ZAO - 2007 - In Tokyo

ZAO

2007

In Tokyo

01. Free Folk 9:50

02. Atart 7:40

03. Chardaz 12:05

04. Natura 9:53

05. Sadie 3:14

06. Ronach 5:38

07. Isis 10:30

08. Zohar 14:06

Recorded At – Shibuya O-West Tokyo (June 4th, 2004), and at Fab, Tokyo (June 5th, 2004)

Drums – François Causse

Electric Bass – Gérard Prévost

Violin – Akihisa Tsuboy

Piano, Electric Piano – Faton Cahen

Soprano Saxophone, Tárogató – Yochk'o Seffer

Vocals – Cynthia Saint-Ville

Created in 1973 by two former MAGMA musicians, Yochk'o SEFFER (Saxophone) and François ""FATON"" CAHEN (Keyboards), ZAO displays a music both intriguing and complex. The band offers an original mixture between Progressive rock, jazz, traditional Magyar influences and modern classical composers (BARTOK, STRAVINSKI...). Sophisticated meters are punctuated by wind instruments and piano, putting the stress on strange-sounding themes. ""Live !"" is a never-issued album, recorded at the famous French club A L'Ouest De La Grosne in 1976. Very uncommon, the band included then François ""FATON"" CAHEN (Keyboards), Dominique BERTRAM (Bass), Didier LOCKWOOD (Violin) and Jean-My TRUONG (Drums). Regarding Yochk'o SEFFER, his departure to pursue a solo career has just been announced... A document not to be missed, both for its historical value and its great musicianship ! Ten years after a first come-back, ZAO is there again in 2004 to go on tour in Japan. Yochk'o SEFFER and François ""FATON"" CAHEN invited their old mate Gérard PREVOST (Bass), who together with drummer François CAUSSE (GONG, OFFERING...) makes a perfect rhythmic section. As to Cynthia SAINT-VILLE, she stands for a modern incarnation of the original vocalist Mauricia PLATON. On site, the two leaders of the band recruited one of the best musicians of the country, the brilliant KBB violonist Akihisa TSUBOY. Published by the Musea label, ""In Tokyo"" is a testimony for two concerts performed in the Japanese capital on June 4th & 5th 2004. Over 73 minutes of music, eight classic tracks, amongst them ""Free Folk"", ""Atart"", ""Isis"" or ""Shardaz"". As to the performance in itself, no comment: simply outstanding ! For all those who had not the luck to be there on this historical moment, just rush to get the record ! Go !!! ZAO also exists in various formulae, as evidenced by ""Ethnic Trio Live"" (2008). Here are nine pieces recorded live, Gerard PREVOST being aptly replaced by programmings. The three musicians play a brand of ethnic free-jazz, based on afro-american percussions courtesy of François CAUSSE, François ""FATON"" CAHEN's piano (Or even synthesizers) and reeds admirably played by Yochk'o SEFFER. Displaying an incredible energy, the latter also performs on the tarogato, a long lost wood instrument used in Hungary during the XVIth Century. With these three virtuosos, the listener is invited to enjoy an incredible musical trip, constantly innovative and diverse, keeping well the balance between musical structures and improvisations. One more musical adventure by an essential band in the French rock history.

Another very good recording by the French fusion Zeuhl band, still going strong after over 30 years. I didn't go and cross reference all the titles to their albums, but it seems to be a mix of old and new tunes (mostly older ones), with 4 veteran/original members and 2 recently added musicians. It is a good, long CD at 73:16. The recording is excellent. It features Zao founders Jeff "Yochk'o" Seffer (sop. sax), and Francois "Faton" Cohen (keys), early members Gerard Prevost (bass) and Francois Causse (drums), and new additions Cynthia Saint-Ville (singing) and Akihisa Tsuboy (violin). Cahen and Seffer were original members (and writers) of Magma, the source of Zeuhl music. After 3 years, they left to form Zao in 1971, mostly because they wanted to do more improvising than Christian Vander would allow in Magma. Zao has a much jazzier feel than Magma. Where Magma is almost a genre unto itself, Zao is definitely jazz fusion. They use odd time signatures, Middle Eastern and Eastern European melodies, (Seffer is Hungarian) and play snaky, sinuous, infectious and catchy riff-based fusion. Heavy on the fender rhodes, and now with a vocalist (usually wordless) and violinist, all the musicians are top notch. They rock! And this music is not all that easy to play. It is a lot of fun. Some of these tunes are from their first albums and they are still fresh. I've been a fan of Zao since 1974. If you are new to Zao, Zheul, or French fusion and want to find out what all the fuss was about, this would be a very good, if not the best place to start.