP (on blue vinyl) is expected next month but can already be pre-ordered.

Beautiful.

ZOMBY WOOF

Krautrock / progressive rock band Zomby Woof formed in Germany around 1971 and named the band after the Frank Zappa song.

They released one album, "Riding A Tear", and one single in 1977.

"Riding A Tear" got re-released on CD in 2002 with four bonus tracks.

The band did record a second album but as they could not find a distribution deal, the project was cancelled and the band broke up. Posthumously, the demo got released on several digital platforms in 2009.

https://johnkatsmc5.blogspot.com/2023/05/zomby-woof-riding-on-tear1977-no.html

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

GRAVEHUFFER - DEPART FROM SO MUCH EVIL

Gravehuffer released their fine cover version of FZ's 'Inca Roads' in December 2022.
In the meantime, the band has released their new album, "Depart From So Much Evil".

After hearing their 'Inca Roads' cover version, I had not really expected this.

Is this death metal?
They describe it as an other-worldly amalgamation of Crust, Punk, Metal, Grindcore, and unapologetic down-tuned Sludge-laden Doom.

SUN RA - THE SPACE AGE IS HERE TO STAY

"The Space Age Is Here To Stay" is a new collection of vocal tunes by Sun Ra & His Interplanetary Vocal Orchestra.
Previously released on CD by Modern Harmonic and now also made available for download / streaming on Bandcamp.

MATT DEMELLO - JENNIFER'S APPENDIX VOL.5

Matt DeMello recorded FZ's 'Eat That Question' and released it on his "Jennifer's Appendix Vol. 3 & 4" album on Bandcamp.
Reason enough to follow what he's doing.

His latest release, "Volume 5" in the series of this Peekskill, NY-based singer song-writer, presents material from about twenty years ago !!

1000 - EINTAUSEND SPIELT OCJ

• 1000: eintausend spielt ocj
      (2023, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

1000 (or Eintausend) performs OCJ (Orchestra Composers Jazz).
From a commercial point of view, I can imagine that there are both band names and album titles that would be more effective, but it seems to work as this already is album number 6 of this illustrious quartet.

• Jan Klare - reeds
• Bart Maris - trumpet
• Wilbert de Joode - bass
• Michael Vatcher - drums

Improvised music, so not for the faint of heart.

Check it out !!

TOM WRIGHT - 5 X 2

• tom wright: 5 x 2
      (2020, cd, usa, private release)

Tom Wright plays the mandolin. A five strings times two mandolin.
On his "5 x 2" album, Tom performs a beautiful selection of pieces. Unaccompanied. Just Tom on his mandolin.

As Tom explains in the liner notes:
In this collection of tues the music ranges from boroque, to Brazilian choro, to contemporary classical, to fingerstyle guitar, and a Beatles songs concludes the album.

The reason that I bought this album was because of Tom's rendition of FZ's 'Twenty Small Cigars', which sounds amazing.
I know that I mentioned this album about a month ago, but I received the actual CD last week and I just had to bring it to your attention it again.
An excellent album.
Check it out !

NEW ALBUM BY ARJEN LUCASSEN

Arjen Lucassen, who recorded Frank Zappa's 'I'm The Slime' for his 2012 "Lost In The New Real" album, has just released "Golden Age Of Music", his tribute to 1970's rock music.

 

I also learned that Arjen's "Lost In The New Real" album got re-issued last year.
As a 2 LP set.
On 'magenta with black' vinyl, by the Svart Records label...

SNARKY PUPPY KICKS OFF THEIR SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR

Snarky Puppy kicks off their South American tour

• May 20, 2023Teatro ColiseoSantiago, Chile
• May 21, 2023Luna Park (indoor)Buenos Aires, Argentina
• May 22, 2023La TrastiendaMontevideo, Uruguay
• May 24, 2023Arauja ViannaPorto Alegre, Brazil
• May 25, 2023AudioSão Paulo, Brazil
• May 26, 2023Circo VoadorRio de Janeiro, Brazil
• May 28, 2023Opera de ArameCuritiba, Brazil
• May 30, 2023Teatro MayorBogotá, Colombia
• Jun 1, 2023Auditorio BlackberryMexico City, Mexico
• Jun 18, 2023Stern Grove FestivalSan Francisco

TINEKE POSTMA - ARIA

• tineke postma: aria
      (2023, cd, nl, edition records)

Tineke Postma's latest release shows why she's being called one of the most prolific and respected musicians from the vibrant Dutch jazz scene.

In a classic setting, sax, guitar, bass and drums, Tineke's pieces showcase her fine quartet.
Beautiful pieces and improvisations !
Wow !!

