Monday, December 31, 2012

CABALLERO REYNALDO'S FRIENDS - CINQUECENTON



A little while ago, I already mentioned this fabulous project: Caballero Reynaldo (Luis G.) 's friends recorded an album to celebrate his birthday.
Not only a superb idea, but a beautiful one as well.
I most certainly mentioned that the album included two Zappa-coverversions, but I don't know if I mentioned that the album got released in two formats: both in a plastic case and in a DVD-case.
I added the picture of the DVD-case-cover to the U.M.Archives today.

http://www.halloffame.es/


THE MUZE JAZZ ORCHESTRA

The surprise of the week at the United Mutations Headquarters was the arrival of the Muze Magazine, dated January 2013.
Nothing wrong with that, you might say, and you would be right if it wasn't for the picture of Frank Zappa on the cover of the mag !

Saturday, February 9, the Muze Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the Muze Cultural Centre in Heusden-Zolder (B).
Reason enough to put a FZ on the cover!


VARIOUS ARTISTS - LEAVING JET TRAILS



Slowfoot records recently released Hello Skinny's first album. This made all of the Eyeball Buddies happy as it included a fine version of The Residents' 'Hello Skinny'.

"Leaving Jet Trailers" is a sampler by Slowfoot Records. This one includes a remixed version of 'Hello Skinny'. The bonus beat remix to be more precise.

http://www.slowfoot.co.uk/





HELLO SKINNY - HELLO SKINNY




    Earlier this year, Tom Skinner released his first album. For this album, Tom Skinner used the alias of Hello Skinny, and he named the album the same.
    To confuse us even a bit more, this eponymous album also includes the famous Residents song with the same name.
    So you get Hello Skinny performing 'Hello Skinny' on "Hello Skinny".

    "Hello Skinny" is drummer Tom Skinner's first album as bandleader, composer and producer.
    His bandcamp site describes the music as exploring areas around and between psych-dub, electronics, downtown jazz and folk stylings.

    Nice.

    http://helloskinny.bandcamp.com/


    THE ALMOST THREE RECORDED ZAPPA'S SLEEP DIRT

    German band The Almost Three recorded Frank Zappa's 'Sleep Dirt' on their latest album, "Big Muff".

    -- info: Ulli Schäfer

    ARF DOSSIER VOL.74


    Issue number 74 of The Arf Dossier, the Zappa fanzine that's published by the Arf Society, is out:

    the arf-dossier no.74  -  2012/12
    incl.
    • leserpost
    • zappanale für arf
    • the hot platters heaven from the arf office by andrew greenaway, peter görs, agnete granitzka
    • schon wieder norwegen - zappaunion in drammen by steffen schindler
    • zappaunion 2012 by bjorn olav herheim
    • news from belgium - live from United Mutations
    • grandsheiks live by zappacat & michael schaust
    • the vinyl bootleg releases by burkhard schempp
    • ullis eck by ulli schäfer

    VLEK

    Dutch septet Vlek's music has its roots in the psychedelic and the prog rock music of the 1970's. The band hails from around Tilburg and will release its first album in about two weeks.


    * Edward Capelop: sax & clarinet
    * Jeroen Doomernik: trumpet
    * Hans Sparla: trombone
    * Jacq Palinckx: guitar
    * Bart van Dongen: keys en electronics
    * Bert Palinckx: double bass
    * Pascal Vermeer: drums

    Friends of the experimental music scene will already have recognised a couple of names.
    This is something to look forward to.


    LIVING BY LANTERNS - NEW MYTH / OLD SCIENCE



    On his website, Mike Reed says:
    "In the winter I was commissioned by the Experimental Sound Studio to create a performance that in some way used or was inspired by material contained in the 700 hours of the Sun Ra/El Saturn Audio Collection. This audio archive is a vast assortment of rehearsal tapes, masters, live recordings, speeches and poetry left behind by Sun Ra and manager Alton Abraham. Although an interesting proposition I was reluctant to dive into it since my working band People, Places & Things has gained much of it's success dealing with re-inventing and positioning the obscure Chicago hard bop scene circa 1954-60. With that in mind I wasn't interested in developing a reputation for re-igniting the past.

    After some thinking and discussions with collaborator Jason Adasiewicz I came up with the notion of forming a large group to perform this project AND to specifically enlist his talents to accomplish the task. The first step in the process was to completely dismiss the idea of commenting or honoring Sun Ra. Neither one of us are fanatics and there's not much more anyone is going to add to the discussion of the man and the legend. The more interesting idea was of creating new music using someone's un-finished, un-wanted and abandoned material. In my mind it doesn't matter who's tapes these are, it's just source material , in this case it happens to be Sun Ra."

