MARCO MATTEI'S NEW ALBUM WILL FEATURE JERRY MAROTTA, TONY LEVIN AND TREY GUNN

MARCO MATTEI "Age of Fragility"
- feat. Jerry Marotta, Tony Levin & Trey Gunn

Here's 'Just Tired', with Jerry Marotta and Tony Levin.
"Age Of Fragility" to be released on May 16, 2025.

STEPHANE GALLAND'S KANDA PROJECT

It looks like Stéphane Galland will be doing some additional concerts with his Kanda project.

• Lúcia Pires: flute, EWI, electronics
• Louise van den Heuvel: bass & electronics
• Stéphane Galland: drums

Below video got recorded during a recent Brussels concert.
In December, the trio with perform at De Singel in Antwerp, BE.

ALAN JENKINS AND THE KETTERING VAMPIRES - YOUR BEST IDEAS

New release by Alan Jenkins And The Kettering Vampires: "You Best Ideas".

A NEWSFLASH FROM CORDELIA RECORDS

“Following the release of "Komm, gib mir deine Hand" and "Sie liebt dich" in 1964 EMI made a decision that it was unnecessary to release further German translations of Beatles' recordings. The band however were keen to pursue the idea and continued to record German versions of their songs as late as the White Album sessions in 1968. The German version of the Sgt. Pepper album - Die Gefreiter Pfeffer Kontaktbörse Band - is particularly interesting. Immediately after the conclusion of the Sgt. Pepper sessions at Abbey Road in April 1967 George Martin and the Beatles moved their base of operations to the Westdeutscher Rundfunk electronic-music studio in Cologne where they worked closely with Karlheinz Stockhausen on a completely new recording of the album. German musicians involved in the project included Holger Czukay and Irmin Schmidt who would go on to form the band Can the following year.”

Alan Jenkins

 

SPANNER BIG BAND

The Spanner Big Band included FZ's 'Waka/Jawaka' on their latest album, "A Load Of Old Toot!!"?
An excellent album, if I may say so.
Out on Bandcamp for download / streaming, but also on CD.

Reason enough to check out the two previous albums:
"Live At The Gunners" and "Still Alive At The Gunners".
Both CDs arrived last week (after customs checked the package).
Superb artwork and great music.

• Spanner Big Band: Live At The Gunner
      (2016, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2016, cd, UK, private release)

-

• Spanner Big Band: Still Alive At The Gunners
      (2019, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)
      (2019, cd, UK, private release)

MEN & VOLTS 1987 LP RE-RELEASED ON BANDCAMP

 "The Mule", Men & Volts' 4th album has been re-released through Bandcamp.

UK'S "DANGER MONEY" RE-RELEASED

 UK's "Danger Money" album is getting a re-issue on coloured vinyl.

Featuring Eddie Jobson, John Wetton & Terry Bozzio.

GOZORTENPLAT PLAYS THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA - NONCONFORMISM AND EXPERIMENTATION

• John Walsh: Nonconformism and Experimentation
      (2024, book, --, private release)

Another book on Frank Zappa.
It's actually a collection of short essays.
At first sight, I liked the subjects that this book touched upon: "controversial relationship with the media", "battles for freedom of expression", "politics and critical thinking", "innovation in music writing", ...

I like the idea of collecting essays on various subjecs, but, unfortunately, there too many mistakes in this book.

I started with the chapter on "Collaborations with Symphony Orchestras", where "Zappa In New York" is given as an example ;

The same chapter mentions: In 1984, Zappa collaborated with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra for a series of concerts in Europe.

Probably written by some sort of AI.
Rubbish.

ANOTHER FRANK ZAPPA RADIO SHOW ALBUM ANNOUNCED

Another Frank Zappa radio show album has been announced.
"Greatest Hits Live".
LP on transparent yellow vinyl.

1. MONTANA
2. DONT EAT THE YELLOW SNOW/NANOOK RUBS IT/ST. ALFONZOS PANCAKE
 BREAKFAST/FATHER O'BLIVION
3. INCA ROADS
4. MUFFIN MAN
5. JOE'S GARAGE
6. COSMIK DEBRIS
7. WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE?
8. DANCIN' FOOL
9. HUNGRY FREAKS, DADDY
10. ZOOT ALLURES

FRANK ZAPPA - CHEAPER THAN CHEEP

The distribution of "Cheaper Than Cheep" to the regular shops has been delayed, but pre-orders at Zappa dot com or Universal-linked web-shops are being delivered at this very moment.

My copies haven't arrived yet, but I was rather pleased with the digital download that I received yesterday.

