New Masada Quartet
Biography
Founded in 2019 by John Zorn, the New Masada Quartet is a cohesive unit of like-minded virtuosos. Guitar master Julian Lage, bass wizard Jorge Roeder and Zorn veteran Kenny Wollesen perform with a crackling live energy that brings the Masada music to life like never before. Led by Zorn's versatile sax and stop- and- start conducting, the music is filled with burning solos, telepathic group interaction, heartfelt lyricism and hypnotic grooves. Conducted freely, improvised freely, rudimentarily fixed in terms of composition.
Bassist Jorge Roeder has become renowned as one of the most versatile and expressive bass players in jazz today. Combining a symphonic imagination with the intimate lyricism of a folk musician, the aggressive energy of a raw rocker with the buoyant rhythmic sensibilities of his Afro-Peruvian roots, Roeder conveys a wide spectrum of influences within a resolute foundation. Roeder has enjoyed long-standing partnerships with Julian Lage, Sofia Rei, Shai Maestro and Ryan Keberle, and shared stages with such innovators as Gary Burton, Nels Cline, Kenny Werner and John Zorn. He’s been recognized with a number of awards, including a Grammy nomination for the Julian Lage Group’s debut album.
Kenny Wollesen (1966) is an American drummer and percussionist. Wollesen performed on over 30 recordings during the 1990s and, as the decade progressed, gained increasing renown as a musician of astonishing versatility, skill, and ingenuity. He has recorded and toured with many musicians including Tom Waits, Sean Lennon, Ron Sexsmith, Norah Jones, John Lurie, Steven Bernstein and John Zorn. A founding member of the New Klezmer Trio, he has recorded with many of New York City’s downtown jazz and avant-garde musicians and has toured with Bill Frisell and Myra Melford.