    In the liner notes of the album, Terri Kapsalis adds:
    "From 700 hours of possible starting points, Reed and collaborator/vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz chose Reel 43, a rehearsal tape marked "NY 1961"...
    Adasiewicz extracted melodic and harmonic themes. With Reed, they produced "outlines of tune material and ideas for structures." Adasiewicz's remarkable orchestrations followed."


    I'm a fan of Mike Reed's People, Places and Things ensemble in which he investigates the 1950's Chicago jazz scene. I have also seen Jason Adasiewicz in concert a couple of times already, most recently with Swedish Azz and I have to say that I like what he does.

    I'm happy to say that I am very pleased with "New Myth / Old Science". The nine-piece band does not try to be a reincarnation of the Arkestra. They play original and fascinating music.
    "New Myth / Old Science" is one of these albums that asks for you complete attention. I was happy to give it.


    Recommended listening.

    Out on Cuneiform Records : http://www.cuneiformrecords.com/

    Available from Mandaï : www.mandai.be





    STAUSS, ANLIKER, KAYSER & VOGT - ECHOES



    "Echoes" presents 7 compositions by Markus Stauss, performed by Hans Anliker (trombone), Oliver Vogt (viola & violin), Pit Kayser (keyboards) and Markus Stauss (tenor, soprano and bass saxophone).
    The majority of these pieces had previously been recorded and released in a different setting and on various Markus Stauss albums.

    As the album title might suggest, the quartet gives a new interpretation to some of Markus Stauss' older compositions. The originally experimental jazz pieces get a contemporary classical treatment, and it suits them very well.

    If you're only familiar with Markus Stauss' experimental jazz and rock output, "Echoes" will be an excellent addition.

    Recommended listening.

    http://www.fazzulmusic.ch


    HAPPY 2013

    A happy & healthy 2013 to you all !!

    Frank performing with The Mike Douglas Orchestra. 1976/10/28


    Sunday, December 30, 2012

    A RESIDENTS UPDATE

    The soundtrack to the "Randy's Ghost Stories" DVD, will be released on CD. On a CD-on-demand to be more precise.

    www.residents.com

    THE MIKE KENEALLY BAND

    What's a picture book without flyers and posters and such...

    Here's the poster for the upcoming Mike Keneally Band tour.

    Mike Keneally: guitar, keyboards & vocals
    Bryan Beller: bass
    Rick Musallam: guitar
    Joe Travers: drums

    BOZZIO - MACHACEK - JOHNSON


    Terry Bozzio - Alex Machacek - Jimmy Johnson
    2013/01/15 concert 'The Loft', UCSD, San Diego, CA, usa
    special guest : Mike Keneally

    RAY COLLINS TRIBUTE ON RADIO KAOS 2013 01 02

    Wednesday, January 2, 2013, Bobby Marquis will be doing a Ray Collins tribute on his Radio Kaos radio show on CKCU-FM radio, Ottowa's community radio station.

    http://www.ckcufm.com/


    Saturday, December 29, 2012

    MIKE KENEALLY UPDATE

    from Mike Keneally's newsletter:


    On December 30, Rick Musallam and I will send out 2012 in proper fashion with a duet gig at The Baked Potato in LA. We did a duet tour earlier this year but we didn't do any gigs on the West Coast, and this will help to make up for that fact. The setlist is real broad, drawing from many different albums and touching on some songs that I hardly ever, or never, play in a band context. Get on over and hang out with us!

    On January 25 I'll be doing a short solo set opening for Alex Machacek, Terry Bozzio and Jimmy Johnson at The Loft at UCSD in San Diego - a wonderful opportunity to share a night of music with these truly masterful musicians. I look forward to playing, and also to hearing those guys!



    MERRY AXEMAS...

    Steve Vai on the guitar.

    DWALMACAT 499


    Go to 
    and click on "luister naar dwalmacat" to enjoy
    • CRASS - Merry Crassmass
    • TUXEDOMOON - Weihnachtsrap
    • XTC - I sit in the snow
    • HYBRID KIDS - We three kings
    • KLOOT PER W - Zwarte Kerst
    • ELLA FITZGERALD - Let it snow, let it snow
    • MONTY PYTHON - Christmas in heaven
    • BERT & ERNIE - Teveel
    • THE WAITRESSES - Christmas wrapping
    • MALARIA & FRIEDER BUTZMANN - White christmas
    • MOEBIUS & PLANK - Nordöstliches Gefühl
    • PAUL HAIG - Christiana
    • HEINTJE - Klinkende klokjes
    • UF URFIN - Kulkuset
    • LCD SOUNDSYSTEM - Home
    • THE BEATLES - Christmas time is here again
    • HEMATIC SUNSETS & OKKO BEKKER - Leise rieselt der Schnee
    • SUICIDE - Dream baby dream




    GARY LUCAS UPDATE

    February 17, 2013, Gary Lucas will be presenting "The World Of Captain Beefheart" at the 'Paradiso' in Amsterdam, NL. The concert will feature The Metropole Orchestra and special guest Nona Hendryx.


