VAULTMEISTER JOE TRAVERS ON "CHEAPER THAN CHEEP", THE NEW ZAPPA ALBUM

'Cheaper Than Cheep' Series: Episode 1 (The History with Joe Travers)

 

FES / FLAT EARTH SOCIETY

There are two opportunities to catch the Flat Earth Society Orchestra in concert the coming months:

May 22, 2025 - FES Live - Hnita Jazz Club, Heist-op-den-Berg (BE)

June 29, 2025 - FES Live - Tournai Jazz Festival, Doornik (BE)

NEW JAZZ CLUB IN THE CENTER OF BRUSSELS

The Toots Jazz Club is opening in about two weeks, on May 15.
Hoedenmakerstraat 6, 1000 Brussel
Close to the Market Place, right in the center of Brussels.

https://www.toots.brussels/en

With Aka Moon scheduled to perform on May 17 !!

DWEEZIL ZAPPA MASTERCLASS AT BLACKBIRD STUDIOS IN NASHVILLE

Dweezil Zappa:

I am doing a really fun event in Nashville at Blackbird Studios on May 17th and 18th, 2025. I'll be breaking down my ATMOS mixes of Deep Purple's classic album "Machine Head." You'll hear the amazing raw audio before audio processing as well as the final mix. I'll share some of my favorite ways to sculpt guitar sounds as well how to fit them into surround sound spaces.

https://www.learn-immersive.com/

ANDREW GREENAWAY - - - FRANK ZAPPA FUQ VOL.2

• Andrew Greenaway: Frank Zappa FUQ Vol.2
      (2025, book, UK, private release)

Volume 2 for Andrew Greenaway's Frequently Unasked Questions about Frank Zappa is another must-read.
I only have two chapters left, and I'm enjoying it immensely.

Lots of info (Roxy By Proxy, Läther) plus excellent interviews with Moon Zappa, Alessandra Izzo, Sergio Albonico, Mick Eckers, Ruth Underwood,...

Essential.
We want more !!

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/product/frank-zappa-fuq

PANZERBALLETT TOURDATES

Panzerballett's "Übercode Oeuvre" album release tour !!

ZAPPA ALBUM REISSUES ON THE OLDAYS RECORD LABEL

After the mono version releases of "Freak Out" and "Absolutely Free", both with bonus tracks, and the re-issue of "We're Only In It", the Oldays Records label has two more albums out:

"Lumpy Gravy", with 9 bonus tracks,
and
"Hot Rats", combined with The GTO's "Permanent Damage".

-

MINT DOUCHE - BURNT WEENY SANDWICH

A message from Did Dilley:

After we decided to stop doing Gabba Zappa Hey! to concentrate on playing Graham Davis' original material under our other band name Mint Douche, Graham then did Lumpy Gravy with AMM All Stars, and then persuaded me and others to follow that up with a Mint Douche take on Burnt Weeny Sandwich.

The pretty amazing album is available (for free) from the Internet Archive :

https://archive.org/details/MintDoucheplaysBWS

It sounds great !!

 

J. M. SMIG - CLARINET CORNHOLE

Released on April 27, 2019, J.M. Smig's 'Clarinet Cornhole'.

 

BILLY COBBHAM AND GEORGE DUKE BAND - LIVE IN NEW YORK 1976

• Billy Cobham And The George Duke Band: Live In New York 1976
      (2025, cd, UK, off beat)

New to the shelves: another re-incarnation of the New York 1976 radio show recording.
It includes 'Uncle Remus' and 'Echidna's Arf'.
Admitted, it's a superb show (with Alphonso Johnson on bass, and John Scofield on the guitar), and it does come in a nice package.

Prior editions of the same radio show:

(2016 radio show album)

(2022 radio show album)

 

LARS SJÖGREN - - - FRANK ZAPPA - INTER ALIA

New book by Lars Sjögren on Frank Zappa.
Frank Zappa - Inter Alia"
In Swedish.
Paperback, 122 pages.

Recito Förlag

Lars looks at several FZ album in quite some detail ("The Grand Wazoo", "Roxy & Elsewhere", "Ahead Of Their Time", "You Are What You Is") and ends with a chapter on Jazz Music and Art Music (discussing other artists).

OTTLA

Belgian quartet Ottla performed a fine concert at 'De Rataplan' in Antwerp, BE, yesterday.

• Thomas Jillings (sax, clarinet, synths)
• Bert Dockx (guitar)
• Gerben Brys (bass)
• Louis Evrard (drums)

If you're unfamiliar with Ottla, check them out over at Bandcamp.

ENSEMBLE MODERN / NDR BIG BAND & SPECIAL GUEST MIKE KENEALLY

The Ensemble Modern and the NDR Big Band, with special guest Mike Keneally did a Frank Zappa tribute concert in Hamburg, Germany, yesterday.
The first in a series of three concert that focus on the EM.

Here's a short snippet, recorded by one of my guerilla taper friends.

According to one who knows, the concert got (officially) recorded and will be broadcast later this year.

