John Zorn..The Gift

Posted by: John C on 25 March 2002

I went to a Jazz gig and a prog rock concert broke out!

I would say this has been one of the most extraordinary concerts I've attended.
Starting off with a sort of Hawaiin surf music number, the band progressed through, Cuban bop, an extended funky prog rock, Emerson Lake and Palmer workout (my dumbfounded friends thought Carlos Santana), a film-noir jazzy Chinatown theme, a hilarious dark melodramatic 70s horror score interspersed with cartoon comedy music (all in my party laughed uproariously, to be frowned on by our more atuned neighbours), percussionist Cyro Baptista played the gong from the Rank organisation (think John Barry), it was loud with a capital L, followed by a jazz funk workout, some mellow Cuban grooves and back to Alohaa lounge music. I may have missed some things here. Guitar Marc Ribot, all fans of Matheney or Frisell listen to this guy and weep!, Mr and I mean Mr Joey Baron on the crispest, loudest drum playing you are ever going to hear, great synth (thats the first time Ive ever said that) from Jamie Saft, Zorn played the Theremin which is a sort of Naim prefix with its RFI miced. Unbelievable.

Dave Douglas played trumpet, he's the king. They played a coruscating extended Masada workout as
as an encore.

The Cd is called The Gift on Tzadik records.Be warned the cover may cause offence.

John

Hockman.. What is up with the artwork on this CD?!!!!

Posted on: 27 March 2002 by Markus

I strongly concur that this is a great cd. Difficult to categorize Zorn's music but your description is a pretty fair start. While your description might make it sound like it would be a little difficult to listen to let me assure those that haven't heard this cd that it is eminently listenable. My wife doesn't even mind having it on and she is very conventional in her tastes (though tolerant and appreciative of my eclecticism). My simpler description would be "Twin peaks meets Jackie McLean and gets down with the Surf Monkeys on some post-lounge funk, country and chamber swing jazz."

I'll be posting other Zorn recommendations on a seperate thread.

Yes, Zorn's album covers are sometimes pretty weird, though this one is actually pretty tame.

Marku

Posted on: 28 March 2002 by John C

I'm a newcomer to Zorn but I think I prefer the Masada side of his work. The Gift was interesting but as Zorn himself said, he prefers not to play this style of music live as its more suited to the studio. I haven't actually listened to the CD yet.

Nick, prog rock belongs in my "I just dont get it and don't want to ever get it" category. I use it as a generic insult for boring bits of music .

What is Manga art?

Markus lets be having that Zorn recommendation list.

John