Frank Zappa - George Duke - Tom Fowler - Chester Thompson - Napoleon Murphy Brock - Jeff Simmons - Ruth Underwood

1-01. “Cheaper Than Cheep”
1-02. Cosmik Debris
1-03. Band Introductions
1-04. RDNZL
1-05. Village Of The Sun
1-06. Montana
1-07. Duke Goes Out
1-08. Inca Roads
1-09. “Get Down Simmons”
1-10. Penguin In Bondage
1-11. T’Mershi Duween
1-12. The Dog Breath Variations
1-13. Uncle Meat

2-01. How Could I Be Such A Fool
2-02. I’m Not Satisfied
2-03. Wowie Zowie
2-04. I Don’t Even Care
2-05. Let’s Make The Water Turn Black
2-06. Dupree’s Paradise Introduction
2-07. Dupree’s Paradise
2-08. Oh No
2-09. Son Of Orange County
2-10. More Trouble Every Day
2-11. Apostrophe(’)
2-12. Camarillo Brillo

Essential !!
If you haven't ordered it yet, don't hesitate. I'm only halfway through the first part and I can already tell you that this is an amazing album.

It doesn't get any better than this...

LE PINGOUIN LIGOTÉ

I don't know much about French Frank Zappa fanzine Le Pingouin Ligoté.
Issued by Les Fils de l'Invention, quite a number of years ago.
Fun stuff.
Quite happy with this recent find.
The missing issues (?) are on my want-list.

-

-

ALAIN JAMOT - FRANK ZAPPA - L'ALCHIMISTE DU CHAOS

• Alain Jamot: Frank Zappa - L'Alchimist Du Chaos
      (2025, book, USA, private release)

Brand-new book by Alain Jamot.
Released in the USA, but it's in French.
I only browsed through it, but I'll be reading this from front to back soon. Alain discusses various topics of the Zappa Universe: avant-garde, Frank as an entrepreneur, composer of styles, impossible orchestration, post-modernism, grooves and rhythms, and also tries to find common points with other contemporary composers (and writers).

SNARKY PUPPY - WE LIKE IT HERE (REMIXED - REMASTERED - REIMAGINED)

• Snarky Puppy: We Like It Here (remixed - remastered - reimagined)
      (2024, 2cd, Japan, coreport rpoz-1013-4)

Snarky Puppy's classic "We Like It Here" album got released in 2014.
It got re-released on December 31, 2024 in a remixed / mastered / reimagined version.
In practice, the original album got remixed and remastered, and a bonus CD with alternate versions got added.

BEAUTIFUL !!

CHEAPER THAN CHEEP - - - EPISODE 2 - - - WITH JOE TRAVERS

'Cheaper Than Cheep' Series: Episode 2 (Unboxing the Super Deluxe with Joe Travers)

 

NOLAN COOK = NIFNAR

"Known chiefly for his work in Dimesland and Land of Thin Dimes and as a long-running sideman and collaborator with The Residents, Nolan Cook has entertained audiences far and wide with his unique guitar style and offbeat creativity. "

His latest project is called Nifnar.

https://mailchi.mp/eaa822068df6/an-entire-zoo-full-of-headless-animales

KAHIL EL'ZABAR AND DAVID MURRAY - SPIRIT GROOVE - GOLDEN SEA DUO IN SHENZHEN

Saxophone player David Murray joined forces with percussionist Kahil El'Zabar to perform at the OCT-LOFT Jazz Festival in Shenzen, China, on October 27, 2023.

The result can be heard on "Spirit Groove: Golden Sea Duo in Shenzhen", a beautiful sonic experience.

DARKO THE SUPER SAMPLED FRANK ZAPPA ON HIS LATEST RELEASE

A new release by Darko The Super is always fun !
A large puzzle of beats and samples...

And yes, Darko samples FZ again on "Malt Disnee World War IV".
This isn't the first time that Darko The Super uses samples of Frank Zappa songs.
This time, Darko went for two tracks from "Ruben & The Jets" !

• It Doesn’t Matter To Me
   - sampled Anyway The Wind Blows
• Horse Head
   - sampled Later That Night

Check it out !

21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID BAND REISSUE

The 21st Century Schizoid Band released "Official Bootleg Volume One" on CD in 2002. It was a self-produced release by the band.
The album got a proper release by the Arcàngelo record label in Japan in 2003.
Finally, after 20 years, the album will now get a world-wide release on the Cleopatra label.
Retitled "The London Sessions".

Jakko M Jakszyk (guitar and vocals), Ian McDonald (sax, flute, keyboard), Mel Collins (sax, flute, keyboard), Peter Giles (bass) and Michael Giles (drums).

Also worth mentioning: Jakko M Jakszyk's memoir : "Who's The Boy With The Lovely Hair?"
Haven't read it, but I heard good things about it.

