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Masada: Alef, also known as Masada 1, is a 1994 album by American jazz composer and saxophonist John Zorn featuring the Masada Quartet performing compositions inspired by Zorn's examination of Jewish culture.[1] It was the first album in a project that has included ten studio albums, concerts, and live recordings.

Masada: Alef
Studio album by John Zorn
Released	1994
Recorded	February 20, 1994, RPM, NYC
Genre	Post-bop Klezmer
Length	60:55
Label	DIW DIW 888
Producer	John Zorn, Kazunori Sugiyama
Masada chronology
Masada: Alef (1994) Masada: Beit (1994)
John Zorn chronology
Execution Ground (1994) Masada: Alef (1994) Masada: Beit (1994)

The album takes its inspiration from the mass suicide of Zealots at Masada in 73 CE, and is dedicated to Asher Ginzberg (1856–1927), the founding father of Cultural Zionism.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]

The AllMusic review by Don Snowden awarded the album four stars stating "Alef is full of thrilling, varied music and just may remind some people who are put off by John Zorn's constant stream of conceptual projects how good a musician he is in a straight-ahead jazz context".[2]

Track listing

1. "Jair" – 4:53
2. "Bith Aneth" – 6:24
3. "Tzofeh" – 5:13
4. "Ashnah" – 6:20
5. "Tahah" – 5:40
6. "Kanah" – 7:26
7. "Delin" – 1:54
8. "Janohah" – 9:40
9. "Zebdi" – 2:45
10. "Idalah-Abal" – 6:15
11. "Zelah" – 3:48

All compositions by John Zorn

• Recorded at RPM in New York City on February 20, 1994

Personnel

Masada

• John Zorn — alto saxophone
• Dave Douglas — trumpet
• Greg Cohen — bass
• Joey Baron — drums

References

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