Jacob William Quartet - Secondary Deviations (Ayler, 2009) ***½

A nice album that starts rather awkward. In the very first tune, "Welcome Steps", I got the impression that both trumpet and sax where hindering rather than reinforcing each other, not sure when to play or not, adding phrases that do not really match the other one's musical injections, further accentuated by the unequal sound quality of both instruments. But gradually the interaction gets better, more open, not only in that specific tune, but also on the CD as a whole.

Jim Hobbs is on sax, in a more free constellation than in his own Fully Celebrated Orchestra, and I must say, it suits him well. Forbes Graham plays trumpet, a musician not known to me, and he is good. Young Croix Gallipault plays the drums. But Indian bassist Jacob William is the revelation of the album, since no matter how good his frontline is, his open rhythmic pulse drives them on, slows them down, sets the tone and scene, like a solid and supple backbone that keeps the music focused and coherent. The music itself is slow, bluesy, full of soul, yet also with some middle-eastern tonal inflections, especially on the lengthy "Rishi Ways". "Palm Dance" is a little more rhythmic and possibly the best track on the album. "Upload Method" is a little more free, although because of too much repetitive phrasing it seems to stagnate a little, not going anywhere really. The last track, "Repetition", brings more tempo into the action, although the piece lacks a little depth and character. In all, an album with ups and downs. Some really great moments, some that will not really stick in your memory, but the promise is there, clear and loud.

Listen and buy/download from Ayler Records.

© stef

Trespass Trio - ... Was There To Illuminate The Night Sky (Clean Feed, 2009) *****

It is extremely hard to understand, let alone describe in words, why some music is excellent, and why it goes this little notch beyond what all the rest is doing. The Trespass Trio does exactly that: move the sax trio to a higher level while on the surface not changing the format too much. The Scandinavian trio consists of Raymond Strid on drums, Per Zanussi on bass and Martin Küchen on alto and baritone sax. So, on the surface this is indeed a sax trio.

Here is my possibly useless try at explaining why it's excellent. The three musicians improvise in the most disciplined mode you can image, telling one story together, building tension as they move along, without any sense of urgency, giving every note and beat relevance, meaning, emotional depth, full of focus and intensity, pushing the boundaries of expressiveness without the need to use extended techniques or shock elements, using all the subtlety and nuance of their instrumental skills, knowing how to use pace, and space, and volume and silence, and making all the eight pieces, with all their creative variation and differences in approaches into one magnificent unified captivating, gripping, mesmerizing, sad, angry, hypnotic, heart-rending whole.

And there is variation, and there is unity, built around Küchen's anger with the brainless violence in the world, by individuals, but especially organized by armies, and the title is a quote from a US army general about their use of WP, white phosphor, a modern kind of napalm, in Fallujah in Iraq.

The first track starts beautifully, with all three instruments creating a sad pure melodic soundscape, monotonal and deep, like a prayer of resignation, a tear of sorrow, reducing the power to use their instrument to an absolute minimum, and it flows on into "Sad salsa in F", which creates this wonderful contrast between the sad melody and the barely dancing rhythm. The third track is more boppish, but in a real free form, an opportunity for all three musicians to continue the story but then full of power and agony. "Walking The Dead" is a composed piece with unison bass and baritone, again slow and sad and beautiful, with tears dripping from every note played by the arco the sax the drums. The highlight of the album is the title track, which starts with Küchen using all his masterly technique to show all the shades and colorings of a single note, the kind of sound that is the prerogative primarily of the sax, yet the way he keeps the notes vibrating, multiphonic, overblowing slightly, vocalizing the tone, making it weep, cry, howl, and still without using too much power, full of restraint but evoking real pain, then adding power, shouting it out, repeating the same agonizing phrase, yet changing volume and timbre, hair-raising, and it tears your guts out. Can you make a powerful story with just a few notes? Yes. Listen to this track. It is absolutely phenomenal. And then you think, that whatever comes next will be an anti-climax. Well, think again. "Strid Comes" is again full of power, more direct, raw and intense, now with Strid having a go at it for a drum solo. "The Indispensible Warlords" is again slow, with an pressing tension under the surface, sounding a little like Joe McPhee, not only because it sounds like a spiritual with sharp modern emotional edges, but also because he plays his baritone with such an incredibly soft velvety touch, showing deep, very deep emotional powers. The last track is another take on the title track, now somewhat faster, and a wonderful ending to a magnificent record. I have listened to many sax trios, but rarely have I heard one that went as deep as this one, as complete, as coherent. Overwhelmed by the quality of his playing, I focused maybe a little too much on Küchen, but all three musicians perform brilliantly, sensitive, subtle, rich. Only three acoustic instruments, but what a world of sound. What a musical experience. Don't miss this one!

Listen to samples at Clean Feed.

Buy from Instantjazz.

