Bar Kokhba is a double album by John Zorn, recorded between 1994 and 1996.[1] It features music from Zorn's Masada project, rearranged for small ensembles.[2] It also features the original soundtrack from The Art of Remembrance – Simon Wiesenthal, a film by Hannah Heer and Werner Schmiedel (1994–95).

Bar Kokhba
Photograph of archaic paper with superimposed text "Bar Kokhba" near the bottom
Studio album by
Released1996
RecordedAugust 1994, December 1995, & March 1996
StudioBaby Monster Studios, New York City
GenreAvant-garde jazz, klezmer, chamber jazz
Length128:09
LabelTzadik
ProducerJohn Zorn
John Zorn chronology
Filmworks III: 1990–1995
(1996)
Bar Kokhba
(1996)
In Memory of Nikki Arane
(1996)

Reception

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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."[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings    [4]

Track listing

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Tzadik catalogue
  2. ^ Bar Kokhba album on Masada World
  3. ^ a b Gilman, M. Allmusic Review accessed July 26, 2011.
  4. ^ Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1544. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.