REQUIEM VOOR DE ONWERKELIJKHEID (REQUIEM FOR THE UNREALITY)

Last Friday we went to see "Requiem Voor De Onwerkelijkheid", a beautiful play / opera / requiem by Silbersee.
At the concert hall in Tilburg, NL. The perfect location.

Text by Toon Tellegen, music by Corrie van Binsbergen.
Performed by Hans Croiset (narrator), Corrie van Binsbergen (guitar), Albert van Veenendaal (piano) and an amazing group of vocalists (and musicians): Carolina Alves-Luis, Tom Jansen, Donneke Jansonius, Sterre Konijn, Sarah Marieke van Lieshout, Fernando Linares-Correa, Nestor Martinez Jara, Lodewijk Meeuwsen, Christina Plein, Carl Refos, Wilma Schilte, Florian Slangen, Fee Suzanne de Ruiter, Georgi Sztojanov, en Leo de Visser.

(picture: Bowie Verschuuren)

The play itself is indeed unreal, bizarre and chaotic, but also endearing. And it's in a fine balance with the music that keeps it all on track.
Stunning. Visually and musically.

Add the breathtaking costumes and stage setting, and you will understand that this was something that we had never experienced before.

If you get the opportunity,...

• Sunday 30 March – 14:30 - Theater Speelhuis - Helmond
• Tuesday 8 April – 20:15 - Stadsschouwburg - Groningen
• Sunday 13 April – 15:00 - Hanzehof - Zutphen
• Friday 18 April – 20:15 - Grote Kerk - Alkmaar
• Wednesday 30 April – 20:30 - Schouwburg Hengelo - Hengelo
• Thursday 1 May – 20:00 - Stadsschouwburg - Utrecht
• Wednesday 7 May – 20:15 - Theater Junushoff - Wageningen
• Thursday 8 May – 20:30 - Chassé Theater - Breda
• Sunday 11 May – 15:00 - Koninklijke Schouwburg - Den Haag

HOMER FLYNN INTERVIEW BY MAKE WEIRD MUSIC

Excellent interview by Anthony Garone !

part one

part two

 

FRANK ZAPPA - APOSTROPHE ON TOUR

Released about 10 years ago, I only got hold of a copy last week: Apostrophe On Tour. In the meantime, parts of this 6CD bootleg box have been released officially. And in better quality. Still, a nice addition to the bootleg shelf.

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POTAMOS

February 28, 2025, saw the release of "Potamos". and album / project by Harris Lambrakis (Ney), Gilad Atzmon (woodwind), Vironas Ntolas (guitar), Xrisostomos Boukalis (double bass), and Nikos Sidirokastritis (drums).

Improvised, sort of meditative music.
Very nice.

https://aesthetiko.com/videos-1

 

SNARKY PUPPY TO TOUR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

NEW ALBUM BY LES BOUCLES ABSURDES

"Rue de la Cochette" by Les Boucles Absurdes.

Experimental soundscapes !

 

A RESIDENTS UPDATE

A message from The Residents

Oh hi,

We were just sitting here talking about you. All four Residents, myself, Homer and assorted celebrity pals. OK OK, it's me and some photographs of The Residents and Homer, but it's more or less the same. If I squint.

So what's the latest in The Residents' crazy world? Firstly, the guys are delighted with the response to their recent 'Doctor Dark' masterpiece and say "hubba" to all who dived in and bought it. Indeed, it sold so quickly that it briefly went out of stock (which hasn't happened since... the '80s?), but it's BACK and you can order and enjoy to your heart's content right HERE. (https://cherryred.co/DoctorDark) There'll doubtless be a new single and other life extending care before you know it too.

Besides the new album, I'm told that a new Record Store Day release has also been announced for this April, and that the group are also about to unveil a new 3CD 'American Composers Series' pREServed set. That's a lot of '80s Residents for anybody who wants it, including a ton of unheard stuff, remastered albums, live stuff and all of the usual delights. I include myself among that number, and what I've heard so far has made my eyes drool. 

You may have also heard The Residents are set to take their 'Eskimo' album on the road, beginning with a showpiece performance in L.A. in June. It's been at least thirty years in the making, I'm sure you all know the story, so on a personal level it's been nice for them to finally complete that particular project, much as they did with the 'God In 3 Persons' show a couple of years back. I struggle to think of any other band who become so attached to a plan that they're still figuring out a way to make it work thirty years later, but I guess that's why they're still here.

