MASADA
Genres: Avant-Garde Jazz, Eclectic Fusion, World Fusion • United States

In the summer of 1993, John Zorn was writing the soundtrack for a low-budget move called Thieves Quartet. Zorn:   The movie was created in the mold of a modern film noir, and it seemed a perfect opportunity to put a band together for a jazz score in the tradition of Miles Davis' soundtrack Escalator to the Scaffold. Little did I realize that this band was to go on to become one of the most exciting musical groupings I've ever had the privilege of being associated with: Masada. He called in Joey Baron (drums), Greg Cohen (bass), and Dave Douglas (trumpet). Zorn joined them on saxophone. They had an instant chemistry, so he gave them a name and started composing songs for a series of albums. The songs comprise The Masada Book, a collection of over 200 songs that can be played straight, re-interpretted, or re-arranged. The new arrangements feature a read more...