© stef

Quartet Offensive - Carnivore (Self Published, 2009) ****

There are many young bands who merge the solid elements of rock with the sophisticated harmonics of jazz without falling into the trap of fusion. No pyrotechnics, no technical bullshit, just music with a story first and foremost, which doesn't mean that the band is not technically skilled, only that their skills are at the service of the music. Other bands in the same vein and line-up, but under-recognized and under-recorded, are the German band Firomanum and the US/Finnish/German band UNKL, and close enough to some of Hilmar Jensson's and Andrew D'Angelo's endeavors.

Quartet Offensive, from Baltimore is a good example of this. The band consists of John Dierker on bass clarinet, Eric Trudel on tenor sax, Matt Frazao on guitar, Adam Hopkins on bass, and Nathan Ellman Bell on drums. And yes, you count correctly, this is a quintet. The album starts with a strong guitar rif and rock beat, propulsing forward the double reed front line, but once the whole thing gets going, the piece collapses onto itself in raw chaos and musical debris, but needless to say the theme gets picked up again and ends in full power. Raw, entertaining, fun. After that strong opening statement, the band becomes a little more sophisticated, with unison themes and counterpoint, showing their gentler side, yet also demonstrating their unmistakable instrumental skills in the ensuing solos. The quality of the music lies in the nice combination of sensitivity, melodically and in the delivery, with the no-nonsense and straight-forward approach of rock. And the band varies quite well between wild powerful drive and sophistication. Recommended.

For more information on Quartet Offensive, check on MySpace.

Any suggestions on new and upcoming young bands? Let me know. I'll turn it into a special section.

Watch the band here :

The M.B.S. by Quartet Offensive from Nick Prevas on Vimeo.

© stef

Daniel Levin Quartet - Live At Roulette (Clean Feed, 2009) ****½

Cellist Daniel Levin keeps pushing his own musical boundaries. With his former quartet release, "Blurry", he already partly moved away from compositional structure, but with this album he completely drops melody and fixed rhythms. Nate Wooley is still on trumpet, and Mat Moran on vibes, but now Peter Bitenc plays bass instead of Joe Morris. Doing away with melody and rhythm, has also decreased the density of the music, creating a light texture of sounds that come and go to form a single musical unity, while maintaining the chamber-like approach and lyricism of his previous album, except for two pieces, called "Lightspeed Particles" where the title aptly describes the piece's feel, full of wild intensity and sound collisions. The music flows organically, growing as it moves along, with instruments coming and going, like birds or bees passing by, coming and going, yet all taking part in the same unpredictable yet not unfamiliar scenery. Despite the apparent freedom, it all sounds very focused and coherent and it was possibly discussed before playing, or maybe not, and these four stellar musicians are just so good and so used to playing together, that this symbiosis of fragile and raw sounds was created spontaneously. Highly recommended for those with open ears.

Order from Instantjazz.

Listen and download from eMusic.


© stef

Masada - Stolas - Book Of Angels, Vol. 12 (Tzadik, 2009) ****

After the original Masada series, John Zorn started with the Masada Song Book Two, the Book Of Angels. A series which is possibly among his best projects. The Radical Jewish Music series becomes a little repetitive, the Anniversary series was not always of the same inspired quality, but the Book of Angels is among my favorites for the variations in approach and some of the superb surprises and high quality. This is the 12th album, with the real Masada band, but with some changes. Zorn himself plays on only one track, and is replaced by no one less than Joe Lovano on sax, with Uri Caine on piano, Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass and Joey Barron on drums. This slightly altered line-up also changes the music. The compositions themselves do not vary from the known music with the usual klezmer angle, but the style is now mainstream, and hence much more accessible than anything Zorn has ever done. Nice, sweet and of course with the expected high quality delivery. Douglas is stellar.

I am not a specialist in angels, so I checked the internet to verify where all these angels keep coming from, wondering whether Zorn kept inventing names, what their characteristics are, and what their number is. From the list below, and the overview of all Book of Angels albums, you can see that
- some of the Masada song book angels do not figure in the list I found
- the Masada song book has not yet reached a third of the existing angels.

Stolas, the one that is the title for this album, is again a fallen angel, a commander of twenty-six legions of demons and he teaches astronomy (?!). The same angel may have several small changes in its names, depending on the tradition (jewish, christian, muslim). Stolas, is also Solas as listed below. Volac is the same as Valac in the list below, etc.

So, like it or not, there is potentially still a lot to come if Zorn wants to cover the whole list with songs. Also interesting to notice is that the songbook luckily covers as many, if not more, of the fallen angels, than of the good-natured ones. I have some natural sympathy for the fallen angels.

