Sinfonieorchester
Basel spielt Ausschnitte aus The Yellow Shark (1992) und The Adventures of
Greggery Peccary
Feat.
Jonathan Stockhammer, Leitung & David Moss, Stimme
Saturday, November 2, 2013
SINFONIEORCHESTER BASEL PLAYS FRANK ZAPPA
NORWEGIAN WIND ENSEMBLE TO RELEASE ZAPPA ALBUM
The Norwegian Wind Ensemble presented their new 'all-Zappa' album, "The Brass From Utopia - A Frank Zappa Tribute" during their Oslo, Horten and Sarpsborg concerts.
It's a ZFT-approved release and might be available during the ZpZ-tour.
That would be nice.
-- info: http://www.idiotbastard.com/news.htm
It's a ZFT-approved release and might be available during the ZpZ-tour.
That would be nice.
-- info: http://www.idiotbastard.com/news.htm
ALEX MACHACEK & GARY HUSBAND
Gary Husband (piano) and Alex Machacek (guitar) teamed up to create "Now".
The album is out on Abstract Logix.
http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=25923
The album is out on Abstract Logix.
http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=25923
ZAPPANALE DVDS
Someone is offering some older DVDs and CDs of Zappanale Concerts on german ebay for a very
friendly price - and there are some real gems to be found there.
Here's the link
Here's the link
http://www.ebay.de/sch/benaulin/m.html?item=321238548142&pt=DE_DVDs&hash=item4acb4f3eae&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
Unfortunately (for those in other countries) they seem to only send these to Germany.
Unfortunately (for those in other countries) they seem to only send these to Germany.
-- info: Michael Bronner
ZAPPOSTROPHE 126
Our friends from the Czech Frank Zappa Fan Club have issued another issue of their Zappostrophe fanzine.
Here's a picture of the cover:
Here's a picture of the cover:
Friday, November 1, 2013
OCTOBER 2013 : 200 MOTELS IN LONDON
Earlier this week, We hopped over to London for a
couple of days. The obvious reason and scheduled hightlight was to be Frank
Zappa’s “200 Motels”. We weren’t disappointed.
Zappa’s “200 Motels” should have been performed in
London, at the Royal Albert Hall, in 1971. It got cancelled because someone at
the Royal Albert Hall considered the performance “Outrageous filth”.
Zappa brought this breach of contract to trial and did win the case. Unfortunately, he did not receive any financial compensation as the court could not convict a royal institution.
The project got buried in the Zappa vaults…
Zappa brought this breach of contract to trial and did win the case. Unfortunately, he did not receive any financial compensation as the court could not convict a royal institution.
The project got buried in the Zappa vaults…
Flash forward to June 2000.
After a couple of years of vaulternative
investigations, and of searching and ordening the original scores (by Todd
Yvega, Ali N.Askin and Joe Travers) the “200 Motels” piece did get its world
premiere in Amsterdam.
A fabulous and memorable event. Part of the Holland Festival.
A fabulous and memorable event. Part of the Holland Festival.
Flash forward to October 2013.
So when we heard that “200 Motels” would finally be
performed in the UK, almost 15 years after our Amsterdam escapade, we didn’t
hesitate too long. Three days of London, built around the concert, were booked.
Day one saw us arriving around 14:00 h at St.Pancras.
After solving the subway puzzle and checking in at the hotel, we went for the
mandatory walk in Oxford Street. Not exactly my cup of tea. I just followed the
other half of the company. (Those of you who know her know that discussion is
futile.)
The rest of Monday consisted of meeting up with Zjakki, checking out Denmark Street, enjoying an excellent Korean meal, and strolling through Soho and Chinatown. A fine start that got concluded with a lukewarm British beer.
The rest of Monday consisted of meeting up with Zjakki, checking out Denmark Street, enjoying an excellent Korean meal, and strolling through Soho and Chinatown. A fine start that got concluded with a lukewarm British beer.
Day two should have brought us to the Tate Modern
museum. Fate (and a lot of guts) decided different.
Charing Cross Road, Trafalgar Square and the Hungerford Bridge took us to the Southbank, where the Royal Festival Hall is located. Following the Thames should have brought us to the Tate Modern. However, we got pulled away by a very impressive expo entitled “Indigenous Arts / Sustainable Acts” at the Bargehouse at the Oxo Tower Warf. Contemporary performance-based art. Loved it.
Charing Cross Road, Trafalgar Square and the Hungerford Bridge took us to the Southbank, where the Royal Festival Hall is located. Following the Thames should have brought us to the Tate Modern. However, we got pulled away by a very impressive expo entitled “Indigenous Arts / Sustainable Acts” at the Bargehouse at the Oxo Tower Warf. Contemporary performance-based art. Loved it.
In the meantime, we had learned that “200 Motels”
would have a dress rehearsal in the afternoon. From 14:30 h until 17:30 h.
We took a shot at it, and sneaked in.
picture: Al Fresco
At that time, there were about fifteen people in the
hall. I recognised Gail Zappa, Diva, and Joe Travers. People were discussing
and everyone was running around. We took a seat.
