Zaebos (album)
Encyclopedia
Zaebos: Book of Angels Volume 11 is an album of compositions by John Zorn
released by experimental
jazz fusion
trio Medeski Martin & Wood
in 2008.
The album is part of John Zorn's
Book of Angels series. Zorn, an avant-garde composer, began incorporating Jewish klezmer
styles into his musical palette in the early 1990s, resulting in a project called Masada
. Medeski, Martin & Wood were among the original members of the earliest Masada units.
In 2004 Zorn began composing the second Masada Book - 'The Book of Angels'. Several albums of Masada Book Two compositions have been released, performed by various outfits or combinations of musicians. Zaebos, performed by Medeski, Martin & Wood, is the eleventh album in the ongoing series.
The titles of many Masada Book Two compositions are derived from demonology
and Judeo-Christian
mythology
. Zaebos
is said to be the Grand Count of infernal realms, and appears in the shape of a handsome soldier mounted on a crocodile.
On June 19, 2008 Medeski, Martin & Wood, joined by Marc Ribot
(guitar) and Steven Bernstein (slide trumpet
), debuted "Sefrial," a track from the album, at the Celebrate Brooklyn
Festival in Prospect Park.
.
plays
Masada Book Two
Arranged by
Medeski Martin & Wood
All music composed by
John Zorn
Executive Producer
John Zorn
Associate Producer
Kazunori Sugiyama
Produced by
Medeski Martin & Wood
Recorded and mixed by
David Kent, January and March 2008
at Shackston Studio, NY
Mastered by
Scott Hull
Design by
Chippy (Heung-Heung Chin)
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
released by experimental
Experimental music
Experimental music refers, in the English-language literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid-20th century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that its outcome is unforeseeable. Its most famous and influential exponent was John Cage...
jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
trio Medeski Martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood
Medeski Martin & Wood is an American jazz trio formed in 1991, consisting of John Medeski on keyboards and piano, Billy Martin on drums and percussion, and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar....
in 2008.
The album is part of John Zorn's
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
Book of Angels series. Zorn, an avant-garde composer, began incorporating Jewish klezmer
Klezmer
Klezmer is a musical tradition of the Ashkenazic Jews of Eastern Europe. Played by professional musicians called klezmorim, the genre originally consisted largely of dance tunes and instrumental display pieces for weddings and other celebrations...
styles into his musical palette in the early 1990s, resulting in a project called Masada
Masada (band)
Masada is a musical group with rotating personnel led by American saxophonist and composer John Zorn since the early 1990s.Masada is as much a "songbook" as a group, comprising more than 500 relatively brief compositions...
. Medeski, Martin & Wood were among the original members of the earliest Masada units.
In 2004 Zorn began composing the second Masada Book - 'The Book of Angels'. Several albums of Masada Book Two compositions have been released, performed by various outfits or combinations of musicians. Zaebos, performed by Medeski, Martin & Wood, is the eleventh album in the ongoing series.
The titles of many Masada Book Two compositions are derived from demonology
Demonology
Demonology is the systematic study of demons or beliefs about demons. It is the branch of theology relating to superhuman beings who are not gods. It deals both with benevolent beings that have no circle of worshippers or so limited a circle as to be below the rank of gods, and with malevolent...
and Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian
Judeo-Christian is a term used in the United States since the 1940s to refer to standards of ethics said to be held in common by Judaism and Christianity, for example the Ten Commandments...
mythology
Mythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
. Zaebos
Zaebos
Zaebos is a demon or spirit in the Dictionnaire Infernal. Zaebos is said to be the Grand Count of the infernal realms, and appears in the shape of a handsome soldier mounted on a crocodile....
is said to be the Grand Count of infernal realms, and appears in the shape of a handsome soldier mounted on a crocodile.
On June 19, 2008 Medeski, Martin & Wood, joined by Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.His own work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and composer John Zorn.-Biography:Ribot was...
(guitar) and Steven Bernstein (slide trumpet
Slide trumpet
The slide trumpet is a type of trumpet that is fitted with a slide much like a trombone.The slide trumpet grew out of the war trumpet as used and developed in Western and Central Europe: Don Smithers in The Music and History of the Baroque Trumpet before 1721, argues that the slide grew out of the...
), debuted "Sefrial," a track from the album, at the Celebrate Brooklyn
Celebrate Brooklyn
Celebrate Brooklyn is one of New York City’s longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979, as a catalyst for Brooklyn’s performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn has been an anchor in the park’s...
Festival in Prospect Park.
Track listing
All compositions by John ZornJohn Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
.
- "Zagzagel" - 5:24
- "Sefrial" - 4:47
- "Agmatia" - 5:21
- "Rifion" - 4:26
- "Chafriel" - 7:22
- "Ahaij" - 3:42
- "Asaliah" - 4:42
- "Vianuel" - 3:33
- "Jeduthun" - 3:05
- "Malach Ha-Sopher" - 6:50
- "Tutrusa`i" - 5:08
Personnel
- John MedeskiJohn MedeskiAnthony John Medeski is an American jazz keyboards player and composer. Medeski is a veteran of New York's 1990s avant-garde jazz scene and is known popularly as a member of Medeski Martin & Wood...
– keyboards - Billy MartinBilly Martin (percussionist)Billy Martin is an American jazz drummer, best known as a member of jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood.-Biography:Before becoming part of Medeski, Martin & Wood, Martin was part of the New York City Brazilian scene in the 1980s. He performed regularly with Pe De Boi, Batucada and several Bob...
– drums, percussion - Chris WoodChris Wood (jazz musician)Christopher Barry Wood is an American bass player, best known for playing with the avant-garde jazz-funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood .-Biography:...
– basses
Credits
Medeski Martin & Woodplays
Masada Book Two
Arranged by
Medeski Martin & Wood
All music composed by
John Zorn
Executive Producer
John Zorn
Associate Producer
Kazunori Sugiyama
Produced by
Medeski Martin & Wood
Recorded and mixed by
David Kent, January and March 2008
at Shackston Studio, NY
Mastered by
Scott Hull
Design by
Chippy (Heung-Heung Chin)