Tzadik
2009
Stolas: Book Of Angelsvolume 12
About This Album
Stolas is the 12th volume in John Zorn's Book of Angels series of compositions. It's a welcome and compelling idea that he decided to re-form his stellar Masada quintet for the occasion -- sort of. In addition to the rhythm section of Joey Baron and Greg Cohen, trumpeter Dave Douglas, and pianist Uri Caine, Zorn enlisted tenor sax giant Joe Lovano to replace him on all but one cut where he adds his alto, making the group a sextet. According to Aleister Crowley's The Book of the Goetia of Solomon the King, Stolas is the 36th prince of hell, commanding 26 legions of demons. He appears either as an owl or a man who teaches astronomy and the virtues of herbs and precious stones. His zodiac sign is Pisces, and his tarot card is the ten of cups. That may be so, but this music has more to do with angels than demons. Since the early Masada recordings on Avant, the group's individual members have become top-flight players, improvisers, bandleaders, and sidemen in their own right. Lovano was there long before all of them. But something happened to the free-flowing, wildly kinetic group inspired by Ornette Coleman's original quintet, and something has indeed "happened" to John Zorn.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5 and 6)

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