Sunday, June 1, 2025
Part one - morning session:
Dweezil Zappa interview by Co De Kloet.
Nothing new or shocking, but it was nice.
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Wednesday, June 4, 2025
DWEEZIL ZAPPA AT THE BRIDGE GUITAR FESTIVAL - PART ONE
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JIM PONS - - - THE LEAVES
Here's a nice piece on The Leaves (& Jim Pons), who also played bass in Frank Zappa's band at a certain moment in time.
https://urbanaspirines.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-leaves-hey-joe-1966-all-good-thats.html
-- link: Jan van Kemenade
Monday, June 2, 2025
BETTER RULES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli is asking our support.
She's asking for better rules for the transport of musical instruments.
Read all about it here:
https://www.change.org/p/rules-for-the-transport-of-musical-instruments
Your signature and an optional 3 euro will support this petition !
PANZERBALLETT ON VINYL
Next to the CD edition, Panzerballett's latest album, "Ăbercde Oeuvre" has also been released on vinyl !!
And so is the band's "Hart Genossen" album. (That's the one with the Zappa Medley(s) on it)
It should be available from the Panzerballett shop real soon.
Or you can already order it from Act Records website
https://www.actmusic.com/en/hart-genossen-von-abba-bis-zappa/ACTLP-9664-1
BAREND TROMP
From 7D Media:
Guitarist/Bassist/Composer Barend Tromp To Release New Album “Odd Time Concepts” on June 6, 2025
Barend Tromp is a guitarist, bassist, and composer from the Netherlands whose music transcends borders and genres. With a background as diverse as his sound, Barend studied classical guitar at the Conservatory of Tilburg and attained a masters in Music Science at the University of Amsterdam. His passion for musical exploration led him to India and across Europe, where he studied the sitar under renowned masters. These influences — from Western classical to Indian raga — deeply inform his bass playing, resulting in a distinctive, genre-defying style.
Blending the rhythmic intricacy of slap bass with melodic and harmonic elements borrowed from guitar and sitar traditions, Barend has developed a voice all his own. In addition to his performance work, he’s a dedicated educator, teaching at various music schools and serving as a long-standing contributor to the Dutch bass magazine De Bassist. He is also the author of two guitar books and the acclaimed two-volume instructional series Next Level Slap Bass, widely respected for its innovative approach.
Barend’s music is as eclectic as it is original — a fusion of jazz, funk, world music, 70s progressive rock, electronic textures, and 20th-century classical influences. Yet, despite the complexity of these elements, his compositions remain grounded in groove and emotional resonance.
In 2021, Barend released his debut solo album Six Against Four, in which he showcases his multi-instrumentalist skills by both writing and performing all parts himself. The following year, his imaginative concept album Juvenile Fish Tales was released by Subcontinental Records (India). Inspired by a childhood book about marine life, the album features eleven instrumental tracks — each representing a different fish — and includes a special guest appearance by legendary American bassist Michael Manring. The project was met with widespread acclaim for its creativity and execution.
In 2025, Barend takes a bold leap into rhythmic experimentation with his third album, Odd Time Concepts, released on 7D Media — a U.S.-based label founded by visionary King Crimson alumnus Trey Gunn. Each of the album’s eleven tracks explores a unique time signature, ranging from familiar meters like 3/4 to more adventurous odd time signatures such as 13/16 and 21/8. Featuring four drummers, including progressive rock icon Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Stick Men), the album also includes a standout Warr guitar solo by Trey Gunn on the track “Madhuvanti.” Despite its experimental nature, the album remains accessible — maintaining groove and clarity throughout.
With each project, Barend Tromp continues to push the boundaries of composition and technique, crafting music that is both innovative and deeply expressive. His work resonates with musicians and listeners alike, offering a fresh and fearless perspective on contemporary instrumental music.