• Tineke Postma — sax
• Ben Monder — guitar
• Robert Landfermann — bass
• Tristan Renfrow — drums

This album is a mix of instant composed ensemble improvisations and composed music by Tineke. Besides lyrical melodies and adventurous rhythms, she focuses on musical elements such as sound, space, textures, ambience and orchestration inspired by the music of Ben Monder, Bill Frisell, Paul Motion, electric music from the 1970s by Miles Davis and the full oeuvre of her hero Wayne Shorter.

Out on LP, CD and for download & streaming through Bandcamp.

Tonight (May 20) in concert at the Paradox club in Tilburg, NL
And at Ronnie Scott's in London, UK in a couple of day (May 22).
More dates can be found on her Bandcamp page.

FRANK ZAPPA ON NUGS NET

FRANK ZAPPA

Now Streaming!

Zappa’s esteemed catalog of live performances are coming to nugs.net, and the streaming launch commences with all 21 live releases from the Beat The Boots series! Beat The Boots is unique, not only is it a raw and unmastered look into the brilliance behind Zappa's ever evolving music through the decades, it also marked a momentous shift in music history, with the artist re-establishing ownership and rights of 'boot'legged performances. Start a free trial to listen, and get familiar with Zappa, The Mothers Of Invention, and prepare for a lot more to hit the app soon.

RUSSIAN PIRATE RECORD LABELS

I recently got hold of 2 Russian mp3 CDRom compilation albums.
One featured Dog Eat Dog. The second one presented quite a part of the Jean-Luc Ponty discography.

• Dog Eat Dog: Коллекция Альбомов 1993 – 2002
  (2003, cd, Russia, Домашняя Коллекция)

At least three Russian pirate compilations of Dog Eat Dog albums exist.
The above pictured CDRom presented 7 Dog Eat Dog albums, plus one Nastasee and one All Boro Kings album.
The Dog Eat Dog set included the band's version of FZ's 'Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?' as part of the "In The Dog House" album.

• Jean-Luc Ponty: Музыкальная Энциклопедия
      (????, cd, Russia, --)

This disc presents 12 mp3 albums, including the amazing "King Kong" release.
I have no idea when this got released. If anyone has a clue, let me know !

DOG EAT DOG - REMIXES AND B-SIDES

• Dog Eat Dog: Remixes and B-sides
      (1995, cd ep promo, USA, roadrunner)

Another nice find for the "Others Of Invention" collection: artists and bands performing the music of Frank Zappa.

The “Remixes And B-Sides” promotional CD EP by Dog Eat Dog presented a remix of Dog Eat Dog’s recording of Frank Zappa’s ‘Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?’, originally released on their ‘If These Are Good Times’ single.

ECHOES OF ZOO - SPEECH OF SPECIES

• echoes of zoo: speech of species
      (2023, lp, belgium, --)

I just ordered the brand-new Echoes Of Zoo album through Bandcamp which means that I'm already enjoying the download.

Modern jazz / fusion with an oriental flavour.

I'm not convinced by the album cover artwork (yet), but the music is great.

Love it.
Recommended listening.

Compositions by Nathan Daems

Nathan Daems - tenor saxophone
Bart Vervaeck - electric guitar

Lieven Van Pée - bass
Falk Schrauwen - drums

BEAT LOVE ORACLE TO RELEASE A THIRD ALBUM

Beat Love Oracle will present their new album, 'DANGEROUS LIQUIDS', at their concert at 'De Grote Post' in Oostende, BE, on Friday May 26 at 20h30.

https://www.degrotepost.be/agenda/3388/Beat_Love_Oracle/Releaseconcert_Dangerous_Liquids

WINNE - WINNE ZONDER STRIJD

• winne: winne zonder strijd
      (2022, lp, nl, topnotch)

Dutch rapper WINNE released his "Winne Zonder Strijd" album on CD in 2009.

The track 'W.I.N.N.E." sampled George Duke / FZ's 'Uncle Remus'.
Beautiful !!
Actually, I like the entire album.

The album got re-released on vinyl last year..
Standard black vinyl but also on red vinyl as a limited Record Store Day release.

THE MAHAVISHNU PROJECT

Mahavishnu Project - live stream 5-13-23

• Robbie Mangano guitar
• Brian Mooney bass
• Neil Alexander keyboards
• Gregg Bendian drums

STEVE VAI

Revisiting the music of Steve Vai after last week's amazing concert.

Arai Miho. "Steve Vai - Piano Reductions Vol.2", 2019

Steve Vai & The Metropole Orkest, "Visual Sound Theories", 2008

-- links: Harald Häring

NEW ALBUM AND TOUR FOR THE GOLDEN DAWN ARKESTRA

The new album by The Golden Dawn Arkestra is called "Transformation".

