Best of Tzadik Records 2021 - CTEBCM: Can This Even Be Called Music?

Tzadik Records is a very special thing to me. John Zorn’s label showcases his own compositions, ranging mostly from jazz to classical, as well as other groups and albums who are spearheading their respective genres. It’s often pretty difficult to listen to these albums, since they are usually not streaming online, so I’ve gathered them all here and got the five best Tzadik releases of 2021. This way, you’ll know where to start looking to dive into the surreal world of Zorn.

Number Five: John Zorn – Heaven and Earth Magick

Heaven and Earth Magick is one of the truer Zorn albums. You can clearly hear his typical sound and quirks, accelerandi, arpeggios, diminished scales, all of that… and more! Played by Jorge Roeder on bass, Ches Smith on drums, Stephen Gosling on piano, and 橋本紗枝 (Hashimoto Sae) on vibraphone, this is one of the best Zorn releases!

Number Four: The Gnostic Trio – Gnosis: The Inner Light

Harp, vibraphone, guitar, and Rhodes… Yup, that makes for quite an ethereal, serene, spiritual album! Played respectively by Carol Emmanuel, Kenny Wollesen, and Bill Frisell—also known as the Gnostic Trio—with John Medeski, this tribute to Ennio Morricone is transcendental and solemn, and wouldn’t be out of place being played in one of the great cathedrals of the world. One beautiful work by Zorn!

Number Three: Chaos Magick – The Ninth Circle: Orpheus in the Underworld

Played here by Simulacrum plus Brian Marsella on Rhodes and mellotron—also known as the Chaos Magick quartet—The Ninth Circle is a conceptual adventure inspired by Orpheus and Eurydice, and themes from the legend and story can be found all throughout Zorn’s composition, from the \(\frac{9}{8}\) rhythms to the Hellenic melodies, and the band breathes such a strong breath of life into them!

Number Two: Trigger – Bagatelles, Volume 3

In 2021, John Zorn started releasing recordings of his Bagatelles, three hundred new compositions to be played by some of the best bands and musicians of today. My favourite recording, chosen between this year’s eight volumes, was Trigger’s. I’ve already mentioned the group here, and I adore their noise, their fuzz, their chaos, and they’re perfect to play some of the hardest hitting Zorn material!

Number One: Simulacrum – Nostradamus: The Death of Satan

Played by the jazzcore band Simulacrum, which here is incarnated by John Medeski on organ, Matt Hollenberg on guitar, and Kenny Grohowski on drums, Nostradamus is a relentless, vibrant, and sometimes chaotic offering from John Zorn, and it’s got some of his best moments from 2021! If you like it proggy, the album presents a wide variety of atmospheres and energies; this one will be right your alley!

Notable Releases

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Friday, 29 January

John Zorn – Bagatelles, Set One

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New York, New York
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Number Five: John Zorn – Heaven and Earth Magick

Number Four: The Gnostic Trio – Gnosis: The Inner Light

Number Three: Chaos Magick – The Ninth Circle: Orpheus in the Underworld

Number Two: Trigger – Bagatelles, Volume 3

Number One: Simulacrum – Nostradamus: The Death of Satan

Notable Releases

Friday, 29 January

John Zorn – Bagatelles, Set One

The Gnostic Trio – Gnosis: The Inner Light

Friday, 26 February

John Zorn – Heaven and Earth Magick

Julian Lage, Gyan Riley, and Bill Frisell – Teresa de Ávila

Friday, 23 April

John Zorn – Chaos Magick

Friday, 21 May

Archipelago X – Archipelago X

Wednesday, 23 June

Gyan Riley – Silver Lining

Julian Lage, Gyan Riley, and Bill Frisell – Parables

Friday, 6 August

John Medeski – Crawlspace, an Electro-Acoustic Fantasy

Simulacrum – Nostradamus: The Death of Satan

Friday, 1 October

John Zorn – Meditations on the Tarot

Friday, 15 October

Hive Mind – Hive Mind

Friday, 5 November

John Zorn – Bagatelles, Set Two

Friday, 26 November

Chaos Magick – The Ninth Circle: Orpheus in the Underworld

Friday, 10 December

Julian Lage, Gyan Riley, and Bill Frisell – A Garden of Forking Paths

Friday, 17 December

New Masada Quartet – מ (Mēm)

Best of 2021

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