The Circle Maker is a double album by John Zorn featuring Zorn's Masada compositions performed by the Masada String Trio (on Disc One: Issachar) and the Bar Kokhba Sextet (on Disc Two: Zevulun) which was released in 1998 on the Tzadik label.[1]

The Circle Maker: Issachar
Studio album by
Released1998
Recorded1997
GenreAvant-garde jazz
Downtown music
Chamber music
Length122:13
LabelTzadik TZ 7122
ProducerJohn Zorn
John Zorn chronology
Weird Little Boy
(1998)
The Circle Maker: Issachar
(1998)
Downtown Lullaby
(1998)
The Circle Maker: Zevulun

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]

The Allmusic review by Joslyn Layne awarded the album 5 stars stating "Zorn skeptics will find the superb and elegant music on The Circle Maker surprisingly stable and accessible... All of these musicians are accomplished in jazz and improvised music, and have performed extensively in world and/or classical settings as well. The Circle Maker is a very necessary recording for all appreciators of chamber jazz, new Jewish music, or any of these stellar musicians."[2]

Track listing

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All compositions by John Zorn

  • Disc One: Issachar
  1. "Tahah" – 2:30
  2. "Sippur" – 3:21
  3. "Karet" – 1:21
  4. "Hadasha" – 5:36
  5. "Taharah" – 3:51
  6. "Mispar" – 2:47
  7. "Ratzah" – 4:36
  8. "Zebdi" – 1:51
  9. "Yatzar" – 8:14 - misspelled as "Yatzah" on album sleeve [3]
  10. "Malkhut" – 1:57
  11. "Hodaah" – 3:49
  12. "Elilah" – 3:21
  13. "Meholalot" – 4:54
  14. "Kochot" – 4:58
  15. "Lachish" – 1:30
  16. "Shidim" – 4:32
  17. "Aravot" – 2:58
  18. "Moshav" – 5:06
  • Disc Two: Zevulun
  1. "Lilin" – 6:58
  2. "Hazor" – 4:45
  3. "Kisofim" – 7:23
  4. "Khebar" – 4:54
  5. "Laylah" – 2:57
  6. "Teli" – 4:14
  7. "Tevel" – 4:27
  8. "Eitan" – 2:02
  9. "Ner Tamid" – 2:38
  10. "Idalah-Abal" – 7:41
  11. "Gevurah" – 6:51
  • Disc One: Issachar – Recorded December 6, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City
  • Disc Two: Zevulun – Recorded December 7, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City

Personnel

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Production

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  • Produced by John Zorn
  • Kazunori Sugiyama: Associate Producer
  • Jim Anderson: Sound Engineer

References

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  1. ^ Tzadik catalogue
  2. ^ a b Layne, J. Allmusic Review accessed November 7, 2013
  3. ^ Masada World: Issachar, accessed January 6, 2020