Bar Kokhba (album) explained

Bar Kokhba
Type:	studio
Artist:	John Zorn
Cover:	Bar Kokhba (album cover).jpg
Alt:	Photograph of archaic paper with superimposed text "Bar Kokhba" near the bottom
Released:	1996
Recorded:	August 1994, December 1995, & March 1996
Studio:	Baby Monster Studios, New York City
Genre:	Avant-garde jazz, klezmer, chamber jazz
Length:	128:09
Label:	Tzadik
Producer:	John Zorn
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	In Memory of Nikki Arane
Next Year:	1996

Bar Kokhba is a double album by John Zorn, recorded between 1994 and 1996.^[1] It features music from Zorn's Masada project, rearranged for small ensembles.^[2] It also features the original soundtrack from The Art of Remembrance – Simon Wiesenthal, a film by Hannah Heer and Werner Schmiedel (1994–95).

Reception

The AllMusic review by Marc Gilman noted: "While some compositions retain their original structure and sound, some are expanded and probed by Zorn's arrangements, and resemble avant-garde classical music more than jazz. But this is the beauty of the album; the ensembles provide a forum for Zorn to expand his compositions. The album consistently impresses."^[3]

Track listing

All compositions by John Zorn

Disc One

1. "Gevurah" – 6:55
2. "Nezikin" – 1:51
3. "Mahshav" – 4:33
4. "Rokhev" – 3:10
5. "Abidan" – 5:19
6. "Sheloshim" – 5:03
7. "Hath-Arob" – 2:25
8. "Paran" – 4:48
9. "Mahlah" – 7:48
10. "Socoh" – 4:07
11. "Yechida" – 8:24
12. "Bikkurim" – 3:25
13. "Idalah-Abal" – 5:04

Disc Two

1. "Tannaim" – 4:38
2. "Nefesh" – 3:33
3. "Abidan" – 3:13
4. "Mo'ed" – 4:59
5. "Maskil" – 4:41
6. "Mishpatim" – 6:46
7. "Sansanah" – 6:56
8. "Shear-Jashub" – 2:06
9. "Mahshav" – 4:50
10. "Sheloshim" – 6:45
11. "Mochin" – 13:11
12. "Karaim" – 3:39

• Recorded at Baby Monster Studios, New York City in August 1994, December 1995 and March 1996

Personnel

• John Zorn – Producer
• Mark Feldman (2,4,6,10,12,14,16,20,21,25) – violin
• Erik Friedlander (2,4,6,10,12,14,16,21,25) – cello
• Greg Cohen (2,4,6,9,10,12,14,16,18,21,25) – bass
• Marc Ribot (9,18,24) – guitar
• Anthony Coleman (1,3,11,17,19) – piano
• David Krakauer (3,8) – clarinets
• John Medeski (5,7,8,13,15,17,20,22,23) – organ, piano
• Mark Dresser (1,15,19) – bass
• Kenny Wollesen (1,2,15,19,23) – drums
• Chris Speed (5,13,20,23) – clarinet
• Dave Douglas (23) – trumpet

Notes and References

1. http://www.tzadik.com/index.php?catalog=7108-2 Tzadik catalogue
2. https://masada.world/releases/bar-kokhba Bar Kokhba album on Masada World
3. Gilman, M. Allmusic Review accessed July 26, 2011.