List of Good-natured Angels

1. Abasdarhon - angel of the fifth hour of the night.
2. Abraxos - ancient name attributed to an angel.
3. Adnachiel - angel who rules November.
4. Adonael - an archangel .
5. Adonai - one of seven angels of the presence, or elohim; creator.
6. Aeshma - Persian archangel.
7. Af - angel of light.
8. Agla - angel who saved Lot and his family.
9. Akriel - angel who aids those with infertility.
10. Amitiel - angel of truth.
11. Amriel - angel of the month of May.
12. Anael - angel influencing love, passion and sexuality.
13. Anapiel - angel whose name means "branch of God."
14. Anahel - angel who rules the third heaven.
15. Anpiel - angel who protects birds.
16. Ansiel - name of an angel known as "the constrainer."
17. Arael - variation of Uriel; prince over the people.
18. Araqiel - angel with dominion over the earth.
19. Araton - one of seven ruling angels over the provinces of heaven.
20. Ariel - "lion of God;" angel of protection.
21. Armisael - angel of the womb.
22. Asariel - "whom God has bound;" rules the moon.
23. Asroilu - guardian angel of the seventh heaven.
24. Astanphaeus - one of the seven angels of the presence; third gate guardian.
25. Asteraoth - name of an angel who thwarts power.
26. Atrugiel - great prince of the seventh heaven.
27. Ayil - angel of the zodiac sign Sagittarius.
28. Azbogah - name of the high ranking angel of judgment.
29. Azrael - archangel of death.
30. Azriel - name for the angel of destruction.
31. Balthioul - angel with the power to thwart distress.
32. Baradiel - angel of hail.
33. Barakiel - angel of lightning.
34. Barrattiel - angel of support.
35. Barbiel - angel of October.
36. Bariel - ruling angel of the eleventh hour of the day.
37. Barman - angel of intelligence.
38. Barquiel - ruling angel of the seventh hour of the day.
39. Baruchiel - angel with power over strife.
40. Bath Kol - female angel of divine prophecy.
41. Bazazath - archangel of the second heaven.
42. Bethor - one of seven ruling angels of the province of heaven.
43. Briathos - name of an angel who thwarts demons.
44. Cahethal - seraphim angel over agriculture.
45. Camael - angel name that means "he who sees God;" chief angel of powers.
46. Cassiel - angel of Saturn.
47. Cerviel - angel ruler of the principalities.
48. Chamuel - archangel whose name means "he who seeks God."
49. Chayyliel - angel whose name means "army;" a powerful angel.
50. Cochabiel - angel prince who stands before God.
51. Dabriel - angel of the first heaven who rules over Monday.
52. Dagiel - angel who has dominion over fish.
53. Dalquiel - angel prince of the third heaven.
54. Damabiath - angel of naval construction.
55. Dardariel - ruling angel of the eleventh hour.
56. Diniel - angel who protects infants.
57. Domiel - angel who guards the sixth hall of the seventh heaven.
58. Dubbiel - guardian angel of Persia; name means "bear-God."
59. Duma - angel prince of dreams.
60. Dumah - angel of silence.
61. Eae - angel who thwarts demons.
62. Eiael - angel with dominion over the occult sciences.
63. Elyon - ministering angel who brought the plague of hail upon Egypt.
64. Emmanuel - angel whose name means "God with us."
65. Erathaol - one of seven great archon angels.
66. Eremiel - great angel who presides over the Abyss and Hades.
67. Gabriel - archangel whose name means "man or hero of God."
68. Gadriel - angel who rules the fifth heaven.
69. Galgaliel - prince angel of the sun, like Raphael.
70. Galizur - great angel who rules the second heaven.
71. Gamaliel - angel who takes the elect unto heaven.
72. Gazardiel - angel who supervises the east.
73. Geburatiel - angel prince who guards the seventh heaven.
74. Guriel - angel of the zodiac sign of Leo.
75. Gzrel - angel who revokes any evil decree against another in heaven.
76. Hadraniel - angel who stands at the second gate in heaven; "majesty of God."
77. Hadriel - guardian angel of the gates of the east wind.
78. Hagith - one of the seven ruling angels of the provinces of heaven.
79. Halaliel - archangel known as "the lord of karma."
80. Hamaliel - angel who rules the order of virtues.
81. Hamon - a great, honored, beautiful prince angel in heaven.
82. Haniel - an archangel who guards the tree of life.
83. Harahel - angel who oversees libraries.
84. Hasdiel - angel of benevolance.
85. Hasmal - fire speaking angel of the throne of God.
86. Hayliel - angel prince in the seventh heaven.
87. Haziel - angel whose name means "vision of God."
88. Heman - angel leader of the heavenly choir, whose name means "trust."
89. Hermesiel - angel who leads one of the heavenly choirs.
90. Hofniel - ruling angel of the bene elohim; name means "fighter of God."