Here's a clip :

And the tour dates:

• May 18 - Phoenix - Last Exit (with Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra)
• May 19 - Las Vegas - The Wall
• May 20 - Joshua Tree Music Festival 
• May 22 - Los Angeles - Permanent Records (with Trance Farmers)
• June 1 - Houston - Discovery Green June 3 - Austin - Concourse Project

ROBIN VERHEYEN - PLAYING THE ROOM

• robin verheyen: playing the room
      (2023, lp, belgium, werf records)

Belgian saxophone player Robin Verheyen has recorded and performed with an impressive list of artists.
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Verheyen

His latest release, however, presents him performing solo. No loops no dubbing, just Robin Verheyen on the saxophone.

In the fall 2021, Belgian saxophone player Robin Verheyen was invited by Kunstencentrum KAAP and W.E.R.F. records to play a solo concert during AMOK festival in the beautiful Bruges baroque church Walburga. The haunting concert was recorded in its entirety and additionally an extra recording session was scheduled in the Concert Hall of the Bruges Concertgebouw. Both rooms have one thing in common: special acoustics. The playful dialogue Robin created with both spaces created an extremely unique sound and formed the basis for the title of this first solo album: Playing The Room.

Out on LP, and available through Bandcamp.
Wonderful !

ZAPPA ON NUGS.NET

Next to the first two volumes of the Beat The Boots series, Nugs.net is also offering streaming and download for :

• The Torture Never Stops
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc One
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc Two
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc Three
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc Four
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc Five
• Beat The Boots - Volume Three - Disc Six

You can find additional info on the tracks (and some bootleg reference) here:

https://www.donlope.net/fz/btb/beat_the_boots_iii.html

I assume they will also be releasing shows from the vault. Stuff we haven't heard before.

I'm curious to find out if they will release concerts by The Zappa Band. Or other endorsed FZ tribute concerts.
And will these shows also be made available on CDR, as they are doing with some of their artists?

Exciting times.

CHRIS POTTER

I had the pleasure to enjoy two fine Chris Potter albums this morning.

• chris potter & kenny werner : chris potter / kenny werner
      (1996, cd, usa, concord jazz)

"Chris Potter / Kenny Werner", from 1996 already, featured Chris Potter on saxes and clarinet, and Kenny Werner on piano.
Original pieces combined with standards by Monk and Coltrane, to name two. 

• chris potter underground: ultrahang
      (2009, cd, usa, artistshare)

With Chris Potter on tenor sax, Wayne Krantz on guitar, Craig Taborn on Fender Rhodes and Nate Smith on drums, plus Adam Rogers guesting on guitar on two tracks.

Quite different from his collaboration with Kenny Werner but that should not be a surprise as both recordings are more than 20 years apart.
Lovely groovy fusion.

Here's The Chris Potter Underground, recorded live at the Jazz Open Stuttgart festival in Germany in 2009.

FRANK ZAPPA CONCERTS ON NUGS.NET

www.nugs.net is making Frank Zappa concerts (and recordings) available for streaming and download.

The (what will become a) series is kicking off with Beat The Boots 

https://www.nugs.net/frank-zappa-concerts-live-downloads-in-mp3-flac-or-online-music-streaming/

• Beat The Boots I: 1. As An Am - Various Locations, US May 19, 1981
• Beat The Boots I: 2. The Ark - Boston, MA Jul 8, 1969
• Beat The Boots I: 3. Freaks & Mother*#@%! - New York, NY Nov 14, 1970
• Beat The Boots I: 4. Unmitigated Audacity - Notre Dame, IN May 12, 1974
• Beat The Boots I: 5. Anyway the Wind Blows - Paris, FR Feb 24, 1979
• Beat The Boots I: 6. 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly - Stockholm, US Sep 30, 1967
• Beat The Boots I: 7. Saarbrücken 1978 - Saarbrücken, DE Sep 3, 1978
• Beat The Boots I: 8. Piquantique - Stockholm, SWE Aug 21, 1973
• Beat The Boots II: 1. Disconnected Synapses - Paris, FR Dec 15, 1970
• Beat The Boots II: 2. Tengo Na Minchia Tanta - New York, NY Nov 13, 1970
• Beat The Boots II: 3. Electric Aunt Jemima - Various Locations, US May 3, 1968
• Beat The Boots II: 4. At The Circus - Munich, IL Sep 8, 1978
• Beat The Boots II: 5. Swiss Cheese Fire! - Montreux, SWI Dec 4, 1971
• Beat The Boots II: 6. Our Man in Nirvana - Fullerton, CA
• Beat The Boots II: 7. Conceptual Continuity - Detroit, MI Nov 19, 1976

LOUISE VAN DEN HEUVEL

I first heard Dutch bass player Louise van den Heuvel when I saw a YouTube video of The Gallands.
More recently, she took the stage with the Bruno Vansina Orchestra.

