Masada: Live at Tonic, 2001 [Live]

Masada: Live at Tonic, 2001 [Live]

ASIN: B00005NZLR

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Intro [Theater Of Musical Optics] - John Zorn

2. Karaim [Theater Of Musical Optics]

3. Ner Tamid [Theater Of Musical Optics]

4. Acharei Mot [Theater Of Musical Optics]

5. Kisofim [Theater Of Musical Optics]

6. Jachin [Theater Of Musical Optics]

7. Malkhut [Theater Of Musical Optics]

8. Nashim [Theater Of Musical Optics]

Disc: 2

1. Intro [Theater Of Musical Optics] - John Zorn

2. Lilin [Theater Of Musical Optics]

3. Khebar [Theater Of Musical Optics]

4. Galshan [Theater Of Musical Optics]

5. Malkhut [Theater Of Musical Optics]

6. Shevet [Theater Of Musical Optics]

7. Shamor [Theater Of Musical Optics]

8. Acharei Mot [Theater Of Musical Optics]

9. Kisofim [Theater Of Musical Optics]

10. Shechem [Theater Of Musical Optics]

Tracks:

Intro
Karaim
Ner Tamid
Acharei Mot
Kisofim
Jachin
Malkhut
Nashim

Tracks:

Intro
Lilin
Khebar
Galshan
Malkhut
Shevet
Shamor
Acharei Mot
Kisofim
Shechem

Customer Reviews:

...incredible!.......2006-01-11

These concerts are simply fantastic! Highly recommended.

A stunning set, even for Masada........2006-01-04

"Live at Tonic" is one of those live shows where pretty much everything comes together. The Masada quartet-- John Zorn on alto sax, Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass and Joey Baron on drums-- an immensely talented unit to begin with, by this point was so intimately familiar with each other and the music that they always seem to hit the stage running, but these shows were clearly extraordinary, with two sets from one of Zorn's favorite stages, Tonic in Manhattan.

What really separates this group from virtually any other is the extraordinary level of interaction and brilliant performances between the soloists. Zorn's songbook is full of nice pieces and interesting melodies, but this group brings it to life with powerful individual performances and even better collective work. It also helps that an enormously high level of intensity is maintained by the group throughout.

Examples of this can be found throughout the album, but certainly even from the opening notes of both sets, this is clear-- "Karaim" on the first set finds Zorn soloing patiently, building slowly to a head before Douglas comes in and shakes things loose. All the while, Cohen and Baron maintain a fantastic groove below it all. "Lilin", opening the second set, builds in tension from the opening note, primed until it totally cuts loose and features some downright jawdropping soloing from both horn players. But again, it's the group that sets Masada apart-- take "Ner Tamid" on the first disc. Zorn's solo is fantastic, but below him, Cohen restates and twists the theme over and over again, performing with agility and grace rarely found. Or consider the cartoony ecstacy of "Malkhut" (performed in both sets), where all four members of the band get in on explosiveness and melodrama. And quite the opposite, the delicate, lovely and sensitive performance on "Galshan" (of which I believe this is the only live recording), where the band's interaction reaches such an enormous level that you actually pause during Cohen's solo simply because it's the only time someone feels in the spotlight.

Bottom line, the shows here are just staggering, and they capture as well as anything what Masada is all about. I give the slight edge to "50th Birthday Celebration Volume 7" (recorded at the same club two years later) for best Masada piece, but this one is certainly nothing to overlook. Highly recommended.

mega extreme fast jazz .......2004-10-26

cuatro musicos haciendo realmente jazz extremo, pero sin caer en la cacofonia, lo recomiendo solo para avanzados en el mundo del jazz. John Zorn rules

Tremendously exciting powerhouse quartet.......2003-10-31

A tremendously exciting powerhouse quartet of improvising artists who really hit their straps in these live beautifully engineered live recordings. Not always melodic as in track 6 of CD 1 where a long drum solo backed by a bass figure generates huge excitement, or in Track 7 of CD 1 where an improvised conversation between all four master instrumentalists engages a variety of emotions, joy, anger etc. But when they are melodic - as in Track 2 of CD 2 - ravishingly so. One of their best and they've made a few!

Possibly My Favorite Live Masada Performance.......2002-05-07

This CD is incredible. Typical Masada style and class, with awesome solo features by all the musicians. Each musician top class in their own right, when they play together, it is incredible. This CD features all the magic of Zorn, Masada, and the Tonic venue. Awesome. A must have for all Zorn and Masada fans, as well as all true music fans everywhere.

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