by Joslyn Layne
Masada Live in Taipei quickly got flak amongst Zorn fans for its sound quality, suffering in comparison to the simultaneously released Masada Live in Jerusalem. And granted, it doesn't have the best sound -- the bass is muddy, and the venue's ringing acoustics nearly swallow the trumpet and bass at points -- but it's no field recording either! More importantly, the quartet is on fire during these shows, delivering inspired versions from the Masada songbook. On the set list are compositions originally heard on Masada volumes 5-7, and a few tunes -- such as &Lachish,& &Hadasha,& and &Ziphim& -- that are also heard on the Jerusalem performance. Some of the highlights include the explosive, powerhouse version of &Shilhim,& the seductive take on &Idalah-Abal,& and the stunning, breakneck soloing heard during &Debir& and &Ziphim.& With so many exceptional recordings available of the Masada quartet, this one may be considered less necessary, but it's still necessary for most fans because of the exceptional interplay between Zorn, Dave Douglas, Greg Cohen, and Joey Baron.