In the meantime, I know the guys have been working on several more mini-albums of their 'Hunters' material, and are contemplating more giveaways and prizes and whatnot. There are also at least two new books in the works (one of which is based around an unreleased '80s single if I understand correctly), a film, some very interesting proposed releases via Klanggalerie, plans based around their recent Paris performance, a new "X-rated" album in the works and on and on and on and on it goes... For four guys well into their hundreds now, they certainly do put in the hours.

As ever, The Residents wish you all the best, send positive vibrations your way, hope your path remains clear and celebrate your existence. Watch the skies for more 'Hunters' material and, we're told, some stuff related to a proposed 'Randy, Chuck & Bob - In The Studio?' release idea they're working on. Hmmmmm........

Yours,
All @ NRT
 

GONG TOURDATES

Gong - West Coast USA Tour 2025

• Kavus Torabi - guitar, lead vocals
• Fabio Golfetti - guitar, back vocals
• Ian East - sax, flute
• Dave Sturt - bass guitar, back vocals
• Cheb Nettles - drums

June 6 - Albuquerque, NM (Sister Albuquerque)
June 7 - Colorado Springs, CO (Lulu's)
June 8 - Denver, CO (The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues)
June 10 - Salt Lake City, UT (The State Room)
June 11 - Boise, ID (Shrine Social Club)
June 13 - Yakima, WA (Bearded Monkey)
June 14 - Seattle, WA (Rainier Arts Center, Cascadence Festival)
June 15 - Portland, OR (The White Eagle)
June 16 - Eugene, OR (The WOW Hall)
June 18 - Redding, CA (The Dip)
June 19 - Mill Valley, CA (Sweetwater Music Hall)
June 21 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato, 2 shows)
June 22 - Los Angeles, CA (The Baked Potato, 2 shows)
June 23 - Costa Mesa, CA (The Wayfarer)
June 25 - San Marcos, CA (The Bornemann Theater)
June 26 - Phoenix, AZ (Walter Studios)
June 27 - Tucson, AZ (191 E Toole)
June 28 - Flagstaff, AZ (The Orpheum Theater)

www.gongband.com

EIDON - MUD MEN

A new piece by Eidon : 'Mud Men'

JOE NEWMAN'S ASS & HAMMER PROJECT

Joe Newman's Ass & Hammer project released a second album earlier this year.
If you're familiar with Joe's Rudy Schwartz Project, you know that you'll have to give this a listen !

STEPHANE GALLAND'S KANDA

KANDA: A bold new trio with Stéphane Galland (drums), Louise van den Heuvel (bass, effects, keyboards) and Lúcia Pires (flute, EWI),
KANDA—a name echoing love and devotion across tongues, a root of creation pulsing with its five-lettered name—flows from acoustic clarity (flute, electric bass, drums) to electronic expanse (EWI, effects, keyboards). Lúcia and Louise’s voices thread energy with fragility, crafting Stéphane’s latest sonic odyssey into uncharted realms of rhythm and mystery.

 

NEW ALBUM BY THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND

Ed Palermo Big Band - Prog vs. Fusion CD Promo 2025

JOHN SCOFIELD WITH SNARKY PUPPY

John Scofield joins Snarky Puppy for a killer set at GroundUP 2025 in Miami Beach, Florida.

 

DEVIN TOWNSEND - THE MOTH

Devin Townsend & Noord Nederlands Orkest

concert in Groningen, NL, on March 27 & 28, 2025

https://www.spotgroningen.nl/programma/devin-townsend-noord-nederlands-orkest/#en

stream available on March 28, 2025

https://onair.events/devin-townsend-the-moth

GENE SIMMONS - xxxHOLE

• Gene Simmons: Asshole
      (2024, lp-bootleg, Australia, gene simmons records)

In 2004, Kiss bass player and vocalist Gene Simmons released “Asshole”, an album that included  a track called 'Black Tongue'.

'Black Tongue' was built around an unused Frank Zappa guitar riff. The piece even featured Dweezil, Ahmet, Moon and Gail Zappa on background vocals.
The album got released on CD (only) in 2004.

Nothing new, you might say.
But... about two years ago the original album got bootlegged on vinyl.
Out on silver-colored vinyl with a printed inner sleeve and a poster.