She's also part of Dishwasher, who released an album earlier this year.

Dishwasher :

With The Gallands (Elvin & Stéphane Galland) :

RACHEL FLOWERS CONCERT AT THE ALVAS SHOWROOM IN SAN PEDRO ON MAY 19

We are excited to be adding a Streaming option for Rachel's upcoming performance at Alvas Showroom this Friday night at 8 pm! This will be a live multi-camera video stream with replay available for 48 hours after the show, so if you are in a different time zone, or if it's simply not possible for you to make it to San Pedro for the show, you have plenty of time to enjoy Rachel's performance right at home.

https://rachelflowers.bandcamp.com/merch/rachel-flowers-one-woman-two-pianos-live-at-the-alvas-showroom

And of course, if you are able to make it to the show, we would love to have you there in the audience!

Rachel Flowers - One Woman, Two Pianos
Friday May 19, 2023 - 8:00 p.m.
Alvas Showroom
1417 W. 8th Street
San Pedro, CA 90732

https://alvasshowroom.com/event/rachel-flowers-2

MEN & VOLTS HAVE A NEW ALBUM OUT

Men & Volts, in concert in 1981 !!
Recorded live at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, Providence, RI, 6 September 1981

EIDON - ONYA GET ANY DIDJA

Eidon says:

A second xenochrazy, obtained by mixing a composition of mine with an excerpt from Frank Zappa's "Didja Get Any Onya". Weasels ripped my flesh oh yeah!

THE MAKING OF FUNKY NOTHINGNESS

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/frank-zappa-funky-nothingness-behind-the-scenes

The Frank Zappa Estate has unveiled a behind-the-scenes video documenting the making of the forthcoming Funky Nothingness project from the legendary musician.

In part one of the series, Vaultmeister Joe Travers and Mastering Engineer Chris Bellman detail the upcoming Zappa release, a never-heard-before collection of rarities and a considered sequel to Zappa’s 1969 seminal album Hot Rats.

Bellman shows the process behind cutting the lacquer at Bernie Grundman Mastering, and Travers talks about how the record has “never been heard before after 53 years. Check out the whole clip below.

THE WITCH ORCHESTRA

My order of the new CD by The Witch Orchestra included some additional paraphernalia, including this flyer for a concert.
Artwork by Bohouš Jůza, who also did The Witch Orchestra's album cover.

STEVE VAI & THE METROPOLE ORKEST

It's amazing what this man can do with his guitar.
Beautiful tunes, including a couple of new ones, performed by Steve Vai & The Metropole Orkest.
In concert in Eindhoven, NL, on May 13, 2023.

-- picture by Dilek

RYOFU

I received this nice (hard copy) promo picture of Ryofu.
The same picture tha was used for her "Take It To The Limit" CD (from 2003) on which she performed Frank Zappa's 'My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama'.

 

THE WITCH ORCHESTRA - REHEARSAL TAKES/TAPES

• the witch orchestra: rehearsal takes/tapes
      (2023, cd, czech republic, private release)

The Brno, Czech Republic-based Witch Orchestra performed a set of Frank Zappa pieces at the Ponava Festival in the city park of Lužánky in Brno on 24th July 2021. The set was made available on the Ponavafest website where the collection got entitled “… Snow White? Oh She Lives With A Bunch Of Midgets In El Monte…”.

More recently, the band recorded and released "Rehearsal Takes/Tapes", a superb set of recordings of your favorite Zappa tunes,
The artwork for The Witch Orchestra’s first album was done by Bohouš Jůza, clearly inspired by Cal Schenkel.

A beautiful tribute to the music of Frank Zappa.

Here's a little taster from the Ponava Festival.
Love the horns !!

L'EDARPS A MOTH - BÜRO FÜR AKUTE PLANUNG

• l'edarps a moth: büro für akute planung
      (2022, lp, germany, bigbandalone)

German artist L’Edarps A Moth (real name Thomas Pradel) released several tapes as a Do It Yourself (DIY) musician between 1984 and 1995. The ”Büro Für Planung” compiled material from these tapes, including ‘Mrs. Pinky’, L’Edarps A Moth’s cover version of FZ’s ‘Ms. Pinky’, taken from his 1992 “Die Kawwas’ cassette release.

STEF KAMIL CARLENS & THE GATES OF EDEN - PLAY BOB DYLAN

• stef kamil carlens & the gates of eden: play bob dylan
      (2023, 2cd, belgium, starman records)

Also released as a 2LP set.

