Zao Family - Zao Family

Zao Family could be considered as new studio material from Zao on this decade. This album features both Yochk'o Seffer and Francois Cahen as the founding members and the creative nucleus behind the band, along with percussionist Francois Causse. What is more, some of the compositions here have been included to Zao's setlists. Of course, it doesn't feature the entire Zao lineup, but rather, a septet of Seffer, Cahen, Causse (and another percussionist Minu Cinelu when Causse is not present) plus a string quartet. The music on this record downplays the jazz-fusion tendencies of Zao and instead combines avant-garde jazz, ethnic music and modern classicism. Seffer plays more tenor sax here as well, plus tarogato, a Hungarian woodwind instrument similar to clarinet and soprano saxophone, an instrument Seffer started to play at some point during the current decade. "Koborlo", on stage a vehicle for Seffer's tarogato improvisation and indeed Seffer has also recorded a solo tarogato version of the piece, is here played on tenor saxophone. Compositions like "Attila" and "Sandor" combine and contrast reed improvisations with atonal string quartet arrangements and complex rhythms, while "Gingko" is a nod to Hungarian folk music, sporting another memorable Seffer theme along the lines of "Dag". Those challenging pieces are contrasted by some lighter music as well, as heard from the pastoral "Soulefuji" as well as the album closer "Hathor", that is the closest thing on this album to traditional jazz, once again showcasing Seffer's formidable tenor sax work. An outstanding work from Seffer and Cahen which confirms that in their sixties, these two musicians and composers are still creative and pushing boundaries.