THE GRANDMOTHES - THE WEASELS SESSIONS '93

• The Grandmothers: The Weasels Sessions '93
      (2026, download / streaming, --, digital music platforms / muffin records productions)

Featuring Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Roland St Germain, Linda Valdmots, Ener Bladezipper and Sandro Oliva !

1. Progress
2. The Quartet
3. Prelude to the Eric Dolphy Memorial BBQ (Live)
4. I Can't Breath
5. '59 Chevrolet
6. Chest Pain
7. The Austin Chronicle
8. Lady Queen Bee
9. Primal Jazz (Live)
10. Soft Construction with Sharp Interlude (Live)
11. Be All You Can Be
12. Silicone Hump
13. Where Were You (Live)
14. King of My Castle
15. Transitions
16. What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body (Excerpt)
17. My Car
18. Idiot
19. Do You Think My Pants Are Too Tight (Live)
20. Let the Good Times Roll
21. The Eternal Question (Live)
22. Trouble Every Day (Live)
23. Plastic People (Live)
24. Primorial (Hingshammer Version)

Excellent news !!
Check out your digital music platforms for this release !!

GERONIMO BLACK - GERONIMO BLACK

Somewhere in the early seventies, Jimmy Carl Black and some his friends put together a band called Geronimo Black.
They released a first album in 1972. An eponymous album. It got a worldwide release.
The band featured Denny Walley, Bunk Gardner, Tjay Contrelli, Tom Leavy, Andy Cahan and, of course, Jimmy Carl Black.
A very fine album indeed.

In 1995, One Way Records released the album on CD.

But Jimmy Carl Black also released the album as a CDR on his private Inkanish record label. 

The below album cover is taken from the copy I brought home from Zappanale.
It's a later Inkanish edition than the release mentioned on discogs as the label of the CDR has the album cover printed on it.

-

THE GRANDMOTHERS - THE EU GRANDMOTHERS FEATURING CANDY ZAPPA

• The Grandmothers: The EU Grandmothers Featuring Candy Zappa
      (2002, cdr, Germany, inkanish records)

Jimmy Carl Black issued quite a number of CDR albums on his Inkanish Records label between 2000 and 2008.
I had never seen the above pictured one until I picked up a used copy at Zappanale last year.

Subtitled “Promo CD For The 2002 Tour”, this album was a compilation that presented material from The Grandmothers’ “Eating The Astoria” and Nigey Lennon’s “Reinventing The Wheel” albums.

 
The band called themselves The EU Grandmothers and featured Jimmy Carl Black and Sandro Oliva. At the same time, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Roy Estrada and Napoleon Murphy Brock presented themselves as the Grandmothers Re:Invented...

To make things even more confusing, the material that was taken from the "Eating At The Astoria" album and that is presented on this disc, featured Jimmy Carl, Sandro, Don & Bunk...

1. Grandmothers Introduction
2. Peaches En Regalia
3. Call Any Vegetable
4. Any Way The Wind Blows
5. Lady Queen Be (J.C. Black)
6. Messin' In The Kitchen (N. Lennon)
7. Hungry Freaks, Daddy
8. Big Leg Emma
9. Yer Wife Don't Like Me (N. Lennon)
10. Brown Shoes Don’t Make It
11. Junk Food (S. Oliva) / Mr. Green Genes / Junk Food (reprise) (S. Oliva)
12. Uncle Meat

BRUCE CAMERON TRIBUTE ALBUM

In 1999, the late Bruce Cameron released "Midnight Daydream", an album that featured Bunk Gardner and Ant-Bee.
In tribute, Bruce's son started a band called after his father's album.

Glass Onyon PR adds:
Rock Group “Midnight Daydream” Release Tribute To Late Guitarist Bruce Cameron

The writer, producer, engineer and main performer on the album is Riley Cameron, the son of the late guitarist Bruce Cameron, who tragically passed away in 1999 shortly after releasing his debut LP titled “Midnight Daydream”. An album that featured a plethora of rock legends. Inspired by his father’s work, the only viable option was to carry the musical legacy that his father left behind.

The self-titled album features a blend of hard rock, electronic, hip-hop and various other musical styles that create a modern sound that captures a spectrum of influences.

Says Riley, “Midnight Daydream - Fusing multiple genres, bringing awareness to mental health while maintaining a consistent sound”

The “Midnight Daydream” LP is set to release on July 5th, 2023 and will be available on all mainstream platforms, including Itunes, Spotify and Youtube. Physical Copies and merchandise will also be available through their merchandise store via BandCamp.

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION

at MorYork, L.A.
January 24, 2020
The Grandmothers of Invention

GERONIMO BLACK

From Glass Onyon PR

Geronimo Black “Freak Out Phantasia” Features Previously Unreleased Live and Studio Sessions Now Available on Vinyl/CD

These previously unreleased live and studio sessions are a loose exercise in spontaneity, and sheer art, which has been lost in the mists of time. Geronimo Black, a truly underrated band from Los Angeles, had existed long before its self-titled debut album released officially by UNI Records in February 1972.

Composer, arranger, keyboard player, and founding member Andy Cahan, was also part of Dr John's band at the time. Despite the fact that nearly all his players were part of the busy schedule of the evolving Frank Zappa's band Mothers Of Invention, Cahan attests that, “it was a real band with every intention of getting a record deal. Of course, since Jimmy Carl Black, Ray Collins and Bunk Gardner were from Zappa's original band, that was a big selling point to record companies.”

Talking about the songs on “Freak Out Phantasia” release, which preceded the first official album, Andy mentions that The Beatles were his main influence. Also, he name checks other luminaries such as The Zombies, Kinks, Lovin' Spoonful, Hendrix, Cream, Dave Clark Five, and The Beau Brummels. The live output found on this release is part of their non-stop gigging system. It's worth pointing out that around that time, they were playing gigs with The Eagles, Delaney and Bonnie, The Byrds, Eric Burdon, Joe Cocker, Ike and Tina Turner, The Standells, Canned Heat, Southwind, Taj Mahal, Little Feat, and many others.

Some songs herein included were recorded in a prison. Even doing very well on their live adventures, in terms of breaking through in sales, Geronimo Black never had the same lucky destiny of many of their Californian contemporaries. Signing a record deal with Uni Records around Christmas time, they were essentially deemed a tax right-off and were billed thousands of dollars on no income.

Back to the present, some highlights of Munster Records' compilation include “Topanga Canyon People” and “Ooh Poo Pah Doo” (both live recordings showing their total intensity and stoned freak-out atmosphere, recalling Zappa's sound, which obviously they were part of). “Let Us Live” is a superb song, with a bluesy-pop-twisted Southern rock vibe. An alternate version of “Siesta” is another key song, and in some ways resembles “Flute Thing,” a classic instrumental by The Blues Project. Now it is time to enjoy these recordings because they “reveal the raw passion and excitement we had on stage,” as Andy concludes. Includes CD with four bonus tracks.

GERONIMO BLACK - FREAK OUT PHANTASIA

• geronimo black: freak out phantasia
      (2019, lp+cd, spain, munster records)

50 years ago, Geronimo Black was founded by Jimmy Carl Black, Ray Collins, Denny Walley, Andy Cahan, Tjay Cantrelli, Bunk Gardner and Tom Leavey.
The band started performing in 1968 (in-between Mothers Of Invention gigs as 4 of the members were in Frank Zappa's band) and released their first album in 1972.
Unfortunately, due to a bad record deal, the band did not last long.
An attempt to revive was made in 1980 when Helios Records released "Welcome Back Geronimo Black", an album that got recorded in 1971/1972.
More recently, Andy Cahan provided recordings of some live and studio recordings from 1968/1969 to Munster Records. The result can be heard on "Freak Out Phantasia" an impressive release, both artwork and music wise.

Essential !!

8 tracks on the LP. The enclosed CD adds 4 more.

Out on Munster Records :
http://munster-records.com/en/label/munster/product/freak-out-phantasia

Here's an example of a more psychedelic exercise :

GERONIMO BLACK

Soon to be released on the Munster Records label :

http://munster-records.com/en/label/munster/product/freak-out-phantasia

Jimmy Carl Black, Andy Cahan, Ray Collins and Bunk Gardner

A ZAPPANALE NEWSFLASH

Dear Zappafans,
the program of the 30th Zappanale is taking shape.

We‘ve received an above-average amount of applications and the musicians I‘d like to book for this year are demanding some patience from me.

It‘s been your wish over and over again to see one highlight of our memorable 13th Zappanale, Ed Palermo.
Ed Palermo will come to our 30th jubilee in full line-up with all his wind section.
Additionally he will strike up together with Napoleon Murphy Brock.

At the GrandMothers Of Invention concert Ed Palermo will be part of the band with his wind players. More musicians who want to play with GMOI have still to be clarified.
The show from the GMOI will differ from last year‘s concert. I think that with Zappanale #30 they will bid their final farewell to us. It‘s been their great wish to be again part of the 30th Zappanale. We are happy and looking forward to seeing Don and Bunk again, because they have been the first of Frank Zappa‘s companions who performed at the Zappanale. We are united by long years of shared history.

The negotiations with Ensemble Musikfabrik are concluded. Here we will get a program on a very high level, which will be in this vein for the first time at the Zappanale. I‘m actually trying to win Napoleon to fly to Cologne on Thursday before Zappanale to audition together with the Ensemble.

Percussion Under Construction (a branch of the Saarländisches Staatstheater) is going to delight us with 8 musicians playing a Zappa program and later on the Mystery Stage again with a smaller line-up with music from Edgar Varese.