91. Iaoel - an angel of the lord; angel of visions.
92. Iaoth - archangel who has power to thwart demons.
93. Leo - an angel who thwarts demons.
94. Iofiel - archangel whose name means "beauty of God."
95. Israfil - Islamic angel whose name means "the burning one."
96. Jael - cherub who guards the ark of the covenant.
97. Jahoel - one of the angels of the presence and chief of the seraphim.
98. Jaoel - guardian angel who lives in the seventh heaven.
99. Jeduthun - angel whose name means "master of howling" or chanting to God.
100. Jefischa - ruling angel of the fourth hour of the night.
101. Jehudiel - archangel who rules the movements of the celestial spheres.
102. Jeremiel - archangel whose name means "mercy of God."
103. Kabshiel - angel of grace and favor.
104. Kafziel - archangel who rules the planet Saturn.
105. Kakabel - angel who rules over stars and constellations.
106. Kalaziel - angel who has the power to thwart demons of disease.
107. Karael - angel who has the power to thwart demons.
108. Kemuel - archon angel and chief of the seraphim.
109. Kerubiel - prince angel of the cherubim.
110. Kokabiel - prince angel of the stars.
111. Kutiel - angel of water and the use of diving rods.
112. Labbiel - angel whose name was changed to Raphael.
113. Lahabiel - angel who protects against evil spirits.
114. Lamechial - angel who thwarts deception.
115. Lassuarium - angel who rules the tenth hour of the night.
116. Laylah - angel who oversees and protects childbirth.
117. Machidiel - angel governing the zodiac sign of Aries and the month of March.
118. Marmaroth - angel who has power to thwart fate.
119. Mendrion - angel who rules the seventh hour of the night.
120. Metatron - one of the greatest archangels, second only to God.
121. Michael - great archangel whose name means "who is as God."
122. Mihr - angel of divine mercy; angel that governs September.
123. Miniel - angel invoked to induce love.
124. Mitatron - an angel of the third heaven.
125. Morael - angel of awe that rules the months of August-September.
126. Moroni - brought messages to Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism.
127. Muriel - angel who rules the dominions and the month of June.
128. Naaririel - great prince angel of the seventh heaven.
129. Nahaliel - angel who governs running streams; "valley of God."
130. Nanael - angel who governs the sciences, and philosophy.
131. Narcariel - angel that rules the eighth hour of the night.
132. Nasargiel - good angel with a lion head that rules hell.
133. Nathanael - angel ruling over hidden things, fire and vengeance.
134. Naya'il - angel of testing.
135. Nelchael - angel of the schemhamphorae.
136. Nuriel - angel of spellbinding power and of hail storms.
137. Och - one ruling angel of the provinces of heaven.
138. Omael - angel of chemistry and species perpetuation.
139. Onoel - name of an archon angel...
140. Ophaniel - prince angel over the ophanim.
141. Ophiel - one ruling angel of the provinces of heaven and Mercury.
142. Oriel - ruling angel of the tenth hour of the day.
143. Orifiel - archangel over thrones, and the second hour of the day.
144. Orphamiel - angel known as the "great finger of the Father."
145. Osmadiel - ruling angel of the eighth hour of the day.
146. Ouriel - archangel who commands demons.
147. Pamyel - ruling angel of the ninth hour of night.
148. Pathiel - angel whose name means "opener of God."
149. Peliel - angel who rules the virtues.
150. Peniel - angel who rules Friday and resides in the third heaven.
151. Pesagniyah - angel who ushers prayers of grief to heaven.
152. Phaleg - one of the seven ruling angels of the provinces of heaven.
153. Phanuel - archangel who is an interpreter of revelations.
154. Phounebiel - disease thwarting angel.
155. Phul one of the seven ruling angels of the provinces of heaven.
156. Pravuil - an archangel who keeps all the records of heaven.
157. Pronoia - an archon angel who helped make mankind.
158. Purah - angel of forgetfulness.
159. Puriel - angel whose name means "the fire of God;" angel of punishment.
160. Qaspiel - angel who rules the moon.
161. Quabriel - ruling angel of the ninth hour of the day.
162. Rachiel - ophanim angel who rules Venus and governs sexuality.
163. Rachmiel - angel of mercy whose name also means the same.
164. Radueriel - angel who can create other angels and oversees archives.
165. Raguel - angel who watches over the behavior of angels; "friend of God."
166. Rahab - angel of death, destruction, but also the sea.
167. Rahatiel - angel prince of the constellations; name means "to run."
168. Rahmiel - angel of mercy and love.