    Sunday Feb. 17th

    8pm
    Paradiso, Amsterdam
    Gary Lucas performs "The World of Captain Beefheart"
    with the 60 piece Metropole Orchestra and very special guest Nona Hendryx
    produced by Co de Kloet

    Thurs. Mar. 7th
    8 & 10pm
    Iridium, NYC
    Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters
    with Ernie Brooks, Billy Ficca, Jason Candler, and special guests tba

    Saturday June 8th 2013
    9pm
    SaratogaArtsFest
    Saratoga Springs, NY
    Gary headlines this 4 day festival performing his original score accompanying "The Golem"



    MIKE KENEALLY TO TOUR EUROPE NEXT MARCH / APRIL

    The Mike Keneally Band

    Mike Keneally * * Bryan Beller * * Rick Musallam * * Joe Travers

    2013/03/20 concert ‘Borderline’, London, UK

    2013/03/21 concert ‘Clwb Ifor Bach’, Cardiff, Wales, UK

    2013/03/22 concert ‘Night 'n Day Café’, Manchester, UK

    2013/03/23 concert ‘The Cluny’, Newcastle, UK

    2013/03/24 concert ‘Voodoo Rooms’, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

    2013/03/27 concert ‘Paradox’, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    2013/03/28 concert ‘Cafe Central’, Weinheim, Germany

    2013/03/29 concert ‘Paradiso’, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    2013/03/30 concert ‘Der Club’, Heiligenhaus, Germany

    2013/03/31 concert ‘Bergkeller’, Reichenbach, Germany

    2013/04/02 concert ‘Kellerperle’, Wurzberg, Germany

    2013/04/03 concert ‘Spirit of 66’, Verviers, Belgium

    2013/04/04 concert ‘Music Academy International’, Nancy, France


    JAZZCLUB DE SINGER, RIJKEVORSEL, BELGIUM

    Yesterday, I saw Natashia Kelly and Nathan Wouters performing at jazzclub De Singer in Rijkevorsel (B).
    Voice & double bass.
    Nice. Very nice.
    Natashia Kelly, a name to remember.
    Among others, the setlist included jazzy versions of compositions by Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.


    For the next couple of weeks, the program looks like this:


    18/01/2013 - Ramón Valle Trio (CUB)
    15/02/2013 - Lee Konitz / Florian Weber (VS/D)
    20/02/2013 - Mark Feldman / Sylvie Courvoisier (VS/CH)
    08/03/2013 - Steve Wynn Solo (ex-The Dream Syndicate) (VS)
    16/03/2013 - Charles Gayle Trio (VS/PL/D)
    30/03/2013 - Evan Parker / Paul Lytton (GB) vanche (B)
    13/04/2013 - Baloni (B/FR/D)
    20/04/2013 - Eric Vloeimans / Tuur Florizoone (NL/B)


    ZAPPA'S "FINER MOMENTS" TO BE RELEASED ON VINYL

    The Amazon website has February 5, 2013, listed as the release date for the vinyl version of Zappa's latest album.

    QUENTIN BLAKE


    English cartoonist and illustrator Quentin Blake made a drawing of Frank Zappa for Punch magazine in 1972.

    The drawing got published with an interview, "Passing Through. Frank Zappa talks to David Taylor", in Punch magazine, 1972.09.27

    Quentin Blake might be better known to you as the illustrator for Roald Dahl's books.






    ART TRIPP & RAY COLLINS


     Here's a message from Facebook by Art Tripp (forwarded by Chris Garcia)

    ARTIE TRIPP FOR RAY COLLINS

    It's not quite dawned on me yet that Ray Collins is no longer in this terrestrial world. Since the late 1960's it had always been a type of comfort to me to know that Ray was around. And Ray did get around. A child of the 1930's, he came of age in the 1950's when times were good. He developed a free spirit and a resistance to labels and rules. His fine tenor voice got him work in prominent L.A. doo-wop bands; but he took other types of work as well. One of them was a good paying job building sets for the movie studios. He told me he quit because he got tired of the idiots.

