There are two active groups named Masada:
1) Masada is an experiment… Read Full Bio ↴There are two active groups named Masada:
1) Masada is an experimental klezmer jazz collective and compositional project led by John Zorn.
It began as a "songbook" of more than 200 short compositions for small mixed ensemble, written in according to a number of rules, such as the maximum number of staves and the modes or scales used. Zorn formed the initial Masada group in order to record and perform this set of tunes. This band consisted of John Zorn - alto saxophone, Dave Douglas - trumpet, Greg Cohen - bass, and Joey Baron - drums. This iteration of Masada released the first Masada songbook on 10 discs with the Japanese DIW label, as well as live recordings on Zorn's Tzadik label.
In 2003, Zorn composed a second Masada songbook, "The Book of Angels", and vastly expanded the scope of the project by inviting dozens of artists (from multi-Grammy winners to newly-curated ensembles) to record albums for Tzadik based on Zorn's songs. In 2014, Zorn began a third and final Masada songbook, "The Book Beri'ah", which was released as an 11 disc box set in 2018. With this book, the compositional aspect of the project was completed, bringing the total number of Masada songs to 613, the number of commandments traditionally understood by Jews to be in the Torah.
As a result of the size of the project, multiple offshoot bands and ensembles have developed out of it, such as Electric Masada, Masada String Trio, Bar Kokbha, Bar Kokhba Sextet, Mycale, and Zion80.
2) Masada is a 4-piece screamo/hardcore Band from Erlangen, Germany. They released a demo in 2014 and their first album in 2016. In 2021, they unexpectedly released their sophomore album, "II".
The following short-lived acts formerly using the name are currently inactive or disbanded:
a) A hardcore band from Hamilton, New Zealand, who released two EPs via MySpace in the late 2000s.
b) A Swedish psychedelic trance and goa duo formed in 1999, consisting of producers Mathias Westin and Torsten Edwinson, who saw brief success on the MP3.com Trance chart in the early 2000s.
c) A death metal band from Philadelphia, PA, who released a two-track demo on Bandcamp in 2011.
1) Masada is an experiment… Read Full Bio ↴There are two active groups named Masada:
1) Masada is an experimental klezmer jazz collective and compositional project led by John Zorn.
It began as a "songbook" of more than 200 short compositions for small mixed ensemble, written in according to a number of rules, such as the maximum number of staves and the modes or scales used. Zorn formed the initial Masada group in order to record and perform this set of tunes. This band consisted of John Zorn - alto saxophone, Dave Douglas - trumpet, Greg Cohen - bass, and Joey Baron - drums. This iteration of Masada released the first Masada songbook on 10 discs with the Japanese DIW label, as well as live recordings on Zorn's Tzadik label.
In 2003, Zorn composed a second Masada songbook, "The Book of Angels", and vastly expanded the scope of the project by inviting dozens of artists (from multi-Grammy winners to newly-curated ensembles) to record albums for Tzadik based on Zorn's songs. In 2014, Zorn began a third and final Masada songbook, "The Book Beri'ah", which was released as an 11 disc box set in 2018. With this book, the compositional aspect of the project was completed, bringing the total number of Masada songs to 613, the number of commandments traditionally understood by Jews to be in the Torah.
As a result of the size of the project, multiple offshoot bands and ensembles have developed out of it, such as Electric Masada, Masada String Trio, Bar Kokbha, Bar Kokhba Sextet, Mycale, and Zion80.
2) Masada is a 4-piece screamo/hardcore Band from Erlangen, Germany. They released a demo in 2014 and their first album in 2016. In 2021, they unexpectedly released their sophomore album, "II".
The following short-lived acts formerly using the name are currently inactive or disbanded:
a) A hardcore band from Hamilton, New Zealand, who released two EPs via MySpace in the late 2000s.
b) A Swedish psychedelic trance and goa duo formed in 1999, consisting of producers Mathias Westin and Torsten Edwinson, who saw brief success on the MP3.com Trance chart in the early 2000s.
c) A death metal band from Philadelphia, PA, who released a two-track demo on Bandcamp in 2011.
Bith Aneth
Masada Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Masada:
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Sound Man
I remember the first time I saw Masada I couldn't believe how incredible it was. It was as though someone had plucked the definition of beautiful from my subconscious and performed it on a stage. It was so monumental that I thought maybe I had built it up too much in my memory. Over 10 years later they reunited the original ensemble and played Toronto again. I took my wife and she said "Now I get why you always talked about that show." It was as amazing as I remembered
Jesse Shantor
I've only heard zorn in naked city and solo before. This has totally opened my eyes to his genius "outside" the realms of out music. Not that it's not out, but wow.
shelobnegruth
wonderful track, love masada and zorn as a whole. His work has long inspired my writing and other creative output, a legend in his own time and one my favourite jazz musicians (not to mention all the other work he does that isnt jazz)
Norma Meza
Zorn, best contemporary composer, he and Zappa.
rocco cicoria
@thiago mutt It is a music without any pretensions, which any barely decent jazz player can do, to a habanera rhythm as old as the world and using an oriental-style ethnic set. It is called world music, it is based on a scale and the improvisation can last up to two hours. Nothing new. There are other musicians who make history. On this scale and at this pace, I can do much more interesting things.
oaim50
@TheRealMc101 Through comparison we scorn
the genius of nether Zappa nor Zorn.
TheRealMc101
@thiago mutt No way. I don't like comparisons, but Zappa was a solid musician and true composer. Just like Zorn.
Scio Arête
What about Kang though?
Scio Arête
Agreed.
Rocio Gutierrez
what a great memories of dance creativity and expresionist paintings, poetry and a long waiting love ..)