★Tzadik
Riff and Transfiguration
It is truly an honor for Tzadik to release on its Composer Series a CD of music by Lee Hyla, one of America's most important composers of concert music. Concentrating on his dynamic music for piano, this exciting CD presents a fascinating sextet for hammered dulcimer, clarinet, piano and strings, and three solo piano compositions performed by Stephen Drury, Mia Chung and Judith Gordon, three of today's most acclaimed virtuosos. An exciting adventure into a new world of sound, space and texture f…
Songbird Suite
Born in California, raised in Texas and a New York resident since 1989, Susie Ibarra has become one of the most distinctive drummers in the world. Her latest project is a supergroup that crosses all borders. Driving rhythms and moody atmospheres are shaded with romance, lyricism and mystery. Featuring Susie’s exotic percussion, the classical violin of virtuoso Jennifer Choi, Craig Taborn’s angular pianistic fireworks and laptop electronics pioneer Ikue Mori, Songbird Suite is a delicate and comp…
Kuchinoha
Makigami Koichi is the leader of one of Japan's longest running underground bands, Hikashu, which has evolved from an electronic pop band to embrace world music, improvisation, noise and other styles. Makigami has recorded two previous albums on his own, including the star-studded, Zorn-produced Koroshi No Blues, a much sought-after import on Toshiba-EMI Japan. He has performed with Derek Bailey and Yamatsuka Eye, and is also the organizer of the monthly Tokyo performance of John Zorn's improvis…
Transmigrations: Gilgul
A unique fusion of traditional Yiddish song with country blues, rock and reggae by Kerouac-inspired cult hero Wolf Krakowski. Recorded in 1995 and originally available in a limited edition on his own label, Transmigrations: Gilgul is a soulful contemporary reading of Jewish folk and theater songs mixing the Old World with the New. Yiddish world-beat soul that will delight both young and old.
Goyrl: Destiny
In his dramatic follow-up to Transmigrations: Gilgul, Wolf Krakowski weaves unique and heartfelt world-beat soul stylings with Yiddish folk, theatre and pop songs to create a compelling international downtown sound rooted in the blues, country-rock, tango, reggae and native mameloshn. Produced by Frank London, this contemporary classic is the very embodiment of Old World meets the New.
Endless Shout
One of the world's leading composer/performers presents a dynamic collection of his most important recent works. Professor, musical scholar, author, composer, virtuoso trombonist and computer music genius George Lewis has been a major name in new music since the mid '70s, having worked with just about everyone you can imagine, but his recorded output has been all too rare. This first release for Tzadik highlights the wide variety of his compositional approaches, with music for creative music orc…
Feeds You!
Another eclectic rock/pop band out of the infamous Kansai scene that produced the Boredoms, Omoide Hatoba and more. This exciting young three piece unit based in Kyoto presents their debut recording after years of playing in just about every small club from Tokyo to Fukuoka. Visceral power pieces offset with charming female vocals, pointillism and dub effects. Striking originality and a childlike curiosity point this band towards a new Kyoto rock sound.
Invocations
Trumpeter Frank London (Klezmatics, Hasidic New Wave) presents his most intimate and personal work to date, evoking the passionate, imploring voices of the great cantorial virtuosos Rosenblatt, Sirota and Kamiol. Recorded live in the Community Synagogue in the heart of the Lower East Side, Invocations is a soulful collection of classic hazonos, scored for trumpet solo, harmoniums, glass harmonica and bass. A lush and beautiful contemporary reading of an ancient yet under-appreciated Jewish tradi…
Streets of Lost Brothers
Another brilliant collection of scintillating originals and Jewish classics from the unique and twisted mind of guitar madman Gary Lucas. Gary’s first release for Tzadik was a delightful and uproarious collection for children. With Street of Lost Brothers, Gary has turned to the dark side. Dances, dirges and doinas for Gary’s versatile touring band, with special guest appearances by insane vocalists Kenny and Larry, sax squealer John Zorn and Walter Horn.
