Prolific saxophonist, composer and MacArthur fellow John Zorn will take up residence at Yoshi's San Francisco March 10-15. Each of the six nights will feature a different ensemble performing Zorn's works, including some of the finest players in New York's storied Downtown scene: Dave Douglas, Marc Ribot, Greg Cohen, Joey Baron, Erik Friedlander and Cyro Baptista.
This marks the first time Zorn has performed a residency of this nature on the West Coast. Zorn will be highlighting music from both his original "Book of Masada (Book I)" as well as his newly-penned "Book of Angels (Book II)."
The run will open Tuesday, March 10 with Secret Chiefs 3. and Mr. Bungle lead guitarist Trey Spruance leads this brilliant band through unique and powerful arrangements of Zorn's second "Book." This will be the first time Secret Chiefs 3 will have performed Zorn's works on the West Coast.
Wednesday's group, the Masada String Trio, a jazz chamber ensemble, is made up of three of New York's most skilled string improvisers: Friedlander, Mark Feldman and Cohen.
Thursday's performance will be a rare appearance by the classic Masada Quartet. Formed in 1993, this groundbreaking, impassioned quartet has played an instrumental role in shaping the radical Jewish culture movement. Led by Zorn on alto saxophone, the Masada quartet features Cohen on bass, Douglas on trumpet and Baron on drums.
Friday's engagement is by Bar Kokhba, one of Zorn’s most beloved and popular projects. The band features players from both the Masada String Trio and the Masada Quartet, augmented by the surf-tinged guitar of Ribot and the fiery percussion work of Baptista. The music of this magical sextet can only be described as "sephardic exotica for young moderns."
Saturday, the week's lone non-Masada related entity, The Dreamers, take stage. The group features keyboardist Jamie Saft and vibist Kenny Wollensen alongside Baptista, Ribot and Zorn himself playing gorgeous "surf-rock" inspired pieces that are lush and hypnotic at their core.
The run closes with a bang on Sunday, March 15 with Electric Masada, a full-on assault of one the most adventurous electric jazz ensembles playing today.
Tickets for all shows go on sale Monday, January 19 at 12 noon (PST), and are available at www.yoshis.com, the Yoshi’s San Francisco box office, or via phone at 415.655.5600.
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