Despite the adage “Nobody sings Dylan like Dylan”, you can fill libraries with Dylan covers. The master is covered in all sizes, genres and – especially – specific weight. In honour of Bob’s eightieth birthday, Stef Kamil Carlens streamed on May 24 2021 a pre-recorded concert with his fantastic band The Gates of Eden with a quirky selection from Bob’s oeuvre. The fun splashed off the screen and the virtual attendees praised the surprising arrangements in unison. A lost listener heard in a reggae-like “Shelter from the Storm ” even a reference to “Live at Budokan”. That session made you long for more! It was a real boyhood dream of Carlens to tour with the oeuvre of grandmaster Bob Dylan . After the sold-out premiere in Antwerp’s De Roma, a tour followed with The Gates of Eden throughout Belgium and the Netherlands, the album brings together the best of the live stream from 2021 and live shows from 2022 in Utrecht, Breda and Antwerp .

JOE DENINZON / STRATOSPHEERIUS ALBUM RELEASE PART AT THE IRIDIUM

Joe Deninzon / Stratospheerius

Behind The Curtain - Live at ProgStock Boxset CD/DVD/Blue-ray release Party. 

May 31, 2023
at The Iridium

Come out and rock the house with us and don't forget to tell your friends.
With Special guests: Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree) and Bill Hubauer (Neal Morse Band) 

www.ticketweb.com/event/joe-deninzon-stratospheerius-with-iridium-tickets/12977625

BRUNO VANSINA ORCHESTRA

We saw The Bruno Vansina Orchestra in concert the other day.
14 people on the stage.
A jazz orchestra, with lots of percussion.
It was very nice. 

Here's a picture that Tom took:

Bruno added that an album will be recorded later this year.

And they're doing another gig at De Bijloke in Ghent on the 2nd of September !

https://www.bijloke.be/programma/2680/Jazzsaxofonist_omarmt_orkestklanken/Vansina_Orchestra_feat_Magic_Malik

STEVE VAI INTERVIEW FOR HIS UPCOMING CONCERT WITH THE METROPOLE ORKEST

Steve Vai and Co de Kloet on Dutch national radio:

https://www.nporadio1.nl/fragmenten/de-nieuws-bv/e01ade97-2f4f-4bf8-aebe-c783fd0b6161/2023-05-09-steve-vai-in-de-nieuws-bv

NEW ALBUM BY ZAPPATIKA TO BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH

Zappatika will release the video and audio versions of their new album

IMPROMPTU IMPROVISATIONS Volume #1

(A collection of live solos from over a decade on the road)

on June 1st.

Featuring Denny Walley, Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie, Craig Steward, Emile Chill, Osman Meyredi, Sam Ward & Marc McInnes !

Songtitles as 'Sweet Revenge', 'Sixty Nine', and 'Are They Crazy?' should already give an idea of what to expect.
I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of this upcoming release and I can hardly wait for the real thing to be released !!

ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN - ECHOES

• orchestra of the swan: echoes
      (2023, cd, uk, signum records)

Completing the cycle of mixtape albums, ECHOES is our third album on Signum Classics. Featuring works by artists including JS Bach, Philip Glass and Frank Zappa and some new arrangements by Artistic Director, David Le Page.

“Although you can listen to each track in isolation Echoes is, first and foremost, a complete journey; the way a work ends and another begins is designed to create a frisson, a jolt of recognition or a feeling of surprise and satisfaction. Echoes explores landscape, light, water, dreams, birth and the slowly changing rhythm of the seasons; it also represents a callback to the days of vinyl when the act of listening to recordings was necessarily more involved and required all of your attention… Despite the ongoing march of music technology and the death of various beloved formats the mixtape has somehow survived and adapted It is unaccountably more popular than it has ever been” – David Le Page

A very beautiful album with a very fine version of FZ's 'Peaches En Regalia'.

Out on CD and available for download/streaming through several digital platforms.
I already received my CD copy a couple of days ago but the official release date is the 12th of May, so the digital platform version may not be available yet.

DA BEATMINERZ - MAFIA DON

• da beatminerz: mafia don
      (2005, 12", USA, copter records)

Da Beatminerz' "Mafia Don' arrived today.
The B-side of this 12" is the album and instrumental version of 'Came 2 Do', a piece on which Da Beatminzer sampled Frank Zappa’s ‘Peaches En Regalia’;
Previously released on their "Fully Loaded / With Statik" album.

 

MAGGIE NICOLS - ARE YOU READY?

• maggie nicols: are you ready?
      (2022, lp, UK, otoroku)

Scottish free jazz and improvising vocalist, dancer and performer Maggie Nicols’ “Are You Ready?” album got recorded live at Café Oto in July 2021.
It got released on the Otorku label in 2022.