CORRIE VAN BINSBERGEN

Corrie van Binsbergen
November 28, 2025
'Bimhuis', Amsterdam, NL

BIMHUIS commissioned Corrie van Binsbergen to compose a piece.
Know as composer, guitar player and band leader, Corrie van Binsbergen, will be using snippets of text, lines of poetry, phrases from interviews with artists, film dialogues and more to make up the libretto underlying her new composition.
It will be performed by a septet of mostly young musicians with whom Van Binsbergen has not worked previously.
Corrie will direct the text samples on stage and may even take up the guitar.

Make a note in your calendar !

PS: this the Friday night that the Mosae Zappa festival will kick off in Heerlen...

picture - (c) Hans de Bruijn

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON STAGE ANYMORE

An essential series of discs...

STEVEN WILSON - THE OVERVIEW

• Steven Wilson: The Overview
      (2025, 2cd/blu-ray, Europe, virgin)

“The Overview is a 42 minute long journey based on the reported “overview effect”, whereby astronauts seeing the earth from space undergo a transformative cognitive shift, most often experiencing an overwhelming appreciation and perception of beauty, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. However not all experiences are positive, some seeing the Earth truly for what it is, insignificant and lost in the vastness of space, and the human race as a troubled species. The music attempts to portray the sheer magnitude of space and our place in it. The idea is to not to represent space as the cosy place portrayed in most science-fiction, but for what it is - something beyond our understanding, a place of anti-life, vast, cold and black. As a reflection of that, the album presents images and stories of life on earth, both good and bad.”
- Steven Wilson

The Burning Shed website adds:
Containing two wildly ambitious twenty minute tracks, there are nods to the expansive, sky-bound sound of classic Porcupine Tree, the intricate storytelling of The Raven That Refused To Sing and the forward thinking electronics of his most recent solo releases. The overall effect is both resolutely singular to this release and yet instantly recognisably as Steven Wilson.

Next to the two long pieces, 'Objects Outlive Us' and 'The Overview', the deluxe version presents a handful of bonus tracks, including the mesmerising 'Orchestral Objects'.

 

DARK SIDE OF THE ROCK 2

"Dark Side Of The Rock 2" festival, in Tarbes, France, with

• Acid Mothers Temple
• Poil Ueda
• Jack Dupon
• Elèves du conservatoire Henri Duparc
                        (PERFORMING ZAPPA, ZORN, and KING CRIMSON)
• Boolvar  
• Gerald
• Lohi

https://www.parvis.net/sites/default/files/fichiers/20250314_depliant_darksideoftherockII_sfp.pdf

SATANIQUE SAMBA TRIO

FRANK OUT! - IT CONQUERED THE WORLD VOL.3

• Frank Out!: It Conquered The World Vol.3
      (2024, cd, Germany, private release)

It looks like I somehow forgot to mention Frank Out! 's "It Conquered The World Vol.3" album.

All Zappa material.

Released at last year's Zappanale, where the band played the final set on the main stage, it's again a fine set of excellent tunes and brilliant performances.

MARQUE COY AND DAVE POPS CLEMENTS DISCUSS WORKING WITH FRANK ZAPPA

Marque Coy started working for Frank Zappa in 1980 as monitor engineer where he remained until 1988.

DELTA SAXOPHONE QUARTET - DEDICATED TO YOU... BUT YOU WEREN'T LISTENING

• Delta Saxophone Quartet: Dedicated To You... But You Weren't Listening
      (2007, cd, USA, moonjune records)

Almost twenty years ago, the Moonjune Records label released "Dedicated To You... But You Weren't Listening", the Delta Saxophone Quartet's tribute to the music of Soft Machine.

Beautiful arrangements of excellent tunes.
The result sounds wonderful.

1. Dedicated
2. Facelift
3. Somehow With The Passage Of Time (..Kings And Queens 33 Years Later)
4. Mousetrap
5. Everything Is You
6. To
7. Outrageous Moon
8. Aubade
9. Noisette
10. Floating World
11. You
12. The Tale Of Taliesin
13. Dedicated To You
14. Epilogue

As a bonus, the Bandcamp download version presents a video recording of 'Facelift (live)'.

SEBASTIAN GRAMSS' FOSSILE - OPUS NULL PREVIEW

• Sebastian Gramss' Fossile 3: Opus Null Preview
      (2010, cdr, Germany, private release)

"Opus Null Preview"...
Eventually, in 2011, this album got released as an 18-track album entitled "Chomics".
The copy that I got has "Opus Null Preview" as the title and lists 14 tracks, but the CDR only presents 13.

Sebastian Gramms is/was the mastermind behind Underkarl. Reason enough to check out his Fossile 3 project.

A bit odd when it comes to the confusing album title and track listing, but still great music.

