Wednesday, July 29, 2015

BANNED FROM UTOPIA TOURDATES


Banned From Utopia Fall Tour

15.10.2015 Freising (D) Lindenkeller www.lindenkeller-live.de
16.10.2015 Praha (CZ) tbc
17.10.2015 Burglengenfeld (D) VAZ Pfarrheim www.power-concerts.de
19.10.2015 Duisburg (D) Grammatikoff www.grammatikoff.de
20.10.2015 Bolzano/Bozen-Steinegg (I) Steinegg Live www.steinegglive.com
21.10.2015 København (DK) Amager Bio www.amagerbio.dk
22.10.2015 Göteborg (S) Nefertiti www.nefertiti.se
23.10.2015 Oslo (N) Cosmopolite www.zappaunion.no
24.10.2015 Vaals (NL) tbc
25.10.2015 Eindhoven (NL) Effenaar www.effenaar.nl
27.10.2015 Arnhem (NL) Luxor Live www.luxorlive.nl
28.10.2015 Zoetermeer (NL) Boerderji www.cultuurpodiumboerderij.nl
30.10.2015 Diksmuide (B) 4AD www.4ad.be
31.10.2015 St-André-lez-Lille (F) tbc
02.11.2015 Manchester (UK) Band On The Wall www.bandonthewall.org
03.11.2015 London (UK) Jazzcafe www.thejazzcafelondon.com
04.11.2015 Southampton (UK) The Brook www.the-brook.com
05.11.2015 Derby (UK) The Flower Pot www.rawpromo.co.uk
07.11.2015 Leuven (B) Het Depot www.hetdepot.be
08.11.2015 Rouen-Cléon (F) La Traverse www.latraverse.org
10.11.2015 Worms (D) Das Wormser www.das-wormser.de
11.11.2015 Stuttgart (D) Theaterhaus www.theaterhaus.com
12.11.2015 Biel/Bienne (CH) Chessu/Coupole www.ajz.ch
13.11.2015 Schaffhausen (CH) Kammgarn www.kammgarn.ch
14.11.2015 Markneukirchen (D) Framus & Warwick Music Hall www.framus-warwick-musichall.de
16.11.2015 Aschaffenburg (D) Colos-Saal www.colos-saal.de
17.11.2015 Torgau (D) Kulturbastion www.kulturbastion.de
18.11.2015 Hannover-Isernhagen (D) Blues Garage www.bluesgarage.de
19.11.2015 Berlin (D) Kesselhaus www.kesselhaus-berlin.de




FRANK ZAPPA'S FAMILY PLANS MASSIVE NEW RELEASE SCHEDULE

Frank Zappa's Family Plans Massive New Release Schedule

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/frank-zappas-family-plans-massive-new-release-schedule-20150729#ixzz3hIwjOY1R


-- info: Clint, over at Zappateers


Tuesday, July 28, 2015

MORE INFO ON ZAPPANALE 27

A couple of days ago, I showed you the list of bands that are already scheduled to perform at the next edition of Zappanale festival.
The next edition, so that's July 2016 !

Here's some extra info.

The Grandmothers (with Don Preston and Bunk Gardner) will be teaming up with Fried Dahn's Yellow String Quartet.
This will be something very special.
The Grandmothers and the Yellow String Quartet already shared the stage during the Grandmothers' encore at the ZappaUnion festival in Oso, november 2014.
This time they will be doing a complete concert together.

The Magic Band will be bringing the music of Captain Beefheart to Bad Doberan. Special guest appearances from Don Preston and Bunk Gardner are being arranged.

Daevid Allen passed away only a couple of months ago. Gong will continue as Gong 2 and will be performing at Zappanale.

Florida-based Bogus Pomp has performed in Zappa Town Bad Doberan in 2005, 2008 and 2012. Memorable concerts. Jerry Outlaw's heavy guitar lines fit perfectly with Frank Zappa's compositions.

Z.E.R.O. or the Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra released a very impressive album earlier this year. Another band from the U.S.A.
The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra performs the music of Frank Zappa with a lot of respect and with a fine dose of humour. Ever heard Zappa's music performed on ukulele? Among others, Z.E.R.O. features Kevin Crosby, Rupert Kettle and Alli Bach !! And yes, you should know both Kevin and Alli from Pojama People.

