“ZZAJ: Jazz from the 23rd Century,” a Collection of New Jazz, Fusion, Rock, Pop, and Experimental Music that Explores the Questions: What is Jazz and where is it going?
“ZZAJ: Jazz from the 23rd Century,” is a thrilling new collection of music featuring 34 new songs – all previously unreleased – from artists from all over the world. The brainchild of producers/multi-instrumentalists Jerry King (Cloud Over Jupiter, Moon X, John Shirley & Jerry King) and Dave Newhouse (The Muffins, Manna Mirage, Moon X), ZZAJ asked musicians to interpret Jazz from various conceptual viewpoints, particularly avoiding traditional Jazz sounds.
Says King: “It’s more about where jazz is going, rather than where it’s been. It’s a style of music that’s meant to keep evolving, so that was the goal we set forth for the artists. Not only are all the tracks very different, stylistically and genre-wise, but the various productions are very different as well; from slick to raw. And it’s that variety, I think, that’s really going to make this album stand out. It’s like reading a novel, with surprising twists and turns in it.”
ZZAJ includes new music from global artists like Geoff Leigh, Henry Kaiser, Elliott Sharp, Amy Denio, Haco, Alfred Harth, Anthony Coleman and more, and comes in a 2-CD set with a wallet of artist biographies, in their own words. There’s also visual artwork by musicians Dave Newhouse, Pete Prown and the graphics artist Dan Sauer from Jackanapes Press.
With a December, 2022 release date, producer King reflects on the massive project: “ZZAJ: Jazz From the 23rd Century presents 34 personal views of what’s coming in the future of jazz. Some of the songs are launch-pads that prepare the listener for the journey, while others have already left the past many years behind in the rear view mirror. Ultimately, it’s an album about exploration.”
Purchase the compilation on Bandcamp: https://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/zzaj-jazz-from-the-23rd-century
Tracklist:
CD1
- Amanda Chaudhary – Donershtik (Meow Mix) (6:26)
- Amy Denio – UNTRAPT (3:19)
- Elliott Sharp – Baile De Sombras (1:58)
- Dereck Higgins – I Didn’t Hear It On The Radio (1:29)
- Haco – Watercrown (5:03)
- Pete Prown & Jeff Gordon – Grifter (5:02)
- Alfred Harth – Czernowitz (4:53)
- Marmhelodic Rascals – The March (9:25)
- Jerry & Michele King – Avalon (3:03)
- Atsuko Kamura – Ginza Street Lights (4:06)
- Nick Didkovsky – The Curse Of Anubis (1:46)
- Nubdug Ensemble – Entrance (1:15)
- David Moss – It’s The Galaxies (4:51)
- Shawn Persinger – The Real Book N-Z (Abridged) (1:10)
- Intige Taluure – Saskatoon (3:55)
- David Newhouse – Pluck Wind Bang (4:37)
- Anthony Coleman – Unfilled Hooks (3:14)
CD2
- Brian Woodbury – Mentally Ill (3:48)
- The Lunar Asylum – Zroidian Be Bop (6:45)
- Paul Sears – In Praise Of Folly (3:33)
- Henry Kaiser – Five Death Haiku (7:41)
- Forrest Fang & Joseph Bendola – Wrong Exit (5:30)
- Paul Morris – Diner On The Ship James (3:51)
- Frank Chickens – Looking For Me (2:45)
- Anthony Pirog – 23rd Century Pirog (1:43)
- 2-9 Compaxident 1 – Dead Ducks (8:02)
- Greg Segal – Daily (1:42)
- Fred Hodshon – Wordless Whisperer (3:24)
- Ron Anderson – Strangulation (2:44)
- Leandro Kalen – A Tale Of Southern Groove (2:28)
- Martin Archer – Song For John Gilmore (5:35)
- Tom Djll – The Black Bird Bossa (6:38)
- Killick Hinds – Arborial Futurity (3:08)
- Steve Beresford – Elastic Articles (2:03)