Masada Guitars

Artist: John Zorn
Label: Tzadik
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 702397717126
EAN: 0702397717126
ASIN: B00007GZNU

Release Date: 2003-01-21

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Tracks:

Abidan
Kodashim
Kedem
Bikkurim
Rayvayah
Hadasha
Katzatz
Kanah
Hodaah
Kisofim
Sippur
Sansanah
Galgalim
Elilah
Kedushah
Shevet
Kochot
Tzalim
Kivah
Avelut
Moshav

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Customer Reviews:

Nice performances, but not as engaging as I'd like........2005-06-29

For the tenth anniversary of the Masada project, John Zorn decided to pull the project into different contexts, to let the songbook breathe a bit more on its own rather than in the shadow of the quartet. This, the first volume of this series, "Masada Guitars" is pretty much what it sounds like, solo guitar performances from three masters and friends of John Zorn: Bill Frisell, Tim Sparks, and Marc Ribot. Frisell performs seven pieces (and is the only one to use an electric guitar on any of them), Sparks performs five, and Ribot performs nine. The performances are mixed throughout the disc (i.e. a Ribot may be followed by a Sparks and so on) and it provides a nice contrast in styles.

The music on here is fairly unique-- with the Masada songbook having the flavor it does and the presentation-- each guitarist pretty tightly infuses their own style on the pieces-- Frisell is all over the map, from haunting delicate playing ("Abidan") to electric, processed, and bizarre ("Katzatz"), Ribot infuses his own personality on the pieces, the sort of folk-meets-surf-meets-free jazz that was so clearly illustrated on his "Saints" album comes out here ("Hodaah", "Moshav"), and an extrordinarily wide range of technique is often in the fore ("Hadasha"). Sparks, whose work I'm relatively unfamiliar with, manages to strike a nice counterbalance to the two-- his playing is a bit more firmly lodged in classical technique (at least on this recording) and I think the pieces actually benefit from this-- from beautiful circular lines ("Ravayah") to a subtlely decorated melody and bass ("Kanah", "Kedushah") that really matches the music well.

One complaint though, and it largely effects my rating-- as many have said, this is pretty music that generally can be appreciated by a wide audience. This is precisely the problem I have with it-- Sparks and to a lesser extent Frisell (when he's not plugged in) don't take enough chances with the pieces, and render them in a sort of background mode. They're all quite nice, but they don't reach out and grab me. The music all works well enough, but I don't think it takes enough chances. An enjoyable listen, and maybe a good way to appreciate Zorn as a composer, but I don't think of this as essential in his canon.

Good but not Great..........2003-07-08

This is a good album but I don't find myself coming back for repeat listening like I do with the Masada quartet. All the guitarist are very good and interesting but the album lacks a coherence. Perhaps having all the Frisell songs together, then all the Ribot songs, etc. would've worked out a little better. The CD might also be improved upon with more guitar players in the mix. Ducret, Kaiser, Frith perhaps, etc. If you're into Masada - get it, if not, skip it.

Sparks, Frisell, and Ribot play Jewish jazz on solo guitar.......2003-06-06

This is one of those rare Zorn albums that satisfies everyone. It's melodic and calm enough to please the squares who listen to music that makes them feel *good.* It's also exotic enough to justify putting this in the avant-garde category. If you're the typical Zorn fan, there's just enough weirdness here to make this a must-have for your collection.

And it's a must for fans of jazz guitar. These three guys play beautifully, adding creative flourishes without losing the basic structure of each song.

Buy this one and you'll listen to it over and over. It might get a little boring after the fifth or sixth time, but you'll keep returning to it as the years go by.

Excellent!!!!!!.......2003-03-22

Three great guitar players: Marc Ribot, Tim Sparks and Bill Frisell come together on one album to create beautiful guitar renditions of Masada songs. I've played this album for numerous people since I bought it and all who have heard it say it sounds "peaceful", "beautiful" or "relaxing", all of which I agree with. The song "Ravayah", played by Tim Sparks is one of the best guitar songs I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Even though this disc is very pleasing to the ears, I would suggest that you start off with other Masada releases before you start here, that way you get a good feel of the band and their killer klezmer/jazz songs. Oh and if you get the chance to see them live....DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do Another One.......2003-03-08

Each individual piece as played by the guitarist's are small masterpieces. I don't know how much direction he gave his players but a photograph seems to put him in a elevated trancendental state of mind. I would like to see a second offering that would include Eugene Chadbourne, Nels Cline, Derek Bailey, Henry Kaiser and Marc Ducret along with the current line up. Anyway, this is deffinately a good CD to add to a jazz collection.

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