The combination of Madame Tussaud and Marcel Duchamp do not ring any musical bells over here. Neither does Dekadenz.
But Tarentatec sure does.
Tarentatec is a great (and crazy) jazzrock band from Germany. When they perform the music of Frank Zappa, they call themselves Aufrichtiges Zappa. If I'm informed correctly, Tarentatec decided to play the music of Frank Zappa as a birthday party gift to the father of one of their band members. They had so much fun that they decided to keep on doing it.
I like that story. Even if it might not be true...

Cowboys From Hell are a top, high energy Swiss trio. They have two excellent albums out. I saw them perform at the Zapperlot festival in Switzerland last year. Superb!!

www.zappanale.de

And it looks as if the party already started. Here's some guy with a Z.E.R.O. t-shirt.
Spotted in Belgium, of all places.



LAZULI TOURDATES


05. 09. 2015 QUADRIFONIC Festival / Maison pour tous / CHADRAC (43 / FRANCE)
19. 09. 2015 ELEVEN ROCK FESTIVAL / Kulturfabrik Kofmehl / 4500 Solothurn  (SUISSE)
27.10. 2015 with special guest UNTO US / CHEPSTOW (UK)
28.10. 2015 The Lexington with special guest George Wilding / LONDON (UK)
29.10. 2015 Zephyr Lounge with special guest Alan Reed / LEAMINGTON SPA (UK)
30.10. 2015 St. John's Church with special guest Alan Reed / FARNCOMBE (UK)
31.10. 2015 The Wesley Center with special guest Alan Reed / MALTBY (UK)
01.11. 2015 The Zanzibar Club with special guest Alan Reed / LIVERPOOL (UK)




Sunday, July 26, 2015

MORE SUN RA

It seems that there is no end in sight for the series of Sun Ra reissues.

"Monorails And Satellites", the 1968 album, is being reissued by the Saturn label.


TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA - GOLDFINGERS

My quest for bands and artists that perform the music of Frank Zappa took me to Japan. Well, to a recent album of the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra to be more exact.

"Goldfingers" is a great jazz album. The name of the band explains it all: funky ska jazz.
And somewhere in-between a superb, up-tempo ska version of Frank Zappa's 'Theme From Lumpy Gravy'.
What else does one need on a Sunday morning?

Couldn't find 'Lumpy Gravy' on YouTube, but here's the first track of the CD :



ZAPPANALE 27

Zappanale 26 is still making my head spin, but the preparations for Zappanale 27 have already started...

July 15 - July 17, 2016

And the first names have been announced :


TWO NEW SUN RA VINYL ALBUMS

Just out and already very hard to find as both of these titles have only been produced in an extremely limited quantity.

sun ra : live in the late 80's
    (2015, lp, italy, sinner lady)

sun ra : live in winston, salem, nc, june 1990
    (2015, lp, italy, sinner lady)

75 copies each.

-- info : Danny Mathys


A YUMI HARA UPDATE

Adding facts and figures to the United Mutations Archives, I added the Hugh Hopper / Yumi Hara collaboration from 2008 : "Dune", out on MoonJune Records.

-- info : Danny Mathys



ANOTHER SUN RA REISSUE

Sun Ra's "The Paris Tapes" got released as a 2CD set on Art Yard / Kindred Spirits in 2010.
At the same time, the label issued an LP with three tracks from this concert.
The vinyl edition quickly sold out and is now getting a reprint / reissue.



TAXIWARS - S/T

dEUS frontman Tom Barman and jazz saxophone player Robin Verheyen have just released TaxiWars, the album of the project with the same name.
Compositions by Robin Verheyen, lyrics by Tom Barman.


Saturday, July 25, 2015

SUN RA'S STRANGE CELESTIAL ROAD GETS REISSUED

Sun Ra's 1982 album, "Strange Celestial Road" is getting a 180 g vinyl reissue.
Originally released on the Rounder label (LP in 1982, CD in 1987), this re-release will be out on Celestial Records (?).


NEW LITTLE FEAT ALBUM

A new Little Feat album has been spotten : "On The Eastern Front".
Live in Japan, July 1978.