The final track on the LP, ‘La Vie S’en Va’ was an improvisation around a piece by Zouïna Benhalla, in which Maggie included a part of FZ’s ‘What’s The Ugliest Part Of Your Body?’.
The album got released both as an LP and as a 2 CD set, but ‘La Vie S'en Va’ can only be found on the LP.

Flash-back to 25 years ago, when Maggie Nicols used to perform some Zappa pieces with Pinguin Moschner (tuba) and Joe Sachse (guitar).
'Uncle Meat' made it onto their “Nevergreens” album 1998.

THE MORTICIANS - FREAK OUT WITH THE MORTICIANS

• the morticians: freak out with the morticians
      (1987, lp, UK, tin soldier records)

Apparently, UK band The Morticians were inspired by the first Mothers Of Invention album when they were looking for an album title and fitting artwork.

Both a purple and a green album cover were issued: 500 copies of the purple cover (first pressing), and 1000 copies of the green cover (second pressing).
In 1988, the album would get a CD release.

FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA TOURDATES - - - WITH ROBERT MARTIN

It's well in advance, but Fido Plays Zappa has already announced tour dates for August, September and October !

Fido Plays Zappa with Robert Martin

• 19.08.2023 - DE-Waffenrod, Woodstock Forever Festival
• 29.09.2023 - CH-Basel, Atlantis - exklusive CH-Show
• 30.09.2023 - DE-tba
• 01.10.2023 - DE-Übach-Palenberg, Rockfabrik
• 02.10.2023 - DE-Braunschweig, Roter Saal
• 03.10.2023 - DE-Berlin, Maschinenhaus Kulturbrauerei

JOHN TABACCO - EVERYTHING IS EVERYWHERE

John Tabacco recently released "Everything Is Everywhere".
A Bandcamp release.
Take a look at the artwork !

Did you catch the badminton shuttle? On top of the hat? Trout Mask Replica?

The music isn't really linked to the good old Captain, but "Everthing Is Everywhere" is a fine album nevertheless..
I enjoyed listening to it.

BOBBY MARTIN - BOBBY MARTIN

• bobby martin: bobby martin
      (2016, lp/cd, usa, sunset dreams records)

Originally released on LP in 1983, Robert Martin’s eponymous solo album got re-released as an LP/CD package in a limited edition of 1000 copies by the Sunset Dreams record label in 2016.
Robert thanked Frank Zappa in the liner notes.

A bit too slick for my taste, but Robert's unmistakable voice carries the album.
Ray White is credited to do some backing vocals, but I can't hear him...

JIM FIELDER

For a short while, Jim Fielder was part of The Mothers Of Invention.
The same Jim Fielder recorded and performed with Buffalo Springfield and with Blood, Sweat and Tears.

He can also be heard on Gene Clark's "Two Sides To Every Story" on which he plays the bass.
From 1977.
Re-released on CD in 2013.

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

THE FURIOUS BONGOS

Once per month, on Sunday evening, German Rockradio is doing a Zappa- / Zappanale-releated broadcast.

www.rockradio.de - the show is called ZappaTime

Yesterday, among other nice things, we got treated to a piece by The Furious Bongos, a band that will be performing the music of Frank Zappa at the upcoming Zappanale.

Something to look forward to.

Here's a YouTube live snippet from a concert they did last year :

PETER LEWIS' UPCOMING ALBUM WILL INCLUDE 'FRANK ZAPPA'S GHOST'

https://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/ex-moby-grape-member-peter-lewis-shares-frank-zappas-ghost

Today Peter Lewis of the legendary Moby Grape shares “Frank Zappa’s Ghost,” a jazzy, trippy nightmare from his upcoming album Imagination, out June 16th.

“That was one of those songs that came to me in a dream. What I woke up hearing was the hook; In other words, the part(s) where I sing “Franks Zappa's Ghost” with the underlying chords. The rest was pretty much crafted. The idea of adding “the right of spring section” as a bridge was to bring in an ethereal (contrasting) mood to the arrangement, like something Zappa might do.” – Peter Lewis

THE DANNY CAREY (UN)TRIO

The Danny Carey (Un)Trio.

That's drummer Danny Carey (from Tool),
Jamie Kime, Ben Thomas and Pete Griffin (from Zappa Plays Zappa),
Plus Joe (?) on keyboards and Matt (?) on sax.

-- link: Harald Häring

SENDELICA - THE FRUITS DE MER COVERS

• sendelica: the fruits de mer covers
      (2019, cd, UK, frg records)

Sendelica is a psychedelic rock trio from Cardigan, Wales, UK. They released their first EP in 2006.