It goes without saying that Jazzprojekt Hundehagen, our house band, must not be missing our jubilee and will be present, too, of course.

Det Skandalose Orkester from Norway will throw the party on Saturday night.

Das Duo Zement will make us happy with sounds à la Cluster and early Kraftwerksound.

Hopefully Ali’N Askin, a former companion of Frank Zappa, is going to escort us into the sunset like 6 years ago.

The AMM-All Stars are going to offer us an interesting version of „Lumpy Gravy“.

And now it‘s time for the second round for all remaining bands.

Music is the best!

Euer Zappanale Team

BUNK GARDNER

In 1972, Bunk Gardner contributed to Nicolas Greenwood's "Cold Cuts" album.
The data is already in the United Mutations Archives but you can find additional info here :
http://dariuschrisgoes.blogspot.com/2019/02/nicholas-greenwood-cold-cuts.html

-- info: Jan van Kemenade

ZAPPA WEEKEND IN PARIS

There will be lots of things happening in Paris during the Zappa Weekend on September 28, 29 and 30.

Here's the complete list of events :
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/programming/thematic-weekends/zappa-weekend

Don't forget that you need a reservation for the symposia (Friday and Saturday) and for the Stupor Mundi screening !
It's free entrance, but you need to reserve.

Ike Willis and Bunk Gardner will participate, as will Ali N.Askin.

Check out the full (Zappologies Symposium) details here:
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/sites/default/files/documents/npa_28_et_29-09-2018_vend_et_sam_9h30_zappologies_colloque_19764_p2_bd.pdf

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION - FREE ENERGY

• the grandmothers of invention: free energy
      (2018, cd, usa, private release) 

The most recent Grandmothers tour had Ed Mann teaming up with Bunk Gardner, Don Preston and Christopher Garcia.
The band did a small number of concerts in Europe in April and came back for a final gig at Zappanale. Unfortunately for the Zappanale audience, Ed Mann hurt his pelvis recently and was unable to make it to Bad Doberan.

"Free Energy" has a lot of the tunes that The Grandmother performed during this recent tour. It is obvious that both Don and Bunk don't play as fluent as they used to, but it's nice to hear Ed perform with The Grandmothers.
Private release. Available from Don.

1. free energy (don preston)
2. the eric dolphy memorial bbq (frank zappa)
3. the eternal question (don preston)
4. modern man (george carlin)
5. king kong (frank zappa)
6. flower punk (frank zappa)
7. silicon hump (don preston)
8. evelynn the modified dog (frank zappa)
9. dark matter (don preston)
10. lament (don preston)
11. dr. know (ed mann)
12. talkin' ruth, chris, don, bunk
13. dupree's paradise (frank zappa), incl. ruth (don preston)

GERONIMO (FLASH)BLACK

The first track on the Geronimo Black album : 'Low Ridin' Man', plus track 8, 'Gone'.
Love it.
Jimmy Carl Black, Bunk Gardner, Denny Walley, Tom Leavy, Andy Cahan, Tjay Contrelli.

BUNK GARDNER - BUNKMANIA

• bunk gardner: bunkmania
      (2018, cd, usa, private release)

Bunk Gardner joined The Mothers Of Invention in early 1967. Before that happened, he had already participated in the recording of "Themes From The Hip" by the Bud Wattles Orchestra.
After his years with The Mothers, Bunk formed Menage A Trois with his brother Buzz and with John Balkin, and he recorded with Geronimo Black.
Bunk did keep on playing Zappa's music as part of The Grandmothers and with Don Preston as The Don And Bunk Show.
"Bunkmania" collects material from all of these sessions.
In super-fine quality.
Personally, I'm very happy with the Menage A Trois material that can be found on this album.

Beautiful album in a fine digipack.
Essential if you want to know what one of your Grandmothers' career was all about.

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION & SHENKAR

Tonight, May 12, in Oslo, Norway :

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION, SHENKAR (L. SHANKAR), RONNI LE TEKRØ, and the NORWEGIAN WIND ENSEMBLE

organised by the ZappaUnion team.

Frank Zappa veterans Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Ed Mann and Christopher Garcia make up the Grandmothers of Invention. May 12 will be the last chance to see them in Norway.

The concert will be unique :
Legend Shenkar (L. Shankar, violin) flies in from India only to perform with The Grandmothers.
On request of The Grandmothers, Ronni Le Tekrø will join the ensemble on the guitar.

Plus, the band will be joined by the Norwegian Wind Ensemble (Norwegian Blåseensemble (DNBE)). The DNBE has played several concerts with Dweezil Zappa and has released albums with Frank Zappa compositions.

I'm assuming that various Zappateers will be attending the concert. Let's hope that an audio or video turns up.