The promo talk :
The release of Little Feat s The Last Record Album in 1975 signaled another change in the group's sound. Following their adoption of a funk style, most notable on their work with The Meters and Robert Palmer the year before, but also on their previous LP, Feats Don t Fail Me Now, Paul Barrere and Bill Payne had developed an interest in jazz rock. George continued to produce the albums, but his songwriting contribution diminished as the group moved into jazz fusion, a style in which he had little interest. In August 1977, Little Feat recorded a live album from gigs at the Rainbow Theatre in London and Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Waiting for Columbus is considered by many critics to be among the best live albums of all time, despite significant portions of George's vocals and slide work being over-dubbed later in the studio. It was released in 1978, by which time it had become apparent that Lowell George's interest in the band was waning, as was his health. Indeed Little Feat s first ever tour of Japan - a territory by then hungry for live performances by the band - was initially planned for March 1978, but due to Lowell s physical status, it was delayed until July. But their performance in Tokyo on 8th July finds Lowell George and the entire band on top form, as the performance there given, as included on this CD from a live transmission attests, was exceptional - a strong contender perhaps for the second best live Little Feat live album ever. Featuring a set-list to kill for - a superb selection of songs old and new - one listen to this archive recording suggests a band at their finest, not one on the skids as has sometimes been suggested - not least by Lowell George himself. Soon after the tour, George did some work on what would eventually become Down on the Farm but then declared that Little Feat had disbanded. In an interview with Bill Flanagan (for the book Written In My Soul), George made it clear that he felt the demise of Little Feat was due to his having allowed the band to be run democratically, with the result that Payne and, to a lesser extent, Barrere, had a presence as songwriters and in production which was disproportionate to their abilities. George was particularly scathing about Payne's attempts at jazz fusion. In the same interview, George stated that he planned to reunite Little Feat without Payne and Barrère. Whether or not the planned reunion would have ever gone ahead is, of course, open to conjecture alone, because sadly, while touring in support of his only solo-album Thanks, I'll Eat It Here, Lowell George collapsed in his hotel room in Arlington, Virginia at the age of 34. An autopsy determined the cause of death was a heart attack, although it is considered likely that his excess weight, drug use, and the strain of touring contributed to his condition. This concert, performed almost exactly one year before Lowell s untimely passing, is a fine tribute to a master musician and exceptional songwriter, as well as to a legendary band who - despite some unfortunate opinions which may well have been retracted had the opportunity arisen - remained, until the true ending of the classic-line-up, an exceptional and legendary group who continue, almost 40 years later, to delight and fascinate fans old and new.


Friday, July 24, 2015

NEW DOCUMENTARY ON FRANK ZAPPA


Frank Zappa Documentary in Works From Alex Winter

http://variety.com/2015/film/news/frank-zappa-documentary-alex-winter-1201546906/


SUN RA ARKESTRA AUGUST EUROPEAN TOUR AND MORE

from the Saturn newsgroup :

The Sun Ra Arkestra Directed by Marshall Allen is preparing for their third European Tour of 2015, which will see them landing in Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Serbia, England, Scotland, and Wales from August 8 - 21, 2015. This tour is in support of the "Babylon - Live: Deluxe" DVD and CD package release on the German In and Out label, which was filmed and recorded in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2014 during one of the Arkestra's Sun Ra Centennial European tours. The DVD portion of this release is playable only on Region 2 DVD players (Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East, including Egypt).

This European Tour will total 10 performances including the Arkestra's eighth residency at the Cafe Oto in London, England August 17 - 19 and five first time visits to jazz festivals. The band will also return by popular demand to the A Trane Club in Berlin, Germany for two nights on August 9 - 10.

Upon returning to the USA from the European Tour, the Arkestra will begin gearing up for the celebrations in 2016 of the Sun Ra Arkestra's 60th Anniversary with a free outdoor concert as part of the 40th Street Summer Series on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA on August 29, 2015. Also, the band is pleased to announce that it will be making its inaugural visitation to the Music Box Supper Club in Cleveland, OH on November 6, 2015.