    He joined up with Roy Estrada and Jimmy Carl Black in the Soul Giants. When their guitar player quit they hired Frank Zappa, a musician Ray had worked with earlier in the 1960's. Soon the Mothers of Invention were born, and Ray helped front the band, and was its lead vocalist for the next three years. His ribald and off beat sense of humor was a perfect complement to the unclassifiable group.

    When I joined the band in 1968, it was as if I'd died and gone to heaven. The humor, the iconoclasm, the musicianship, and the wide variety of music were a perfect fit. And to me Ray was the fountainhead of the basic nature of the band. Yet later that year Ray's distaste for the group's musical direction compelled him to announce that he was leaving the group. I was stunned. Everyone was shocked. How could he quit when the group was getting so popular, and starting to provide us with so much work? But off he went, and I felt that he took the spirit of the Mothers with him.

    Ray had his own convictions, and he was never one to veer from them. He resolutely held to his beliefs no matter what the popular course. As a man of the people, an everyman, Ray was a true free spirit-a Beatnik, and a wanderer.

    I have many memories of Ray. We played the Grammy Awards in '68 at the plush NY Hilton. Steve Allen was the host that year, Woody Herman and his Herd was the house band. When they drew the curtain up for our performance Ray walked over to Steve and said, "How's your bird"? Allen let out a big horse laugh, and the guys in Herman's band doubled over in stitches.
    Ray joined us for a last gig in San Diego in 1969. During the show Ray improvised a gag which lampooned Jim Morrison's "exposure" on stage a few weeks prior. Morrison's antics had sent shockwaves throughout rock 'n roll, and people suspected he'd gone too far. So Ray's satire caused the entire audience to come unglued.

    We kept in touch over the years. A few months ago my wife and I went out to L.A. to visit old friends. We got together with Ray down at the venerable Phillipe's Restaurant near Union Station. Afterwards we spent some time at Olvera Street, then we walked down to Union Station to see Ray off on his train back to Claremont. After a few final words, he turned and walked down the tunnel to his train. As I watched him go, I knew that it would be the last time I was to see Ray. Yet I never would have dreamed that he'd be gone in six months. Goodbye, old friend. I can hear you singing to them in heaven.

    Art Tripp


    NOTE FROM GMOI DRUMMER Christopher Garcia
    Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Arthur Dyer Tripp via phone calls, emails and such and sending music written and otherwise back and forth and sharing way too many stories. Had the pleasure of meeting Art and his wife in Los Angeles and again in New Orleans this year (2012).
    When I heard about Ray Collins I gave Art a call. I received this from Art today and he said I could post it along with this pic taken this year,
    THANKS ART!!

    MAXIMILIANO LOPEZ BARRIOS

    Painter Maximiliano Lopez Barrios has produced some Frank Zappa & Cal Schenkel inspired works.



    Retrato del gran Cal Schenkel.
    por Maximiliano Lopez Barrios,2012


    Sofá (Homenaje a Cal Schenkel)
    por Maximiliano Lopez Barrios

    ZAPPANALE #24


    Program - Zapanale #24

    The (preliminary) planned program for the Zappanale #24.

    Thursday, 01.08.2013 - Kamp, Bad Doberan
    • Schülerband (DE)
    • ZAPPNOISE (DE)
    • Ukulele Overnite (DE)
    • Bad Penny (DE)

    Friday, 02.08.2013 - Festivalground
    • Jim Cohen (USA)
    • Dangerous Kitchen (DE)
    • Ali N. Askin (DE)
    • Pojama People featuring Ike Willis (USA)
    • Anton and the Headcleaners (CH)
    • The Brain - Fried Dähn (DE)
    • Dasch2 (DE)

    Saturday, 03.08.13 - Festivalground
    • Fritz Rau (DE)
    • Jazzprojekt Hundehagen (DE)
    • avant-garde-quatuor (Project-Name follows) (FR)
    • Coogans Bluff (DE)
    • Polka Streng (AT)
    • Sebkha-Chott & Friends perform Thing Fish (FR)
    • Z3 (USA)

    Sunday, 04.08.2013 - Festivalground
    • Studio Dan (AT)
    • Kazutoki Umezu KIKI Band (JP)
    • The GrandSheiks (DE)
    • Goodbye Session
    • Tarentatec plays "Aufrichtiges Zappa" (DE)


    The booking for the Zappanale # 24 (2013) is completed.

    INVENTIONIS MATER PERFORMS ZAPPA

    Inventionis Mater is clarinetist Pierpaolo Romani and guitarist Andrea Pennati.

