Cobra (album)
Encyclopedia
Cobra is a double album featuring a live and studio performance of John Zorn
's improvisation
al game piece
, Cobra
recorded in 1985 and 1986 and released on the Hathut label in 1987. Subsequent recordings of the piece were released on Knitting Factory (John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory
(1992)), Avant (John Zorn's Cobra: Tokyo Operations '94
(1994)) and Zorn's own label Tzadik Records
, (Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2
)) in 2002.
The second review of the 2002 CD reissue by Steve Loewy rated the album 4½ stars calling it "A masterpiece of eclecticism... all presented in Zorn's wickedly demented style, which tends toward pastiche but fascinates with its energy and variety. For Zorn enthusiasts, this is a must-have release".
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
's improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
al game piece
Game piece
Game piece is a concept of experimental music having its roots with composers Christian Wolff and John Zorn. Game pieces may be considered controlled improvisation An essential characteristic is that there is no pre-arranged sequence of events. They unfold freely according to certain rules, like in...
, Cobra
Cobra (Zorn)
Cobra is an unpublished but recorded and frequently performed musical composition by John Zorn that was conceived as a system with very detailed rules but with no pre-conceived sequence of events, or game piece, for a group of musical improvisors and a prompter. Zorn completed Cobra on October 9,...
recorded in 1985 and 1986 and released on the Hathut label in 1987. Subsequent recordings of the piece were released on Knitting Factory (John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory
John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory
John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory is a performance of John Zorn's improvisational game piece, Cobra, performed at The Knitting Factory in 1992. The album resembles the missing link between John Zorn's work with Masada and Naked City...
(1992)), Avant (John Zorn's Cobra: Tokyo Operations '94
John Zorn's Cobra: Tokyo Operations '94
John Zorn's Cobra: Tokyo Operations '94 is a live performance of John Zorn's improvisational game piece, Cobra recorded in Tokyo in 1994 featuring Japanese musicians and instruments...
(1994)) and Zorn's own label Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records
Tzadik Records is a record label based in New York City specialising in avant-garde and experimental music. The label was established by the eclectic composer and saxophonist John Zorn in 1995; Zorn is the executive producer of all Tzadik releases...
, (Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2
Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2
- Track listing :# “Pendet” - 4:49# “Tabana” - 10:47# “Uluwati” - 7:27# “Tamangiri” - 7:50# “Paras” - 6:07# “Sangeh” - 11:26# “Penganggahan” - 10:44# “Raksasa” - 4:44# “Goa Gajah” - 6:50*Recorded at Avatar- Personnel :* Derek Bailey - guitar...
)) in 2002.
Reception
The Allmusic site contains two disparate reviews of the album, the first by Brian Olewnick awarded the album 3 stars stating "one is left with the nagging (and correct) sense of something crucial being missed. As a document in Zorn's career, Cobra is essential. As a purely musical experience, it is, quite unfortunately, less so".The second review of the 2002 CD reissue by Steve Loewy rated the album 4½ stars calling it "A masterpiece of eclecticism... all presented in Zorn's wickedly demented style, which tends toward pastiche but fascinates with its energy and variety. For Zorn enthusiasts, this is a must-have release".
Track listing
- Disc one (Studio Version)
- "Opening" - 0:59
- "Allegro" - 4:32
- "Largo" - 6:13
- "Moderato" - 7:41
- "Fantasia" - 3:44
- "Presto" - 1:39
- "Adagio Maestoso" - 2:39
- "Violento" - 4:16
- "Allegro Scorrevole" - 2:35
- "Capriccio Congusto" - 4:40
- "False Start/Giocoso" - 0:52
- "Scherzo" - 5:46
- "Maestoso Meccanico" - 1:21
- "Variations/Furioso" - 8:40
- "Epilogue" - 3:43
- Disc two (Live Version)
- "Prologue/Maestoso" - 6:05
- "Capriccio" - 13:23
- "Prestissimo" - 14:03
- "Lento/Mysterioso" - 9:29
- "Allegro" - 10:24
- All compositions by John Zorn
- Note: Disc one: 1, 9, 11, 13, 14 and Disc two: 3 are extra tracks not available on the original vinyl edition.
Personnel
- Disc one (Studio Version)
- Jim Staley – trombone
- Carol Emanuel – harp
- Zeena ParkinsZeena ParkinsZeena Parkins is a harpist active in rock music, free improvisation and jazz. Parkins plays standard harps, as well as several custom-made one-of-a kind electric harps; she also plays piano and accordion...
