“Blending a punk rock sensibility with Sephardic tribalism via a taste of North African Gnawa magic, Abraxas is one of the most primal and rocking ensembles in the Masada family. After extensive touring with music from the Book of Angels, they stormed into Bill Laswell’s studio to record an even more intense CD of Masada Book Three. Upheld by the pulsating sound of Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz’s gimbri and the dynamic drumming of Kenny Grohowski, Aram Bajakian and Eyal Maoz push their guitars to the limits...

Another exciting unit out of the infamous Osaka underground rock scene. Close friends with the Boredoms and Acid Mothers Temple, Afrirampo is a bizarre duo of two twenty year old girls who sing and play guitar and drums like no one else. Scantily clad ...

''Klezmer, East European folk music, contemporary classical and Tuvan throat singing all came together in this astonishing music of Ahva Raba, one of the most original and distinctive Jewish groups based in contemporary Germany. With a repertory rangin...

The below was obviously written by me a long time ago, when this album was first released and before our association with the group and also before the original, small label edition went out of print and Tzadik picked it up for reissue (in the "Full Force Composer Series" - yes, sir!) which includes bonus material. If you don't already own it, you've got no excuse now! But it does convey some of the amazement, excitement and stylistic confusion that this band gave to me upon stumbling across them with...

''One of electronic music's truly legendary mavericks. Working mostly in large spaces & installations for the past 20 years, this diverse collection of electronic soundscapes & ''ear dances'' was chosen by the composer...spectacular acoustical effects ...

“Hailing from Tennessee and now residing in New York, Zoh Amba is a 21 year-old tenor saxophonist who performs with a deep sense of spirituality and emotional power. Growing up in the mountains she practiced and played in the forest before continuing her studies in San Francisco and Boston. For her first CD she has chosen a fabulous quartet featuring her close friend, rising NYC star Micah Thomas on piano, and the formidable rhythm section of Thomas Morgan and Joey Baron. Hypnotic phrases, beautiful...

"Oren Ambarchi is a composer and multi-instrumentalist experimenting in the dark trance-inducing worlds of ambient, industrial and electronic music. His newest collaborative project features the legendary percussionist/composer and mystic Z’EV in a...

This is a tribute to the prolific Israeli composer Sasha Argov and it features both the usual Tzadik suspects, as well as some surprises. The contributors include Danny Zamir, Cyro Baptista, Charming Hostess, Pharoah's Daughter, Tin Hat Trio, Roberto ...

"A wild klezmer/rock fusion by this crazed band of Paris-born punk rockers. Led by the extraordinary young guitarist David Konopnicki, Autoryno hits with a hardedged sound and an exciting musical imagination. Full of youthful energy, massive guitar and ce

"After 12 years and 28 CDs, the “Book of Angels” project is drawing towards completion! For one of the last installments, Zorn turns to AutorYno, a wild power trio of three Paris punk rockers and one of the most powerful bands in the French rock scene. Their third CD for Tzadik presents tunes from the classic “Book of Angels” in a heavy rock context. Metal, Punk, Thrash, Dub and Surf come together in this trance-inducing sledge-hammer reading of some of the strongest and strangest pieces out of the...

''Ayuo (whose name translates as Fish-Light) is one of the most enigmatic figures in Japan, as unique a figure as Moondog, Sun Ra or Haino Keiji, with whom he occasionally collaborates. Ayuo's music is a delicate balance of world music traditions, new ...

Tzadik is proud to present three world premiere recordings and a critically acclaimed classic by one of the worlds greatest living composers. For almost six decades Milton Babbitt has been pushing the boundaries of contemporary composition creating a u...

Quite literally one of the most original and influential guitarists on the planet, Derek Bailey has completely revolutionized the language of guitar music in the twentieth century. His work has been championed by almost every cutting edge guitarist: Pa...

Derek's terse, spidery guitarlines lines combine in an improvised session with the avant/artrock/metal/punk of Japan's Ruins. [Tzadik]

"Tzadiks’s newest Spotlight series focuses on exemplary young bands with great dedication, passion, talent and imagination. This third release features the debut recording of Brooklyn-based Aram Bajakian’s newest unit Kef, named for the Armenian dance...

“Working together since 1982, Cyro Baptista is one of Zorn's closest friends and collaborators. Banquet of the Spirits is his tight touring quartet of young lions and features Brian Marsella, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz and Tim Keiper on keyboards, bass and drums. Here they follow up their acclaimed CD of the Book of Angels Caym with a Latin Jazz-tinged interpretation featuring the rising star Brian Marsella on piano and keyboards. Breathtakingly beautiful, this is one of the most seductive installments of...

Madman virtuoso Cyro Baptista has played with an incredible range of musicians, from Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson and Herbie Hancock to Medeski, Martin and Wood, Phish and Sting. A distinctive composer and vocalist in his own right, Be...

"One of the greatest Brazilian percussionists working today, Cyro Baptista has worked closely with many of the world's most acclaimed musicians including Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, Nana Vasconcelos, Medeski Martin & Wood, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma...

Personnel: John Zorn: Composer, Conductor, Cyro Baptista: Percussion , Joey Baron: Drums, Greg Cohen: Bass , Mark Feldman: Violin, Erik Friedlander: Cello, Marc Ribot: Guitar "Bar Kokhba brings together six core members of the Masada family in a dynami...

"Utah-born composer Matthew Barnson has studied at Eastman, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale, and now resides in New York City. His work is expressive and dramatic, and touches on both the European and American traditions. This CD presents three...

''Improvisor, composer, arranger, producer, vocal stylist and bon vivant, Steve Beresford is one of Europe's most charming and versatile musical minds. These varied and and delightful cues originally composed for British film and television are perform...

"One of the most versatile and active proponents of creative music, Karl Berger is a living legend who has been expanding the Jazz language since the mid-’60s. A pianist, vibraphonist, composer, arranger, conductor and educator of astounding energy and...

"Composer, arranger, pianist, vibraphonist, conductor and educator, Karl Berger steps out on his own here for a brilliant solo piano recital. Structured as a series of variations and etudes, these moody and spiritually charged compositions showcase...

A solo piano recital by one of the most elusive mavericks in new music. Born in Brooklyn and a legend in the downtown music community since the late 60s, Borah Bergman is a master musician and an iconoclastic pianist who has worked with all the majo...

''An endlessly inventive musical magician delving deep into his Jewish roots and coming up with sounds you've never imagined possible. Steve Bernstein has worked as musical director for the likes of Hal Wilner, John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and his own m...