A nice snap shot from special guest Mike Keneally on the FZ SG guitar. (picture by Peter Alexius. I snapped it from Facebook).

 

THE RESIDENTS UPDATE

Greetings Eyeballers,

It's that time again - another update from the now shared and increasingly cramped desk of New Ralph Too and The Cryptic Corporation. The Residents have been laid low for a while whilst recovering from the party to end all parties in celebration of the 80th birthday of their friend and handler Homer Flynn, but as ever there is plenty going on around them.

The guys have been overwhelmed, flattered and amused by the response to 'DOCTOR DARK', their latest magnum opus. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive and encouraging, which bodes well for their next album, which is already demoed and promises to be another fascinating piece of work. In the meantime, if you've not yet heard 'DOCTOR DARK' it's streaming on all known platforms and available on both 2LP and CD formats:

Anybody looking to fill gaps in their Rez collection may also like to know that Cherry Red are also currently running a 15% off sale across many, many fine titles, as well as a competition to win a set of signed 'DOCTOR DARK' test pressings.

But the really big news is that The Residents will be premiering their brand new 'ESKIMO' live show at the EXOTIKON festival in L.A. on June 7th - the Mayan Theater is the place to be, and we're promised something that builds on the original album and takes it someplace else. If you're in the area, why not pop along and give them encouraging thumbs up signals as they debut a show that's been occupying their collective imaginations for almost fifty years now. 

Elsewhere, the recently announced 'American Composers Series' pREServed 3CD promises the usual riches, whilst The Residents continue to prepare the next entries in the series, namely 'Animal Lover', a proposed CD compilation of the accidental 'Leftovers' trilogy and a possible Randy, Chuck & Bob commemorative souvenir set that nobody really wants. There are also ongoing thoughts on a limited edition subscription club offering all kinds of deep dive releases (new and old), T-shirts and so on... maybe one day. 

 All of which brings us to this month's offering for those of you who've endured and embraced the guys this past fifty something years. Some months ago, The Residents dug into the enormous archive of material they recorded for the 'Hunters' TV show back in the 1990s. The resulting 'Wood Snakes' mini-album seemed to be enjoyed by those who heard it, so the group, who never miss an opportunity to bask in their own popularity, have dug deep into that archive again and produced another mini-album, this time titled 'Seven Cats'. Whether or not this stuff made it to the final cut of the show is lost to time and space, but The Residents hope you might enjoy it, and accept it as compensation for all of the other stuff they've put you through over the years. You can find the link below.

And that, as we say in showbiz, was that.

Enjoy!

Your Pals @ New Ralph Too

The link to download "Wood Snakes" is in the latest Cherry Red newsletter !!
Subscribe to the newsletter & get the link. 

THE NOONAN TRIO

 a message from Sean Noonan:

Dear Friends,

Happy Spring to all of you! 🌱 As the flowers bloom, so does the music — and I’m thrilled to bring you some fresh news, deep reflections, and a few surprises…

🌍 The Noonan Trio – Inherit a Memory – Album Release Show!
🗓 LIVE: May 21 @ Vortex Jazz Club, London
Doors: 6:45 PM | Music: 7:30 PM | One Epic Set
🎟 Tickets: vortexjazz.co.uk/event/the-noonan-trio-inherit-a-memory-album-release

Our long-awaited album Inherit a Memory is here! This is our official release show, and I can’t wait to share this myth-making musical ritual with you live. Featuring:

• Matthew Bourne – piano
• Michael Bardon – double bass
• Sean Noonan – drums, vocals, and unclassifiable imagination

Preview:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/seannoonanmatthewbournemichaelbardon/the-noonan-trio-inherit-a-memory

ANOTHER NEW BOOK ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA

"Frank Zappa: Nonconformism and experimentation"
by John Walsh.
paperback and kindle.

 

FRANK ZAPPA'S "CHEAPER THAN CHEEP" ALSO OUT ON PICTURE DISC

Well, well, well, folks, welcome to the official unveiling of Cheaper Than Cheep 📺 Available for pre-order now exclusively on the official Zappa store!

This never-before-heard-or-seen 2-hour concert program reveals the most intimate performance ever captured from the 1974 Mothers line-up, direct from the lovingly resurrected and restored original vault audio and videotape masters.

Back in 1974, Frank recorded a TV concert movie in his private rehearsal hall. The goal? To pitch it to major networks. The problem? Tech issues. Fast forward 50 years, and thanks to the modern wizardry of post-production tools, we’ve finally been able to finish what Frank started.

The limited edition Super Deluxe Set features the remastered concert video with brand new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround and stereo mixes on a Blu-ray, and the stereo soundtrack on 2-CDs and 3-LPs on 180-gram black vinyl. The set is rounded out with an extensive booklet with rare, unseen images and liner notes from Ruth Underwood and Joe Travers – all housed in a telescoping slipcase.

Additional formats include a complete 2-CD + Blu-ray and a stand-alone soundtrack on 3-LP 180-gram black vinyl.

Oh—and one more thing... don't miss out on the Super Deluxe set that comes with 4 bonus lithos and the 3-LPs as picture disc vinyl for maximum eyeball satisfaction.

FRANK ZAPPA'S "CHEAPER THAN CHEEP - CONCERT FILM TRAILER"

 

SÖNDÖRGÖ

Söndörgö Releases New Single, “from Hungary”;
Out on the GroundUp label.

 

NEW (FRENCH) BOOK ABOUT FRANK ZAPPA

"Frank Zappa - L'Alchimiste Du Chaos"
by Alain Jamot.

CARLA BLEY CONCERTS ON YOUTUBE

There are some excellent Carla Bley concerts to be found on Youtube:

Carla Bley / Steve Swallow / Andy Sheppard - Stockholm 2019 10 11

-- info: Danny Mathys 

MATTHEW MCALLISTER - AMERICAN COLLECTION

• Matthew McAllister: American Collection
      (2017, cd, USA, baros records)

Filing some stuff, I came across this CD.
I bought it about a year ago but don't recall if I already mentioned it.
Matthew McAllister's "American Collecton" got released through various digital music platforms, but also on CD.
It includes the 38 seconds 'Waltz For Guitar' (F. Zappa).
It fits nice on an album entitled "American Collection".

BENYAMIN S. - TAKUT

Do you think that Indonesian singer Benyamin S. is familiar with Bob Guy?

Listen to the intro !

-

-- info & question: Filip Schepers

FRANK ZAPPA & THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - LIVE IN EUROPE OCTOBER 1968

• Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention: Live In Europe October 1968
      (2025, lp, UK, rhythm & blues records r&b 164)

The "Live In Europe October 1968" radio show LP arrived a little while ago.
Presenting recordings from October 1968 (BBC Studios & ORTF France), plus some bonus tracks from 1967.
Nothing exceptional, although it does includes material from the 1967 Bitter End and the 1968 Steve Allen TV shows.

Additional data:
https://rhythmandbluesrecords.co.uk/product/frank-zappa-the-mothers-of-invention-live-in-europe-october-1968

FRED HÄNDL - HALCYON REVERIES

• Fred Händl: Halcyon Reveries
      (2024, cdr, NL, private release)
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

I'm not sure if I already mentioned Fred Händl's "Halcyon Reveries" album.
It got released early 2024 on Bandcamp and Fred also made CDR copies (available during concerts).

"Halcyon Reveries" is a compilation album, collecting several of Fred's original compositions.
Completely different from his Zappa renditions, but very nice.

PANZERBALLETT - ÜBERCODE OEUVRE

• panzerballett: übercode oeuvre
      (2025, cd, Germany, hcd-pb01)

Jan Zehrfeld's Panzerballett band did it again.

There are only a few bands that have such a distinctive sound that you recognise them after three seconds (which is the same amount of time needed to turn your head to where the music is coming from).
Panzerballett is such a band.
And even more important than the recognisability is the amazing quality.
Technically sophisticated metal-jazz; quirky rhythms with beautiful melodies (spiced with lots of amusing and funny sidesteps).
My cup of tea.

Jan Zehrfeld's guitar playing had me listening in awe, but also definitely worth mentioning is the great sax playing by Florian Fennes and by Georg Gratzer, plus the incredible selection of drummers that participated on the different pieces: Virgil Donati, Marco Minnemann, Sebastian Lanser, Morgan Agren, and Anika Nilles !

Add Joe Doblhofer and Rafael Trujillo as guests guitar soloists, plus Andromeda Anarchia and Conny Kreitmeier donig th vocals on 'Ode To Joy', and you know that "Übercode OEuvre" is something you'll need to check out.
I did, and I wasn't disappointed. Quite the opposite, actually.

Highly recommended !

Panzerballett feat. Virgil Donati - Alien Hip Hop

Panzerballett - Ode to Joy (feat. Andromeda Anarchia, Conny Kreitmeier, Marco Minnemann)

BRASS CAMEL

From GlassOnyon PR

Brass Camel Strikes Back with Genre-Bending Sophomore Album “Camel”

Vancouver, BC - After successfully criss-crossing Canada three times on the strength of a word-of-mouth reputation and a hard-earned live following, Vancouver-based Brass Camel return with their second full-length record: Camel. Clocking in at 40 minutes across just six tracks, the album is an unapologetic artistic statement from a band whose sound resists easy classification—equal parts progressive rock ambition and deep-pocket groove, with no shortage of swagger, surprises, and soul.

AYREON

AYREON RELEASES 20-ISH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF THE HUMAN EQUATION

Remixed and remastered classic Ayreon album, originally released in 2004, with bonus tracks from the Ayreon archives. The Human Equation was the sixth album from the progressive rock project Ayreon by Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen. As with other Ayreon albums, it features guest appearances from several musicians previously unrelated to the project, including James LaBrie of Dream Theater, Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth, Eric Clayton of Saviour Machine, and Devin Townsend, performing music arranged and written by Lucassen.