    Check out their homepage and listen to some fine interpretations of Frank Zappa's music.
    This is great. Really great.


    http://www.inventionismater.com/eng/index.html


    Tuesday, December 25, 2012

    R.I.P. RAY COLLINS

    Singer Ray Collins, one of the original Mothers of Invention, passed away on December 24, after being in a medically induced coma for several days.

    http://www.weirdomusic.com/2012/12/25/mothers-of-invention-vocalist-ray-collins-dies-age-76/

    THE ARISTOCRATS - BOING, WE'LL DO IT LIVE



    Yesterday, one day before Christmas, the brand-new Aristocrats album arrived.
    The Aristocrats are Guthrie Govan on guitar, Bryan Beller on bass and Marco Minnemann on drums. I'm pretty sure that I've talked extensively about all three musicians on numerous occasions. Every project that involves one of these musicians is always worth to be checked out.
    Guthrie Govan is a Guitar Techniques magazine instructor and has released the fabulous "Erotic Cakes". Bryan Beller has recorded and performed with Mike Keneally and with Steve Vai just to name two, and has also released three very fine solo albums. And then there's Marco Minnemann... Marco has given drum clinics with Terry Bozzio and Chad Wackerman. He has recorded and toured with Mike Keneally and with Eddie Jobson. And (!!), he's the man behind the fabulous Normalizer 2 Project.
    Just to say that they are top notch musicians.
    The icing on the cake, however, is that besides their incredible technical abilities, these guys are great composers as well.
    If you're in to instrumental progressive, melodic rock music à la Mike Keneally and Steve Vai, you definitely need to check out The Aristocrats.

    "Boing! We'll Do It Live" is the band's second release, following their self-titled debut from 2011.
    It's availabel as a 2CD audio set, as a download, and as a deluxe DVD/2CD set.
    It's a must-have.

    http://the-aristocrats-band.com/




    NEW RESIDENTS ALBUM

    Over at The Residents' website: www.residents.com
    One can listen to the Santa Dog Forever 2012 track, and order the Rezzies latest album:
    "Triple Dab-Ya Melbourne".


    • the residents: santa dog forever 2012
          (2012, mp3-download, --, the residents)



    • the residents: triple dub-ya melbourne
          (2012, cd, usa, rz1211)


    RESIDENTS TOUR DATES

    I guess every Residents fan knows that The Eyeballed Ones are celebrating their 40th anniversary with a tour.

    The U.S. dates are already known.


    WONDER OF WEIRD 2013


    2012/01/29 Crescent Phoenix

    2012/01/31 Austin Scottish Rite Theatre
    2012/02/01 Dallas Kessler
    2012/02/02 Dallas Kessler
    2012/02/03 Houston Fitzgerald Upstairs

    2012/02/05 Atlanta Variety
    2012/02/06 Carrboro Carborro Arts Center

    2012/02/08 North Hampton Iron Horse
    2012/02/09 New York Stage 48
    2012/02/10 DC Sixth & I Synagogue
    2012/02/11 Philadelphia World Café
    2012/02/12 Boston ICA

    2012/02/15 Chicago Schubas
    2012/02/16 Chicago Lincoln Hall
    2012/02/17 Milwaukee Turner Hall
    2012/02/18 Minneapolis Cedar

    2012/02/21 Seattle Neptune
    2012/02/22 Portland Hawthorne

    2012/02/24 San Francisco Bimbo's
    2012/02/25 Los Angeles El Rey
    2012/02/26 San Diego Belly Up

    2012/02/28 Santa Cruz Rio

    At least one Yuripean date has popped up:

    2012/04/24 Leuven - Het Depot


    Monday, December 24, 2012

    MERRY X-MAS EVERYBODY


    SUN RA PODCAST

    Sound Colour Vibration Podcast 148 takes a look at the music of Sun Ra.

    "Volume 2 in our examination of the living myth, Sun Ra and his ever evolving Arkestra. Time and space are nothing as you used to identify with when inside a Ra piece. Open your mind and find a comfortable space to dive in ears wide open. This is Ra at some of his finest points. "

    Compiled by Erik Otis.

    http://www.mixcloud.com/sacvs/sun-ra-mix-ii-face-the-music-scv-podcasts-148/


    RAY COLLINS

    Ray Collins is one of the founding members of the Mothers Of Invention.

    Ray isn't doing well. He was hospitalised a couple of days ago and things aren't looking good.

    Here are some great shots of Ray Collins that Peter Barwick took some two years ago.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/barwick/sets/72157632290262677/



    Sunday, December 23, 2012

    STEVE VAI UPDATE

    Steve Vai (in his latest newsletter):
    "At this time I'm hunkering down for the next 5 months to compose music for a "Stravinsky Festival" that will take place in May 2013 in Holland. In June, we are looking at 10 or so dates in Europe with "The Evolution Orchestra". Then for the rest of the year I am looking forward to taking the "Story of Light Band" back out to perform anyplace around the world we have missed. More details on all this to come."