The current concert itinerary of the Sun Ra Arkestra Directed by Marshall Allen is:

  • August 8, 2015 - Off Festival, Scena Lesna, Katowice, Poland. Show at 8:50 pm.
  • August 9-10, 2015 - A Trane Club, Berlin, Germany. Shows at 9:00 pm.
  • August 14, 2015 - Musiques en ete, Scene Ella Fitzgerald, Parc La Grange, Geneva, Switzerland. Free show at 8:30 pm.
  • August 15, 2015 - Nisville International Jazz Festival, Old Nis Fortress, Nis, Serbia.
  • August 17-19, 2015 - Cafe Oto, London, England. Shows each day at 8:00 pm. 
  • August 20, 2015 - Summerhall Arts Venue, The Dissection Room, Edinburgh, Scotland. Show at 8:30 pm.
  • August 21, 2015 - Greenman Festival, Crickhowell, Wales. 
  • August 29, 2015 - 40th Street Summer Series, 40th & Walnut Street (behind Walnut Street Library), Philadelphia, PA. Free outdoor show starts at 6:00 pm.
  • November 6, 2015 - Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, OH. Show at 8:00 pm.

For additional details on all of the above appearances, please click on the "Tourdates" tab of the Sun Ra Arkestra website and then click on the weblinks for the applicable concert date. Booking information for the Sun Ra Arkestra Directed by Marshall Allen is available by clicking on the "Info" tab of the Sun Ra Arkestra website, which is located at:
http://www.sunraarkestra.com

DWALMACAT 614

This week's Dwalmacat radio show :

https://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-614/

PYE CORNER AUDIO – Transmission one: Lonesome vale
TAME IMPALA – Let it happen
DAVID ROSE & HIS ORCHESTRA – Gay spirits
BARRY ADAMSON – Jazz devil
THE CURE – Subway song
SLEAFORD MODS – Tarantula deadly cargo
MAZE 1066 – Anche il limite ha una pazienza
ENNIO MORRICONE – Dopo l’intervista (Veruschka)
TAKAKO MINEKAWA & DUSTIN WONG – Two acorns’ dreams growing as one
DIE TÖDLICHE DORIS – Wie still es im Wald ist
PLUS INSTRUMENTS – Special
MICHEL WAISVISZ – Crackle revisited
THE HONEYMOON KILLERS – Route nationale 7
THE PRIMITIVE CALCULATORS – I can’t stop it
23 SKIDOO – Quiet pillage
ANNIE ANXIETY (aka LITTLE ANNIE) - Third gear kills


Thursday, July 23, 2015

BABE RUTH'S "FIRST BASE" ALBUM GETS ANOTHER REISSUE

Babe Ruth's "First Base" album includes the Zappa-written 'King Kong'.
The album got released in 1972 in the USA on the Harvest record label and has, since then, had various reissues. On vinyl and on CD. And probably on k7 as well.

The dutch Music On Vinyl record label will be re-releasing this album on 180 g vinyl somewhere in the very near future.

BANNED FROM UTOPIA TO PLAY IN LEUVEN, BELGIUM ON NOVEMBER 7

That's right,

Banned From Utopia
November 7, 2015,
at Het Depot
in Leuven, Belgium

Ray White, Bobby Martin, Tom Fowler, Albert Wing, Joel Taylor and Robbie 'Seahag' Mangano.

These guys just played the best concert at Zappanale.
Go see them.


THE SUN RA ENSEMBLE - KLEE'S MACHINE



David Bond's Sun Ra Ensemble featured Marshall Allen and Luqman Ali.
They did a Sun Ra tribute concert in Washington in 2005, performing compositions of David Bond in the spirit of Sun Ra.

-- info: Danny Mathys

LANDER GYSELINCK AND SINISTER SISTER


Here's STUFF. drummer Lander Gyselinck on the cover of Knack Focus magazine, July 15, 2015.
The 10-page interview mentions Frank Zappa as an influence, and the Zappa tribute project that he contributes to, called Sinister Sister.


FRODOCPU - POWER OF TWO

FrodoCPU is Frode Holm and Atle Bakken. The duo released "Power Of Two" in 2012.
It's a fine and funky album.
All original compositions, except for their very fine version of Frank Zappa's 'Dirty Love'.

And no, this little YouTube video wasn't made by me. I don't have a piano.



VARIOUS ARTISTS - XXII YEARS OF FREAKTION

Hall Of Fame records has released a free sampler to celebrate 22 years of 'Freaktion'.
This excellent collection includes four tunes that were originally written by Frank Zappa, including one that was previously unreleased, if I'm not mistaken.

http://halloffame.es/

  1. alfredo sorlí i boscá: el viaje de la nube tóxica
  2. antonio tarín: música lúmière (excerpt)
  3. caballero reynaldo: paso a nivel en chiva
  4. nick markham: i’m not burt
  5. dwomo: sí senyor (instrumental version)
  6. filthy habits ensemble: little umbrellas (frank zappa)
  7. sánchez: florianópolis
  8. le sheik: cowlord (instrumental version)
  9. malcolm scarpa: te acuerdas?
  10. andrés mastrangelo: be bop tango (frank zappa)
  11. manoel macía: la flor en el acantilado
  12. román garcía albertos: a pound for a jar (frank zappa)
  13. luis prado: extraña magia
  14. pando: junie
  15. sefronia: add to be
  16. toni mena: circ de boques
  17. teddy baxter: golgi al aparato
  18. ozcar mccuenca: eat that question (frank zappa)


ZAPPATIKA WITH IKE WILLIS IN CONCERT TONIGHT


Tonight, at the Muziekhuis in Leiden
Muziekhuis
Middelstegracht 123, 2313TV Leiden

Zappatika featuring Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Steward.
Performing the music of Frank Zappa.

Zappatika adds:
A full on live session which will be digitally recorded and released worldwide as a new Live CD/DVD package entitled "Anything Can Happen Next" . Entrance is FREE,yes we said FREE ! for invitees (but you may give a small donation at the end of the evening if you had a very fine time) but first..... Lets Crank some Frank !! :-)



ARANIS IN CONCERT IN WÜRZBURG NEXT MONDAY

Belgian band Aranis will be perfoming at Hafensommer Würzburg on July 27, 2015.

Here's a short impression of their latest album :



Tuesday, July 21, 2015

ZAPPANALE 26 - - - PART 18

Yes, part eighteen as I will need at least (!!) eighteen posts to tell you about this fabulous festival.

For about four days a year, Bad Doberan (Germany) mutates into Zappa Town.
Artists, bands and ensembles from all over the world are invited to Bad Doberan to celebrate the music of Frank Zappa.
A crowd of melomaniacs celebrates it with them.

This year's edition was a(nother) blast. Napoleon Murphy Brock with Peach Noise, the amazing Mats Öberg, Ike Willis with Zappatika (with special guests Jeff Hollie, Mister Twister, Ed Mann and Denny Walley), and the Banned From Utopia with Robert Martin, Tom Fowler, Ray White and Albert Wing plus Morgan Agren and Robbie Seahag Mangano...

Saturday night, starting at 00h30 at the mystery stage, Z3 performed with special guest (and former Zappa percussionst) Ed Mann.

Beau Sasser : hammond organs/synthesizers/ vocals
Tim Palmieri : guitar/ vocals
Bill Carbone : drums/ vocals
Ed Mann: percussion

Z3 had been at Zappanale two years ago. They came back and did it again.

Fabulous and funky !
My only remark is that these guys should have played a bit sooner.
(I'm too old to be dancing in the middle of the night...)

Check out the Z3 page over at Muffin Records Productions and listen to the show as it was broadcast on German Rockradio :
http://www.muffinrecordsproductions.com/the-z3--ed-mann.html

Or download the radio broadcast from Zappateers.
http://www.zappateers.com/


1969 VIDEO FOOTAGE : FRANK ZAPPA AT NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL






Tuesday, July 14, 2015

RACHEL FLOWERS - TEEN TOWN





ZAPPANALE GETS BROADCAST ON ROCKRADIO DOT DE

Zappanale.
3 days of Zappa and Zappa-esque music.
www.zappanale.de

The biggest part of the festival will get broadcast on german Rockradio.

Check it out.
www.rockradio.de

FRIDAY - JULY 17, FROM 3 P.M.
• Die Drei vom Rhein
• Die Reise
• Napoleon Murphy Brock & The Peach Noise
• Panzerpappa
• MAGMA
• The Yellow Snow Crystals

SATURDAY - JULY 18, FROM 1 P.M.
• Jim Cohen
• Univers Zero
• Inventionis Mater
• Ike Willis & Zappatika feat. Denny Walley, Ed Mann, Jeff Hollie ...
• Frank Out!
• Fried Dähn & das Onomatopoeia Perturbation Consort
• The Z3 feat. Ed Mann

SUNDAY - JULY 19, FROM 2 P.M.
• Stefan Hüfners ¡ZAPPATA!
• ImproSession
• Banned from Utopia
• Goodbye Session
• Jazzprojekt Hundehagen


POMEGRANATE TIGER


Pomegranate Tiger, performing Frank Zappa's 'The Black Page'.

https://pomegranatetiger.bandcamp.com/track/the-black-page



Sunday, July 12, 2015

BOB ZAPPA IS WRITING A BOOK ABOUT HIS BROTHER

Bob Zappa's book on growing up with Frank should get published this summer.

http://www.thefix.com/content/all-new-frank-zappa-stories-surface



DEAN KRAFT

You probably read or heard this before, but just in case that you didn't...

'Energy healer' Dean Kraft on treating Frank Zappa.

http://www.deankrafthealer.com/CaseHistory-FrankZappa.html


FRANK ZAPPA - DANCE ME THIS



Album #100 in the official Frank Zappa discography.

"And what I'm working on right at the moment, is a synclavier album called "Dance Me This", which is designed to be used by modern dance groups.
It's probably not going to come out until next year".
-- FZ, guitarist magazine, june 1993

So it took a while, but it was worth the wait.

Here's a couple of excellent reviews:

http://www.zappateers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=29692

https://rhoerer.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/dance-me-this/


Saturday, July 11, 2015

DWALMACAT 612

This week's Dwalmacat radio show.
Click and listen.

https://www.mixcloud.com/Dwalmacat/dwalmacat-612/

MARK STEWART & THE MAFFIA – Learning to cope with cowardice
STARTLED INSECTS – Black spring
JAAKKO EINO KALEVI – Say
THOMAS LEER – Private plane
POND – Zond
MELT BANANA – Creeps in a white cake
HOT CHOCOLATE – Every one’s a winner
MUPPET SHOW – A monologue by Fozzie Bear
RIMARIMBA – Couldn’t top the demo
FAT MASONICS – Fat masonics
PERCY FAITH – Theme from ‘a summer place’
THE BEATLES – Savoy truffle
NEW YORK GONG – Jungle windo(w)
BRUCE HAACK – Moonlight and roses
PATRICK GLEESON – Unacceptable dance styles
GURU GURU – Immer lustig (Excerpt)
BLUR – Ghost ship


R.STEVIE MOORE

R. Stevie Moore's fourth album, "What's The Point?!!", was originally released on vinyl by the Cuneiform label in 1984.
It has been re-issued on CD by Cuneiform.




MODERN DRUMMER


"Modern Drummer Classic Tracks" is a book / learning tool for the contemporary drummer. It contains transcriptions of thirteen tracks (some never before in print!) recorded by some of the most important contemporary drummers in rock and fusion.
Softcover / Spiral Bound / 84 Pages

In these pages, you'll find the exact drum parts recorded on tracks that drummers have been inspired by since their release. Artists featured include Carter Beauford, John Bonham, Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Steve Gadd, Keith Moon, Neil Peart, Simon Phillips, Jeff Porcaro, Mike Portnoy, and Steve Smith. Includes great photos and backgrounds on each of these drummer's drummers.

Terry Bozzio ? Vinnie Colaiuta ?
Nice.
Wonder which pieces they picked.


Friday, July 10, 2015

JIMI TENOR & UMO

Finnish label Herakles Records has released "Mysterium Magnum" by Jimi Tenor and UMO.

"...an instrumental album with the de facto Finnish national big band, UMO Jazz Orchestra. UMO is a professional 16-piece orchestra specializing in jazz and contemporary rhythm music. Throughout its history UMO has had a focus on Finnish composers and has performed hundreds of compositions that were made especially for UMO. Jimi Tenor is a Finnish composer and performing artist perhaps best known for his electronic music from the '90s. "Mysterium Magnum" is his first album composed entirely for a big band. In 2003 Jimi Tenor took his own big band on a six-week European tour, which included stops at Montreux Jazz and North Sea Jazz Festival. Jimi Tenor then made three albums with afrobeat group Kabukabu: Joystone (2007, Sähkö), 4th Dimension (2008, Sähkö), and The Mystery of Aether (2012, Kindred Spirits); and in 2009, Jimi Tenor made an album with afrobeat legend Tony Allen called Inspiration Information (Strut). Mysterium Magnum was! recorded at UMO's rehearsal space at the YLE studios in Helsinki. The music on Mysterium Magnum is not typical big band music. It varies from mystical contemporary compositions like "Koneen Sydän," "Huumatun Pako," "Mysticum Minus," and "Sähköinen Laji" to soundtrack themes like "Kratera" and "I Was Here." On the album Jimi Tenor himself plays a Russian Ritm-2 synthesizer, tenor saxophone, and flute. All compositions and arrangements by Jimi Tenor."