Available in different formats.
Not only as a deluxe 5 CD / artbook set, but also as a super deluxe tin box package:

-

BRETT SPIVEY - LANIER

A new release by Brett Spivey.
Always worth a listen.

"Lanier"

 

A NEW TREND IN BOOTLEGS ?

Last year, someone 'released' a couple of Frank Zappa bootlegs, using existing bootleg LP's but giving them new titles and putting them in new sleeves, in a very limited edition.

The above pictured 'Black Napkins' is more recent, and I guess that it resulted from a similar exercise.
It's probably another home-produced / recycled version of existing bootleg release.

But it does look pretty neat, except for the ridiculous number on the cover...

EMPIRICAL - WONDER IS THE BEGINNING

• Empirical: Wonder Is The Beginning
      (2024, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

I received Empirical's "Wonder Is The Beginning" as a digital download.
Beautiful contemporary jazz.
Headed by Lewis Right (vibraphone) and featuring Jason Rebello (piano), Alex Hitchcock (tenor saxophone), Nathaniel Facey (alto saxophone), Tom Farmer (double bass) and Shaney Forbes (drums).

The ensemble's previous album, "Connection", got released on the Cuneiform label. "Wonder Is The Beginning" is out on Whirlwind Recordings. Out on Bandcamp and on LP and CD.

RHANI KRIJA & JACOB KARLZON - BLANK PAGE

Rhani Krija & Jacob Karlzon - 'Blank Page'

From the upcoming "Mosaic" album.

-- info: Steffen on FB

 

FRESNO BOB SAMPLED A FRANK ZAPPA INTERVIEW

Previously released on Fresno Bob’s 2023 “Estimated Prophets (2023)” album and now also on his recent "Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day", 'A Cynical Point Of View (Frank Zappa)’ includes voice samples taken from interviews with Frank Zappa.

THE NEW ED PALERMO BIG BAND ALBUM IS AVAILABLE ON BANDCAMP

The Ed Palermo Big Band just released "Prog vs. Fusion: A War of the Ages".

Bandcamp & CD.

If anyone knows if the CD is being distributed or made available in mainland Europe, let me know !
(I'm getting really fed up with paying taxes on the package and the postage (!!), plus an additional 20 euro handling costs for every package that I receive from outside Europe)

That being said, one can already enjoy this amazing release on Bandcamp !!

 

SOFT MACHINE

Kicking off the day with Soft Machine's "Abracadabra".
Can't wait for the CD to arrive !

 

DWEEZIL ZAPPA'S ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA BAND WITH SPECIAL GUEST OZ NOY

Oz Noy joining Dweezil Zappa's Rox(postroph)y live on stage at the Town Hall (NYC), April 16th 2025, performing Frank Zappa's 'Cosmik Debris' off of 1974 "Apostrophe" album.

UPCOMING PHISH TOUR WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE

A message from LivePhish:

SPRING TOUR WEBCASTS AVAILABLE
Phish hits the road tomorrow for their first West Coast tour since 2023, and you can join us live for every night.

Save with the I Saw It Again’ Webcast Tour Pass and catch both Seattle shows, the first Portland stop since 1999, two intimate nights in San Francisco, and three at LA's iconic Hollywood Bowl.

https://www.livephish.com/webcasts

NEW ALBUM BY KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

New album by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

"Acoustic Gizzard Vol. II: Live In San Diego 2024"

3 LP set

SOFT MACHINE - ABRACADABRA (REMASTERED)

Soft Machine's 2003 "Abracadabra" has been remastered by Mark Wingfield.

The full digital album has just been released through Bandcamp and includes two bonus tracks!
24 bit 48 kHz audio quality for those who are into such things.

 

NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

Out on Bandcamp:
Men & Volts - Me And The Girls.

NEW RELEASE BY CULPHO DOG GYMKHANA

Out on Bandcamp:
Culpho Dog Gymkhana - The Line

 

TRACKLIST FOR THE NEW ED PALERMO BIG BAND ALBUM

How about this tracklist for the upcoming Ed Palermo Big Band album?

1. RESOLUTION (John McLaughlin)
2. BLACK HOLE SUN intro/BODHISATTVA (Chris Cornell/Walter Becker, Donald Fagen)
3. THERE COMES A TIME (Tony Williams)
4. TARKUS (Keith Emerson, Greg Lake)
5. VROOOM (Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto)
6. LONG DISTANCE RUNAROUND (Jon Anderson) 05:34
7. SNAKE OIL (Tony Newton)
8. G-SPOT TORNADO/RESOLUTION/JINGO (F. Zappa/J. McLaughlin/Babatunde Olatunji)
9. VROOOM VROOOM (Belew, Bruford, Fripp, Gunn, Levin, Mastelotto)
10. THERE’S NO MYSTERY ABOUT MY G-SPOT (Chick Corea/Frank Zappa)
11. SPANISH G-SPOT TORNADO (Chick Corea/Frank Zappa)
12. MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF THE SEA (Tony Williams)
13. ON THE MILKY WAY EXPRESS (Wayne Shorter) 05:11
14. TAKE A PEBBLE (Greg Lake)
15. ONE WORD (John McLaughlin)
16. THE FISH (Chris Squire)
17. FRED (Allan Holdsworth)
18. BLACK HOLE SUN (Chris Cornell)
19. PICTURES OF A CITY (Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield)

