Z.E.R.O. TO RELEASE A COMPILATION ALBUM

Kevin Crosby (the man behind Z.E.RO. / The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra) is preparing a Z.E.R.O. compilation album.

It will be called "We Be What Am Is" and will be available as a download / streaming album through Bandcamp.

More info soon.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA RELEASES "HORNY"

• Dweezil Zappa: Horny
      (2024, download, USA, reward music platform)

Made available by Dweezil Zappa through his Reward Music Platform.
“Horny” presents a collection of songs performed live By the Zappa Plays Zappa band with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble.

https://www.dweezilzappa.com/

I've listened to it once and I already consider this one of the best releases of 2024 !!

1. NWE Intro
2. Cruisin’ For Burgers x 2
3. Studebaker Hawk 007
   - incl. James Bond Theme (M.Norman / J.Barry)
4. Rollo (Horny)
5. Cosmik Debris
6. Penis Dimension
7. My Sharona 80 (Averre, Fieger)
8. Who Needs The Peace Corps 1970
9. Bamboozled By Love
10. I Am The Walrus (J.Lennon, P.McCartney)

A SUN RA UPDATE

Well, sort of an update.
Two recent albums that need a mention:

Sun Ra And His Astro Infinity Arkestra: "Strange Strings" (Expanded Edition)
    (2024, cd, USA, cosmic myth records cmr008)

Not the easiest of Sun Ra albums, and this time, released with additional tracks.

Sun Ra collected an arsenal of exotic string instruments and handed them out to his Arkestra with the idea that "strings could touch people in a special way." That the Arkestrans didn't know how to play or tune these instruments was not beside the point— it was the point. Ra framed it "a study in ignorance." The result was primitive, yet sophisticated; brutal, yet highly sensitive. In his essay for this expanded edition, musician-curator David Toop calls Strange Strings "saturated in mystery." Double album includes rare and previously unissued tracks.

Sun Ra: Lights On A Satellite - Live At The Left Bank
    (2024, 2cd, --, resonance records)

Experimental soundscapes, adventurous explorations of the synthesizer, but also more classic jazz tunes performed by a top Arkestra. All on 2 CD's.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA

From the 2009 "An All-Star Salute To Christmas" album:
(released on the Purple Pyramid label)

Dweezil Zappa - A Wonderful Christmas Time

And some snapshots of signed Dweezil Zappa albums.
(I might have shown these before. Does it show that I'm tidying up my desk?)

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THE MOTHERS OF INVENTION - MOTHERMANIA

Here's a snapshot of a 1976 re-issue of "Mothermania" in the German Rock'N Pop series.

I came across a coy recently and I tried to restrain myself, but I just wasn't strong enough, so now it's standing on my shelf.

MONONEON - QUILTED STEREO

• MonoNeon: Quilted Stereo
      (2024, download, --, --)

Released on neon green vinyl earlier this year.
But I'm extremely happy with the digital copy that I received a couple of days ago.

"Quilted Stereo", as in: every part is very different, but they all add to the final result.
Beautiful.
Featuring George Clinton, who also does the album intro, and soul/gospel legend Mavis Staples.
To be honest, MonoNeon does not need special guests to make an amazing album. All the songs are great. It's just a couple of cherries on the cake.

Read more in this fine article in bass magazine:
https://bassmagazine.com/mononeon-releases-new-album-quilted-stereo/

And in the meantime, enjoy 'Full Circle' with Mavis Staples:

And 'Quilted', with the godfather of funk :

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IBRAHIM MAALOUF - TRUMPETS OF MICHEL-ANGE - STUDIO SESSION

Ibrahim Maalouf - Trumpets of Michel-Ange - Session Studio

DAVID LIEBMAN, JEFF COFFIN, VICTOR WOOTEN, CHESTER THOMPSON, CHRIS WALTERS & JAMES DASILVA

• David Liebman, Jeff Coffin, Victor Wooten, Chester Thompson, Chris Walters & James DaSilva: On the Corner Live! The Music of Miles Davis
      (2019, download / streaming, --, bandcamp)

Also out on CD on the Ear Up Records label.

Dave Liebman:
“When attempting to categorize Miles Davis’ vast discography and live groups, specificity is necessary. For example, the Miles/Gil period; the Second Quintet; the Bitches Brew stage, etc. What constitutes a given period are the commonalities from tune to tune and/or recording to recording. Beginning in 1973 I was a member of the Miles group for a year and half playing and recording material from what is considered the “On The Corner” period as well as some tunes from his earlier electric years. The most obvious musical aspect heard during the “Corner” period was the sonic atmosphere created as a result of the instrumentation and of course the musical contributions by group members. As was true with Miles in any period, without words or specific musical directions his sidemen somehow knew what was needed and responded in kind. A basic summary of the “Corner” period would include short melodic motifs played by Miles and myself with both of us plugged into various effects; a spacious groove created by bassist Michael Henderson; a steady and incessant quarter-note based rhythm courtesy of Al Foster and Mtume; with Reggie Lucas functioning as a rhythm guitar while Pete Cosey often playing in a blues-tinged way employing all kinds of electronic effects as well; and Miles on Yamaha organ. It was the texture and overall sound that confused listeners at the time. But as we know, the actual “On The Corner" recording has been sampled, copied, discussed and adapted by several generations of musicians, most not even alive when the music was created. Jeff and the guys on this recording grew up with this music and did a great job playing and transforming the material for what was a one time live event. The songs chosen are not all from the original recording, but overall the material I chose represents a look at the electric period of Miles Davis which certainly changed the course of pop music and jazz forever."

This is great !!

• David Liebman – tenor sax, soprano sax, wood flute
• Jeff Coffin – tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, clarinet, electro-sax
• Victor Wooten – electric bass
• Chester Thompson – drums
• Chris Walters – keyboards
• James DaSilva – guitar

EIDON - IN THE COURT OF XIBALBA

In the Court of Xibalba

by Eidon