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION

I saw The GrandMothers Of Ivention in concert last week. Once in Heerlen and again in Tilburg.

Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Ed Mann and Christopher Garcia.

The Heerlen concert was quite a disaster, actually. Lots of mixer and monitor sound problems took the vibe away. Not only for the audience, but also for the musicians. Once that the issues had been resolved, the keyboards still sounded saturated... Quite frankly, It was a mess. Despite some fine solos, this concert could not be saved.

Tilburg was quite another story. With no scheduled or unscheduled breaks, the band played for two hours. Tight, or at least more tight then in Heerlen, and with great solos, it was like this was a completely different band. Add a superb sound (tip to the hat for the soundguy) and a fine audience and one gets a great evening.

THE GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION - LIVE IN BREMEN

• the grandmothers of invention: live in bremen
      (2018, 2cd, ger, sireena)

Started in the early eighties by Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston and Bunk Gardner, The Grandmothers have gone through various line-ups and incarnations.
During one or their most recent tours, November 2014, The Grandmothers recorded the concert that they did in Bremen, Germany. Next to the ever-present Don Preston, Bunk Gardner (and Christopher Garcia !!), the line-up included Eric Klerks on bass and vocals and Max Kutner on guitar and vocals.
It's great to have this concert available as on official release, especially since the Grandmothers will be starting their final tour in about a week.
Sure, Don and Bunk are in their seventies and they don't play as fluent as they used to, but the emotional / historical aspect plus the excellent performance by Chris, Eric and Max make up for that.
Love it.

On their final tour, Chris, Don and Bunk will be joined by Ed Mann.
Let's hope they bring a guitar and bass player along as well.

The Grandmothers Of Invention

22 Apr 2018  The Underworld London United Kingdom
23 Apr 2018  The Robin 2 Bilston United Kingdom
24 Apr 2018  Band on the Wall Manchester United Kingdom
25 Apr 2018  Nieuwe Nor Heerlen Netherlands
26 Apr 2018  Blue Notez Dortmund Germany
27 Apr 2018  Paradox Tilburg Netherlands
28 Apr 2018  Jazzclub Nordhausen Nordhausen Germany
29 Apr 2018  Stadttheater Landsberg Germany
01 May 2018  Blue Note Milano Italy
02 May 2018  Burghof Lörrach Lörrach Germany
03 May 2018  Kammgarn Schaffhausen Switzerland
04 May 2018  Mühle Hunziken Rubigen Switzerland
05 May 2018  Treibhaus Innsbruck Austria
06 May 2018  Kino Siska Lublijana Slovenia
07 May 2018  Porgy & Bess Wien Austria
08 May 2018  Metro Music Bar Brno Czech Republic
09 May 2018  Lucerna Music Bar Prague Czech Republic
10 May 2018  Quasimodo Berlin Germany
11 May 2018  Beta Copenhagen Denmark
12 May 2018  John Dee Oslo Norway
13 May 2018  Kulturhuset Stadsteatern Stockholm Sweden
22 Jul 2018  Zappanale Bad Doberan Germany

MORE DATA ON THE NEW GRANDMOTHERS ALBUM

don preston: keyboards, vocals
bunk gardner: sax, flute & vocals
max kutner: guitar, vocals
eric klerks: bass, vocals
christopher garcia: drums, percussion

all compositions by frank zappa, except 'stratus' by don preston

disc 1

1. introduction
2. pound for a brown
3. call any vegetable
4. absolultely free
5. flower punk
6. who needs the peace corps?
7. i'm the slime

disc 2

1. uncle meat
2. the orange county lumber truck
3. trouble every day
4. montana
5. stratus (excerpt)

NEW GRANDMOTHERS ALBUM

The Grandmothers are releasing a live album, recorded in Bremen during the 2014 tour !!

Should be available before their European tour (in a couple of weeks !!)


-- info: Danny Mathys

ZAPPANALE LINE-UP

Wednesday, Zappa spielt für Bach in Hamburg, DE

• Inventionis Mater, feat. Valentina Ciardelli

Thursday, Warming Up in the town of Bad Doberan, DE

• Gabby Zappa Hey!
• Lutopia Orchestra
• Zappnoise

Friday, festival ground, Bad Doberan, DE

• Amon Düül II
• Tante Tofu
• Flat Earth Society
• Tatvamasi
• Fried Dähn & Skin of Clazz

Saturday, festival ground, Bad Doberan, DE

• Jazzproject Hundehagen
• Sex without Nails Bros
• Alex's Hand
• Bozzio - O'Hearn - Cuccurullo power trio
• Coogans Bluff

Sunday, festival ground, Bad Doberan, DE

• Gabba Zappa Hey!
• Monika Roscher Big Band
• Bonnen, Aigui & Burghaus
• The Grandmothers Of Invention  feat. Don Preston and Bunk Gardner
• good-bye session