Masada Book Two
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Any of these volumes featuring any of the actual Masada configurations are the highlights of the series and this one is no exception. With Joe lovano filling in on Sax, this is the closest we have got to the original Masada quartet and with track six we get the actual original group, with JZ actually playing on that one track but still with the additional Lovano and, as with the rest of the record, the additional piano of Uri Caine to complete this Quintet. Funnily enough though this is kinda the most un-Masada like set with it sounding much more like a contemporary jazz album with the Klezmer element much less pronounced on most of the set to my ears.
Still a good album with the usual excellent high quality of playing we expect from these projects and a mixed set of swing numbers, slower more atmospheric ones and some more out there tunes just to cover the bases. A great listen and deserving of a Roddus Rating of 4.5/5.
Have you heard the Masada Sextet? They haven't recorded anything IIRC but there is a brilliant concert on Youtube. I think of them as kind of an improved version of the Stolas quintet - take out Lovano, give full-time sax duty to Zorn and add Cyro Baptista.
ReplyDeleteI do quite like Stolas though, especially the track that Zorn joins in - that one is just brilliant.
I'm very curious to hear what you think of the next two in the series... :-)
stay tuned Sarah, volumes 13 & 14 coming soon.
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet heard the Masada Sextet, but will check out the video real soon.