Cobra (album)

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Cobra
Cobra (album).jpg
Studio album by
John Zorn
Released1987
RecordedOctober 21, 1985 & May 9, 1986
GenreAvant-garde
Length112:44
LabelHathut
ProducerJohn Zorn
John Zorn chronology
The Big Gundown
(1986) 		Cobra
(1987) 		Spillane
(1987)
2002 Reissue Cover
Cobra 2002.jpg

Cobra is a double album featuring a live and studio performance of John Zorn's improvisational game piece, Cobra recorded in 1985 and 1986 and released on the Hathut label in 1987. Subsequent recordings of the piece were released on Knitting Factory (John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory (1992)), Avant (John Zorn's Cobra: Tokyo Operations '94 (1994)) and Zorn's own label Tzadik Records, (Cobra: John Zorn's Game Pieces Volume 2)) in 2002.

Reception[]

AllMusic contains two disparate reviews of the album, the first by Brian Olewnick awarded the album 3 stars stating "one is left with the nagging (and correct) sense of something crucial being missed. As a document in Zorn's career, Cobra is essential. As a purely musical experience, it is, quite unfortunately, less so".[1]

The second review of the 2002 CD reissue by Steve Loewy rated the album 4½ stars calling it "A masterpiece of eclecticism... all presented in Zorn's wickedly demented style, which tends toward pastiche but fascinates with its energy and variety. For Zorn enthusiasts, this is a must-have release."[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic3/5 stars[1]
AllMusic4.5/5 stars[2]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[3]

Track listing[]

  • Disc one (Studio Version)
No.TitleLength
1."Opening"0:59
2."Allegro"4:32
3."Largo"6:13
4."Moderato"7:41
5."Fantasia"3:44
6."Presto"1:39
7."Adagio Maestoso"2:39
8."Violento"4:16
9."Allegro Scorrevole"2:35
10."Capriccio Congusto"4:40
11."False Start/Giocoso"0:52
12."Scherzo"5:46
13."Maestoso Meccanico"1:21
14."Variations/Furioso"8:40
15."Epilogue"3:43
  • Disc two (Live Version)
No.TitleLength
1."Prologue/Maestoso"6:05
2."Capriccio"13:23
3."Prestissimo"14:03
4."Lento/Mysterioso"9:29
5."Allegro"10:24
All compositions by John Zorn
  • Note: Disc one: 1, 9, 11, 13, 14 and Disc two: 3 are extra tracks not available on the original vinyl edition.

Personnel[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Olewnick, B. AllMusic Review accessed July 22, 2011
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Loewy, S. AllMusic Review accessed July 22, 2011
  3. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 450.
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