 

CHATO SEGERER (AND FRIENDS) RECORDED FRANK ZAPPA'S 'NUMBER 2'

Chato added:
About "Number 2": As of now, there is no official release of this song. We don't even know if a recording exists in the Zappa vault. There is no audience recording of a live performance during Zappa's touring years, BUT it was played by the "Hologram band" in 2019. They also played it in at least 2022, now just called "The Zappa band". Mike Keneally said they "found [the sheet music] in a box", a melody with chord changes. When Tyler Bartram analyzed "Alien Orifice" ( • A Breakdown of Frank Zappa's "Alien O... ), he found out that the chord changes of the post-solo section are quite similar to "Number 2". The ending of this unreleased music has also some bars which are very similar, but not identical, to the first bars of the post-vocal section of Drowning witch. But for the most part this has a never before heard melody & chords which sounds very beautiful to me, becoming my most favourite unreleased Zappa goodie and I wanted to hear it in studio quality

My band ZAPPED will also play an arrangement of this song e.g. at Zappanale in 2025
Love,
Chato

 

PIERRE VERVLOESEM UPDATE

To be released on CD soon !
Pierre Vervloesem's "Expected Noises" album.
(previously only available as a Bandcamp digital download / streaming release on the Off Records label.)

On the Cheap Satanism Records label.

-- info: Vincent Zabladowski on Facebook

THE GÖDEL CODEX IN CONCERT - - - JUNE 21

The Gödel Codex in concert

June 21, 2025, at L'An Vert in Liège, BE.

with Michel Delville (The Wrong Object, Machine Mass, …), Antoine Guenet (The Wrong Object, Univers Zero) et Etienne Plumer (Steppe, Rêve d’Elephant, …) !

https://lanvert.be/samedi-21-juin-2025the-godel-codex-fete-de-la-musique-2025/

-- info: Philippe Lamoot

FRANK ZAPPA - - - FREQUENTLY UNASKED QUESTIONS - - - VOLUME TWO

 Andrew Greenaway has finished his latest book:

"Frank Zappa FUQ Vol. 2"

Available from The Idiot Bastard's web shop:

https://idiotbastard.my-online.store/product/frank-zappa-fuq-2-paperback

FLYING HORSEMAN

Flying Horseman are back! After a five year hiatus and with a new line-up, the band is ready to once again captivate headphone junkies and live audiences alike with "Anaesthesia", their seventh album. It’s an urgent and passionate work of intelligent rock’n roll, hazy psychedelia and cosmic folk. "Anaesthesia" is brooding, angry and dark but at the same time full of life, wonder and sophistication. It’s an invigorating, fascinating, electric brew.

EIDON - ORDER & CHAOS

a new piece by Eidon:

 

VARIJASHREE VENUGOPAL - JAATHRE

'Jaathre', the name of Varijashree Venugopal’s new single, is the term for an Indian rural carnival. This song submits to an intense groove, creating a thread of melodic dialogues with Indian classical Solfege. An exciting inspiration from Carnatic raga Hemavathi and the wild folk grooves depicts the inescapable bounce of a Jaathre.

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND - ON THE MILKY WAY EXPRESS

 from the upcoming album

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN WILL BE PERFORMING AT SOUNDS IN TILBURG, NL, FOR RECORD STORE DAY

https://recordstoreday.nl/instorewinkels/sounds-tilburg/

 -

DARKO THE SUPER'S "FREAK OUT"

 Finally found a copy of Darko The Super's 2020 "Freak Out" CD(R) album.

front


back

ORCHESTRAL ZAPPA IN TAMPERE, FINLAND, TONIGHT

 A bit too late to get to this party, but it sure sounds like fun:

https://www.tampere-talo.fi/en/events/tampere-phillharmonic-orchestra-zappa/

Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra: Zappa
Concert is including Zappa's most popular material, modern orchestral and chamber music, film, electronic music and jazz.

Date
11.04.2025 19.00

Venue
Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, Tampere Hall, Main Auditorium

JOHN ETHERIDGE INTERVIEW AT PERFECT SOUND FOREVER

A fine interview with John Etheridge, over at the Perfect Sound Forever website: 

https://www.furious.com/perfect/johnetheridge.html

DR. FREDDIE'S ATOMIC COMMOTION - CROQUETTE

A message from Fred Händl:

“Dr. Freddie’s Atomic Commotion is finally releasing Croquette on Bandcamp! Originally recorded in 2019/2020, this album was set for a grand release in March 2020—until the world had other plans. Though 500 physical copies were made, only a few found their way into the world. Now, as we gear up for our upcoming 4-CD box set, we’ve decided it’s time for Croquette to take its rightful place online.

