| Zion80 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Jon Madof's Zion80 | ||||
| Released | April 2013 | |||
| Recorded | December 20, 2012 at Orange Music, NJ | |||
| Genre | Jazz, klezmer, Afrobeat | |||
| Length | 61:35 | |||
| Label | Tzadik TZ 8175 | |||
| Producer | Jon Madof | |||
| Jon Madof chronology | ||||
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Zion80 is the debut album by guitarist Jon Madof's Zion80 which was released in 2013 on John Zorn's Tzadik Records as part the Radical Jewish Culture series. [1] The album combines music written by Shlomo Carlebach performed in the Afrobeat style of Fela Kuti. [2]
Madof has said "The initial idea for Zion80 came to me rather spontaneously in 2011 after I had been listening for several hours to Fela Kuti’s music. I was getting ready to take my kids to shul (synagogue) on Shabbat morning and started humming a song by Shlomo Carlebach. The drum patterns of Fela’s music were still in my head from the day before, and the light bulb went off!" [3]
After assembling a group of musicians based on Kuti's Afrika '70 ensemble, Madof developed the material through open rehearsals and performances at The Stone every Monday night during a three-month residency that began in August 2012 before recording the album. [4] [5]
PopMatters' writer Sean Murphy stated "The disc is a triple-threat: an ideal introduction to Zion80 as swell as Kuti and Carlebach (both of whom will reward interested listeners). Where Kuti’s legendary jams are sprawling, sometimes exhausting affairs, Madof’s arrangements are tight and accessible. Every player gets a chance to shine, and the full range of instruments is ably represented throughout" [6]
All compositions by Shlomo Carlebach except as indicated
Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles from mainly Nigeria such as the traditional Yoruba and Igbo music and highlife with American funk, jazz, and soul influences. With a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersecting rhythms, and percussion. The style was pioneered in the 1960s by Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Fela Kuti, who is most known for popularizing the style both within and outside Nigeria. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."
Expensive Shit is the twelfth full-length album by pioneering Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti and his Africa '70 band, released in 1975. It was reissued in 2000 by MCA Records, packaged with Kuti's He Miss Road (1975) on the same CD.
The Best Best of Fela Kuti is a 2-CD compilation album by Nigerian Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti, released in 1999 by MCA Records. It was issued in the United States in 2000 as part of a reissue series of Kuti's albums. The album was reissued as The Best of the Black President in 2009 by Knitting Factory Records and received universal acclaim from music critics. A companion 2-CD compilation, also released in 1999, was reissued in the U.S. in 2013 by Knitting Factory as The Best of the Black President 2.
The Shaolin Afronauts are an Afrobeat band based in Adelaide, Australia. Their music is heavily influenced by West African Afrobeat artists such as Fela Kuti, but also incorporates elements of avant-garde jazz, soul and other traditional African and Cuban percussive rhythms. They describe their music as "interstellar futurist afro-soul".
No Agreement is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti. It was recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Nigerian Decca label.
Stalemate is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Nigerian Decca label.
Sorrow Tears and Blood is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti. It was recorded in 1977 and originally released on the Nigerian Kalakuta label.
Shuffering and Shmiling is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti. It was recorded in 1977 and released on the Nigerian Coconut label.
Unknown Soldier is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, recorded in 1979 and originally released on the Nigerian Skylark label.
Fela's London Scene is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, recorded in England in 1971 and originally released on the Nigerian EMI label.
Open & Close is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, recorded in Lagos in 1971 and originally released on the Nigerian His Master's Voice label.
Shakara is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, recorded in Lagos in 1971 and originally released on the Nigerian EMI label.
Roforofo Fight is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti recorded in Lagos and originally released on the Nigerian EMI label Jofabro in 1972.
Afrodisiac is an album by Nigerian Afrobeat composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist Fela Kuti, originally released on the Nigerian EMI label in 1973. The album's four tracks were re-recordings of Nigerian 45s redone in London in 1972. The album features Kuti's first Nigerian hit "Jeun Ko Ku," which sold over 200,000 copies.
Jon Madof is an American guitarist, composer, and leader of the bands Rashanim and Zion80, who has performed extensively with other artists including John Zorn, Matisyahu, Marc Ribot, and Frank London.
Rashanim is the eponymous debut album by guitarist Jon Madof's Rashanim trio with Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz on bass and Mathias Kunzli on drums released in 2003 on John Zorn's Tzadik Records as part of the Radical Jewish Culture Series.
Shalosh is the third album by guitarist Jon Madof's Rashanim trio, with Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz on bass guitar and Mathias Kunzli on drums. The album was released in 2006 by Tzadik as part of the Radical Jewish Culture Series.
The Gathering is the fourth album by guitarist Jon Madof's Rashanim trio featuring Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz and Mathias Kunzli which was released in 2009 on John Zorn's Tzadik Records as part of the Radical Jewish Culture Series.
Adramelech: Book of Angels Volume 22 is the second album by Zion80, a musical ensemble led by guitarist Jon Madof, which was released in 2014 on John Zorn's Tzadik Records. It is part of the Zorn's Book of Angels Series, a songbook of Zorn compositions performed by a wide range of performers.
Yoshie Fruchter is an American experimental jazz guitarist, bassist, oud player and composer.
