Zao (French band)
Encyclopedia
Zao was a progressive rock
/zeuhl
band that was founded by Yochk'o Seffer (saxophone
, clarinet
) and François Cahen (piano
). They were active from 1971 to 1994 and released 6 studio albums. Both Seffer and Cahen were ex-members of Magma
. In 1976, Magma violinist Didier Lockwood
also joined the band and appeared on their albums Kawana and Live!.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
/zeuhl
Zeuhl
Zeuhl means celestial in Kobaïan, the constructed language created by Christian Vander. Originally solely applied to the music of Vander's band, Magma, the term zeuhl was eventually used to describe the similar music produced by French bands, beginning in the mid-1970s...
band that was founded by Yochk'o Seffer (saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
) and François Cahen (piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
). They were active from 1971 to 1994 and released 6 studio albums. Both Seffer and Cahen were ex-members of Magma
Magma (band)
Magma is a French progressive rock band founded in Paris in 1969 by classically trained drummer Christian Vander, who claimed as his inspiration a "vision of humanity's spiritual and ecological future" that profoundly disturbed him. In the course of their first album, the band tells the story of a...
. In 1976, Magma violinist Didier Lockwood
Didier Lockwood
Didier Lockwood is a French jazz violinist. He played in the progressive rock/jazz fusion band Magma in the 1970s and is known for his use of electric amplification and experimentation on different sounds on the electric violin....
also joined the band and appeared on their albums Kawana and Live!.
Members
- Yochk'o Seffer (saxophone, clarinet)
- François Cahen (piano)
- Jean-My Truong (drums)
- Joël Dugrenot (bass)
- Mauricia Platon (vocals)
Discography
- Z=7L (1973)
- Osiris (1975)
- Shekina (1975)
- Kawana (1976)
- Live! (1976)
- Typhareth (1977)
- Akhenaton (1994)
External links
- Zao at progarchives.com
- Review of Z=7L at progreviews.com
- Zao at the New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock