The Gift in Bloomington, MN

Shattering expectations has been a hallmark of
John Zorn
's career, but
The Gift
might surprise even longtime fans. It's basically
Zorn
's
exotica
record; a tribute to the sound made popular by the likes of
Martin Denny
and
Les Baxter
. A core band of Downtown heavyweights provide you with an easy-listening sound that conjures images of sand and surf, and warm summer nights. Of course, as conductor and arranger,
is ultimately responsible for the sound, but what you hear is primarily the guitar of
Marc Ribot
, and the keyboards (mostly Wurlitzer and Farfisa) of
Jamie Saft
.
Trevor Dunn
,
Joey Baron
, and
Cyro Baptista
are the rhythm section, with
Ned Rothenberg
joining in on shakuhachi on one track, and another augmented by a string section and the trumpet of
Dave Douglas
has been able to draw from an incredible talent pool for many years now, and always knows how to get fabulous performances out of them, no matter what the context. Although the New York scene is notorious for its noisemaking ability, people should stop being surprised at their ability to turn in beautiful, understated performances; and this recording is a prime example. The tunes have a laid-back beach vibe that cries out for cold beverages in the twilight. They succeed perfectly in creating the feel of classic
(a la
Denny
or
Baxter
), but still maintain their individual identities as players. Towards the end of the recording, the music takes a slightly spooky
Morricone-esque
turn (on
"Bridge to the Beyond,"
the only track on which
performs, on theremin and piano), but the reprise of
"Makahaa"
brings you right back to the islands.
shows another more accessible side to
(see also
Bar Kokhba
The Circle Maker
). It might be said that he's mellowing with age, but expect the unexpected from Mr.
. Despite the undeniable beauty of the music, underneath the pretty pink wrapping and bows of the outer slipcase,
has included several paintings of young girls in the cover art that some people might find slightly disturbing, as if to underscore the idea that beauty itself is highly subjective. ~ Sean Westergaard