Secret Chiefs 3 arrange & record John Zorn “Masada Book Two” CD
Secret Chiefs 3: Xaphan: Book of Angels Volume 9 [#7364]
Spectacular arrangements of Masada compositions by mad alchemist Trey Spruance, mastermind of Secret Chiefs 3 and one of the most brilliant musicians around. Drawing upon an astonishing array of musical styles from Exotica and Surf to Ethiopian Funk and Gypsy Swing, Trey ’s colorful orchestral arrangements perfectly compliment the lyricism and dynamic rhythmic complexity of Zorn ’s evocative Book of Angels. Featuring some of the best musicians from the Bay Area, LA and Seattle scenes, this is one of the most compelling installments in the entire Masada series.
Due out in Fall ‘07 on Tzadik.
October 10th, 2007 at 9:03 PM
Oh MAN!!! I have been aching for something new from Spruance. As the posting writes Spruance is a mastermind. When I first started listening to the SC3, I didn’t think I would ever buy another CD of theirs…regardless of the Bungle ties. The more I listened to it, the more I listened to it. It’s like eating asparagus, except it doesn’t make your urine smell. I now know every beat Spruance has put out in the major markets, and I’m dying for this one. I own just about everything Zorn has put out…does anyone own all of it? This should be an incredible disc. I just wish they had a date nailed down.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:27 AM
Per Amazon, it’s due out October 23rd.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:31 AM
October 23rd is my birthday…i know what Im getting
October 18th, 2007 at 9:13 AM
Don’t hold your breath. They’re still recording. LP will be pushed.
October 19th, 2007 at 8:08 AM
Not still recording… that was a delayed MySpace blog post by the E-sphere guys. Amazon already has album art, which leads me to believe that the record is still on for 10/23…
October 24th, 2007 at 7:39 AM
eh… disregard my last post… it’s officially delayed…
December 7th, 2007 at 12:17 PM
obviously… not out in Fall ‘07 (as Tzadik hasn’t had releases in the month of December in YEARS)… here’s hoping it’ll be a Jan or Feb release…
December 8th, 2007 at 11:13 PM
I had it on order from Amazon and they canceled it. They said they will not carry this album… I am hoping mcposterton is right about Jan Feb next year. BTW where are the other 2 SC3 albums aka the book of souls…?
December 12th, 2007 at 9:45 AM
According to a WoM forumer and the answer he got from Tzadik, it won’t drop out before march 2008.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:51 PM
Hippy flakiness infects Tzadik!!
Its been years since I’ve seen ANY release delayed on tzadik, The Chiefs must be causing some real hassles for them……
Judging from how Important Artwork is to Trey, I bet the music is in the can & its something stupid like print color or typeset!
December 13th, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Artwork has been in the can forever… all the Masada Book Two’s are in the same design element, just with a different daemon illustration and color theme.
based on the Estradasphere MySpace post in October about Trey coming up to track some of their strings, I think this delay fully rests with Mr. Spruance. Alas… it’ll show up eventually…
December 13th, 2007 at 11:20 PM
Yes, Its obvious the delay is Trey……
I put the artwork thing as a ‘get out of jail card’……
I mean its one thing to be a perfectionist with your arrangement & production,but its a whole other thing to not be good with time management & not learn it for like 20 years!!
Unavoidable delays happen, but I guess I’m suggestioning its a little bigger than that…
I dont like to Trey bash, but in the context of proffesionality stuffing Tzadik around is pretty crap….
January 9th, 2008 at 4:07 AM
I guess though that Tzadik doesn’t care much about technicalities and being on time, thank god. I mean that they’re only concerned about the artistic outcome. What’s better than being an artist and working with a company that doesn’t put deadlines and hassles things. It’s out when it’s out.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:16 PM
The good thing about being a normal ignorant hack, is that you can write off the creative process of someone as rare and ingenious of Spruance as being “unprofessional”, “hippy”, “flaky”, and so on… …And then turn around after the release and say that he’s the best, and more artists should aspire to be as true to their end idea as he is.
I’m excited about the releases, and I catch myself saying “I can’t wait”. Now I say, let the man take as long as he needs to. I have yet to be able to see his work from end to end in one or one hundred listens. I will try to remain quietly reverent.
…And tower records has preorder open on Book of Angels. I’ll take 2.
March 31st, 2008 at 8:38 AM
BOA#9 “Xaphan” will be released April 11!!!
http://www.webofmimicry.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=63
Can’t wait!!
April 26th, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Creating music isn’t like meeting a financial deadline in your cubicle.
Things like this should be out when they’re finished and not be rushed to meet some artificial deadline.
According to their website, “Tzadik believe most of all in the integrity of their artists. What you hear on Tzadik is the artists’ vision undiluted.” If Trey did cause the delay, which is entirely possible, it seems that it would all fit into what Tzadik is about.
Xaphan, by the way, is excellent.
April 26th, 2008 at 12:56 PM
agreed.
June 4th, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Double agreed!
June 4th, 2008 at 6:31 PM
It’s a wicked good album…
My review is here:
http://jazzsick.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/secret-chiefs-3-xaphan/
~Dan
http://jazzsick.wordpress.com/