    FRANK ZAPPA (VIDEO) AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE, PASSAIC 1978

    WOWIE ZOWIE  !!


    ED PALERMO CONCERT DATES

    Ed Palermo said


    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FRANK ZAPPA!!
    And Happy Holidays, everybody!!

    To celebrate that AND New Years, we have 3 concerts coming up.
    First, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29-LIVE AT THE FALCON

    This holiday-based concert will still be mainly FRANK ZAPPA music but with many surprises in store!
    http://www.liveatthefalcon.com/

    TWO shows starting at 7:30.

    The FALCON is a GORGEOUS nightclub with NO cover charge!

    Second, we ring in the NEW YEAR with our first 2013 two-night stint at NYC'S premier nightclub, IRIDIUM, featuring NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK!

    SO many exclamation points!!!


    THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, JAN 3+4.

    TWO shows starting at 8:00.

    I really hope you can make it to at least one of these shows so I can justify the use of all these exclamation points!!

    ed palermo!!


    BEST BATCH YET

    A year and a half ago, Jesse Krakow organised a Captain Beefheart tribute concert as a benefit for Multiple Sclerose. The concert featured special guests Gary Lucas and Nona Hendryx !

    2011 06 04 at the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC


    I saw a link to a YouTube movie earlier today (thanks to John Kaminski), so I added the poster to the U.M.Archives.

    Here's some footage:










    BILLY CONNOLLY & FRANK ZAPPA


    -- info: Jan van Kemenade

    PD9 PLAYS SUN RA TRIBUTE IN DETROIT 2012 12 29


    An annual event now - the Planet D Nonet pays tribute to the Cosmic master, Sun Ra at the DIA on the eve of NYE! NEW charts & some NEW cats in the band!

    Detroit Institute of Arts
    5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit 48202

    Justin Jozwiak / alto sax & flute, Tim Haldeman / tenor sax & flute, Joshua James / bari & alto sax, cl, James O'Donnell / trumpet, flügelhorn & vox, Ken Ferry / trumpet & flügelhorn, John "T-Bone" Paxton / trombone, Michael Malis / piano, Joel Peterson / string bass, RJ Spangler / drums & percussion, Akunda Hollis / djembé drum

    ZAPPATIKA VIDEOS FROM LEIDEN 2012 12 14





    MOONJUNE ANNOUCES NEW TITLES FOR 2013


    MARBIN "Last Chapter Of Dreaming"

    DEWA BUDJANA "Dawai Ring Kahyangan"

    SOFT MACHINE LEGACY "Burden Of Proof"

    simakDIALOG "Enam"

    I KNOW YOU WELL MISS CLARA "Title TBA"

    ALLAN HOLDSWORTH "Flat Tire"

    HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE RESIDENTS


    Friday, December 21, 2012

    NEW TRIO OF STRIDENCE ALBUM INCLUDES TWO ZAPPA COMPOSITIONS

    Paul Marangoni's Trio Of Stridence has a new album out: "Auditur Periculosum".
    It includes two Frank Zappa compositions.

    http://www.paulmarangoni.com/Trio/Auditur_Periculosum/

    THE LAST DAY OF THE ZAPPADAN

    Ever since 2006, Zappa fans and freaks from all over the world celebrate the Zappadan Festival.
    The festival is a creation of Zappa fans in the blogosphere, and runs virtually from Dec. 4 (the date of FZ’s death) until Dec. 21 (the date of FZ’s birth). 
    The rules are simple: celebrate the music of Frank Zappa.

    Happy Birthday, Frank !

    My pal Dan shared this audio snippet on Youtube.
    If you ever wondered why I'm a fan of Frank Zappa's music, here's your answer.


    Tuesday, December 18, 2012

    FRANK ZAPPA'S "LATHER", THE REISSUE

    3 CD's with some of the best music around.
    In a new package.

    Everybody should have a copy of "Läther".


    FRANK ZAPPA'S "FINER MOMENTS" ARRIVED TODAY


    disc one

    1. intro
    2. sleazette
    3. mozart piano sonata in bb
    4. the walking zombie music
    5. the old curiosity shoppe
    6. you never know who your friends are
    7. uncle rhebus

    disc two

    1. music from the big squeeze
    2. enigmas 1 thru 5
    3. pumped and waxed
    4. there is no heaven from where slogans go to die
    5. squeeze it, squeeze it, squeeze it
    6. the subcutaneous peril


    Monday, December 17, 2012

    AS THE ZAPPADAN CONTINUES...

