John Zorn 50th Birthday Celebration, Vol. 4 CD

Recorded during a string of concerts staged to commemorate John Zorn's 50th birthday, ELECTRIC MASADA captures the plugged-in variation of Zorn's acoustic, avant-Klezmer jazz quartet. Regular members Dave Douglas (trumpet) and Greg Cohen (bass) are absent here, with bassist Trevor Dunn admirably filling Cohen's position. Zorn's alternately lyrical and aggressive alto saxophone playing is still front and center, as are Joey Baron's dazzlingly polyrhythmic drum patterns. Rounding out the ensemble are guitarist Marc Ribot, keyboardist Jamie Saft, percussionists Kenny Wollesen and Cyro Baptista, and Ikue Mori on laptop electronics.

As one might guess from the personnel and instrumentation, the music here is dense, highly rhythmic, experimental, and often chaotic. The nearly 15-minute "Tekufah" is a cerebral, funky brew that recalls Miles Davis's early-1970s period (circa LIVE EVIL), with Saft's Rhodes creating a busy, cool counterbalance to Ribot's screaming guitar and the webs of thundering drums. "Idalah-Abal" leads off with a punishing death-metal riff that gives way to a rising tide of noise led by Zorn's screeching alto. Elsewhere, the jagged, fragmentary skronk of "Hath-Arob" contrasts with the quietly shimmering dream of "Yatzar," proving Zorn's penchant for endless surprises in the service of his bold, heroic music.

This is part of Tzadik's Birthday Celebration Series.

Live Recording

Electric Masada: Marc Ribot, John Zorn, Trevor Dunn, Kenny Wollesen, Joey Baron, Cyro Baptista, Ikue Mori.

Electric Masada: Trevor Dunn (bass instrument); Ikue Mori (electronics); Jamie Saft, John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Joey Baron, Cyro Baptista, Kenny Wollesen.

Personnel: Marc Ribot (guitar); John Zorn (alto saxophone); Jamie Saft (keyboards); Joey Baron, Kenny Wollesen (drums); Cyro Baptista (percussion); Ikue Mori (computer).

Recording information: Tonic, New York, NY (09/27/2003).

Unknown Contributor Role: Electric Masada.