169. Ramiel - angel who oversees visions and souls during the day of judgment.
170. Raphael - great archangel whose name means "the shining one who heals."
171. Rathanael - angel of the third heaven and thwarter of demons.
172. Raziel - angel chief over the thrones, guarding the secrets of the universe.
173. Remiel - angel who leads souls to judgment; name means "mercy of God."
174. Rikbiel - angel who oversees the divine chariot; chief of wheels.
175. Rizoel - angel with power to thwart demons.
176. Rogziel - angel of punishment whose name means "the wrath of God."
177. Ruman - angel who takes account of evil men's deeds while in hell.
178. Sabaoth - archon angel of the presence.
179. Sabathiel - angel or intelligence who communicates divine light.
180. Sablo - angel of graciousness and protection.
181. Sabrael - archangel who guards the first heaven.
182. Sabrathan - ruling angel of the first hour of the night.
183. Sachiel - ruling angel of Jupiter whose name means "covering of God."
184. Sagnessagiel - angel who guards the fourth hall of the seventh heaven.
185. Sahaqiel - angel prince of the fourth heaven.
186. Salathiel - rescuing angel of Adam and Eve.
187. Samkiel - angel of destruction and purifier of souls from sheol.
188. Samuel - fruling angel of the first hour of the day.
189. Sandalphon - giant angel whose name means "co-brother" (of Metratron).
190. Saniel - ruling angel of the sixth hour of the day.
191. Sarakiel - angel who rules the ministering angels.
192. Sarandiel - ruling angel of the twelfth hour of the night.
193. Satqiel - angel prince of the fifth heaven.
194. Seraphiel - chief angel of the seraphim angels.
195. Shamsiel - angel whose name means "light of day."
196. Shepherd - angel of repentance.
197. Shoftiel - angel whose name means "the judge of God."
198. Sidqiel - angel prince of the ophanim; ruler of Venus.
199. Sidriel - angel prince of the first heaven.
200. Simiel - archangel.
201. Sizouze - angel of prayer.
202. Sophia - angel whose name means "wisdom."
203. Soqedhozi - angel who weighs the merits of of men before God.
204. Sorath - angel who is the spirit of the sun.
205. Sorush - angel who punishes souls on judgment day.
206. Soterasiel - angel whose name means "who stirs up the fire of God."
207. Sraosha - angel who sets the world in motion.
208. Suriel - angel of healing whose name means "God's command."
209. Tagas - governing angel of singing angels.
210. Tartys - ruling angel of the second hour of the night.
211. Tatrasiel - great angelic prince.
212. Temeluch - angel caretaker who protects newborn babies and children.
213. Temperance - angel of the elixir of life.
214. Theliel - angel prince of love.
215. Tubiel - angel of summer.
216. Tzadkiel - angel of justice and guardian of the gates of the east wind.
217. Ubaviel - angel of the zodiac sign of Capricorn.
218. Umabel - angel of physics and astronomy.
219. Uriel - great archangel whose name means "God is my light."
220. Usiel - an angel who stands before the throne of God.
221. Uzziel - cherubim angel whose name means "strength of God."
222. Varhmiel - ruling angel of the fourth hour of the day.
223. Vequaniel - ruling angel of the third hour of the day.
224. Verchiel - ruling angel of the month of July and of the zodiac sign Leo.
225. Vretiel - swift in wisdom archangel responsible for recording God's deeds.
226. Xathanael - the sixth angel created by God.
227. Yabbashael - an angel of the earth whose name means "the mainland."
228. Yefefiah - archangel who is the prince of the Torah.
229. Yehudiah - benevolant angel of death.
230. Yerachmiel - an archangel who rules earth.
231. Yeshamiel - angel who rules the zodiac sign of Libra.
232. Yofiel - angel prince of the Torah commanding 53 legions of angels.
233. Zaapiel - angel punisher of wicked souls.
234. Zaazenach - ruling angel of the sixth hour of the night.
235. Zabkiel - angel who rules over the thrones.
236. Zachariel - angel governor of Jupiter.
237. Zachriel - angel who governs memories.
238. Zadkeil - archangel who rules heaven and stands in the presence of God.
239. Zagzagel - angel prince of the Torah and of wisdom.
240. Zakzakiel - angel of the seventh heaven who records good deeds.
241. Zaphiel - angel ruler of the cherubim.
242. Zaphkiel - archangel whose name means "knowledge of God."
243. Zarall - cherub angel who guards the ark of the covenant.
244. Zazriel - angel whose name means "strength of God."
245. Zehanpuryu - high ranking angel whose name means "one who sets free."
246. Zerachiel - angel of the month of July and the sun.
247. Zophiel - angel whose name means "God's spy."
248. Zuriel - angel ruler of the principalities whose name means "my rock is God."

