Bar Kokhba (album)

Bar Kokhba
Studio album by John Zorn
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
John Zorn chronology
Filmworks III: 1990–1995 (1996) Bar Kokhba (1996) In Memory of Nikki Arane (1996)

Bar Kokhba is a double album by John Zorn, recorded between 1994 and 1996. It features music from Zorn's Masada project, rearranged for small ensembles. 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."

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings

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