The Circle Maker

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title: "The Circle Maker" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1998-albums", "tzadik-records-albums", "albums-produced-by-john-zorn", "masada-string-trio-albums", "bar-kokhba-albums", "downtown-music-albums"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Circle_Maker" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	The Circle Maker: Issachar
type	Album
artist	John Zorn
cover	The Circle Maker - Issachar.jpg
released	1998
recorded	1997
genre	Avant-garde jazz
Downtown music
Chamber music
length	122:13
label	Tzadik TZ 7122
producer	John Zorn
prev_title	Weird Little Boy
prev_year	1998
next_title	Downtown Lullaby
next_year	1998
misc	{{Extra album cover
header	The Circle Maker: Zevulun
type	Album
cover	The Circle Maker - Zevulun.jpg
::

| name = The Circle Maker: Issachar | type = Album | artist = John Zorn | cover = The Circle Maker - Issachar.jpg | alt = | released = 1998 | recorded = 1997 | venue = | studio = | genre = Avant-garde jazz Downtown music Chamber music | length = 122:13 | label = Tzadik TZ 7122 | producer = John Zorn | prev_title = Weird Little Boy | prev_year = 1998 | next_title = Downtown Lullaby | next_year = 1998 | misc = {{Extra album cover | header = The Circle Maker: Zevulun | type = Album | cover = The Circle Maker - Zevulun.jpg | border = | alt = | caption = The Circle Maker is a double album by John Zorn featuring Zorn's Masada compositions performed by the Masada String Trio (on Disc One: Issachar) and the Bar Kokhba Sextet (on Disc Two: Zevulun) which was released in 1998 on the Tzadik label.

Reception

| rev1 = Allmusic | rev1Score = The Allmusic review by Joslyn Layne awarded the album 5 stars stating "Zorn skeptics will find the superb and elegant music on The Circle Maker surprisingly stable and accessible... All of these musicians are accomplished in jazz and improvised music, and have performed extensively in world and/or classical settings as well. The Circle Maker is a very necessary recording for all appreciators of chamber jazz, new Jewish music, or any of these stellar musicians."

Track listing

All compositions by John Zorn

• Disc One: Issachar

1. "Tahah" – 2:30
2. "Sippur" – 3:21
3. "Karet" – 1:21
4. "Hadasha" – 5:36
5. "Taharah" – 3:51
6. "Mispar" – 2:47
7. "Ratzah" – 4:36
8. "Zebdi" – 1:51
9. "Yatzar" – 8:14 - misspelled as "Yatzah" on album sleeve
10. "Malkhut" – 1:57
11. "Hodaah" – 3:49
12. "Elilah" – 3:21
13. "Meholalot" – 4:54
14. "Kochot" – 4:58
15. "Lachish" – 1:30
16. "Shidim" – 4:32
17. "Aravot" – 2:58
18. "Moshav" – 5:06

• Disc Two: Zevulun

1. "Lilin" – 6:58
2. "Hazor" – 4:45
3. "Kisofim" – 7:23
4. "Khebar" – 4:54
5. "Laylah" – 2:57
6. "Teli" – 4:14
7. "Tevel" – 4:27
8. "Eitan" – 2:02
9. "Ner Tamid" – 2:38
10. "Idalah-Abal" – 7:41
11. "Gevurah" – 6:51

• Disc One: Issachar – Recorded December 6, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City
• Disc Two: Zevulun – Recorded December 7, 1997, at Avatar Studio, New York City

Personnel

• Disc One: Issachar – All tracks performed by the Masada String Trio
• Mark Feldman – violin
• Erik Friedlander – cello
• Greg Cohen – bass
• Disc Two: Zevulun – All tracks performed by the Bar Kokhba Sextet
• Marc Ribot – guitar
• Cyro Baptista – percussion
• Joey Baron – drums
• Mark Feldman – violin
• Erik Friedlander – cello
• Greg Cohen – bass

Production

• Produced by John Zorn
• Kazunori Sugiyama: Associate Producer
• Jim Anderson: Sound Engineer

References

References

1. [http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=7122-2 Tzadik catalogue]
2. Layne, J. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-circle-maker-mw0000382830 Allmusic Review] accessed November 7, 2013
3. [https://masada.world/book-one/bar-kokhba/issachar Masada World: Issachar], accessed January 6, 2020

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