Guitarist/Bassist/Composer Barend Tromp To Release New Album “Odd Time Concepts” on June 6, 2025
Barend Tromp is a guitarist, bassist, and composer from the Netherlands whose music transcends borders and genres. With a background as diverse as his sound, Barend studied classical guitar at the Conservatory of Tilburg and attained a masters in Music Science at the University of Amsterdam. His passion for musical exploration led him to India and across Europe, where he studied the sitar under renowned masters. These influences — from Western classical to Indian raga — deeply inform his bass playing, resulting in a distinctive, genre-defying style.
Blending the rhythmic intricacy of slap bass with melodic and harmonic elements borrowed from guitar and sitar traditions, Barend has developed a voice all his own. In addition to his performance work, he’s a dedicated educator, teaching at various music schools and serving as a long-standing contributor to the Dutch bass magazine De Bassist. He is also the author of two guitar books and the acclaimed two-volume instructional series Next Level Slap Bass, widely respected for its innovative approach.
Barend’s music is as eclectic as it is original — a fusion of jazz, funk, world music, 70s progressive rock, electronic textures, and 20th-century classical influences. Yet, despite the complexity of these elements, his compositions remain grounded in groove and emotional resonance.
In 2021, Barend released his debut solo album Six Against Four, in which he showcases his multi-instrumentalist skills by both writing and performing all parts himself. The following year, his imaginative concept album Juvenile Fish Tales was released by Subcontinental Records (India). Inspired by a childhood book about marine life, the album features eleven instrumental tracks — each representing a different fish — and includes a special guest appearance by legendary American bassist Michael Manring. The project was met with widespread acclaim for its creativity and execution.
In 2025, Barend takes a bold leap into rhythmic experimentation with his third album, Odd Time Concepts, released on 7D Media — a U.S.-based label founded by visionary King Crimson alumnus Trey Gunn. Each of the album’s eleven tracks explores a unique time signature, ranging from familiar meters like 3/4 to more adventurous odd time signatures such as 13/16 and 21/8. Featuring four drummers, including progressive rock icon Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Stick Men), the album also includes a standout Warr guitar solo by Trey Gunn on the track “Madhuvanti.” Despite its experimental nature, the album remains accessible — maintaining groove and clarity throughout.
With each project, Barend Tromp continues to push the boundaries of composition and technique, crafting music that is both innovative and deeply expressive. His work resonates with musicians and listeners alike, offering a fresh and fearless perspective on contemporary instrumental music.
Here's 'Calcutta Zoo' from 2020
Saturday, May 31, 2025
QUASI - THE SWORD OF GOD
(2001, cd, UK, domino)
Quasi = Sam Coomes (vocals,
guitar, keyboard) & Janet Weiss (vocals, drums).
Indy power duo from Portland.
Indy power duo from Portland.
The duo released "The Sword Of God" in 2001.
The album featured Stanley Jason Zappa as special guest on the second track of the album, 'Fuck Hollywood', playing a wild outro to the song.
It's a nice album. Too bad that SJZ was only featured on one track.
THE REFERENCE GROUP - FILE UNDER UNPOPULAR
The Reference Group consisted of:
- Jimmy Ă gren : electric slide guitar
- Mathias Danielsson : electric guitar
- Ralf NygĂĽrd : digital bass
- Michael Maksymenko: drums
The Reference Group existed for a short period in the years 2007-2008. The group was formed by Ralf NygĂĽrd and Michael Maksymenko with the aim of playing their own original compositions partly from previous musical activities - but also new material. The idea was to perform only instrumental music, and the group were completed when guitarists Jimmy Ă
gren and Mathias Danielsson joined.
What a superb collection of songs.
Beefheartian rhythms, Snakefinger-like guitar licks, and some raw slide guitar...
This is superb.
Beefheartian rhythms, Snakefinger-like guitar licks, and some raw slide guitar...
This is superb.
Released as a digital download / streaming album by the Cuneiform record label.
FRANK ZAPPA - LUMPY GRAVY
Enjoying last year's re-issue of Frank Zappa's "Lumpy Gravy".
Re-released on the Japanese Oldays Records label.
The original capitol records mix (previously released on the "Lumpy/Money Project" and on the "Lumpy Gravy Primordial" 2018 record store day release) is included as bonus material.
Originally released in 1967.