As the album title suggested, “The Fruits De Mer Covers” album presented all the covers that Sendelica had done for the Fruits de Mer record label. The CDR was made available in a card cover in a limited edition of 100 copies, produced for the 17th Dream Of Dr. Sardonicus Festival.
Recently, 31 additional copies were found at the Fruits de Mer office and subsequently released by the band (= over run copies by the CD plant). 

The album presented Sendelica’s version of FZ’s ‘Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow”, initially released on 7” vinyl in 2017.

MONIKA ROSCHER BIGBAND - WITCHY ACTIVITIES AND THE MAPLE DEATH

• monika roscher bigband: witchy activities and the maple death
      (2023, cd, germany, zenna records)

The last couple of months, we got treated to several tracks (and amazing videos) of the new album by the Monika Roscher Bigband.
A prog big band between Math-jazz, Avant-pop and Electronica.
The CD arrived last week and I can only say that this a wonderful album;

"Witchy Activities And The Maple Death" is the Monika Roscher Bigband's third album. Again, Monika succeeds in mesmerizing the listener, finding a fine balance between eclectic big band music and Monika's angelic and fragile vocals.

Out on CD, LP, and available through Bandcamp.

Highly recommended !!

Check it out.

FRANK ZAPPA'S THREE CARD TRICK

"Frank Zappa's Three Card Trick" is a 3 DVD box set that got released in 2018.
It presented 3 DVD's that previously had been released separately:

• Frank Zappa And the Mothers Of Invention - In The 1960s  (from 2009)
• Frank Zappa - The Freak-Out List (from 2010)
• From Straight To Bizarre (from 2012)

However, the box that I have does not include the "From Straight To Bizarre" DVD, but the "Frank Zappa - 1969-1973 - Freak Jazz, Movie Madness And Another Mothers" DVD.

FRANK ZAPPA - TRATTO DAL FILMATO "A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME"

 Last week, I mentioned the Italian unofficial release of "A Token Of His Extreme" DVD that got released in 2007.
The DVD got re-released by another Italian company in 2008. With different artwork.
The official release by the ZFT (not pictured) got saw the light of day in 2013.

FRANK ZAPPA - LIVE IN AUSTRALIA 1973

• frank zappa: live in australia 1973
      (2023, 2cd, --, timeline tln2cd3060)

Compiled from different audio sources and maybe even from different dates, this new radio show album (unofficial and unauthorised, but not necessarily illegal...) shows why we definitely need an official release that focusses on these 1973 Australian concerts.

Amazing music !!

FZ, Jean-Luc Ponty, Tom Fowler, Ralph Humphrey, Ruth Underwood, Ian Underwood, George Duke, Bruce Fowler, Sal Marquez
1973/06/xx Sydney, Australia

1-01. Introduction / Tune Up / Dupree’s Paradise * 1-02. Introduction / Tune Up / Dog / Meat * 1-03. Fifty-Fifty * 1-04. Montana * 1-05. Introduction / Tune Up / Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow

2-01. Nanook Rubs It * 2-02. St. Alfonzo’s Pancake Breakfast * 2-03. Father O’Blivion * 2-04. Farther O’Blivion * 2-05. Intro / Son Of Mr. Green Genes / King Kong / Chunga’s Revenge / Son Of Mr. Green Genes (Reprise)

ONE SHOT DEAL CONCERT AT THE ALVAS SHOWROOM IN SOLD OUT !!

https://alvasshowroom.com/event/one-shot-deal-plays-zappa-2/?

The One Shot Deal concert that scheduled at the Alvas Showroom in San Pedro, CA, next week, is sold out !!

WTRVLD - III & IV

Made available through different digital platforms for download and streaming in 2019, the “III” EP by Dutch band WTRVLD included their take on FZ’s ‘Black Napkins’.

And they re-did the piece for their "IV" EP, released later the same year.

RAMDAM FATAL - RAMDAM FATAL

• ramdam fatal: ramdam fatal
      (2023, cd, france, dur & doux)

Browsing the latest Dur & Doux releases and reading some liner notes, I noticed that the Ramdam Fatal project included musicians from Ultra Zook. That was reason enough to check it out.
Pleasantly surprised, I ordered the CD (together with the latest Ultra Zook album).
I'm listening to and enjoying the album at this very moment.

Stunning artwork / alum cover by Thierry Toth.
The actual artwork looks like this:
(picture taken from Thierry's website / https://thierrytoth.fr/

The music is quite diverse.
Some pieces use traditional melodies and/or words which gives them a medieval touch. Other pieces are way out there.
Love the mélange.

