John Zorn in Sarajevo

About John Zorn in Sarajevo, the impossible perfection and real artists.
Yes, the impossible perfection. That describes the two days we spent in Sarajevo with music, written by John Zorn and played by the musicians he works with.
I begin this text with a simple conclusion - no matter what you listen to, how interested you are, where you go, where you look, where you learn – sooner or later you get to Zorn’s music. And you realize that what you’ve been listening to up to this point was just practice…
You realize, there is such a thing as impossible perfection, impossible craftsmanship and impossible innovation.
The touch of the big ones always shakes the soul. The uncompromising attitude towards every type of art is a ray of hope. Yes, John Zorn’s music is not for everyone – at least that’s what they say… “they” being people who’ve never gone to one of his concerts. For those, who have been, things are different. Standards change, thoughts change, the entire attitude towards music changes.
For us, after a two-day marathon, (and our third time seeing him) the conclusion is only one – impossible perfection!
Chronology:
November 2nd – 23:00 – Cobra – interpretative, sudden and unpredictable music, the most challenging kind of all – for both the audience and the band. John Zorn in the self-proclaimed role of а prompter – a game, flying, common thought…
November 3rd – “a feast” is an understatement to describe what happened – a whole day with the music of the Masada books.
Part one – Book of Angels, much to our delight, is a small event, only with standing places, which instantly meant dancing space.
Very soon we find out why there were no sitting spots available. The Sarajevo SARTR military theatre hall with a capacity of no more than 250 people is literally bursting with energy and the power of the music.
The suspects:
Angels quartet – John Zorn, Julian Lage, Shanir Blumenkranz, Kenny Wollesen, Cyro Baptista and Banquet of the Spirits, Klezmerson, Secret Chiefs 3.
We start off with Zorn himself on the alto saxophone and we don’t know how we’re going to get off this ride that he has taken us on.
Zorn’s live gigs can’t be described in general, but the fact that the humble people that were having coffee on the table next to you five minutes ago are sending you off into space and changing your perception of music is unbelievable.
The two evening concerts include parts of the new book Book Beriah.
And we still haven’t had the chance to settle from the previous thing. So, Book Beriah – played by а Pleiades of musicians, amongst the ranks of which are longtime accomplices of Zorn Kenny Wollesen and Cyro Baptista, Sofia Rei, JC Maillard, Banquet of the Spirits and Brian Marsella’s incredible piano,
Gyan Riley and Julian Lage, Secret Chiefs 3 with Chess Smith on percussions and vibraphone and Kenny Grohowski on drums, Klezmerson, Gnostic Trio - Bill Frisell on guitar, Carol Emanuel on the harp and Kenny Wollesen on drums, Zion 80.
From here the comparison can only go one way – The Berlin Philharmonics with some of their genius conductors, nothing else.
The magic became a reality with the help of the amazing audience that has had the opportunity to listen to and participate in John Zorn’s projects for the third year in a row. We hope next year the magic continues. Impossible perfection exists and a truly wish that everyone dares to allow for it to happen to them.
November 5th 2018
Image © МА