He's a maverick composer, improvising saxophonist, duck call expert and one of modern Jewish music's greatest exponents – of course I could only be talking about John Zorn – New York's avant-garde firestarter, who celebrates his 60th birthday this Monday. In tribute we'll be honouring his varied and prolific career on this week's programme with archive performances from his Bar Kokhba and Masada groups, plus BBC 6 Music's Stuart Maconie joins me to share his favourite Zorn records.
In our second archive recording we hear from Masada, a quartet comprising Zorn on alto saxophone alongside Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass and Joey Baron on drums. Highlights include 'Paran' where klezmer meets Ornette Coleman, and includes some breathtakingly intense exchanges between Zorn and Douglas who are an incredible frontline pairing. 'Katzatz' features more stunning improvisations and here Zorn draws on his impressive command of extended techniques, screeching and quacking alongside his counterpart's wailing trumpet. It's a captivating and charged performance throughout and one of the best settings to hear Zorn play as well as lead.
Join me for these unforgettable sets from 11pm on Monday 2 September or listen online for seven days after broadcast.
Jez
If you have comments about the show, or requests for music you’d like to hear, do get in touch at jazzon3@bbc.co.uk or on Twitter '@BBCJazzon3'.
