The First Jewish Afrobeat Band!

Zion80 explores the music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach through the lens of the Afrobeat master Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Led by Jon Madof of Rashanim (John Zorn’s Tzadik Records), the 15-piece band sets the beautiful melodies of Reb Shlomo in arrangements using the polyrhythmic intensity of Afrobeat along with the flavor of the downtown New York City improvised music scene. The band includes some of the most talented musicians in New York City.

Zion80 will be performing every Monday night from July-September 2012 at The Stone,  New York’s premier venue for experimental and avant-garde music, founded by John Zorn. We will record our debut CD on Zorn's Tzadik Records in late 2012.

Our Kickstarter campaign will raise funds for the publicity, promotion and rehearsal time necessary to get such a HUGE and AWESOME band into the air.

Zion80's members include:

Jon Madof – music direction, arrangements, guitar
Frank London – trumpet
Greg Wall – saxophone
Jessica Lurie – saxophone
Zach Mayer – saxophone
Aram Bajakian – guitar
Yoshie Fruchter – guitar
Brian Marsella – keyboards
Shanir Blumenkranz – bass
Mathias Künzli – drums, percussion
Marlon Sobol – drums, percussion
Rich Stein – drums, percussion
Tim Keiper – drums, percussion

Join us today and help make music history!

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About Jon Madof

"Like you've invited Dick Dale to do the music at your bar mitzvah." NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday with Liane Hansen

"Madof is a powerhouse...both a delicate and a hard-rocking player" All About Jazz

"He essays with Jim Hall-like sensitivity alternated with a Hendrixian abandon." Guitar One

Guitarist and composer Jon Madof's musical collaborations cover the spectrum of the vibrant New York City music scene, from recordings and sold-out shows with John Zorn and Marc Ribot to genre-busting work alongside Frank London, Matisyahu and others.

In addition to leading Zion80, Jon is the founder of the 'Jewish power trio' Rashanim, which has recorded four full-length CDs for John Zorn's Tzadik Records. Rashanim ('noisemakers' in Hebrew) combines the power of rock with the spontaneity of improvisation, deep Middle Eastern grooves, and mystical Jewish melodies. The band also includes Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (Cyro Baptista, Anthony Braxton) on bass and Mathias Künzli (Lauryn Hill, Yo-Yo Ma) on drums and percussion. Rashanim performs extensively throughout the US and Europe.