Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

John Zorn - Alhambra Love Songs [Tzadik - 2009]

“Alhambra Love Songs” finds Mr Zorn in mellow, elegant and often effortless melodic mood as he conjures up a mixture of easy listening, felt to upbeat jazziness and more filmatic pieces . The album features the trio of: Rob Burger on Piano, Greg Cohen on bass and Ben Perowsky on drums.

Each track here is Zorn’s sonic tribute to San Francisco or Bay Area artists, actor, director or musician- so over the eleven tracks Zorn pays tribute to the follow diverse and distinctive people: Vince Guaraldi, Harry Smith, Mo Siegel, Clint Eastwood, Willie Winant, Paul Canales, Lyn Hejinian, Mike Patton, David Lynch, Terry Riley and Elissa Guest- with each track nicely taking on facets of each persons work & personality. A few of my favourite moments here come in the form of: the dramatic, pushing yet often melodic delicate “Pacifica” which is centred around Cohen’s rich and felt bass lines and  Burger’s emotional piano weaves. The almost sea shanty folky melody meets minimalism of “Larkspur” which finds Burger unfold a complex, yet emotional taunt & feeling piece for piano only.  Or the title track which is a great up-beat mixture of flamboyant and showy jazz piano rolls, Masada like counter melody lines and Cohen swinging, pronounced weaving ‘n’ bobbing bass lines.

The albums another highly rewarding trip into Zorn more popular, melodic and often mellow side. With Burger, Cohen and Perowsky performing Zorn’s composition with great flare, passion and atmosphere; making even the more complex and weaving moments sound effortless and breath-taking.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

John Zorn - Alhambra Love Songs
“Alhambra Love Songs” finds Mr Zorn in mellow, elegant and often effortless melodic mood as he conjures up a mixture of easy listening, felt to upbeat ja...
080126   My Name Is 'A' by Anonymous ...
080126   You’re All Doomed - You’r...
080126   Abscess - Dawn Of Inhumanity(...
080126   The House With Laughing Windo...
080126   The Killer Must Kill Again - ...
060126   Whore's Breath - A Pot to Pis...
060126   Sebastian Tomb/Angel Brügger...
060126   Dirk Serries - 250804
050126   Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Herit...
050126   The Sun Ra Arkestra Under The...
Latest Articles

Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
Of all the cult/exploitation genres, Giallo stands as one of the more visually & art-based- be it with the grand/ dramatic location, choreographed murder...
231225   Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
221225   Best Of 2025 - Music, Sound &...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom