Djinn And Tonic

from Potions by The Alchemists

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    POTIONS, the debut studio album of The Alchemists, features improvised, melodic, multi-genre music. Comes in a transmutated jewel case created by the Philosopher’s Stone, liner notes by Emperor Rudolph II and dowsed with original art. Follow the alchemical storyline that frames the album at individual track pages. A CD Baby Editors’ Pick.

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THE UNFOLDING TALE - TRACK 8

Did you think alchemists have no sense of humor? Perhaps one of the “visitors from the East” (Track 2) was a learned gentleman from Baghdad who brought along a certain lamp. But maybe talk of a djinn was a coverup for something else. After all, the reign of Rudolph II (Track 1) overlapped for a time with the life of Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague.

According to literary tales that emerged centuries after his death, Rabbi Loew created the Golem of Prague out of clay and the inscription of certain Hebrew letters on its brow. Of course, there is nothing alchemical about this, but let us not draw petty lines. Suppose he did do this. Historically, he did meet Rudolph, who (no surprise) was interested in the Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah.

Perhaps Rudolph wondered if there were other means of producing the creature. Would not an army of Golems be useful in his wars against the Turks? But the Rabbi would not be part of such a plan fraught with the danger of playing with powers not meant to be used for the benefit of the state.

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You are invited to respond to questions asked in a track narrative, point out significant factual errors in any narratives and, of course, comment on the music itself. To address alchemical issues, send a message via Contact The Alchemists. Material used will be acknowledged. To comment on music you need to buy the CD and have a Bandcamp Fan Account.

For more info about the album and the narrative used to frame it after the recording was made, go to the Potions home page.

credits

from Potions, released December 13, 2015
Tom Hall - Tenor Saxophone
Jerry Leake - Percussion
Dennis Livingston - Flute, Sopranino and Alto Recorders
Bob Nieske - Bass
Randy Roos - Guitar

Full bios are at the Potions home page.

Recorded, mixed & mastered by Randy Roos at Squam Sound, Ashland, NH
Graphic Design by John Colan
Artwork by Chris Gill
Produced and liner notes written by Dennis Livingston

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The Alchemists Boston, Massachusetts

Improvised, melody-driven, inventively original songs. Blues, Latin rhythms, Indian beats, chamber music and other far-flung genres. Wild outbursts of sound. All woven into unexpected compositions.
“Each of The Alchemists improvs on Journey To The East is like a circus act of music, teasing the listener with suspense about what kind of feat will come next.” Steve Elman, critic for The Arts Fuse ... more

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