THE CIRCLE MAKER

Modern Jazz with a wide range of influences. Although I hear alot of things in this music that I've heard elsewhere, John Zorn does it in a way that transcendes the usual boundaries. I can expect fans of free jazz and Frank Zappa RIOisms to like this album, but I am not sure if this is a direction the symphonic- only crowd would want to go. Like many longer albums this one is at times pleasant, and at some times more difficult. The difficult patterns, however, will please the audience appreciative of more complicated and highly composed experimental rock and jazz.

It's a bit strange, that one of the most attractive Zorn albums doésn't have many reviews!

Fisrt of all, it's double CD, in which Zorn by himslef is composer and producer only (no musician!). But the musicians and the music both are real Zorn/Masada.

For those, who is not very familar with Zorn music, I would like to say, that this album in it's musical content is pure Masada: say, Klezmer + modern Jazz. Music is absolutely perfect even for listener,who never heard about Zorn.

Bright Jewish melodies are used for jazzy constructions. But as all Masada, it isn't too much avant-jazz. Even more - I think this album is most acceptable of all Masada's.

Formaly the album is devided to two parts : first CD is named Issahar, and the musicians are Masada String Trio there. The second one (Zevulun) contains the music of Bar Kokhba Sextet, which in fact is the same Masada String Trio plus guitarist Marc Ribot and drum/percussion pair.

The music on both discs are similar, but second contains more complex arrangements, some pure jazz pieces. I by myself prefer the first one: more emotive, more natural. But the both are real gem for both Zorn fans and just regular jazz/fusion listeners.

Highly recommended!