– harp - Bill FrisellBill FrisellWilliam Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
– guitar - Elliott SharpElliott SharpElliott Sharp is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer.A central figure in the avant-garde and experimental music scene in New York City since the late 1970s, Sharp has released over eighty-five recordings ranging from blues, jazz, and orchestral music to noise, no wave rock,...
– doubleneck guitar/bass, soprano, voice - Arto LindsayArto LindsayArthur Morgan Lindsay is an American guitarist, singer, record producer and experimental composer. He is a 1974 graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida....
– guitar, voice - Anthony ColemanAnthony ColemanAnthony Coleman is an American musician. Coleman is a piano and keys player, trombonist and vocalist mainly working within the free improvised and avant-garde jazz scenes in downtown New York during the late 1970s through to the present day.His greatest impact was during the 80s and 90s when he...
– piano, harpsichord, celeste, Yamaha organ - Wayne HorvitzWayne HorvitzWayne Horvitz is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer.-Biography:Horvitz, a "defiant cross-breeder of genres", has led the groups The President, Pigpen, Zony Mash, and the Four Plus One Ensemble...
– piano, Hammond organ, celeste, DX7 - David WeinsteinDavid WeinsteinDavid Weinstein may refer to:*David E. Weinstein, Carl S. Shoup Professor of Japanese Economy at Columbia University*David F. Weinstein, United States politician*David Weinstein , American musician and composer...
– Mirage sampling keyboards, celeste - Guy KlucevsekGuy KlucevsekGuy Klucevsek is an American-born accordionist and composer.Klucevsek is one of relatively few accordion players active in jazz and free improvisation....
– accordion - Bob JamesBob James (musician)Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
– tapes - Christian MarclayChristian MarclayChristian Marclay is a Swiss-American visual artist and composer.Marclay's work explores connections between sound, noise, photography, video, and film...
– turntables - Bobby PreviteBobby PreviteRobert "Bobby" Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader. Previte earned a B.A. in Economics at the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979, and became active in the city's thriving jazz and experimental music scenes...
– percussion - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
– prompter - Recorded at Radio City Studios, New York City on May 9, 1986
- Disc two (Live Version)
- J.A. Deane – trombone synthesizer, electronics
- Bill FrisellBill FrisellWilliam Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
– guitar - Elliott SharpElliott SharpElliott Sharp is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, and performer.A central figure in the avant-garde and experimental music scene in New York City since the late 1970s, Sharp has released over eighty-five recordings ranging from blues, jazz, and orchestral music to noise, no wave rock,...
– doubleneck guitar/bass, voice - Anthony ColemanAnthony ColemanAnthony Coleman is an American musician. Coleman is a piano and keys player, trombonist and vocalist mainly working within the free improvised and avant-garde jazz scenes in downtown New York during the late 1970s through to the present day.His greatest impact was during the 80s and 90s when he...
– piano, pipe organ, Yamaha organ - Wayne HorvitzWayne HorvitzWayne Horvitz is an American composer, keyboardist and record producer.-Biography:Horvitz, a "defiant cross-breeder of genres", has led the groups The President, Pigpen, Zony Mash, and the Four Plus One Ensemble...
– piano, DX7 - David WeinsteinDavid WeinsteinDavid Weinstein may refer to:*David E. Weinstein, Carl S. Shoup Professor of Japanese Economy at Columbia University*David F. Weinstein, United States politician*David Weinstein , American musician and composer...
– Mirage sampling keyboards - Guy KlucevsekGuy KlucevsekGuy Klucevsek is an American-born accordionist and composer.Klucevsek is one of relatively few accordion players active in jazz and free improvisation....
– accordion - Bob JamesBob James (musician)Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
– tapes - Christian MarclayChristian MarclayChristian Marclay is a Swiss-American visual artist and composer.Marclay's work explores connections between sound, noise, photography, video, and film...
– turntables - Bobby PreviteBobby PreviteRobert "Bobby" Previte is a drummer, composer and bandleader. Previte earned a B.A. in Economics at the University at Buffalo, where he also studied percussion. He moved to New York City in 1979, and became active in the city's thriving jazz and experimental music scenes...
– drum machine - John ZornJohn ZornJohn Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
– prompter - Recorded live at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on October 21, 1985