Here's the bandcamp link for "Chomics", the end result.

TRFZB (PORTUGUESE VERSION°

The Real Frank Zappa Book (Portuguese version)

Artwork by Antéro Valerio (who you should know as the art designer for the Inventionis Mater albums).
The official launch is said to be soon.

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NEW ALBUM BY SUPERSISTER

"Nancy Never Knew", new album by Supersister !

A new studio album by the now famous ‘super trio’ Leon Klaasse (drums), Rinus Gerritsen (bass) and primal Supersister Robert Jan Stips.

NEW ALBUM BY BRETT SPIVEY

"Lanier", the new album by Brett Lanier.

MOON ZAPPA ON THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW

 

K. TANAKA & SUPER SESSION

Today, searching for links to Frank Zappa's music brought me to Japan.
Japan in the early seventies, to be more exactly.

K. Tanaka & Super Session: "British Rock Live In Japan"

Released on LP in 1972.
Rereleased on CD in 2016. Below picture is from the CD.

The tracklist says:

1. Trip To West Coast From Britan
   1a. A Song For Grateful Dead
   1b. A Song For Deep Purple
   1c. A Song For Atomic Rooster
   1d. A Song For Mothers Of Invention Zappa
   1e. Viva, Uriah Heep
2.  Echoes
3.  Jimi Hendrix Mad Song

NEW BOOK ON PIERRE BOULEZ' OEUVRE

While Pierre Boulez's birthday is being celebrated in several music halls (he would have turned 100 in 2025), a new book has been announced:

Catalogue de l’œuvre de Pierre Boulez

by  Alain Galliari

https://librairie.philharmoniedeparis.fr/ecrits-compositeurs/catalogue-oeuvre 

EIDON - ALCHIMIA

 

F. F. F. FIALE PLAYS ZAPPA

Fabrizio Fulvio Fausto Fiale released three Frank Zappa pieces through Bandcamp.
In 2023 already.

Check it out !!!

-

-

 

PORTUGESE VERSION OF THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK

A Portuguese translation of the Real Frank Zappa Book should be out.
Or should be out soon.

ALINOVSKY & NICK CALLIGEROS - COLLATERALS

"Collaterals" is the results of a collaboration between Alinovsky and Nick Calligeros.
Out on the Off Records label.

Relaxing & meditative.

 

SPANNER BIG BAND - A LOAD OF OLD TOOT!!

• The Spanner Big Band: A Load Of Old Toot!!
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Dan Spanner’s Spanner Big Band released their version of FZ’s ‘Waka/Jawaka’ on “A Load Of Old Toot!!”, their third album.
Recorded at Livinston Studios In Wood Green, North London on January 7th, 2024.
‘Waka/Jawaka’ arranged by Stevie Hughes.

Old news for those who keep track of Andrew's Zappa News (https://www.zappanews.co.uk/), but I'm catching up...
Not sure if this one's out on CD. More info coming soon, I hope.

And look at that artwork !!

STUDIO DAN - WALKING THROUGH A BRAVE NEW WORLD - 8 IMPROVISATIONS

• Studio Dan: Walking Through A Brave New World – 8 Improvisations
      (2025, cd, Austria, records & other stuff ros 7)
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Studio Dan (a project initiated by Daniel ‘Dan’, Riegler), led by Xizi Wang, recorded and released Axel Seidelmann’s ‘Walking Through A Brave New World’.

The newsletter / info sheet metioned:

An ironic look at our global consumer society and its future, both immediate and more distant. References to Aldous Huxley (Brave New World), François Truffaut (Fahrenheit 451), Frank Zappa ("Plastic People") und Bobby McFerrin ("Be Happy") have been chosen consciously; associations are entirely purposeful!

So don't expect a cover version !
It's an (inspired) improvisation of which the title refers to a FZ piece.

THE CHEMISTRY SET - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CHEMISTRY SET

• The Chemistry Set: An Introduction To The Chemistry Set
      (2025, 2cd, UK, fruits de mer)

The Fruits de Mer record label will be issuing a 2 CD set compilation / introduction to the music of The Chemistry Set.

https://www.fruitsdemerrecords.com/chemsetintro.html

I was happy to receive a digital download preview and I have to admit that this is quite a nice collection of psychedelic tunes.
Unfamiliar with The Chemistry Set, this is indeed a fine introduction.

The album will be out in May. Keep an eye out for it.

As a teaser, here's 'Silver Birch'

SOFT MACHINE...

