''The Circle Maker'' is a
double album
A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...
by
John Zorn
John Zorn (born September 2, 1953) is an American composer, conductor, saxophonist, arranger and producer who "deliberately resists category". Zorn's avant-garde and experimental approaches to composition and improvisation are inclusive of jaz ...
featuring Zorn's
Masada compositions performed by the Masada String Trio (on Disc One: Issachar) and the Bar Kokhba Sextet (on Disc Two: Zevulun) which was released in 1998 on the
Tzadik
Tzadik ( he, צַדִּיק , "righteous ne, also ''zadik'', ''ṣaddîq'' or ''sadiq''; pl. ''tzadikim'' ''ṣadiqim'') is a title in Judaism given to people considered righteous, such as biblical figures and later spiritual masters. The ...
label.
Reception
The
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
review by Joslyn Layne awarded the album 5 stars stating "Zorn skeptics will find the superb and elegant music on ''The Circle Maker'' surprisingly stable and accessible... All of these musicians are accomplished in jazz and improvised music, and have performed extensively in world and/or classical settings as well. ''The Circle Maker'' is a very necessary recording for all appreciators of chamber jazz, new Jewish music, or any of these stellar musicians."
[Layne, J]
Allmusic Review
accessed November 7, 2013
Track listing
''All compositions by John Zorn''
* ''Disc One: Issachar''
# "Tahah" – 2:30
# "Sippur" – 3:21
# "Karet" – 1:21
# "Hadasha" – 5:36
# "Taharah" – 3:51
# "Mispar" – 2:47
# "Ratzah" – 4:36
# "Zebdi" – 1:51
# "Yatzar" – 8:14 - ''misspelled as "Yatzah" on album sleeve''
Masada World: Issachar
accessed January 6, 2020
# "Malkhut" – 1:57
# "Hodaah" – 3:49
# "Elilah" – 3:21
# "Meholalot" – 4:54
# "Kochot" – 4:58
# "Lachish" – 1:30
# "Shidim" – 4:32
# "Aravot" – 2:58
# "Moshav" – 5:06
* ''Disc Two: Zevulun''
# "Lilin" – 6:58
# "Hazor" – 4:45
# "Kisofim" – 7:23
# "Khebar" – 4:54
# "Laylah" – 2:57
# "Teli" – 4:14
# "Tevel" – 4:27
# "Eitan" – 2:02
# "Ner Tamid" – 2:38
# "Idalah-Abal" – 7:41
# "Gevurah" – 6:51
* Disc One: Issachar – Recorded December 6, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City
* Disc Two: Zevulun – Recorded December 7, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City
Personnel
* Disc One: Issachar – All tracks performed by the Masada String Trio
* Mark Feldman – violin
* Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.
A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with sax ...
– cello
* Greg Cohen
Greg Cohen (born July 13, 1953) is an American jazz bassist who has been a member of John Zorn's Masada quartet and worked with numerous other noted musicians for over four decades.
Career
Cohen plays traditional jazz and other styles, includi ...
– bass
* Disc Two: Zevulun – All tracks performed by the Bar Kokhba Sextet
* Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot (;
born May 21, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer.
His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music. Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Wait ...
– guitar
* Cyro Baptista
Cyro Baptista (born December 23, 1950) is a Brazilian percussionist in jazz and world music. He creates many of the percussion instruments he plays.
Career
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Baptista arrived in the U.S. in 1980 with a scholarship to C ...
– percussion
* Joey Baron
Bernard Joseph Baron (born June 26, 1955 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American avant-garde jazz drummer who plays frequently with Bill Frisell and John Zorn.
Music career
Baron was born on June 26, 1955, in Richmond Virginia. When he was nine, ...
– drums
* Mark Feldman – violin
* Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.
A veteran of New York City's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with sax ...
– cello
* Greg Cohen
Greg Cohen (born July 13, 1953) is an American jazz bassist who has been a member of John Zorn's Masada quartet and worked with numerous other noted musicians for over four decades.
Career
Cohen plays traditional jazz and other styles, includi ...
– bass
Production
* Produced by John Zorn
* Kazunori Sugiyama: Associate Producer
* Jim Anderson: Sound Engineer
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Circle Maker, The
1998 albums
Tzadik Records albums
Albums produced by John Zorn
Masada String Trio albums
Bar Kokhba albums
Downtown music albums