Label: ZONIC ENTERTAINMENT 2001
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Tracks: Goodbye to Earth; The Eons are Closing; Mutant Fromage; Dachs Reduction; A Windy Day on Mars; Air Sculpting in Vacuum; Strange News from Mars; Cydonian Music; Mars Under the Radar; Norwegisher Schweinhund;Cinderella on the Event Horizon of a Black Hole; The Quilt; The Secret Word for Today; Conseptual Continuity on the Red Planet; Capt. Zurcon’s Cranberry Cocktail; Unwanted Sexual Attention in Space; Optional Entertainment in Zero Gravitation; Tax the Churches; Music is the Best

Artists: Jon Larsen, guitar, martian; Tommy Mars, keyboards, telephone; Bruce Fowler, trombone; Arthur Barrow, general magic & bass; Rob Waring, marimba; Jimmy Carl Black, vocal, percussion; Knut Reiersrud, guitar/harmonica; Hakon Mjaset Johansen, drums
Recorded in Los Angeles, March 2007
Norwegian guitarist, composer, painter and surrealist Jon Larsen has recorded a concept album with some of the musicians from Frank Zappa’s famed band The Mothers of Invention. Strange news for Mars tells the story of the spacecraft Big Ear III’s voyage to the red planet. Underway captain Zurcon and his crew are about to solve three of the greatest mysteries to mankind. Only hearing the record itself will reveal what these are, but needless to say, extra terrestrial intelligence is a key here. The album is written, arranged and produced by Jon Larsen in its entirety. It was recorded in Los Angeles in March with Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, Jimmy Carl Black and Arthur Barrow. Strange News also features musical stunts from Norwegian musical dignitaries such as Knut Reiersrud, (guitar/harmonica), Rob Waring (marimba), Ole Morten Vågan (bass), and Håkon Mjåset Johansen (drums). Zappa’s old musicians were so taken by the project and the sessions that they immediately requested a sophomore. And now the plan as to make it a trilogy! Tours are already in the planning. What joyous luck then that Zappa’s old crew, the individual members of which Larsen always so admired, should approach him with a desire to play on his Mars concept. - For this is what happened when Larsen went over to LA to start the sessions; they heard of the project and wanted to play.

Label: ZONIC ENTERTAINMENT 2003
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Tracks:
En Route; Hi Boys and Girls, I’m Jimmy Carl Black; An Early Glimpse Of Planet Ruth; Spaceship Bigear III; Turn It On, Elliot; A Helping Hand From Unca Mickey; Opal, You Hot Little Bitch; Jimmy Carl Black’s Dachs Reduction; Mayday From Space; First Encounter In Space With A Real Martian; Oh No, She’s Trying To Rip My Spacesuit Open; A Creature Is Lurking In The Shadow; Jimmy-As-A-Ghost

Artists:
Jon Larsen, guitar, martian, duck; Jimmy Carl Black, vocal, telephone; Ola Kvernberg, violin; Rob Waring, marimba; Knut Reiersrud, guitar, harmonica; Kirk Van Houten, keyboards; Bill White, bass; Andreas Bye, drums; Tommy Mars, keyboard; Ole Morten Vagan, bass; Hakon Mjaset Johansen, drums

Here's the new chapter in Jon Larsen's surrealistic adventure in space together with the musicians from the Frank Zappa band! It all started with the highly acclaimed release "Strange News From Mars" (ZEN 2001) last year, presenting the keyboard genius Tommy Mars in a humorous musical sci-fi adventure inspired by the Zappa music. This time it is "the indian of the group", drummer, vocalist JIMMY CARL BLACK who is literally telling his life's story. Meanwhile the band act as the crew onboard spaceship Big Ear, on their way to the red planet... If you like Zappa music, this is a must!
(2 CDs)

Label: ZONIC ENTERTAINMENT 2005
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Tracks: No Forest Fire; Prison Bush; Bitches Castle; Here, George

Artists: Tommy Mars, Hammond organ, fender Rhodes electric piano, vocals; Walt Fowler, trumpet, flugel horn; Bruce Fowler, trombone; Larry Klimas, tenor sax, soprano sax; Kurt McGettrick, bass clarinet, baritone sax; Arthur Barrow, electric bass; Vinnie Colaiuta, drums

The release of this performance of four group improvisations from the evening of August 22, 2002 is the first official release of one of the free form sessions I have been hosting at my studio in Los Angeles since the early 1990's. It also marks the first, last, and only time this particular group of musicians played together. Though Bruce, Walt, Tommy, Kurt and Larry had been involved in many other such sessions, this was the first time Vinnie had joined us. I believe it was one of the best line-ups I have been able to assemble. Unfortunately, Kurt is no longer with us, so this recording captured the only performance of that special combination. We miss you, Kurt.
The MVP jams got their start as a memorial musical get together shortly after Miles Davis died. I invited a few friends over, including Tommy, Bruce and Robby Krieger, to jam on some Miles-y sounding grooves as a sort of tribute to the great musician. We enjoyed doing it so much that after that night, we got together occasionally when we could with various combinations of players to explore the free form realm. The idea behind these improv sessions has evolved into an effort to compose music as a group spontaneously in real time.
We rarely have any preconception of where the music might lead: the idea is for the music to be free to go where it may as it takes on a life of it's own. This might seem like a crazy idea to some, but musicians of of the highest caliber that understand the concept and have the right kind of sensitivity and listening quickness can often create music that is pretty amazing. These guys can do it. I am honored to play with them.
These recordings are unabridged, unedited, without overdubs, and represent all of the music played that evening, without omission. There was no rehearsal. The lyrics sung by Tommy were as spontaneous as the music. It was all just for fun, really!
My special thanks to Jon Larsen for his efforts towards making it possible for this music to be heard. - Arthur Barrow

This CD is a must for all Zappa fans, and as FZ put it: Jazz ain’t dead, it just smells funny!