In 1997, The Umo Jazz Orchestra did a Zappa tribute concert with special guest Ed Palermo.
They released a (promotional) Zappa mini album in 2003.

2007/2008 Jimi Tenor did a series of concerts with FES (Flat Earth Society).




NEW BEEFHEART ALBUM ON THE OZIT LABEL

It's called "Batlight Clearkid".
2LP, limited edition of 1000 copies on 180 g yellow vinyl.


BEYONCE'S STEVIE WONDER TRIBUTE




R.I.P. YOUNG PUMPKIN

I don't have that many friends, but I lost a dear one earlier this week.
Melomaniac, guerilla taper, friend.
Rest in peace, Eric.
Zappacheers !


Sunday, July 5, 2015

FRANK ZAPPA

The May 27 edition of Belgian magazine Knack Focus included the a full-page illustration as a promo for the new Zappa album, "Dance Me This".
Illustration by Karl.



NEW ALBUM BY HANS ANNELLSSON

Hans Annéllsson has a new album out.
It's available from CDBaby.



NEW JOE SATRIANI ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED NEXT MONTH


Featuring Mike Keneally, Bryan Beller and Marco Minnemann.
Out on July 24, 2015.

-


STEVE LAWSON, ANDY EDWARDS AND PHI YAAN-ZEK

promo video for "Ley Lines", new album by Steve Lawson, Andy Edwards and Phi Yaan-Zek.



Saturday, July 4, 2015

ARISTOCRATS - TRES CABALLEROS

The Aristocrats are Guthrie Govan, Marco Minnemann and Bryan Beller.
Their latest album is called "Tres Caballeros" and it's excellent.

On the bonus DVD, they explain how the album came about.
Usually, each of them writes a couple of songs and sends it to the others. Everybody learns the songs and then, afterwards, the three of them meet in the studio, record the album and start touring.
This time, Guthrie, Marco and Bryan were able to play a couple of gigs at the Alvas Showroom in San Pedro, CA, a couple of days before they went into the recording studio.
Meaning that they were able to get more comfortable with the songs and to try out and to adjust certain things.
It shows.
This is excellent.



ED PALERMO BIG BAND

Playing Zappa and more !




ADRIAN BELEW - LIVE AT ROCKPALAST



Adrian Belew's "Live At Rockpalast" finally arrived.
Released by the U.K. based Repertoire Records label, this CD / DVD set brings the Adrian Belew Trio on the screen of your choice.
I love it.
Adrian Belew, Julie Slick and Eric Slick.
Recorded at the 2008 Leverkusener Jazztage.
Playing a set of material by Adrian Belew and by King Crimson.
Superb.

In the interview snippets that appear between some of the tracks, Adrian talks about meeting Julie and Eric, and also about his time with Zappa.
Nice.
Very nice.


Friday, July 3, 2015

PATRICK SOUZA


Steve Vai inspired madness by Patrick Souza, performing Guns n' Roses' 'Sweet Child O' Mine'.



THE ARTAUD BEATS - LOGOS

The last couple of years, Yumi Hara has suprised me a number of times. There was the excellent "Upstream" album with Geoff Leigh, the impressive soundscapes on "Dream Of The Gryllidae" with Tony Lowe, and the more psychedelic "Mitsugi - Esoteric Rituals" release by Mammal Machine, to name just three.

One of the more recent projects that Yumi Hara took part in is called "The Artaud Beats. It also features Geoff Leigh, Chris Cutler and John Greaves. Check your Henry Cow albums if these names don't ring a bell.
The four of them met at the Avantgarde Festival in Germany in 2009, resulting in an inpromptu Henry Cow tribute concert.
Adopting the name The Artaud Beats, the quartet did another gig at the Nodutgang Festivalen in 2011, followed by two tours in Japan.

The Artaud Beats released a box set and some CDR's with material from their Japanese tours, but now there's "Logos", the band's first studio release.

8 tracks. 8 compositions.
Experimental music.
Beautiful and intriguing.

Available from ReR Recommended Records (Europe), Wayside (USA) and DiskUnion (Japan).

Check it out !

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