KEVIN KASTNING & MARK WINGFIELD - THE WNYC SESSIONS

• Kevin Kastning & Mark Wingfield: The WNYC Sessions
      (2025, cd, USA, greydisc)

Guitarist, composer and instrument-designer Kevin Kastning is best-known for playing multi-stringed guitars. On "The WNYC Sessions", Kevin played a 17-string hybrid classical guitar.

Add fellow guitarist, composer and sound-innovater Mark Wingfield, and you know you're in for an adventure.

The brand-new "The WNYC Sessions" got recorded live at the WNYC radio studios in New York City for a broadcast.
Seven pieces of music.
Seven meditative soundscapes.

Even without knowing that "The WNYC Sessions" is the duo's fifth release, it's obvious that Kevin Kastning and Mark Wingfield have performed and recorded together on various occasions.
Great interplay, but both players also get the necessary space to improvise.

The result is beautiful.

Check out 'Oculus 50', the opening track of "The WNYC Sessions", out on Greydisc records :

BEN WATSON DISCUSSES JAZZ ROCK FUSION (AND HOT RATS) WITH ANDY EDWARDS

HOT RATS | The Genesis of Jazz Rock Fusion | Watson and Edwards Ep 3

 

DWEEZIL ZAPPA ON THE DISCOGS SHOW

 

SOFT WORKS' "ABRACADABRA"

Original album recorded in 2002.
Released in 2003.
Remastered by Mark Wingfield in 2025.
Re-released by MoonJune Records in 2025, with two bonus live tracks.
Through Bandcamp, but also on CD and on 2 LP.

My CD copy arrived a little while ago (digipack) and I'm very happy with it.

"THE SHADOW KNOWS MORE" COMPILATION INCLUDES BOB GUY'S 'DEAR JEEPERS' / 'LETTERS FROM JEEPERS' (F.ZAPPA)

"The Shadow Knows More" compilation got released on the Bear Family Records label in 2020.

Subtitled '35 Scary Tales From The Vaults Of Horror)', it included the tracks that Frank Zappa wrote for Bob Guy: 'Dear Jeepers' and 'Letters For Jeepers'.

XANADU & BOBBY BROWN

• Unknown: Xanadu
      (1979(?), cassette, Germany, sst 15 144)

One of the more bizarre released in the Others Of Invention series...

Released on the German budget cassette label, the “Xanadu” collection presented cover versions of famous pop songs, including 'Bobby Brown'.
Probably only called "Xanadu" because that's the first track on the tape.

Haven't listened to it yet & I'm a bit afraid to put it in my cassette player...

KOMARA

The genre-defying trio KOMARA returns with KOMARA II, a powerful new release that pushes sound boundaries and challenges musical convention. Featuring King Crimson drummer Pat Mastelotto, avant-garde guitarist David Kollar and visionary trumpeter Paolo Raineri, with special guests Arve Henriksen, Deborah Carter Mastelotto and Bill Munyon. As with their first album, this release is visually anchored by a striking cover design from Tool guitarist and visual artist Adam Jones.

Don’t miss the band, with the addition of Trey Gunn, live in Europe this June.

KoMaRa (Kollar, Mastelotto, Raineri)
I wasn't familiar with KoMaRa, so I checked out their first album on Bandcamp.
Really nice.
REALLY nice !
I'll be tracking down a copy of the CD as soon as I finish typing...

PIERRE VERVLOESEM'S "EXPECTED NOISES" TO BE RELEASED ON CD

Cheap Satanism Records is releasing Pierre's 2023 "Expected Noises" on CD. Previously only available on Bandcamp.

There's also the option to order the CD with an additional vinyl postcard of one of the tracks.

https://www.cheapsatanism.com/products/866994-pierre-vervloesem-expected-noises

...The inspiration for Pierre Vervloesem's albums is as diverse as it is unexpected: UFO sighting locations, the challenge of redoing a famous PINK FLOYD album as a "carbon copy," or paying indirect tributes to film scores. And also, completely reconstructing a post-punk album that is not just forgotten but totally unknown.

That album is "Unexpected Noises" by BRIAN BRAIN, released in 1980 to little fanfare. Brian Brain was both the name of the band behind the album and the alias of MARTIN ATKINS, who had been the drummer for the far more famous PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED. While early solo albums by other PIL members — like bassist JAH WOBBLE’s Betrayal (1980) or guitarist KEITH LEVENE’s Violent Opposition (1989) — remain cult favorites, Unexpected Noises barely registered at all. Probably because it was pretty bad. It sounds like bad DEVO — a series of poorly structured tracks with mostly unintelligible shouted lyrics. 

