Banquet of the Spirits plays Zorn’s Masada

Working together since 1982, Cyro Baptista is one of John Zorn’s closest friends and collaborators; Banquet of the Spirits is his tight touring quartet of young lions and features Brian Marsella on keyboards. With this new program, Banquet of the Spirits includes music from their acclaimed CD Caym (from Zorn’s Book of Angels) as well as from Yesod, the Latin-Jazz-infused ninth chapter of The Book Beri’ah. Breathtakingly beautiful, this is one of the most seductive installments of The Book Beri’ah, recently released on Tzadik Records.

Twenty-five years in the making, The Book Beri’ah is the final installment of the monumental Masada project. Banquet of the Spirits have been mainstays of the project during this time, performing in many of its iterations, and this program will feature Baptista’s signature anthropophagic arrangements alongside original compositions drawn from the Banquet’s rich history.

“Anyone who has seen him live before, or had the chance to catch this band at Zorn's recent Masada Marathon at the New York City Opera, will recognize that the electricity humming off every track here has its roots in Cyro. The band that he has pulled together produces a diversity of sounds and colors that can't be found anywhere else.”

All About Jazz

Biographies:

• Cyro Baptista

Watch Banquet of the Spirits perform “Iggulim” from Yesod:

Listen to selections from John Zorn’s Book Beri’ah, performed by Banquet of the Spirits: