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Artist
Masada Chamber Ensembles
12+ albums
klezmerjazzAvant-Gardefree jazzavant-jazz
about
The arrangements of these compositions are markedly different than their original versions. Whereas the Masada quartet performances are rhythmic, jazz-based, and often frenetic, the music on BAR KOKHBA is dark, spare, and evocative, bordering on modern classical more than jazz. In fact, except for Ribot's surf guitar on "Mahlah," and Medeski's swirling Hammond on "Paran," many of these performances would not sound out of place in a concert of 1920s modernist music. But Zorn is the ultimate postmodernist--and mining tradition (as he does here with avant-classical and Klezmer) is key to his aesthetic. BAR KOKHBA is a testament to his brilliance as an arranger and composer, and stands as one of his greatest achievements. This stunning, double-disc set selects some of John Zorn's best compositions for Masada (his acoustic jazz group that blends Klezmer melodies with avant-garde improvisation) and adapts them for chamber ensemble. In addition to his duties as composer, arranger and producer (he does not play on the album), Zorn assembled some of the finest progressive musicians around--clarinetist David Krakauer, keyboard player John Medeski, violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Erik Friedlander, guitarist Mark Ribot, and trumpeter Dave Douglas, among others--into different group configurations. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
