Kristallnacht (album)

Kristallnacht is an album by John Zorn that is based on the events before, during, and following the infamous Night of Broken Glass.^[1] Zorn first released the album in 1993 on the Japanese Eva label and subsequently in 1995 on his own Tzadik Records label.

It’s tied together with passion and research. Every Jew has to come to grips with the holocaust in some kind of way and that was my statement, that’s how I did it. I do not need to do it again (…) it meant a lot to me. It was like a whole lifetime of denying my Jewish heritage coming out in one piece -- John Zorn on BBC Jazz File (July 2000)

Reception

The Allmusic review by Joslyn Layne awareded the album 4½ stars stating "John Zorn has created a musical work that powerfully represents the different stages of this historical event... Zorn's forceful undertaking is realized through the expert and passionate musicianship".^[2]

Track listing

1. "Shtetl (Ghetto Life)" - 5:55
2. "Never Again" - 11:46
3. "Gahelet (Embers)" - 3:27
4. "Tikkun (Rectification)" - 3:02
5. "Tzfia (Looking Ahead)" - 8:49
6. "Barzel (Iron Fist)" - 2:02
7. "Garin (Nucleus -The New Settlement)" - 7:59

All compositions by John Zorn

• Recorded and mixed on November 9 & 10 1992 at RPM Studio, New York City

Personnel

• Anthony Coleman: Keyboards
• Mark Dresser: Bass
• Mark Feldman: Violin
• David Krakauer: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
• Frank London: Trumpet
• Marc Ribot: Guitar
• William Winant: Percussion

References