This album is a mix of live and studio recordings from various unique locations, featuring the long-awaited single Touche Moi. Physical copies are still available (in abundance!), so grab one while you can—we’d love that. 💛”

Listen to the first track and try not to hum 'Black Napkins'  :-)

PIERREJEAN GAUCHER

Here's a nice little project by Pierrejean Gaucher.

Pierrejean provides the answer to the emerging question:

How can interviews with politicians be made more interesting ?
(in this case, an interview with Marine Le Pen)

ANTHONY JOSEPH LANMAN TO RELEASE A FRANK ZAPPA TRIBUTE ON HIS UPCOMING ALBUM

Anthony Joseph Lanman announced "Hommages", a 2 LP set that will include his tribute to Frank Zappa.

Anthony already released a FZ tribute on his "Synesthesiac" album, released 2014.

 

PILI COÏT AND YOWIE SPLIT RELEASE

A message from the Dur et Doux record label.

We've got news for you! It's a pleasure to present the new project from Pili Coït and Les Exocrines through this split - a colorful two-song deluxe 7" vinyl and a full mastered CD - with the band Yowie. It will be released on May 16 by Dur et Doux and the excellent Skin Graft records label, but you can pre-order it now. A first single from the album will be released on Friday!

Pili Coït is Guilhem Meier (river noisemaker and octopus drummer at PoiL, PinioL, uKanDanZ and LFant) plus Jessica Martin Maresco (strings rolled to the four corners of the tongue at Le Grand Sbam, Saddam Webcam, and most recently EZ3kiel).

 

PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION OF THE REAL FRANK ZAPPA BOOK

The Portuguese version of The Real Frank Zappa Book arrived.
Look at that artwork... by Antero Valério !!

TREACHEROUS CRETINS, THE BAND

Spring 2025 Tour starts today!

The van is packed; the tunes are learnt; the tariffs have been paid to get Robert ‘Bobby’ Martin into the UK… we are ready to hit the road today!

The first stop is Sheffield tonight… and then we criss-cross the country, visiting some friends at previous venues, and meeting some new friends at some venues and cities where we will be performing for the first time. We are excited!

Don't it ever get lonesome? Don't it ever give a young man the blues?
Don't it ever get lonesome? Don't it ever make a young man wanna go back home? When the P.A. system eats it; And the band plays some of the most terriblest shit you've ever known

Tickets are still available, so if you haven't grabbed one yet, do so, to avoid the ‘On the Door’ prices. For full dates; click on the tour poster below.

TREACHEROUS CRETINS, THE COMPOSITION

Fred Händl

Lior Frenkel (from the Hot Fur band), who plays it exactly like the original recording.

Dweezil Zappa's Zappa Plays Zappa band, from 2012

THE ED PALERMO BIG BAND IN CONCERT AT THE FALCON ON APRIL 26

A message from Ed Palermo

Have you heard the news? Ed Palermo can't afford no shoes! And with the help of Zappa alumnus Napoleon Murphy Brock, he'll tell you his musical tale of woe. But that's not all, bust out the party hats because we're celebrating the release of our new CD, "PROG vs. FUSION: A War for the Ages." Joy and woe, all in one show. 🙂 Join us on April 26, 2025, for two performances (4 PM & 8 PM).

Reservations at www.liveatthefalcon.com

SPANNER BIG BAND - A LOAD OF OLD TOOT

• Spanner Big Band: A Load Of Old Toot
      (2024, cd, UK, private release)

If I'm not mistaken, I mentioned the London-based Spanner Big Band's latest release a little while ago.
In the meantime, I've received "A Load Of Old Toot" and it's a beautiful little gem.

Released by Dan 'Spanner' Carpenter as a digipack CD with stunning artwork by Dom Carpenter, and gorgeous music.

As you know, I like to investigate bands or artists that have a Zappa tune on their repertoire, or even better, that have recorded and released a piece by Frank Zappa.
I've discovered quite a few interesting bands that way.
The Spanner Big Band is not an exception. Quite the opposite actually. They're the perfect example.

I'm familiar with some of Dan Spanner's output (I have two albums by The Spanner Jazz Punks), but I wasn't prepared for The Spanner Big Band.
Excellent tunes, a great total sound and some fine improvisations.
Original pieces by Dan Spanner and by Dave Blackmore, next to compositions by Frank Zappa, Charles Mingus, David Bowie, Michael League, Piazzolla, and Stravinsky (!!).

Recommended listening.
Check it out !!

HANS ANNELLSSON

Both albums that are pictured below were released as download and/or download/streaming albums through digital music platforms.
However, they were also released on CD(R) by Hans.