    My Zappanale CD series got two titles added today.
    I had noticed that there were two titles missing, so I ordered these from the Arf Society last week.



    If I'm not mistaken, this was the third promotional sampler that got released by the Arfs. Early birds got this disc when ordering their ticket for Zappanale 16.
    "Zappanale #15" takes a look back with fine performances by The Foolz, Arf, Frogg Café, The Wrong Object, The Grand Mothers and many more.



    This second sampler got released in 2009. It also is a promotional sampler. This time, the disc presented recordings from bands that still had to play at Zappanale. Excellent tracks by Sebkah-Chott, Beardfish, The Central Scrutinzer Band, Caballero Reynaldo, Zappatika, LeBocal, and many more.

    Both albums have been added to the respective discographies over the United Mutations Archives.
    (While I listened to them, of course)

    http://www.zappanale.de/

    U.K. REUNION TOUR DATA

    I've cut and pasted data from various sources into the U.K. entry over at the United Mutations Archives.
    The 2012 dates of the U.K. Reunion Tour have been added, together with a couple of setlists.

    Recordings of quite a lot of these concerts are circulating.
    Also added picture and data for one of the recent U.K. factory pressed bootlegs. This one has one of the 2011 concerts, with Jobson / Wetton backed by Alex Machacek and Marco Minnemann.


    Here's an audience video recording from YouTube from around the same time.


    ANOTHER FRANK ZAPPA PICTURE DISC BOOTLEG

    This 10" vinyl picture disc bootleg got released earlier this year.
    It was produced in a limited edition of 250 numbered copies.
    Pictures of the cover and of both sides of the album have been added to the United Mutations Archives.
    It's called "Dirty Love" and the small print says that it's a Rykodisc release for the Frank Zappa Fan Club Japan, but let's just say that I'm not too sure about that.




    STEVE MOORE - LIGHT ECHOES


    • steve moore: light echoes
          (2012, cd, usa, cuneiform records)
    NYC-based musician Steve Moore might be known to you as a film score composer, or as the synthesizer player in space rock duo Zombi. He's also a name in the dance/pop and remix world.
    On "Light Echoes" we meet Steve Moore in his capacity as a solo keyboard performer.

    Steve Moore says: "Light Echoes is different from my other albums fundamentally in that it was written specifically to be performed live using on ly a few of my most trusted synthesizers. More accurately, those that I know will make a sound when I turn them on (at least 50% of the time) and/or fit in my car."

    On "Light Echoes" you will find six synthesizer pieces. Nothing fancy. Just six oldfashioned electronic compositions. And that's were the power of "Light Echoes" is to be found.
    It's all about the soundscapes, all about the journey.

    Out on Cuneiform.

    Distributed by Mandai

    Here's one of the tracks:




    Sunday, December 16, 2012

    SUN RA AND HIS INFINITY ARKESTRA - COSMO EARTH FANTASY


    The late Sun Ra used to have his own record label. It was called Saturn and it was used to release records that the band took with them to concerts. So every time when the Arkestra left for a series of concerts, they took the boxes of the Saturn records with them. When they ran out of records, they printed new runs, often meaning that they would use new recordings, sometimes mixing them with material that already had been released. One print-run usually was about 300 copies. The result is an immense and very complex discography.

    During the early seventies, two different LP's on Sun Ra's Saturn label were entitled "Sub Underground". To make things even more complicated, a hybrid version of these two LP's exist as well: using one side from the first and the other side from the second album.
    All this to say that the original albums are not easy to find.
    It is Art Yard's mission to reissue a series of Saturn albums. Their latest release "Underground Series - Cosmo Earth Fantasy" combines the recordings of both the original albums.

    "A classic Saturn experimental studio/rehearsal release, starting with 8 delirious minutes of Kora and Piano frame - almost certainly the Strange Strings instruments, whatever they were... and then Ra's signature clavinet of the period and an unidentifiable double- reed instrument, probably Marshall Allen... enter the xylophone.. I sense you're getting the picture; all in all 21 great later-1960s minutes. Followed by a lyrical standard with Ra playing acoustic piano and John Gilmore saying what has to be said: a live recording, as is the next; congas, bongos, Ra on Rocksichord and singing in the Ra-African style. Some fine straight ahead jazz follows - with serious electric guitar and great tenor playing. And so it goes on, winding up with full-on Space is the Place Angel rant from Ra - not the best sound, but heartfelt. A fine, eclectic collection with enough gems."














