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

-

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...

-

-

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.

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.

-

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'