Diving into the Soft Machine discography & line-ups !!
Here's the playlist for the next couple of days.

• Soft Machine: Land Of Cockayne
      (1996, cd, --, emi) - reissue of the 1981 lp

= Karl Jenkins (piano), John Marshall (drums), Allan Holdsworth (lead guitar), Ray Warleigh (sax, flute), Dick Morrisey (sax), Alan Parker (guitar), John Taylor (piano), Jack Bruce (bass), Stu Calver, John Perry & Tony Rivers (vocals & backing vocals)

• Soft Machine: Jet-Propelled Photographs
      (1989, cd, UK, decal)

- re-issue of the 1972 “Faces And Places Vol. 7” LP.
= Kevin Ayers (vocals), Daevid Allen (lead guitar), Mike Ratledge (piano), Robert Wyatt (drums)

• Soft Machine: Live 1970
      (1998, cd, UK, blueprint)

= Elton Dean (sax), Lyn Dobson (sax), Mike Ratledge (keyboards), Hugh Hopper (bass), Robert Wyatt (drums)

• Soft Machine: Turns On Volume 1
      (2001, cd, UK, voiceprint)

 = Kevin Ayers (vocals), Daevid Allen (lead guitar), Mike Ratledge (piano), Robert Wyatt (drums)
- recordings from 1967

• Soft Machine: Turns On Volume 2
      (2001, cd, , UK, voiceprint)

 = Kevin Ayers (vocals), Daevid Allen (lead guitar), Mike Ratledge (piano), Robert Wyatt (drums)
- recordings from 1967/1968

THE STINKFOOT ORCHESTRA PLAYS ZAPPA

The Stinkfoot Orchestra, featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock
in concert in Santa Cruz on May 23 

THE VEGETARIANS

The Vegetarians are preparing a compilation album.
It might be called "Uncle Meatless Favourite Recipes" and it is said to include their latest hit single !!

R.I.P. BILLY JAMES / THE ANT-BEE

Billy James recorded and released several interviews with the early Mothers Of Invention.
He released these on cassette in the early ninetees on his Electrik Yak label.
1992. That must have been when I first contacted him.

As the Ant-Bee, he made bizarre psychedelic music. It featured some of the old Mothers.
He even covered Zappa's 'Son Of Orange County' on one of these early tapes.

As GlassOnyon PR, he worked promo for different artists for which I received updates from time to time.

I never met Billy in person, but I know I'll miss him.

Get your vinyl or cassettes out (or click on the below YouTube link), and let's play some Ant-Bee music today !

UK / EU PROGJECT TOUR POSTPONED

Tickets for the upcoming tour are being refunded. It looks like the tour is being postponed (again).

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

RICHARD HALLEBEEK PROJECT - S/T

• Richard Hallebeek Project: s/t
      (2014, cd, The Netherlands, richie rich music / private release)

Originally released in 2004, remastered edition released in 2014.
Featuring

• Richard Hallebeek – Guitars
• Shawn Lane – Guitars
• Brett Garsed – Guitars
• Lalle Larsson – Keys
• Udo Pannekeet – Bass
• Sebastiaan Cornelissen – Drums

Superb fusion jazz.
https://www.richardhallebeek.com

JAY DANLEY - GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY

• Jay Danley: Great Googly Moogly!
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Kaslo (British Colombia, Canada)-based guitar player and composer Jay Danley released “Great Googly Moogly!” in February 2025. Subtitled “Music Inspired By Frank Zappa”, the album presented 7 tracks and depicted FZ on the album cover.
Thank you, https://www.zappanews.co.uk/, for pointing me in this direction !

Fun !!
A fine addition to The Others Of Invention.

MODERN STRING QUARTET

German ensemble Modern String Quartet released Frank Zappa's 'G-Spot Tornado' on their "Fever" album in 2008.
More info soon.

 

WINGFIELD, REUTER, SIRKIS - LIGHTHOUSE

• Wingfield, Reuter, Sirkis: Lighthouse
      (2017, cd, USA, moonjune records mjr088)

"Lighthouse" was the perfect companion / follow-up for "The Stone House", the improvised music album that got released by Mark Wingfield (guitar), Markus Reuter (touch guitar), Yaron Stavi  (bass) & Asaf Sirkis (drums) in 2016.

Recorded live and composed at the moment of playing with no music written down or rehearsed.

In fact, both albums got recorded during the same 6-day session in February 2016.

