01	Merci Jacky						07:19
	02	Typhareth (Beaute)						12:43
	03	Troupeau De nBisons Sous Un Crane						03:31
	04	Binah (Comprehension Feminine)						05:03
	05	Tes Temps Changent						08:43

Zao [France]

Z=7L (73), Osiris (75), Shekina (75), Kawana (77), Typareth (77), Akhenaton (94)

Zao was started by Yochk'o "Jeff" Seffer (saxes) and Francois "Faton" Cahen (keyboards), both ex-members of an early lineup of Magma. The first lineup also featured Jean-My Truong (drums) and Joel Dugrenot (bass), both who would remain long term members of the band, and Mauricia Platon on vocals. The first album is very much in the Magma vein, altough only utilizing the jazzier aspects of the Magma sound (as might be expected with only Seffer and Cahen). Subsequent albums became increasingly fusion oriented, while not losing the strong zeuhl influence, and the hungarian folk influence from Seffer. Later lineups feature Didier Lockwood (violin), Gerard Prevost (bass). Shekina is interesting as it features a full string quartet on some of the tracks. After Kawana (which may well be the strongest album), Seffer quit to go solo, Truong and Lockwood left to form Surya, leaving Cahen to carry on with new recruits, thus the last album Typareth is generally considered their only stinker.

Zao is a Magma offshoot, thus the music on Kawana is similar, though more fusion oriented. If you are interested in the Magma/zuehl school, but are concerned about the singing, Zao and Weidorje would be good places to start. The explore the fusion ideas of Magma yet don't have the vocal language developed in Magma by drummer Christian Vander. To me, Zao would be just as comfortable next to Weather Report as they would Magma. Didier Lockwood is ever present with his excellent violin playing. Yochk'o Seffer is generous with his soprano sax. These two guys trade licks and solos over some nice fusion grooves. Francis Cahen's synth work sometimes reminds me of Joe Zawinul of Weather Report, particularly on the opening track, "Natura." If you like vocals, check out Magma, but if you prefer instrumental work, like me, then you'll want to hear this fine example of zuehl fusion. Note that there is a bit of vocals on the last cut, but there is no singing or words. -- Mike Taylor

Zao typifies the progressive fusion approach of the French zeuhl scene. Somewhat related to Magma and other artists of the early seventies in France, Zao released five or so albums. Kawana features a tight, busy rhythm section, not unlike Magma but with a jazzier feel, coupled with violin, keys and guitar make this instrumental offering a slow but steady grower. At first listen I wasn't impressed but many listens later I've come to greatly appreciate their proficiency. Fans of Arti + Mestieri, Weidorje, Xaal, Univers Zero and of course Magma should check this out.

Shekina was an experiment in music styles by the progressive jazz fusion band Zao. Back in 1975 they wanted to combine the experimental jazz fusion of Zao with a string quartet, Le Quatuor Margand, to create a synthesis between European jazz and pseudo-classical music. The resulting LP, Shekina, is now available on CD in Musea's catalog of reissues. Over the course of the five tracks on this CD you experience a juxtaposition of Le Quatuor Margand's chamber music against Zao's complex jazz instrumentation. Le Quatuor Margand were excellent sight readers and they had to work extremely hard to play with Yochk'o Seffer's minimal musical notation. The resulting music is very tight complex arrangements with Magma and Soft Machine (circa Third) styling. At the time of this recording Zao consisted of Yochk'o Seffer (saxophones, clarinets, and vocals), Francois "Faton" Cahen (keyboards), Gerard Prevost (electric bass), Jean-My Truong (drums), and Pierre "Ty Boum" Guignon (percussion). Le Quatuor Margand was Michele Margand (violin), Marie-Francoise Viaud (violin), Francoise Douchet (viola), and Claudine Lassere (cello). The quartet later went on to form Seffer's Neffesh Music. The music is as fresh today as it was in 1975 and no doubt influenced bands like Art Zoyd, Third Ear Band, and Univers Zero. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Magma spin-off. I heard one track from Z=7L once. Strange, very intense operatic female vocals. It has haunted me to this very day, and impressed me much more than some of the other "zeuhl" bands I've heard (like Eskaton). I'd very much like to hear the whole album someday. I also heard a snippet from a much later album, Typareth I think. Almost straght-ahead jazz, not fusion. Very undistinguished and mediocre when compared with that first album. -- Mike Ohman