ZAO

I'm slowly discovering the exciting world of Magma.
Slowly, because it's a universe on its own.

ZAO
from Discogs:
A French fusion super-group, formed in 1971 by two early members of Magma: François "Faton" Cahen and Jeff "Yochk'o" Seffer, and featuring many other talents of the 1970's prog and fusion fields. Zao took the Magma "Zeuhl" brand of fusion and jazzed it up a bit, adding folk elements of Seffer's cultural heritage, and lots of other unique touches. After Seffer left, the band became more jazz-rock. They have reformed at least twice since disbanding in the late 1970's.

PUMPORGAN - MAKE WITH THE FEET

• pumporgan: make with the feet
      (2015, cd, nl, trytone)

Pumporgan is Dirk Bruinsma (bass, alto sax), Christian Ferlaino (baritone sax), Mikael Szafirowski (guitar, bass), Wilbert Bulsink (organ) and Nout Ingenhousz (drums, percussion).
All pieces composed by Dirk Bruinsma.

Pumporgan released one album.
In 2015, on the TryTone record label.

Energetic, pumping, (mostly) instrumental jazz.

Great stuff. Check it out.

FRANK ZAPPA E LA MUSICA JAZZ

frank zappa e la music jazz

by geoff wills
    (2021, book, italy, auditorium) 

In 2015, Matador published Geoff Wills' "Zappa And Jazz" book.
Earlier this year, the book got released in an Italian translation by Auditorium.

GERRIT DE JAGER

It's not the first time that one could find a Frank Zappa reference in Dutch comic book artist Gerrit de Jager's work.

Taken from his recent "Songlife" comic book / graphic novel :

-- info: Ad Hendrickx

THE CHATO TWINS - WHAT'S NEW IN BALTIMORE

ADJUSTED VAT RULES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

As if COVID wasn't enough, the international cultural sector is getting another stab. This time from the European Union.

As of July 1st, customs’ laws in Europe change : EVERY package coming from outside the European Community will be taxed.
For the moment, there's the exception of goods with a value below 22 euro.

I've got not problem with the fact that every package will be taxed.
VAT needs to be paid in the country where the goods are consumed.
I do have a problem with the flat fee handling cost and with the VAT being be calculated on the  package plus (!!) shipping costs...

Let me explain :

In Belgium, there will be a flat customs’ fee of 30 € with on top VAT on the total value of the package.
(value = value package + postage paid !?! How's that for a math exercise??)

Combined with the new shipping rates that are appearing everywhere, this just might be one bridge too far.

Example : a book or CD of 14 € sent from the USA or UK to Belgium (postage around 16 €) will cost you in the end : 14 (item) + 16 (shipping) + 30 (custom handling) + 6 (vat) = 66 €.
In theory, it should only be 14 + 16 + (14*.21) = 33 €.

To quote one of my pals: "Diabolical and outrageous".

In practice, smaller shops, distributors, independent and DIY artists will no longer be able to send goods with a value below 22 euro into the EU without the customer having to pay a lot of extra costs.

Unless :
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/vat/vat-e-commerce_en
Online sellers, including online marketplaces/platforms can register in one EU Member State and this will be valid for the declaration and payment of VAT on all distance sales of goods and cross-border supplies of services to customers within the EU.

I can imagine this will be no problem for the bigger players, but I'm curious to find out how smaller distributors or artists selling their material through their website, Bandcamp or Discogs will cope with this.

MARBIN - FERNWEH

On their latest release, Marbin takes a parallel road, exploring jazz standards. 

Fernweh, a German word for wanderlust that means specifically to be homesick for a place you've never been, is the perfect name for Marbin's 12th album, which focuses exclusively on jazz standards. Because these songs were written so long ago, and their origins span several continents, each and every song connects you to a different place and time—most of which are not places or time periods any of us have actually experienced.

CABALLERO REYNALDO - COSMOS

"Cosmos" is the final part of Caballero Reynaldo's trilogy : "Cromos", "Cronos", "Cosmos".
On Bandcamp, Luis González explained that this is Caballero Reynaldo's final release. 

He added :
Some 50 unedited recordings remain in the pipeline (discards, rarities, songs for compilations, etc.) that perhaps with time I would like to see the light of day. In addition, there are some albums that probably deserve remixes and updates in the future, since for various reasons they were released so quickly that they cry out for a facelift. I will keep the conservation and visibility of the entire discography active, but I will not record anything new under the brand name «Caballero Reynaldo». My creative and exhibitionist needs are more than satisfied, and if not, I will do them under the mantle of any other character, anonymously or with The Visionaries.

STUFF. - T(H)REATS

• stuff: t(h)reats
      (2021, cd, bel, sdban)

Belgian band Stuff. released their latest album a couple of days ago.
"T(h)reats" follows the path the previous releases were laying out: contemporary electronic music that alternates dreamy, ambient excursions with more chaotic sounding  multi-rhythm adventures.

Here's 'Waksi', the second track from the album :

LEE SKLAR'S CONNECTION TO DWEEZIL ZAPPA AND RICKY LANCELOTTI

Session player / bass legend Lee Sklar released a book with photographs.

Lee adds:
“Everybody Loves Me” by Leland Sklar features photos of friends – and a huge cast of characters – flipping me off, as one would do!

https://lelandsklarsbeard.com/product/everybody-loves-me-book/

Here's Lee discussing his collaboration with Ricky Lancelotti in the first band he played in : Wolfgang.
Great story and impressive demos !!

-- info: Jan van Kemenade