Pierre Vervloesem: "Martin Atkins is a good drummer in his own way, simple. PIL's 'Flowers of Romance' is really nothing. It's bare, it's nothing. But it's that nothingness that makes the record. The initial idea was to completely redo an album I listened to when I was young, at my parents' place. But what do you expect me to do with a Vangelis or a Zappa? Brian Brain was more suitable, precisely because of that nothingness. So I did exactly what I had in mind. Redo this album but with intros and outros, a real structure. 'Phonetically coherent' lyrics, even though we still don't know what the original texts really say. Instead of a guy yelling, it's now a female singer whose lyrics you can understand and who sings them well. My album is also 2 to 3 times longer than the original."

ED PALERMO BIG BAND ALBUM DROP GIG

At the Iridium, in New York City, on May 19, 2025:

 

DEVIN TOWNSEND TOURDATES (WITH MIKE KENEALLY !)

 Devin Townsend's band features Mike Keneally on guitar and keyboard.

MIKE KENEALLY'S "BOIL THAT DUST SPECK (DELUXE BANDCAMP EDITION)

Mike Keneally just released "Boil That Dust Speck (Deluxe Bandcamp Edition)", check it out here:

“Mike's legendary second album is even more intense than his celebrated debut, "hat." There were several events, both good and bad, that influenced this deep and raw release. Many cuts from BTDS remain crowd favorites to this here day. If you've never heard it (and the over 60 minutes of bonus tracks), here's your shot! Plus, Mike gets *all* the income on Bandcamp Friday!”

THE OCTATONIC SCALE

Chanan Hanspal : When Did Jazz Musicians Start Using The Octatonic Scale?

 

WHAT'S IT LIKE DRUMMING FOR FRANK ZAPPA? - - - CHAD WACKERMAN

What’s It Like Drumming For Frank Zappa? | Chad Wackerman

DWEEZIL ZAPPA & ANDY WOOD - - - MUFFIN MAN GUITAR SOLOS

 

AN EVENING WITH PAMELA DES BARRES

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/westhampsteadartsclub/1612764

-- info: Andrew Greenaway (on FB)

RICK BEATO DISCUSSES ZAPPA WITH STEVE VAI AND ADRIAN BELEW

How Steve Vai and Adrian Belew Recreate Their "Zappa" Sound With Modern Gear

BRIDGE AROUND TOWN

Bridge Around Town offers free concerts in Eindhoven NL during the "Bridge Festival".

Bridge Festival : https://mge.nl/series/bridge/

Saturday, May 31, 2025, has a lot of bands scheduled.
If I had to choose, I would go for the Dynamo Kelder where two excellent bands will be performing: Yasi Hofer and Ottla.

https://mge.nl/content/uploads/2025/01/20250500_Timetable-Bridge.jpg

 

DROOG5

Composer and keyboard player Willem Jan Droog calls his quintet Droog5.

• Hans Rikken - soprano sax, clarinet & bass clarinet
• Angelique Boel - cello & alto sax
• Stan Stolk - double bass & electric bass
• Luuk Kranenburg - drums & percussion
• Willem Jan Droog - Grand piano & keyboards

Droog5 released a first album, "While Waiting", in 2018. Their second one, "Rotterdam Groove", got released earlier this year.

A fine discovery.

-- info: Danny Mathys

JOE LOVANO

I recently received digital downloads of these excellent Joe Lovano albums.
Both albums feature the Marcin Wasilewski Trio (Marcin Wasilewski (Piano), Slawomir Kurkiewicz  (Double Bass), Michal Miskiewicz (Drums)) and, of course, Joe Lovano (tenor sax).

Beautiful.

• The Marcin Wasilewski Trio & Joe Lovano: Arctic Riff
      (2020, cd, --, ecm records) 

• Joe Lovano: Homage
      (2025, cd, --, ecm records)

Here's a live performance by the quartet, recorded in 2022:

MINGUS - IN ARGENTINA: THE BUENOS AIRES CONCERTS

"Mingus In Argentina: The Buenos Aires Concerts" is a never-before-released pair of recordings of legendary bassist Charles Mingus captured live in Buenos Aires, Argentina in June 1977 featuring Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone), Jack Walrath (trumpet), Robert Neloms (piano) and Dannie Richmond (drums). 

PINK FLOYD AT POMPEII

The Steven Wilson remixed version of Pink Floyd At Pompeii MCMLXXII has been made available in different formats.
The Japanese 2 CD / blu-ray set looks very tempting.

THE RESIDENTS' 'PICNIC BOY' WITH LENE LOVICH ON VOCALS

In a recent message, Kjell Knudde mentioned that Lene Lovich did the vocals for The Residents' 'Picnic Boy'.
Reason enough to give the album another listen.

Here's 'Picnic Boy' (with Lene Lovich on vocals)

-- info: Kjell Knudde

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:

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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.

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