    CAPTAIN BEEFHEART BAT CHAIN PULLER VINYL BOOTLEG

    It was to be expected. Captain Beefheart's "Bat Chain Puller" album recently got released on CD on Zappa Records. It's no suprise that it got a bootleg vinyl reissue.

    The below pictures show the cover & the vinyl of a limited, numbered edition of 100 copies of "Bat Chain Puller". Blue vinyl, as you can see.



    ZAPPA BOOTLEG PICTURES

    It's been a while since I've added any info to the Zappa bootleg section over at the United Mutations Archives. Here's two nice items that I added today.

    The Life Of Francesco Zappa. Front and back. This is a pretty rare vinyl picture disc bootleg.
    I had this one on my want-list for quite a number of years. I was glad when I finally found it.



    And here's a picture of the 4LP box: "Superset". Only 20 copies made. On the Hoffman label.
    I've never seen a copy. I guess you have to know the guy who presses these...
    Hard-to-find is an understatement.



    LEBOCAL - BIST DU FROH?



    "Bist Du Froh?" (Are You Happy?) is LeBocal's fifth album.
    Again, this French ensemble suprises me in the best possible way. LeBocal blends high-energy rock, jazz and brass into a beautiful mixture of contemporary music.
    Thierry Girault wrote most of the compositions on "Bist Du Froh?", but the disc presents some fine compositions by other bandmembers as well.
    In short: beautiful compositions, great arrangements, lots of variety and fine solos. This is fun!

    Highly recommended !!

    Out on Musea Records.

    http://www.musearecords.com



    STEVE VAI TOURBOOK

    I added a picture of the recent Steve Vai tourbook on the Steve Vai page at the United Mutations Archives.


    10 YEARS FIDO PLAYS ZAPPA

    Fido Plays Zappa will be celebrating their 10th anniversary with a tour !!


    2013/01/12 - Alter Zoll, Basel - FiDO debugged
    2013/01/18 - Bärencheller, Aarburg - FiDO debugged
    2013/02/16 - Centre Culturel, Delemont - FiDO debugged

    2013/02/26 -> 2013/03/03 tour in Germany

    2013/03/08 - Kulturhof Schloss Köniz
    2013/03/09 - Chollerhalle, Zug
    2013/03/14 - Bazillus, Zürich
    2013/03/15 - UFO/St.Gervais, Biel
    2013/03/16 - BScene, Kuppel Basel - Surprise Show
    2013/03/21 - Gare du Nord, Basel 

    GERMAN WERGO RECORD LABEL RELEASES CONLON NANCARROW ALBUM

    The German Wergo record label has released "Late And Unknown: Works On Rolls".
    The album includes Conlon Nancorrow compositions as performed on the composer's own player pianos.

    "For decades, Conlon Nancarrow's creative activity was confined to the privacy of his studio: he wrote music for the player piano, punched it manually onto paper rolls, and listened to it played by his mechanical instruments. There is no more authentic way of experiencing Nancarrow's extraordinary repertoire than listening to it on his own specially modified instruments. In honor of the 100th birthday of Nancarrow, Wergo presents Late and Unknown, an album featuring numerous first recordings on the composer's own player pianos. The program documents Nancarrow's practice of turning old rolls into new works and his usage of the player piano as a tool for testing practically everything he wrote. Of special note, current technology has made possible the first recording of a properly coordinated version of the ambitious 'Study No. 48c' for two superimposed rolls."

    ZAPPA TRIBUTE ON THE NEW BGUTI ORCHESTRA ALBUM

    Pieter Douma's Bguti Orchestra recorded a Frank Zappa tribute on their "3 Strippers From Gaza" album. The band also performed the piece in concert.


    I saw the Bgute Orchestra tentet (!!) in concert at the 'Plusetage' club in Baarle-Nassau yesterday. Despite the incredible line-up, the concert didn't meet my expectations. I did like the jazz pieces that they played, but they also performed some material that I would descirbe as Dutch country music. Not my cup of tea.
    Lowell George's 'Sailin' Shoes' was very nice though: vocals, bass and crazy keyboard (Michiel Braam !). The Zappa tribute, '3 Strippers In Gaza', got a bit lost in the mix. Too bad.

    Biggest discovery was guitar player Jerôme Hol.
    Google turned up some more nice things that Jerôme has been doing...




    Saturday, December 15, 2012

    TOM FOWLER INTERVIEW ON CKCU RADIO ON 2012 12 19

    This year's final episode of Bobby Marquis' 'Radio Kaos' will feature a phone interview with Tom Fowler.

    Live on Canadian CKCU radio.

    www.ckcufm.com

    15:30 tot 17:00 in EST