List of Fallen Angels

1. Abaddon - fallen angel of death whose name means "to destroy."
2. Abezethibou - one-winged Red Sea fallen angel.
3. Allocen - fallen angel who is a duke in hell.
4. Amduscias - name of the fallen angel who appears as a unicorn.
5. Amon - fallen angel who is a strong marquis over 40 legions.
6. Amy - name of a fallen angel who is a president in hell.
7. Andras - fallen angel marquis and appears raven-headed.
8. Andrealphus - fallen angel who can transform humans into birds.
9. Andromalius - fallen angel who appears as a man holding a serpent.
10. Apollyon - fallen angel of death; same as Abaddon.
11. Armaros - fallen angel who teaches the "resolving of enchantments."
12. Asmoday - fallen angel king with three heads: a bull, a ram, and a man.
13. Asmodeus - one of the most evil of fallen angels, being an archdemon.
14. Astaroth - fallen angel who is a grand duke in hell.
15. Azael - evil, fallen angel who cohabited with women.
16. Azazel - fallen angel whose name means "God strengthens."
17. Azza - fallen angel whose name means "the strong."
18. Baal - fallen angel whose name means "the lord."
19. Balam - fallen angel who looks like Asmoday with a serpent tail.
20. Balberith - fallen angel who is a grand pontiff in hell.
21. Baraqijal - fallen angel who teaches astrology.
22. Barbatos - fallen angel who is a great count, earl and duke of hell.
23. Bathin - pale horse riding fallen angel.
24. Beelzebub - fallen angel known as the "prince of demons."
25. Behemoth - fallen angel who is the "demon of the deep."
26. Beleth - fallen angel who is a terrible king over 85 legions.
27. Belial - deceptively beautiful fallen angel whose name means "without worth."
28. Belphegor - fallen angel whose name means "lord of opening."
29. Berith - fallen angel...
30. Bernael - fallen angel of darkness and evil.
31. Bifrons - fallen angel that appears monstrous and teaches mathematical arts.
32. Botis - fallen angel who appears as a viper.
33. Buer - fallen angel who teaches philosophy, logic and ethics.
34. Bune - fallen angel who appears as a dragon with three heads.
35. Caim - fallen angel who appears as a thrush or man with a sword.
36. Dantanian - fallen angel who appears as a man with many faces.
37. Decarabia - fallen angel who appears as a star in a pentacle.
38. Eligor - fallen angel who appears as a good knight with lance.
39. Enepsigos - fallen angel who appears in the shape of woman.
40. Flauros - fallen angel who appears as a leopard.
41. Focalor - fallen angel who appears as a man with griffin wings.
42. Forcas - fallen angel who teaches logic and ethics.
43. Forneus - fallen angel marquis who appears as a sea monster.
44. Furcas - fallen angel who appears as a cruel man with long beard.
45. Furfur - fallen angel who appears as a hart with a fiery tail.
46. Gaap - fallen angel who appears as a man with bat wings.
47. Gadreel - fallen angel whose name means "God is my helper."
48. Gamygyn - fallen angel who appears as a small horse.
49. Glasyalabolas - fallen angel who appears as a winged dog.
50. Gomory - fallen angel who appears as a camel riding woman of beauty.
51. Gusion - fallen angel who can discern the past, present or future.
52. Hagenti - fallen angel who appears as a bull with griffin wings.
53. Halpas - fallen angel who appears as a stork.
54. Imamiah - fallen angel who governs voyages.
55. Ipos - fallen angel who appears as an angel with a lion's head.
56. Kokabiel - fallen angel whose name means "star of God."
57. Kunopegos - fallen angel who appears as a sea horse and sinks ships.
58. Lahash - fallen angel who interferes with divine will.
59. Lerajie - fallen angel who appears as an archer in green.
60. Leviathon - fallen angel associated with the deep seas.
61. Lillith - fallen female angel who searches for children to kidnap or kill.
62. Lix Tetrax - fallen angel of the wind.
63. Lucifer - actually a Babylonian king whose name means "bearer of light."
64. Malpas - fallen angel who appears as a crow.
65. Marbas - fallen angel who appears as a lion.
66. Marchosias - fallen angel who appears as a she-wolf with griffin wings.
67. Mastema - fallen angel whose name means "hostility."
68. Mephistopheles - fallen angel; name means "he who loves not the light."
69. Morax - fallen angel who appears as a bull.
70. Naamah - fallen angel of prostitution whose name means "pleasing."
71. Naberius - fallen angel who appears as a crowing cock.
72. Obyzouth - fallen angel femal who kills newborns and cause still-births.
73. Onoskelis - female fallen angel who lives in caves and perverts men.
74. Orias - fallen angel who appears as a lion with serpent's tail.
75. Ornias - fallen angel who is annoying and can shape-shift.
76. Orobas - fallen angel who appears as a horse.
77. Ose - fallen angel who appears as a leopard and is a president in hell.
78. Paimon - fallen angel who appears as a crowned man on a camel.
79. Penemuel - fallen angel who corrupts mankind through writing.
80. Pharzuph - fallen angel of fornication and lust.
81. Phoenix - fallen angel who appears as a phoenix bird.
82. Procel - fallen angel who can speak of hidden and secret things.
83. Purah - fallen angel of forgetfulness and the conjuring of the dead.
84. Purson - fallen angel who appears as a lion-headed man on a bear.
85. Qemuel - fallen angel who was destroyed by God.
86. Rahab - fallen angel of pride whose name means "violence."
87. Raum - fallen angel who appears as a crow.
88. Ronobe - fallen angel who is a monster who teaches rhetoric and art.
89. Ruax - headache fallen angel.
90. Sabnack - fallen angel who appears as a soldier with lion's head.
91. Saleos - fallen angel who appears as a soldier on a crocodile.
92. Samael - evil fallen angel whose name means "the blind God."
93. Satan - christian fallen angel whose name means "adversary."
94. Seere - fallen angel who appears as a man on a winged horse.
95. Semyaza - fallen angel leader and one of the Sons of God.
96. Shax - fallen angel who appears as a stork; stealer of money.
97. Solas - fallen angel who appears as a raven and teaches astronomy.
98. Sorath - fallen angel to some whose number is 666.
99. Sytry - fallen angel; appears as a man with griffin wings and leopard head.
100. Uzza - fallen angel whose name means "strength."
101. Valac - fallen angel who appears as a small boy with wings on a dragon.
102. Valefor - fallen angel who appears as a many-headed lion.
103. Vapula - fallen angel who is skilled in handicrafts, science and philosophy.
104. Vassago - fallen angel who discovers all things lost or hidden.
105. Vepar - fallen angel who appears as a mermaid.
106. Vine - fallen angel and appears as a lion sitting on a black horse.
107. Vual - fallen angel who appears as a huge camel.
108. Wormwood - fallen angel who brings plagues upon the Earth.
109. Xaphan - fallen angel who fires the fires of hell.
110. Zagan - fallen angel who can transform things; looks like a bull with wings.
111. Zepar - fallen angel who makes women love men.

