VARIOUS ARTISTS - UNMATCHED SERIES VOL.1-6

• various artists: unmatched series: vol.1 - 6
      (2014, 6cd, spain, hall of fame records hof - 103-boxcd)

This latest box set release by the Hall Of Fame record label is a re-issue of volumes 1 to 6 of their unparalleled Unmatched series.
Various artists performing the music of Frank Zappa.
If you don't have the original albums, this might be the perfect opportunity to catch up.

http://www.halloffame.es/

"THE MOTHERS" BY ART KANE

http://www.snapgalleries.com/shop/product.asp?P_ID=132&CAT_ID=20239

SINISTER SISTER IN CONCERT AT DE SINGER ON MARCH 6, 2015

Here's a concert that I'm really looking forward to :

SINISTER SISTER
@ De Singer
Rijkevorsel (B)
Friday 2015 03 06

Performing the music of Frank Zappa.

Maayan Smith: tenor saxophone
Jan Ghesquière: guitar
Pieter Claus: vibraphone (and arrangements)
Michel Hatzigeorgiou: electric bass
Lander Gyselinck: drums

Check them out at :
https://soundcloud.com/sinister-sister

XYLOFONORKESTERN - STORA BLÅ

• xylofonorkestern: stora blå
      (2014, cd, sweden, country & eastern ce30)

Around 2007, Anders Jalméus - director at the day centre Stora Blå Kultur - asked musician and composer Christer Bothén if he would be interested to work with some of the residents of the day centre. Christer Bothén agreed and started an adventurous musical venture.

The residents Stora Bla Kultur day centre all need support in their everyday life as most of them suffer from intellectual disabilities.

In the booklet, Christer explains how he started with co-ordination excercises like clapping and stepping forwards and backwards, eventually bringing in xylophones and working on polyrhythmic figures.

In the end, the Stora Blå residents were able to play different pieces and to perform these in concert.
In fact, they even recorded an album!

I really like the result. I've always been a fan of the xylophone, let alone a xylphone orchestra.
Christer Bothén's compositions have a very nice flow, emphazing peace and tranquility.

Fascinating.

Out on the Country & Eastern label.
http://www.countryandeastern.se/

20 YEARS OF DEUS

dEUS is celebrating their 20th birthday with a gorgeous coffee table photo book.

Released by Hannibal.

http://www.uitgeverijkannibaal.be/deus

ARANIS LIVE @ ROCK IN OPPOSITION 2009

The complete Aranis concert from the Rock In Opposition festival 2009.

PRESENT LIVE @ ROCK IN OPPOSITION FESTIVAL 2013

Present performing at the Rock in Opposition festival (Carmaux, France, Sept. 22, 2013)

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FILA BRAZILLIA - RIDDEN PONY

• fila brazillia: ridden pony
      (1999, cd5", uk, tritone / twentythree tcdso2)

David 'Man' McSherry and Steve Cobby are Filia Brazillia.
Listen how they use Frank Zappa's 'Eat That Question' in their 'Ridden Pony' composition.

I love it.

A GROUP - PORQUE TE VAS

• a group: porque te vas
      (2000, cd5", bel, viakra)

A Group was Peter Vermeersch, Pierre Vervloesem, Thierry Mondelaers, Anne Fontigny and Didier Fontaine.
The band existed for about three years (1998 - 2000) and released two albums.
Chronologically, A Group should be placed between X-Legged Sally and Flat Earth Society.

Pooring data into the United Mutations Archives, I added "Porque Te Vas", a CDsingle from A Group from 2000.

VANSINA ORCHESTRA - MORNING FOREST AKA NOSE UP BOTTOM DOWN

• vansina orchestra: morning forest / nose up bottom down
      (2014, cd, bel, rat records rat 027)

Bruno Vansina plays the saxophone in Flat Earth Society. He also has a number of albums out on  Rat Records, the record label that he founded together with Teun Verbruggen in 2003. Two albums as the Vansina / Verbruggen / Gudmundsson trio, and at least one under his own name.

And now there's "Morning Forest aka Nose Up Bottom Down", where Bruno Vansina has gathered what one might call a Wazoo Orchestra.
Next to Bruno Vansina (alto sax), Christian Mendozza (piano), Bert Cools (guitar), Stefan Lievestro (bass) and Teun Verbruggen (drums), the guest list provides : flute, clarinet, saxes, oboe, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone and an euphonium.

Beautiful compositions, superb arrangements and fine improvisations.

Highly recommended !

http://www.ratrecords.biz/

Here's an interview with Bruno after the Jazz Middelheim gig, with fragments from the concert.