• Hans Annellsson: Return Of The Son Of One More Time For The World
      (2006, cd, Sweden, annellssongs anncd12)

With a nod towards FZ’s “Shut Up” series, Hans Annellsson released “Return Of…” in 2006.
CDBaby listed it as “Progressive and classic rock covers from hell”.
The album got a CD release on Hans Annellssongs’ private label.
Next to Hans’ cover version of ‘Bobby Brown’, the liner notes mentioned:
“Anything, Any Time, Anywhere - for No Reason at All” (Frank Zappa)”

• Hans Annellsson: Scenes & Takes
      (2014, cdr, Sweden, private release / annellssongs anncd42)

Soundtrack-like. Feat. Mats Öberg, Bill Bruford & Pat Mastelotto !
The Bandcamp liner notes on “Scenes & Takes” said:
"Anything, Any Time, Anywhere for No reason at all" - Frank Zappa

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

• Studio Dan: Walking Through A Brave New World - 8 Improvisations
      (2025, cd, Austria, records & stuff)

Axel Seidelmann's Walking through a Brave New World explores themes of surveillance, global conflicts, and autocracy through a blend of musical styles, sounds, language, and improvisation. The Studio Dan ensemble, led by Xizi Wang, brings this dystopian-inspired music to life. The CD, featuring liner notes by Konrad Paul Liessmann, is available at Records & Other Stuff and on Bandcamp.

One of the pieces is entitled 'Plastic People' on which Konrad Paul Liessmann elaborates in the liner notes:
Echoes of Frank Zappa's 'Plastic People' resound, reminding us that the rendering of people as characterless, high-gloss images - a bogeyman of the the late 1960s - has finally, in our time and by means of digital manipulation, reached its radical consummation.

SUN RA - UNCHARTED PASSAGES

• Sun Ra: Uncharted Passages
      (2025, cd, USA, modern harmonic)

Modern Harmonic continues to release material from the Sun Ra archives.
Subtitled "New York Piano Soliloquies 1977-79", this disc presents live tracks as well as some session recordings.
Recently discovered and investigated, the archival aspects are explained by Irwin Chusid in the liner notes. These offer a nice reading session while listening to these extraordinary finds.

CD, digital download from bandcamp, and also out on LP.

The Bandcamp release:

MODERN STRING QUARTET - FEVER

• Modern String Quartet: Fever
      (2008, cd, Germany, upsolute music records)

The German Modern String Quartet recorded Frank Zappa’s ‘G-Spot Tornado’ and released it on their “Fever” album in 2008.
Great album.

Amazing performances !
Nice discovery !

ZAPPA PLAYS ZAPPA

In 2009, the British Sky Arts TV channel prepared a one hour edit of the official 2008 DVD for broadcast on TV. The picture below shows the “60 Min International Master” recording for this broadcast.
(I enjoyed it yesterday.)

Thanks again, Andrew, for this nice little thing.

THE RESIDENTS TO PERFORM AT THE EXOTIKON 3 FESTIVAL IN LOS ANGELES

The Residents will be performing at the Exotikon 3 festival in L.A. in June.

Dedicated to Exotica (Lounge, Latin, Tiki, Jungle Funk, Trip Hop, Mod Dance, Psychedelia, Space, Electronica and so much more!), the festival will see The Residents performing Eskimo Live.
On June 7, 2025.

https://www.exotikon.com/copy-of-performers

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THE VEGETARIANS

Hans Annellsson's band, The Vegetarians, recently released "Space Age Pagliacci".
Available on Bandcamp, and on CD.
Great stuff.
With fine contributions by John Tabacco !
Including some Zappa-esque twist & turns (and references).

And while we're at it. Digital download / streaming albums that were also released on CD:

• The Vegetarians: Decovers
      (2022, cd, Sweden, private release / Annellssongs)
  - incl. 'Touch Me There' & 'Amnerika', the latter with NMB and Mats Öberg
  
  
• The Vegetarians: Let's Have A Good Time
      (2016, cd, Sweden, private release / Annellssongs)
  4 track mini album - incl. 'Amnerika', with NMB and Mats Öberg

FROM THE UPCOMING ED PALERMO BIG BAND ALBUM

From the album "PROG vs. FUSION: A WAR OF THE AGES" Sky Cat Records 2025 Available at https://palermobigband.bandcamp.com/music on April 18, 2025

JORRE REYNDERS PRESENTS THE DESMOND LEGACY

Jorre Reynders presents The Desmond Legacy.
Tonight, April 5, 2025, in Oud-Turnhout, BE.

info & tickets:

https://www.oud-turnhout.be/activiteiten/detail/1299/the-desmond-legacy-met-jorre-reynders

WARREN HAYNES BAND TOURDATES

The Warren Haynes Band is making their way to the West Coast!
And a 10 date European tour starts in London on July 1 with shows in France, Germany and more.

https://warrenhaynes.net/tour/

MARCO MATTEI - AGE OF FRAGILITY

Age of Fragility is the second solo album from innovative Italian guitarist and songwriter Marco Mattei.

Recorded at Dreamland Recording Studios in Woodstock, NY with Duilio Galioto (keys) and the classic Peter Gabriel rhythm section featuring drummer Jerry Marotta and bassist Tony Levin. 

Guest appearances on the album include Tony's former King Crimson bandmate Trey Gunn and spoken word from Jennifer Maidman (David Sylvian, Boy George).

