John Zorn
London Camden Centre
12th June, 2009

View: standing, stage-right

Headlining the opening night of the inaugural Equinox Festival, Zorn kicked things off solo, summoning a series of tic-tac parps, flittering blue-bottle buzzes and burbling-brook drones, as he threaded ghosts of Middle-Eastern melody through the tumult. Leaping off stage, Zorn then joined percussionists Z’ev and Polish duo HATI on the floor of the Camden Centre. Combining to conjure ritualistic rolls of shimmering thunder, this was a transcendent display more overt in its occult referencing. Encircled by entranced onlookers, the feel was one of a sonic black mass as Zorn’s instrument sent out spitting licks of flame from the growing metallic tides offered by the other musicians. It all ended with the sax submerged beneath iridescent metallic liquids, a provoked spirit finally laid to rest, just an aura’s echo remaining.

Reviewed by Spencer Grady
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