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John Zorn: Masada Nine
Never losing the element of "swing," Zorn's Masada draws from early modal forms of music; the listener can easily recognize ethnic influences such as Gypsy, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Mediterranean, Russian, French, Spanish, and more. Dance forms such as tango, bulgar, and freylekh combine with Yiddish cultural steps and weave their way through Zorn's compositions.
From the swinging "Chayah" and "Moshav" to the frightening "Karet" and "Leshem," each of Zorn's compositions has a purpose. The dance "Meholalot" brings Douglas and Zorn together, as their melodies intertwine the same way dancers do. "Jachin," a fast dance in three, pours out the emotion so common in any Yiddish-inspired work. The highlight is "Acharei Mot," with its free spirit, Eastern world feel, and soulful solo work by Zorn and Douglas. Highly Recommended.
Track Listing
Chayah; Karet; Moshav; Leshem; Kochot; Meholalot; Kedushah; Ner Tamid; Acharei Mot; Jachin.
Personnel
John Zorn
saxophone, altoAlbum information
Title: Masada Nine | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: DIW
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