 

THE RESIDENTS & SUN RA

 The Cherry Red record label wrote:

This June - The Residents' 'American Composers Series' pREServed - 3CDs featuring previously unheard tracks (including the 'lost' Sun Ra side), unknown songs, demos, live versions and all kinds of rarities.

HOLLY GOLIGHTLY - DIRECTLY FROM MY HEART TO YOU

From the 2005 "My First Holly Golightly Album"

 

DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON GIBSON'S FRETLESS SG AND MORE

ONE OF ONE Gibson Fretless SG, Does it ROCK? (Via Zammata)

THE FURIOUS BONGOS - LA PETITE TOUR-ETTE

• The Furious Bongos: La Petite Tour-ette
      (2025, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Frank Zappa tribute band The Furious Bongos has just released an 11-track live album.
All the songs got recorded over the course of La Petite Tour-ette, the band’s first short tour up to Canada in September 2024.

The band featured Conrad St. Clair (bass, music director, arrangements), Lo Marie (vocals, guitar, conducting, vocal director), Chris "Monkey Man" Huntington (guitar, vocals), Scott Fischer (vocals, keys), Jonathan Sindelman (keys, vocals), Danielle Dougherty (vocals, percussion), Pauline Roberts (MalletKAT, percussion), Vince "Fluffy" Szynborski (saxes, Tuvan throat singing), and former Zappa band member Chad Wackerman (drum kit).
Robbie Seahag Mangano is special guest on ‘Village of The Sun’.

 

FENOMEN ZAPPA

New arrival, 2016 book "Fenomen Zappa". To my surprise, I got mentioned in the book. Too bad that Audrey's name is misspelled...

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in great company  :-) 

The info sheet from the afka website:
https://www.afka.net/Books/Fenomen_Zappa.htm

DARKO THE SUPER SAMPLES FRANK ZAPPA ON HIS LATEST RELEASE

Darko The Super’s brand-new “That Thought Became A Shovel” album opens with ‘Dig Yourself Out Of The Shit (Intro)’, a track that kicks off with a sample of FZ’s ‘I’m The Slime’. 

Next to being made available for download and streaming through Bandcamp, “That Thought Became A Shovel” got released on (shiny gold) cassette (limited to 40 copies) and on (a shiny gold) CD (limited to 50 copies).

Great stuff !!

Check out 'These Little Lights" with a great XTC backing track. Love it.

EIDON - REFLECTIONS IN THE WATER

Andrew updated the diary section over at https://www.zappanews.co.uk/

Go here for details on the upcoming Banned From Utopia tour, and more:

https://www.zappanews.co.uk/diary

J.M. SMIG - ALL THE CANCER

J.M. Smig's most streamed album: "All The Cancer", from 2018.

Check it out !

DWEEZIL ZAPPA'S ROXPOSTROPHE TOUR EXTENDED

 

LITTLE FEAT - SAM'S PLACE

• Little Feat: Sam's Place
      (2024, cd, USA, hot tomato records)

The Sam in Sam's Place might well be Sam Clayton.
Percussionist Sam Clayton joined Little Feat in 1972, but he never was the lead vocalist until now.
And he does a great job.

Blues classics.
Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Little Walter,...
Add the fine slide guitar of Scott Sharrard (who replaced the late Paul Barrere) and the sublime guest vocals of Bonnie Raitt (on one track) and you get an excellent album !!

ERIC CLAPTON - MEANWHILE

• Eric Clapton: Meanwhile
      (2024, download / streaming, --, --)
      (2025, cd, --, surfdog records)

Released on digital platforms in October 2024, Eric Clapton's latest release also got an LP and CD release in January.
Laid-back blues.
It includes lots of collaborations featuring a.o. Van Morrison and Jeff Beck.

Eric Clapton & Jeff Beck: 'Moon River'

NEW RELEASE BY MEN & VOLTS

Another archival release by Men & Volts: "Packrats".

"Packrats" was on the second album by Men & Volts, Hootersville. It is here presented in its original released form along with rehearsals that show its development, live performances, and five versions recorded by other ensembles that appeared on their albums. Each track has the personnel and other credits listed with it.

 

ASKO SCHÖNBERG & I SOLISTI TO PERFORM PIERRE BOULEZ

Asko|Schönberg and the Belgian wind ensemble I SOLISTI turn music into a spatial experience in a performance of Pierre Boulez's 'Répons' and James Tenney's 'In a Large Open Space'. A unique opportunity, because Répons, due to its large instrumentation, is not often played. You will experience this concert in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Ghent.

https://askoschoenberg.nl/performances/boulez-100/?lang=en

• Thursday - Apr. 24 - Muziekgebouw - Amsterdam, NL
• Saturday - Apr. 26 - Floraliënhal - Ghent, BE
• Sunday - Apr. 27 - De Doelen - Rotterdam, NL
• Tuesday - Apr. 29 - De Singel - Antwerp, BE

Here's 'Répons', performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain, directed by Matthias Pintscher.

Recorded in 2015.