John Zorn's List of Angels

Jamie Saft Trio : Astaroth: Book of Angels Vol. 1
1.Shalmiel
2.Ygal
3.Astaroth
4.Ezeqeel
5.Ariel
6.Sturiel
7.Baal-Peor
8.Pursan
9.Lela’hel
10.Beleth

Masada String Trio : Azazel: Book Of Angels Vol. 2
1.Tufiel
2.Mibi
3.Tabaet
4.Symnay
5.Mastema
6.Bethor
7.Uriel
8.Gurid
9.Gazriel
10.Azazel
11.Rssasiel
12.Garzanal
13.Ahiel

Mark Feldman and Sylvie Courvoisier : Malphas: Book Of Angels Vol. 3
1.Azriel
2.Basus
3.Rigal
4.Kafziel
5.Labariel
6.Zethar
7.Paschal
8.Boel
9.Sammael
10.Padiel
11.Sretil

Koby Israelite : Orobas: Book Of Angels Vol. 4
1.Rampel
2.Zafiel
3.Ezgadi
4.Nisroc
5.Neyef
6.Khabiel
7.Chayo
8.Rachmiel

The Cracow Klezmer Band : Balan: Book of Angels Vol.5
1.Zuriel
2.Suria
3.Lirael
4.Kadosh
5.Haniel
6.Jehoel
7.Asbeel
8.Aniel

Uri Caine : Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6
1.Rimmon
2.Lomiel
3.Kebriel
4.Savliel
5.Tufrial
6.Jerazol
7.Harshiel
8.Lumah
9.Harviel
10.Segef
11.Sabriel
12.Shokad
13.Zophiel
14.Hayyoth
15.Nuriel
16.Ubaviel
17.Hadrial
18.Cassiel
19.Rimmon

Marc Ribot : Asmodeus: Book of Angels Volume 7
1.Kalmiya
2.Yezriel
3.Kezef
4.Mufgar
5.Armaros
6.Cabriel
7.Zakun8.Raziel
9.Dagiel
10.Sensenya

Erik Friedlander : Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8
1.Harhazial
2.Rachsiel
3.Zumiel
4.Yeruel
5.Sannul
6.Haseha
7.Kadal
8.Ahaniel
9.Ylrng
10.Anahel
11.Sidriel
12.Zawar

Secret Chiefs 3 : Xaphan: Book of Angels Volume 9
1.Sheburiel
2.Akramachamrei
3.Shoel
4.Barakiel
5.Bezriel
6.Kemuel
7.Labbiel
8.Asron
9.Balberith
10.Omael
11.Hamaya


Bar Kokhba : Lucifer: Book of Angels Volume 10
1.Sother
2.Dalquiel
3.Zazel
4.Gediel
5.Rahal
6.Zechriel
7.Azbugah
8.Mehalalel
9.Quelamia
10.Abdiel


Medeski, Martin and Wood : Zaebos: The Book of Angels volume 11
1.Zagzagel
2.Sefrial
3.Agmatia
4.Rifion
5.Chafriel
6.Ahaij
7.Asaliah
8.Vianuel
9.Jeduthun
10.Malach ha-Sopher
11.Tutrusa’i

Masada Quintet : Stolas: The Book of Angels Volume 12
1.Haamiah
2.Rikbiel
3.Psisya
4.Sartael
5.Tashriel
6.Rahtiel
7.Tagriel
8.Serakel
9.Rigal

Luis Lopes, Adam Lane & Igal Foni - What Is When (Clean Feed, 2009) ****½

It was an honor for me, your humble servant, to be asked to write the liner notes for this album by Luis Lopes, Adam Lane and Igal Foni, a group whose performance I saw in Lisbon, Portugal, two years ago. Here is the text (with thanks to Scott Fields).

"What blues, early rock ‘n’ roll, and punk have in common, the source of their shared strength, is a dominating, unique, and truthful expression of emotions – sadness, anger, fear — sometimes in spite of musicians’ limited instrumental skills. These genres have a direct and true authenticity that is often so much more valuable than the cerebral polish that comes out of music schools.

This trio taps that true source of music: our human emotions. And despite these three musicians’ obvious skills on their instruments, they strip their music of all unnecessary ornaments, accessories, digressions, tinsel, and decorations. And even if there is a musical structure underpinning the compositions, the performances themselves, steering clear of the cerebral, are stripped to the music’s bare essence. The brain and instrumental technique are not switched off; they are bypassed.