Beautiful melodies, great interaction

Essential listening for fans of fusion guitar, touch guitar, and improvised music.

Opening track, 'Zinc':

The bandcamp link:

SHAWN M CASEY - TWENTY SMALL CIGARS

Out on iTunes and other digital music platforms.

 

FARLISE PLAYS ZAPPA

Farlise - Twenty Small Cigars

From https://elmundodetulsa.com/farlise-twenty-small-cigars-frank-zappa-single-resena-descargar/

The instrumental project Farlise , led by veteran Castellón musician Juan Carlos Tomás (Juanki) , delivers a masterpiece of reinterpretation with their new single, “Twenty Small Cigars” . This release, a preview of their highly anticipated debut album titled “Mountains, Some Seabed And A Supermarket” , not only pays homage to the genius of Frank Zappa , but also redefines the theme with a unique and captivating identity.

Officially released on several digital music platforms, including Bandcamp:

Farlise - The Black Page #1

 

ECKHARDT GÜNTHER'S MINIREQUIM FOR ROCK MUSICIANS

Eckhardt Günther released a suite entitled 'Five Minirequiems For Rockmusicians, Played By Woodwindquintett' on his 2010 2 CD "A Bunch Of Preludes & Fugues And Other Chambermusic" album.

The first one was dedicated to Frank Zappa.

The other ones to: John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Bob Marley & Jimi Hendrix.

RICHARD HALLEBEEK & DWEEZIL ZAPPA

Dutch fusion phenomena Richard Hallebeek has shared the stage with Dweezil Zappa on several occasion.
Flash-back with some clips

2013

2015

2019

RICHARD HALLEBEEK - RHPII - PAIN IN THE JAZZ

• Richard Hallebeek: RHPII - Pain In The Jazz
      (2012, cd, The Netherlands, richie rich music / private release)

Here's an album that always lifts my mood.
"Richard Hallebeek Project II - Pain In The Jazz".
Fusion jazz. It doesn't get any better than this.

Richard Hallebeek (guitar), Frans Vollink (bass), Lalle Larsson (keyboards), Sebastiaan Cornelissen (drums), plus a fine selection of guests: Alex Machacek, Jose de Castro, Guthrie Govan, Eric Gales, Kiko Loureiro, Randy Brecker, Andy Timmons, and Greg Howe...

Extraordinary !!

BRAND-NEW Z.E.R.O. - - - MARQUE-SON'S CHICKEN

BRAND NEW Z.E.R.O.!!

Get ready for spring with the Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra's new rendition of another classic composition from the man himself.
"Marque-son's Chicken" with Niklas Lychou on guitar, Rob Mitchell on drums, synths & additional samples, & Kevin Crosby on bass, synths, arranging & production. (It's our 101st recording!)

-- info: zappanews.co.uk

BILLY HART QUARTET - JUST

• Billy Hart Quartet: Just
      (2025, cd, Germany, ecm)

I don't remember if I already mentioned this excellent album by the Billy Hart Quartet.
"Just" got released on the ECM label a couple of weeks ago.
Featuring Billy Hart (drums), Ethan Iverson (piano), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Ben Street (double bass), the quartet brings straight-forward, contemporary jazz.

read more here:

https://ecmrecords.com/product/just-billy-hart-ethan-iverson-mark-turner-ben-street/

GREG FOAT & GIGI MASIN - DOLPHIN

• Greg Foat & Gigi Masin: Dolphin
      (2023, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Strut presents an exclusive new collaboration between UK jazz keyboardist Greg Foat and Venetian ambient / electronic maestro Gigi Masin on ‘Dolphin’.

The result, "Dophin", does sounds as if you're floating on the water.
Not that I float much on water, but if I would, I assume it would be a similar experience.

Ambient / soundscapes / spiritual / relaxing.
Interesting

NEW FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW ALBUM ANNOUNCED: LIVE IN EUROPE 1968

To be released later this month, on the Rhythm And Blues Records label:

Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Live In Europe 1968

"UNCHARTED PASSAGES", A NEW SUN RA ALBUM

Out on the Modern Harmonic record label:

Sun Ra - Uncharted Passages
CD and 2LP (yellow vinyl) release.

..., the tape was eventually identified as a mostly unreleased July 1977 performance by Ra at a downtown NYC "jazz café" called The Axis-in-Soho.

 

YOUTUBE VIDEO: CHAD WACKERMAN HEARS THE MARS VOLTA FOR THE FIRST TIME

From the Drumeo channel.

