Frank Zappa News

Los Angeles Philharmonic Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen concludes his two-week stint at Walt Disney Concert Hall by leading the LA Phil and violinist Leila Josefowicz in his Violin Concerto, Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, at 8 pm, as well as Sunday, October 27, at 2 pm. All three performances also feature one of Salonen's most famous specialties, Sibelius' Fifth Symphony. The Saturday and Sunday performances open with Ives' The Unanswered Question.

The multi-Latin Grammy-nominated MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA conducted by BOBBY SANABRIA will perform Music of the Masters For the Masters on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the School's BordenAuditorium. Please see the program below that features music composed for masters including, Dave Brubeck, Jerry Gonzalez, Hermeto Pascoal, Don Ellis, Frank Zappa, Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard. A world premiere and a New York premiere will also be featured - Jeremy Fletcher's "for fathers everywhere" will receive its world premiere and Andrew Neesley's Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite will be heard in New York for the first time.

Dave Stryker and Jay Anderson will play the Seligman Center for the Arts in Sugar Loaf (Chester), NY today, October 20th at 3PM.

He's on the faculty of one of the most prestigious jazz education institutions in the country: Indiana University. He's spent years as a sideman for acclaimed jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. The Village Voice calls him '...one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in years.' He's been voted one of the Top Ten Guitarists by Down Beat Magazine's Reader's Poll. He's worked alongside such jazz luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Lovano and Eliane Elias. He's recorded nearly 25 albums as a leader and about that many more as a sideman with innumerable internationally recognized jazz artists. His name: Dave Stryker. He's one of the most in-demand bassists on the contemporary music scene today. He lives in the Hudson Valley. His first gigs were with Woody Herman and Carmen McRea. Having moved from California to New York, he's worked with Michael Brecker, Elian Elias, Michael Franks, Vic Juris, Adam Nussbaum, Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz, Frank Zappa, Michel LeGrand Celine Dione (Gammy winning FALLING INTO YOU) and even poet, Allen Ginsberg. Beside all of those credentials, he is distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass Studies at Manhattan School of Music. His name: Jay Anderson. Although Mssrs. Stryker and Anderson have been colleagues for many years in large ensembles, their appearance strictly as a jazz duo will be their first. They appear Sunday, October 20th 3:00 p.m. at the platonic new Orange County performance space, Seligman Center for the Arts, 23 White Oak Drive, Sugar Loaf (Chester), New York.

A Two-Time Recipient of Stars on Canada's Walk of Fame, The Former Guess Who Frontman Released His First Full-Band Live Album 'Massey Hall' in 2012, and Is Soon Releasing 'RUFF, Volume 1,' The First In A Series of DVD Documentaries Chronicling His Personal Life and Extraordinary Career

He's on the faculty of one of the most prestigious jazz education institutions in the country: Indiana University. He's spent years as a sideman for acclaimed jazz saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. The Village Voice calls him "...one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in years." He's been voted one of the Top Ten Guitarists by Down Beat Magazine's Reader's Poll. He's worked alongside such jazz luminaries as Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Lovano and Eliane Elias.

The LA Phil marks the 10th anniversary date of the opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall with a special Green Umbrella program presenting the world premiere of 200 Motels by L.A.'s groundbreaking iconoclast composer Frank Zappa. Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the LA Phil, and is joined by L.A.-based director James Darrah and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Also joining Salonen and the LA Phil is a cast of renowned soloists and a band that includes Ian Underwood of Zappa's The Mothers of Invention, Scott Thunes, who also played with Frank Zappa, Zappa Family Trust 'Vaultmeister' Joe Travers, and Jamie Kime of Zappa Plays Zappa.

With a white keytar strapped around his neck, Herbie Hancock provided one of the most musically iconic moments in the 1980s. His video for the instrumental 'Rockit' came in 10th on the VH1's '100 Greatest Videos of All Time.'

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) celebrates the 200th anniversary of composer Richard Wagner's birth (May 22, 1813) with an unprecedented series of events this month. Beginning on Friday, Oct. 11, and running through Thursday, Oct. 24, CCM explores Wagner's iconic work and enduring legacy with a series of guest lectures, film screenings and a concert performance by the CCM Philharmonia. Aside from the Oct. 12 Philharmonia performance, these events are free and open to the general public.

The Show Goes On Productions (TSGO) is proud to present QUEEN OF THE BEATNIKS: THE SONGS OF JUDY HENSKE, written and performed by MEREDITH DIMENNA under the musical direction of JASON BINNICK, November 19th, 2013 at 8:00pm EST. The show will be at The Cutting Room, 44 E. 32nd Street, at Park Avenue. Doors and kitchen open at 6:30. Tickets are $15 and available at www.showgoesonproductions.com, 646-380-8749.

Hot Head Show have turned a lot of heads since their debut 'The Lemon LP' reached the ears of American bass legend Les Claypool, at whose request they spent much of 2011 touring Europe and the USA with cult superstars Primus. The international fanbase they achieved that year demanded that they return to Europe for two startlingly successful tours as headliners in 2012, leading to their signing with RBL Records in Italy and Noisolution in Germany, in addition to their longstanding relationship with Tentacle Entertainments in the UK and North America.

Zappa Plays Zappa at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Sunday, November 3, is sold-out, but guitar enthusiasts can take heart by signing up for the 3 p.m. Guitar Master Class taught by Frank Zappa's son Dweezil. He will preview some of the guitar concepts he teaches at Dweezilla music camp. Enrolled students should arrive with guitars in hand at 2:30 p.m. for the 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. class. The class is about half full as of this writing.

Dave Stryker and Jay Anderson will play the Seligman Center for the Arts in Sugar Loaf (Chester), NY on October 20th at 3PM.

Zappa Plays Zappa: Roxy & Elsewhere 40th Anniversary is set to play Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 8PM at The Neptune (All Ages / Bar w/ ID). Price: $40.00, $65.00 for VIP, $75.00 for Masterclass, not including fees. Seating: General Admission. Tickets on sale now.

To acknowledge an extraordinary first decade at the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, the LA Phil presents insideOUT, a celebration led by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, and featuring Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen; a free Open House concert with theLA Phil and Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) to also be simulcast in Grand Park; a series of free community concerts with special guest Julie Andrews; an Opening Night Gala with Yo-Yo Ma featuring an installation by video artist and director Netia Jones; world premieres including Frank Zappa's 200 Motels; public forums with Frank Gehry and other commemorations.

Let the old schoolers pull out their scratched 45s of 'Monster Mash” and tapes and CDs of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller.” This Halloween the cool kids know where the ghoulish musical fun is: with SoCal horror rocker Characula(www.characula.com), celebrating her favorite season with the release of her eerie but super-fun new single 'Dead Light District Dolls!”

This week at Joe's Pub, Sept. 23-29, features ALBUM OF THE MONTH CLUB: RAY CHARLES BIRTHDAY BASH, SANDRA ST. VICTOR, GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION, THEO BLECKMANN: SONGS IN KEY OF D, JOSH ROUSE, REBELLUM CD RELEASE, JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, KENYON PHILLIPS & THE LADIES IN WAITING, and STORIES I WANT TO TELL YOU IN PERSON.

'Come dressed like a groupie.'