How I Spent My Vacation
A veteran of New York's downtown scene, founding member of the infamous Lounge Lizards and a gifted composer, arranger and pianist, Evan Lurie has been the composer of choice for dozens of directors over the past ten years, adding a new dimension to dozens of film classics from Roberto Benini's Il Diccolo Diavolo and Il Mostro to Cindy Sherman's Office Killer. For his first Tzadik release he has assembled an eclectic collection of some of his favorite film scores, all of which appear on CD here …
Faux-Jumeaux
Four startling studio compositions by an extraordinary young French composer. Born in 1980, Pierre Yves-Macé began as an improviser, played in jazz-rock prog bands, studied classically, accompanied dance classes and has composed electronic music for theater, dance and the martial arts. Faux-Jumeaux, his first CD release, brings the aesthetics of French romanticism into a head-on collision with sampling technology, electro-acoustics and minimalism. A lyrical, adventurous mix of styles and sounds,…
MxBx 1998 / 13,000 miles at light velocity
Melt Banana is the defining band of New Japanese Hardcore and it is taking America by storm. Their songs combine compositional complexity and improvisational noise with the power of a locomotive going full blast through a brick wall. Recorded during their tour of the States in 1998, MxBx 1998 / 13,000 Miles At Light Velocity captures this band in a blazing fury that will leave you breathless. An astonishing performance by one of Japan’s most innovative, personal and influential independent bands…
Before The Law
Raz Mesinai is one of the most respected young musicians in New York’s burgeoning underground electronica scene. His unique approach utilizes samples of acoustic instruments performing his original compositions, electronics of his own design, computers and occasionally his dynamic percussion work. His latest project is inspired by the hermetic Jewish writer Franz Kafka whose influential work views the Jewish experience through a mystical, almost Kabbalistic lens. A complex and multifaceted CD of…
Pilgrimage
Otomo Yoshihide (turntables) and Tenko (vocals) are two of the most internationally acclaimed performers to emerge from the Tokyo underground, and have worked with some of the best musicians from around the world. Collaborating together in bands, improvisational groupings and special projects for over ten years, this is their first duo release and is the result of over two years of recording. A fascinating meeting of two of Japan's most original musical masters.
Stories
A drummer of unparalleled power and creativity, Milford Graves is a living legend. This second volume in a continuing series documenting the solo music of one of the world's most incredible musicians was performed on a special percussion setup allowing unprecedented simultaneity. Playing with his hands, feet, elbows and head Professor Milford Graves takes us to another world with his driving rhythms, intense energy, impassioned vocals. Absolutely riveting.
Classical Works II
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* In the 1990s David Shea was a regular on the downtown scene working with Anthony Coleman, John Zorn, Zeena Parkins, Shelly Hirsch and many others. Since 1998 he has been living and working in Brussels collaborating with some of Belgium's finest classical musicians, and performing his exciting solo concerts. Classical Works II, his third release on Tzadik, is the definitive document of Shea's new musical direction, bold integrating sampling technology into th…
Yo
*In process of stocking. 2022 stock.* Adachi Tomomi Royal Chorus is an experimental vocal group based in Tokyo. Drawing upon influences as diverse as the Fluxus movement, hardcore punk, contemporary classical, TV commercials, cartoon music, Conceptual Art and more, Adachi’s complex compositional miniatures are filled with energy, imagination and a sly sense of humor. This stuff really kicks.
Electric Eel
An entire CD of compositions and improvisations on jaw harps! Creative and versatile, Makigami's first CD of solo voice improvisations was a favorite of vocalists from Mike Patton to Pavarotti. On Electric Eel he takes an unexpected turn. While studying Mongolian throat singing with masters in Tuva, Makigami became acquainted with the simple folk instrument the jaw harp. Fascination turning to obsession, he has now developed an incredible array of extended techniques on this ancient instrument, …
Lepton
Four absolute masterpieces by one of the greatest composers of the 20th Century. Spanning over three decades, LEPTON presents New York born Wuorinen at his radical best, pushing the limits of instrumental and electronic music. Expressly chosen for this exclusive Tzadik release by longtime Wuorinen fan John Zorn, the pieces here include the electronic composition Time's Encomium, (winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1970); from the '80s: New York Notes, which brilliantly blends electronic tape with a…
Under the Pipal Tree
Mono is a young instrumental band from Tokyo combining elements of minimalism, psychedelia and trance rock to create a distinctive and powerful new sound via John Fahey, Sonic Youth and the Grateful Dead. Austere and intense; their music is simple, beautiful and incredibly direct. Sheets of sound, lyricism, wailing guitars and pounding rhythms evolve slowly, morphing into a ritual of noise and ecstasy. A remarkable debut from this exciting new Japanese band.