Search - Wadada Leo Smith, Susie Ibarra, John Zorn :: 50th Birthday Celebration 8

Superb, uncharacteristically laid back set.

Michael Stack | North Chelmsford, MA USA | 06/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is on of the more intriguing sets in the John Zorn birthday series-- Zorn had a pair of duet performances set up, the early set being a duet between himself and drummer Susie Ibarra, the later featuring Zorn and trumpet luminary Wadada Leo Smith. The first five pieces on this disc are duet performances between Zorn and Ibarra, the next four are split between two duo performances from Smith and Zorn and two trio pieces.



The styles are somewhat different between the two sections-- the Ibarra/Zorn duets have an amazing quality to them-- the two have played together frequently over the years, and it clearly shows here as their interactions are nearly psychic. Ibarra has no trouble keeping pace with Zorn as he moves through his seemingly endless technique, in both aggressive tones ("Meridian") and more laid back ("Spirit Writing"). Even on a piece where Zorn seems determined to lose Ibarra, fluttering, playing the horn without the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece without the horn, and displaying uncanny resistence to repetition, Ibarra gently supports with brushes, tinkling cymbals to every screech and bouncing gently on the snare to every flutter ("Visitation").



Wadada Leo Smith, one of the few musicians whose history and breadth of styles is comparable to John Zorn's, finds a way to inspire Zorn while at the same time himself seeking inspiration. Duets on two horns are difficult, but the two of them somehow produce what feels like a third instrument in their intertwining and a fourth in space. Looking no further than the first minute of the extended piece where Smith first joins Zorn ("Ipsissimi") cleary shows all of this-- the two are both inventive, and while Zorn stays more conventional (albiet not much so) than he did with Ibarra, his playing is nothing short of astounding. When supported by Ibarra, the space is filled gently and delicately ("Ghost Writing") or pushes her partners to dizzying atmospheres ("Full Fathom Five").



Like the rest of the CDs in the birthday series, this one really is fantastic. Recommended for fans of any of these three."

John Zorn in a very congenial setting . . .

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 02/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

". . . which by no means makes his music conventionally pleasant.



But it does make it eminently worth listening to.



What we've got here is three of the premier free jazzers--Zorn (alto sax), Susie Ibarra (drums, and someone who, if you haven't already, you should absolutely check out), and Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet)--playing freely improvised music. At its woolliest, I might add. So the faint of heart, be forewarned: unless you're into massive sonic assaults, you might want to give this one a pass.



Zorn's got his skitterish, Evan Parker-cum-John Butcher thing going full bore here, which is fine by me, though, admittedly, not everyone's cup of tea. What he does around the six minute mark till the end of "Rising Sign" ought, however, at least be heard by anyone who fancies himself a respectable jazz modernist. Ditto just about the entire seven-plus minute duration of the following number, "By the Mark, Eight."



Smith, although he receives top billing, curiously lays out for nearly half the numbers, finally making his initial appearance about one-and-a-half minutes into the fifth cut with a blattish, breathy entrance of huge gravitas. Not to worry, however. The Zorn/Ibarra duo find themselves in fine fettle, thank you very much. Yet, it's entirely welcome to encounter the Smith-meister and bring him fully into the mesmeric mix. And, it must be said, he pretty much highjacks the performances from here on out, what with his piercing, swaggering presence and spot-on intonation.



Music of enormous substance, and essential listening for those with ears to hear."

Three, maybe Two Stars would do it...... Read on......

J. Bewley | San Diego, CA | 03/21/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"If you love John Zorns playing, then you will enjoy this disc however, if you have been exposed to better improvisers then you may be disappointed. I just feel that the musicians here are playing it safe for the mics, and their playing highly caters to John's Sax Effects; lots of Johns presence. Susie is great and so is Wadda Leo Smith, but John is a better composer than player, and this recording proves it."