JOHN ZORN NEW MASADA QUARTET
Village Vanguard178 7th Avenue South, New York 10014
John Zorn brings his New Masada Quartet to the Village Vanguard for an 8 p.m. set built around compositions from his Masada songbooks. The quartet is Zorn on alto saxophone with guitarist Julian Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Kenny Wollesen, the lineup with which he re-formed the group in 2019. This is a return to the book of material that has remained central to Zorn’s work, played by a band designed for its fast-moving themes, improvisation and collective response.
Zorn is a New York avant-garde figure whose Masada project grew from his “Radical Jewish Culture” explorations and from what he called “Ornette Coleman with Jewish scales.” The New Masada Quartet plays classic Masada compositions and, as WRTI writes, “best evokes the original spirit of the enterprise.” Reviewers have heard a group that can bridge “the accessible and avant-garde,” in the words of The Arts Fuse. All About Jazz described its performance as “resplendent with burning solos, telepathic group interaction, heartfelt lyricism, hypnotic grooves.” The original Masada quartet featured Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen and Joey Baron; this later ensemble brings Zorn’s songbook into a different quartet sound.
A narrow basement staircase leads to a triangular room with a red curtain and a stage at the point, where musicians play for a small audience of 123. Tables open like spokes from the stage, and the walls hold portraits of jazz legends. The acoustics are excellent, and the only sound before the music begins is the hum of the room. No food is served, only drinks at a bar. Shows start at 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., with seating beginning at 7:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. respectively. The atmosphere is focused entirely on the music, with silence requested before the concert begins.