Musicians were slowly filling the stage. The BBC
Concert Orchestra, The Southbank Sinfonia, The London Voices, the rock band
(including Scott Thunes and Joe Travers). The various soloists / vocalists were
waiting and hanging around next to the stage.
I think I also recognised Annie Whitehead who I once
had the pleasure of meeting at my friend’s Danny’s house before a concert by
The Wrong Object. My guerilla / camouflage state did keep me from socializing
though…
Conductor Jurjen Hempel took the stage and didn’t
waste any time. He started with a cut from ‘I’m Stealing The Room’ (?) before
going to the very start, the ‘Overture’, and following the set sequence. There
were a lot of interruptions and comments. I always thought a dress rehearsal
would be more fluent.
To be quite honest, I wasn’t impressed at first. And
it wasn’t just the technical (microphone) problems. The whole performance had
bad dynamics. Ian Shaw and Brendan Reilly weren’t Flo & Eddie, and the
other vocalists could hardly be heard. The rock musicians could be seen, but
not be heard at all.
This did not look good.
Shortly before the 20-minute break, though, things
started to look brighter again. Mainly because of soprano Claron McFadden. This
lady can sing.
When I first heard Claron McFadden (at the 2000
Amsterdam performance), I had never heard of her before. The last ten years,
she has been doing a lot of interesting projects. I haven’t seen any of the
operas she took part in, but I did enjoy Corrie van Binsbergen’s “Over De
Bergen”, and the Artvark Saxophone Quartet’s “Sly Meets Callas”, both of which
featured Claron McFadden in a prominent role.
The rehearsal ended with ‘Penis Dimension’ and
‘Strictly Genteel’. Wow…
We left the hall around 17:30 h and returned (after a
quick snack) for the pre-concert talk.
Hosted by Gillian Moore (chief of Classical Music at
The Roundhouse), the event kicked off with Richard Strange, Jay Rayner &
Tony Guilfoyle (three of the “200 Motels” vocalists) to perform ‘Drool,
Britannia’, as taken from The Frank Zappa Real Book.
The threesome reenacted a part of the 1971 court hearing. Hilarious.
The threesome reenacted a part of the 1971 court hearing. Hilarious.
picture: Al Fresco
Next up was a chat with Jurjen Hempel, Scott Thunes,
Joe Travers & Gail Zappa. Nice.
picture: Al Fresco
The concert itself started at 19:30 h. This time, we
were seated somewhere around row 40, I guess. The second that the concert
started, I knew things would turn out OK. The guys at the P.A knew their job.
The London Voices vocal choir had been turned up. Percussion sounded better and
the dynamics were good.
This was nice.
Again, the climax got triggered by Claron McFadden.
This was a very fine concert.
This was a very fine concert.
Claron McFadden - soprano
Tony Guilfoyle - Frank
Richard Strange - narrator, Rance
Ian Shaw - Mark
Brendan Reilly - Howard, Cowboy Burt
Sophia Brous - Groupie 1 (Janet), Larry the Dwarf
Diva
Zappa - Groupie 2 (Lucy)
Jessica Hynes - Good Conscience, Donovan
Jay Rayner - Bad Conscience, Ginger
Scott Thunes - Jeff
BBC Concert Orchestra
Southbank Sinfonia
London Voices
Rock Band (including Joe Travers and Scott Thunes)
Jurjen Hempel - conductor
the program
Overture
Went On The Road
Centerville
Tuna Sandwich Suite
The Restaurant Scene
Touring Can Make You Crazy
What's The Name Of Your Group?
Can I Help You With This Dummy?
The Pleated Gazelle
I'm Stealing The Room
Shove It Right In
Penis Dimension
Strictly Genteel
picture: Chris Christodoulou
Day three had us walking through Soho again and
visiting some comic book and record shops. I bought a 7” by Clear Spot, which I
thought was a funny name for a band.
We returned to Belgium in the afternoon.
Three days of London, including Zappa’s “200 Motels”.
Music is the best.
FRANK ZAPPA'S ROAD TAPES VOLUME 2 IS OUT !!
Dear People of Earth,
Happy Halloween!
Road Tapes, Venue #2 starts shipping
today! We are pleased here at UMRK & Vaulternative Records to bring
you the next in our series of audio entertainments. As you know these
are the more primitive audio documentary attempts to capture the essence
of life on the road. It's August, 1973. Next stop Helsinki.
xxx,
the barfies
Let's hope that they'll bring copies along on the ZpZ tour this time...
TETZEPI ON VPROJAZZLIVE
Dutch radio show VPROJazzLive will be broadcasting the concert that the Tetzepi bigtet did in Rotterdam on March 2, 2013.
Special guest = Louis Sclavis.
Broadcast on Thursday, November 7, 2013.
http://www.radio6.nl/vprojazzlive/
Special guest = Louis Sclavis.
Broadcast on Thursday, November 7, 2013.
http://www.radio6.nl/vprojazzlive/
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