johnzorn

Good news! There’s a new Zorn CD out on Tzadik called “O’o” which is named after an extinct Hawaiian bird and is the follow up to The Dreamers. There’s also a new and unplugged Rashanim CD out to quench our thirst after a yearning period of 3 years, and if that’s not enough, there are two new releases by Koby Israelite and Cyro Baptista.

Continuing in the vein of the last few albums of accessible John Zorn material is Filmworks #23: El General original score to a documentary about the controversial Mexican dictator Plutarco Elias Calles from the early 20th century. El General is a welcome departure from klezmer to latino tinged music reminiscent of a cinematic and dramatic Los Cubanos Postizos mixed with The Dreamers.

Borah Bergman’s return to ’s Radical Jewish Culture Series sees his sombre piano speak a language of its own which is impossible to translate. There’s not much to say on rational terms that the 76 year old can’t make you feel, and if you can’t feel it already there’s not much I can write for you to do so. Get inside and listen!

If there’s one person I won’t tire composing similar music, it’s John Zorn. His 2008 title The Dreamers is out and it’s basically The Gift No.2 with a lot of great references to genres like exotica and surf with the help of Cyro Baptista’s mood setting percussions and Marc Ribot’s delicate guitar tone

Marc Ribot going wild with Yezriel, a bluesy song off his new album on Tzadik with a powerful riff on the wonderful Book of Angels and Mr. Scofield covering Rolling Stones’ unforgettable single Satisfaction.

Do you like Klezmer music? Are you also a fan of high intensity in your face speed punk metal? Then this album is for you. Kletka Red’s “Hijacking” came out in 1996 on John Zorn’s Tzadik label. It’s Klezmer on crank.

The show begins with deejay OM’s middle east inspired eclectic beat album, the second song “arrival” has a Baris Manco sample for all you in the know of the late Turkish star, we continue with some funky new stuff from Chico Mann and Lack of Afro and a short track from a soundtrack by Hair composer Galt MacDermot

Rashanim is guitarist Jon Madof, bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz (who was also playing the upright bass on the awesome Filmworks XVIII CD by Zorn this year.) and drummer Mathias Kunzli. They’re a highly electric and rocking trio unlike some of their Tzadik buddies, that’s why they were given the chance to do the 5th Masada Anniversary title : Masada Rock, where I first heard their name.