Kerosene Ensemble Plays the Music of John Zorn's Masada

About this event

Join Kerosene Ensemble for a one-night performance dedicated to the music of Zorn’s acclaimed Masada project—an evening that promises both reverence and reinvention.

For this concert, the ensemble turns its focus to Masada, a body of work that has become one of Zorn’s most influential contributions to modern jazz since the quartet’s first album in 1994. Drawing from Jewish folk traditions and the rich history of Klezmer music while embracing avant-garde improvisation, Masada compositions are known for their emotional directness, angular melodies, and rhythmic urgency. The music resists easy resolution, favoring tension, release, and spontaneity—qualities that align closely with Kerosene Ensemble’s ethos.

While Masada has long been a source of inspiration for the ensemble, this performance marks a rare occasion. Kerosene Ensemble does not typically dedicate an entire evening to a single composer or project, making this a unique opportunity for audiences to experience a focused exploration of this material.

Audiences can expect not a reproduction, but a reinterpretation—the Ensemble’s distinct voice shaping the material while honoring its spirit of freedom and unpredictability.

David Thomas Bailey — Guitar

Mike Brown — Bass

Dean Hirschfield — Drums

Troy Thill — Saxophone