I guess this is 'the new thing'.
Musicians get to hear an incomplete song and have to add their input.
Afterwards they here the complete, original track and they can comment.
Fun.

And in this case, it shows what an amazing musician Chad is...

MINDLESS MOTION - LITTLE MADNESS

Prague-based jazz / indie pop ensemble Mindless Motion has just released their first EP: "Little Madness".

• Tereza Zajícová: vocals, guitar, violin
• David Le Cam: sax, flute, keyboards
• Kuba Eben: drums
• Fanda Xavier: bass
• Amélie Teršlová: keyboards

6 tracks.
Quite enjoyable.
Check it out !

TOM COLLIER

Tom Collier recorded a fine version of FZ's 'Magic Fingers'.
It got released on his "Boomer Vibes, Volume 1" album in 2023.

Tom elaborated on Frank Zappa:

When I first arrived in Los Angeles in 1975, I was called to be a substitute percussionist for Frank Zappa's orchestra concert in Royce Hall, on the UCLA campus. As it turned out, I was able to participate in the rehearsals and play the concert when one of the other percussionists got sick. Later on, after Ruth Underwood "retired" from his band, Frank asked me to take her place. However, I had other projects I was working on and didn't want to go on the road for the next 10 months. He asked me again in 1979 after I had moved back to Seattle, but once again I was involved in projects I couldn't give up for months of traveling. So, the timing was never right for me to join his band. 

CHATO SEGERER UPDATE

A message from Chato :

The exciting one first: my band ZAPPED plays at Zappanale this year ! The band Z3 can't come this year, so we were asked to substitute for them. We will only be a quartet for this occasion, because Linus the sax player is unavailable, but of course we will give you an awesome show

• 18.7. Zappanale Festival, Bad Doberan, 0:30 (last band of the day), Mystery Stage

Other ZAPPED Gigs in 2025 are:

• 30.8. w/ Bonnen in Gebhardshain, Georgs Garagen Konzert
• 13.9. im Concrete Jungle Jazz Club Nürnberg, 20 Uhr

Also exciting is my solo show called "The Dynamite Chato Solo Extravaganza" and I play it twice this year:

• 29.3. Kaltscher Klup Fürth, 20 Uhr
• 12.9. Zapparossa Festival, Gelnhausen, after the movie Eat that Question

I will do stuff of my projects, original compositions and covers, just guitar or with backing track

Progosaurus Gigs:

• 6.5. Opener der Jazzsession, Tellerrand, Nürnberg, 20 Uhr (auf Hut)
• 18.5. Doppelgig J.O.E. + Progosaurus, Immerhin, Würzburg, Uhrzeit TBA (likely 16 Uhr)
• 11.7. Fürth Festival. 18 Uhr

The gig on May 18th is something special, because it's a double show with Jupiter Orbit Escape aka J.O.E. and I play in both bands !

Peace,
Chato

THE THIRD MIND - LIVE MIND

• The Third Mind: Live Mind
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Bandcamp adds:
... of this group of seasoned musicians, who have joined forces to take a trip back to the psychedelic folk/rock sound of the 1960s

ZAPPA SPIELT FÜR BACH

For quite a number of years, the St. Katharinenkirchd in Hamburg hosted a pre-Zappanale event.
Entitled "Zappa Spielt Für Bach", the concerts ranged from classical over rock to jazz, featured former Zappa sidemen as special guests, and included music by FZ next to contemporary and classical pieces of music.
A number of these concerts were also issued on CD. Great stuff.

I just read on Facebook that there will not be a "Zappa Spielt Für Bach" concert this year.

On the very same Facebook, Steffen Schindler added:
But if a young, aspiring artist with a first-class ensemble were to initiate a continuation of this concert series with a more contemporary focus (her original compositions and a touch of Zappa), would you go there? And would "The Black Page" and "Sad Jane, First Movement" be suitable choices for the Zappa part?

To be continued ?

WINGFIELD, REUTER, STAVI, SIRKIS - THE STONEHOUSE

• Wingfield, Reuter, Stavi, Sirkis: The Stone House
      (2017, cd, USA, moonjune records mjr083)
  

Mark Wingfield (guitar), Markus Reuter (Touch guitar), Yaron Stavi (fretless bass), Asaf Sirkis (drums).

Recorded live in the studio.
Completely improvised with no music written down or rehearsed.

Amazing.