I first heard it in the mid-eighties when it was made available again (as a counterfeit). It remains one of my absolute favourites.
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AN UPDATE FROM THE RESIDENTS
Hello again,
Another month and another update from the really-too-overcrowded-now desk of New Ralph Too. You may like to know that The Residents are well and spending a lot of time and energy working up their forthcoming 'Eskimo' live show, as well as the proposed next album, which we're contractually obliged to tell you is guaranteed to be a masterpiece.
For those on the west coast, the group's (almost) debut 'Eskimo' performance will take place at the Exotikon Festival at the Mayan Theater in L.A. on June 7th. It's a 3.00 p.m. matinee show, and tickets can be purchased at the Exotikon website (exotikon.com) or via Eventbrite. We're told the show features brand new stuff seamlessly and cleverly merged with the 'Eskimo' album we all know and love. The guys themselves are very excited about it, and we wait to hear of more dates coming soon - you'll be the first to know!
You probably already know by now that the 'American Composers Series' pREServed release is due out in June too, and available for pre-order now. But in San Francisco thoughts have already turned to the next proposed release, namely 'Animal Lover', an album which evolved through an unusually long and twisty series of projects and really lends itself to the microscopic detail the pREServed series tries to explore. So that'll be a good one.
There are, as ever, many other plans afoot and sliding in and out of The Residents' consciousness. Where to begin? A couple of proposed books, incomplete recordings in need of finishing and releasing, that new album mentioned above, more tour dates, their ongoing efforts to land a Resident on the moon, debates over whether or not Homer Flynn's title as "President" of the Cryptic Corporation should be temporarily retired again until the term regains some meaning, an itch that may need scratching concerning an update addendum to the 'Faceless Forever' encyclopaedia and on and on it goes.
But for now, folks - that's all. Keep that third eye well squeegeed and rest assured The Residents will, at some point, finish up their 'to do' list and get around to saving us all.
Your pals,
@ New Ralph Too
Another month and another update from the really-too-overcrowded-now desk of New Ralph Too. You may like to know that The Residents are well and spending a lot of time and energy working up their forthcoming 'Eskimo' live show, as well as the proposed next album, which we're contractually obliged to tell you is guaranteed to be a masterpiece.
For those on the west coast, the group's (almost) debut 'Eskimo' performance will take place at the Exotikon Festival at the Mayan Theater in L.A. on June 7th. It's a 3.00 p.m. matinee show, and tickets can be purchased at the Exotikon website (exotikon.com) or via Eventbrite. We're told the show features brand new stuff seamlessly and cleverly merged with the 'Eskimo' album we all know and love. The guys themselves are very excited about it, and we wait to hear of more dates coming soon - you'll be the first to know!
You probably already know by now that the 'American Composers Series' pREServed release is due out in June too, and available for pre-order now. But in San Francisco thoughts have already turned to the next proposed release, namely 'Animal Lover', an album which evolved through an unusually long and twisty series of projects and really lends itself to the microscopic detail the pREServed series tries to explore. So that'll be a good one.
There are, as ever, many other plans afoot and sliding in and out of The Residents' consciousness. Where to begin? A couple of proposed books, incomplete recordings in need of finishing and releasing, that new album mentioned above, more tour dates, their ongoing efforts to land a Resident on the moon, debates over whether or not Homer Flynn's title as "President" of the Cryptic Corporation should be temporarily retired again until the term regains some meaning, an itch that may need scratching concerning an update addendum to the 'Faceless Forever' encyclopaedia and on and on it goes.
But for now, folks - that's all. Keep that third eye well squeegeed and rest assured The Residents will, at some point, finish up their 'to do' list and get around to saving us all.
Your pals,
@ New Ralph Too
ANDY MERTENS ON YOUTUBE
Bass player for Sheik Yerbouti / Grandsheiks Andreas 'Andy' Mertens has a YouTube channel on which he discusses and performs the music of Frank Zappa.
It's pretty amazing.
I thought of Andy as an excellent bass player, but he's just an amazing all-round musician.
He also discusses FZ's guitar tone, among other things.
Check it out.
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