You still get the sophistication of jazz, rhythmic complexities, complex scales and harmony, yet deliberately working outside those elements at the same time. But they stick to their unique vision: raw, true and authentic music. Real music. These three young jazz musicians play, despite the obvious jazz form of the music, blues, rock ‘n’ roll and punk at heart, with a touch of menacing darkness at times.

Portuguese guitarist Luis Lopes is an absolute master of finding the right note, of finding the right pace, a rare quality among guitarists these days. He is not into pyrotechnics. Better still, he seems averse to flash. It’s all about the music. The tone of his instrument is deep, sometimes slightly distorted, with limited sustain, leading to a dirty sound that softens to gentle and clean in the more lyrical moments.

Adam Lane is, as well as an excellent composer, a wonderful and versatile bassist. And although his electronically amplified bass can bring him into uncharted regions, his tone and compositions always carry that bluesy feeling.

Israeli drummer and former “genius goalkeeper” Igal Foni is less known. He has already recorded with Michael Attias and Avram Fefer, yet he clearly deserves wider attention. He is the perfect percussionist for this trio’s musical vision: subtle when needed, wild by nature, and creative at all times. He doesn’t restrict himself to his drum kit; in his eyes anything that can be beaten is an instrument.

The album will take the listener on a journey through diverse territory, starting with the odd-metered, changing repetitive phrasing of “Evolution Motive,” over the beautiful and slow “Cerejeiras” (again, listen to how few notes Lopes needs to tell his story), along the weird oddity of “Eufoni,” on which Lopes and Foni exchange instruments (which luckily doesn’t last too long), over the rockish “The Siege,” into avant realms with “Street Clown,” an improvised piece driven by Lane’s bass, with Lopes playing little notes à la Joe Morris, yet more controlled, along the slow and bluesy “Melodic 8,” (penned by Lane), which Lopes joins by playing one note every five seconds before moving to denser phrasing, then crossing a Lane classic “ChiChi Rides The Tiger,” which has a totally different flavor due to its jazz-into-fusion-into-punk, up-tempo evolution, a wonderful piece to unleash Foni’s polyrhythmic energy, for Lane to use his pedals and effects, and for Lopes to show a different side of his playing. A rich and memorable journey that ends with a five-minute heartrending arco bass solo by Lane.

Despite the variation and angles, the musical approach in all the pieces is the same and their coherence will strike the listener: whether slow and sensitive, up tempo and powerful, weird and unpredictable, complex and skilled, the underlying driver of it all is uncompromising emotional authenticity. Straight from the heart: raw and honest".

Enjoy!

Buy from Instantjazz.

© stef

Rodrigo Amado - The Abstract Truth (European Echoes, 2009) ****½

It is not entirely clear to me what the title of "The Abstract Truth" refers to: a philosophical discussion on the nature of our thinking and knowledge of reality or a reference to Oliver Nelson's classic "The Blues And The Abstract Truth", with an implicit message that there is no blues to be found here? Why leave the blues away otherwise?

To be frank, I wouldn't know. What I do know is that the music is good, and soulful, bluesy even. And it is dedicated to Italian painter Giorgio De Chirico, a surrealist who is known for his deep perspectives, the use of classical mythological iconography, and static cityscapes. But again, the link to the music itself is not always apparent.

The trio consists of Rodrigo Amado on tenor and baritone, Kent Kessler on bass, Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, and after "Teatro", it is the second album of the trio. All eight tracks are freely improvised pieces, yet with a focused logic of their own. Amado is a great saxophonist, not necessarily in the traditional technical sense, but certainly in the musical sense: he can make his instrument sing, speak, tell a story, full of passion and emotion, yet equally full of surprise. The music holds the middle between expansiveness and intimacy, a rare quality and one that is also to be found in Amado's photography : a nice sense of contrast, clarity in the execution, broad themes, yet looked at from a very finite and unique human perspective. And a warm human perspective. Kessler and Nilssen-Love are excellent partners for his music, as usual rich in ideas, and also sensitive in the playing, only listen to the first track "Intro/The Red Tower" : a little capsule of their musical universe, with the arco bass building the tension, abstract sax phrases arise, the drums subtly creating a thundering backdrop and the sax gently and warm-toned introducing the tempo, with the drums picking up the rhythm and the bass switching to a boppish vamp, then the tempo changes again, slowing down, becoming bluesy. A little less than five minutes, but quite wealthy. And well, so is the rest of the album. Very much in the same style as their first album, yet slightly better on this album. Because the pieces are more compact: intimate expansiveness, grand in its finite limitations, universal in its all-too human reality. The blues and the abstract truth, dig?

Anyhow, as I've done before: here are the paintings of two titles of the tracks, bookending the album (it may be that other titles also refer to De Chirico's paintings, yet I didn't find them).

The Red Tower (one of the versions)

Enigma Of The Arrival

© stef