SOFT MACHINE - LIVE AT THE BAKED POTATO

• Soft Machine: Live At The Baked Potato
      (2020, download, --, bandcamp)

Recorded live on February 1st, 2019, at The Baked Potato, Studio City, Los Angeles.
Featuring Theo Travis (sax, flute, piano), John Etheridge (guitar), Roy Babbington (bass), John Marshall (drums).

Soft Machine / progressive rock and jazz / Canterbury.
Showcasing Theo Travis and John Etheridge !!

Love it.
From 2020.
Out on CD by MoonJune Records, Dyad Records (UK), and June Dream (Japan), while Tonefloat released a vinyl version.
I'm enjoying to the Bandcamp digital download (and expecting a CD copy to arrive soon).

Recommended listening !

EIDON - ORCA PAL3TTA!

'orca pal3tta! by Eidon

Z.E.R.O. - ALTERNATIVES

Thanks to my pal Danny, I now also have the 'regular' version of the latest Z.E.R.O. album.

top: the pre-released limited CDR version
bottom: the album, released by the Cordelia Records label

All Zappa stuff with contributors / guests from all over the world.

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J.M. SMIG - PARADISE RUST

J.M. Smig's latest piece goes for the dance vibe.

 

DWEEZIL ZAPPA HUNTS AN ENEMA BANDIT

 

MORE SOFT MACHINE REMASTERED

Next up in MoonJune's Soft Machine remastered series is "Abracadabra".
Plus two bonus tracks.

Due out in May, but already available for pre-order.

-

KOENJI HYAKKEI EUROPEANN TOUR 2025

MIKHAIL CHEKALIN AND FRANK ZAPPA

From the Gost Zvuk label website:

For Russian electronic music, Mikhail Chekalin is not only a major character, who has affected the scene's establishment and development, but also a kind of symbolic figure. His music has been praised by many in the West - from journalists and critics of all kinds to Frank Zappa and Karlheinz Stockhausen.
While in Moscow Chekalin's name was excluded from the official cultural agenda for a long time: he was accused of propaganda of foreign 'pro-Western' aesthetics and up until the end of the 80's wasn't allowed to release his works or travel abroad.

(The late) Mikhail Cheklin's Bandcamp page includes (at least) one album that mentions Frank Zappa in the liner notes:
"The Return Of The Inferno"

Another meaningful encounter also occurred in the same ’90, that with Frank Zappa (having heard my „Night Pulsation“ he wished to meet me), this work might be doing homage partly to him, because improvising here plays its particular role, along with composing.  

MARK WINGFIELD, JANE CHAPMAN, ADRIANO ADEWALE - ZOJI

• Mark Wingfield, Jane Chapman, Adriano Adewale: Zoji
      (2021, cd, --, moonjune records mjr110)

Catching up. Listening to some albums that I bought a little while ago.
"Zoji", released on the MoonJune Records label in 2020, features Mark Wingfield on guitar, Jane Chapman on harpsichord, and Adriano Adewale on percussion (and vocals).

What a fine interaction between those three musicians. And I love how the harpsichord contrasts Mark Wingfield's guitar tone.
Great melodies and beautiful soundscapes.

Recommended listening !!

SOFT MACHINE REMASTERED

Both remastered versions of "Floating World Live" and "Drop" arrived today.
Nice.

Both albums carry the same album cover as the earlier editions. They even have the same number on the spine (mjr007 and mjr023), so that might be a bit confusing.

The Bandcamp links :

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GREG FOAT - SYMPHONIE PACIFIQUE

• Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique
      (2020, cd, --, strut)

Unfamiliar with Greg Foat, I was happy to give "Symphonie Pacifique" a listen.

UK jazz pianist and composer Greg Foat has released more than 25 albums.
"Symphonie Pacifique" is from 2020, and it's a very pleasant introduction to the man's work.

Dreamy and relaxing.
And we sometimes need this in today's world. 

I received a digital copy but next to the well-known digital platforms, the album is also out on 2LP and on CD.

RICHARD HALLEBEEK - ONE VOICE

• Richard Hallebeek: One Voice
      (2017, cd, The Netherlands, richie rich music)

Friends of fusion guitar lines will most certainly like Richard Hallebeek's excellent "One Voice" album.
Eight tracks, performed by Richard Hallebeek on guitar (and other instruments), Frans Vollink on bass, and Niels Voskuil on drums.

The disc includes 'Sol 51 (Dedicated To Allan Holdsworth)', composed by Niels Voskuil.

Next to 'Hemispheres', composed by Peter Fernandes, all other tracks are original compositions by Richard Hallebeek.

Love it.