UK / EDDIE JOBSON

excellent news from GlassOnyonPR

Prog Legends UK’s 10th Anniversary Release of “Curtain Call (2023 Remaster)” Concert Video

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eddie Jobson has announced the first worldwide release of “Curtain Call (2023 Remaster)” by the legendary progressive-rock supergroup UK. Previously only available in Japan, this one-off 2013 reunion concert in Tokyo features UK founding members Eddie Jobson and the late, great John Wetton, along with new-generation virtuosos Alex Machacek and super-drummer Marco Minnemann, and captures the only ever live performance of both UK studio albums “UK” and “Danger Money” in their entirety.

Released on both Blu-ray and DVD in a single package, this rare concert footage has been fully remixed and remastered for worldwide release on May 19th.

UK were a British progressive rock supergroup originally active from 1977 to 1980. The band was founded by bass guitarist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford, formerly the rhythm section of King Crimson, along with former Roxy Music and Frank Zappa violinist/keyboardist/composer Eddie Jobson; guitarist Allan Holdsworth completed the original lineup. Bruford and Holdsworth left in 1978, and Bruford was replaced by drummer Terry Bozzio.

Jobson, Wetton and Bozzio reformed UK for a world tour in 2012, with further Jobson-Wetton reunion tours extending through to 2015. Throughout their brief existence, UK’s music was characterised by skilled musicianship, complex harmony, odd time signatures, electric violin solos, and unusually varied synthesizer (Yamaha CS-80) sonorities. The band spans various genres ranging from progressive rock to jazz fusion.

To purchase UK “Curtain Call (2023 Remaster)”:

https://burningshed.com/store/eddiejobson/uk_curtain-call-remaster_dvd_blu-ray

https://www.amazon.com/Curtain-Call-Blu-Ray-Audio-Booklet/dp/B0C24N5LVK/

THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL MOONJUNE FESTIVAL

Second International MoonJune Music Festival to be held in Toledo, Castilla La Mancha, Spain on September 29, 30 and October 1, 2023.

Leonardo Pavkovic adds:

And I can reveal that SOFT MACHINE is the first band to be announced later today on social media, to headline the first night of the Second International MoonJune Music Festival.

It's a festival of progressive music exploring and expanding boundaries of jazz, rock, ethno, avant, the unknown and anything in between and beyond. The cast is completely confirmed, and it is strictly by invitation only. Musicians are from different parts of the world: United Kingdom, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Spain, Uruguay, Mexico, United States.

Full moon, 3 days, 10 artists - all certified MoonJunistas, present and future. Happening in one of the most beautiful historic cities in the world. The complete line up will be revealed on Mr. MoonJune's birthday, May 17.

ULTRA ZOOK - AUVERGNICATION

• ultra zook: auvérgnication
      (2023, cd, france, dur & doux)

Album number 5 by Ultra Zook.
Crazy rhythms, disrupted vocals, plus beautiful artwork by Mattt Konture !

I like it a lot.
CD arrived yesterday and the digital download was made available earlier today.
Check it out.

ECHT! RELEASED A NEW ALBUM

 Brussels band Echt! ('the real thing' in english, 'vrai de vrai' en brusselois) has released a new album: "Sink-Along".
Out on Sdban Records.

influenced by electro, hip-hop, psychedelic groove, footwork, Trap, jazz from the future and funk from the past

MIKE KENEALLY RECEIVED A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AT THE SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARDS

 From Mike Keneally's newsletter

On April 25 I was privileged to receive the Country Dick Montana Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Diego Music Awards. It was an extremely humbling experience. You can see it for yourself right here if you’re inclined. That’s the livestream of the entire awards ceremony, nearly three and a half hours worth, which was held at the very lovely Humphrey’s by the Bay in San Diego. At around the 1:53 mark you’ll see Brendon Small’s speech inducting me, then a short film about me and then my acceptance speech.

I was legit overwhelmed but I managed to find things to say. Around the 2:33 mark you’ll find the two songs I played with Larry Grano and Rick Nash, “Hallmark” and “Rosemary Girl.” Many friends and loved ones were at the event and it was a very special freakin’ night for me. My genuine thanks to Kevin Hellman and the San Diego Music Awards for this extremely significant honor, and thanks to Scott Chatfield for taking the photos which decorate this section of the Keneallist (I thank him for much else besides that in my acceptance speech!).

CLUB D'ELF CONCERT ON YOUTUBE

I first heard about Club d'Elf when I learned about their "You Never Know" album on which they performed Frank Zappa's 'King Kong'.
"You Never Know" was a very pleasant introduction to the band.

The band has just added a recording of the complete show they did at the Soundcheck Studios on October 7 last year.
No 'King Kong' but a very enjoyable concert indeed !