Pynchon Music: John Zorn

In 2018, John Zorn composed, conducted, and produced Insurrection, a suite of ten instrumentals “inspired by some of the greatest experimental novels of the 20th century.” Written for a jazz-rock quartet composed of Matt Hollenberg and Julian Lage on guitar, Trevor Dunn on bass, and Kenny Grohowski on drums, Insurrection offers a crash course on Zorn’s musical eclecticism, ranging from the King-Crimson freakout of “The Recognitions” to the Grateful-Dead vibe of “Pulsations.” Indeed, fans of both of these two-guitar groups will find much to admire in Insurrections. A founding member of the progressive metal band Cleric, Matt Hollenberg attacks his guitar with a searing, Frippian crankiness, while jazz guitarist (and former child prodigy) Julian Lage has a Garcia-like finesse that blends European elegance with West Coast sunshine. 

It’s the latter vibe that’s felt most strongly on the album’s Pynchon-inspired track, “Mason and Dixon.” One of Insurrection’s more mellow pieces, “Mason and Dixon” opens brightly, its jazzy theme developing into a bantering dialogue between guitarists, both playing with tasteful restraint. It’s quite pleasant, and save for a few welcome shifts into a minor key, it can even be described as “bubbly.” Still, a Pynchon fan may be left wanting more. While Mason & Dixon contains much good-natured squabbling between its eponymous pair, the novel also contains brutal massacres, supernatural visitations, mechanical ducks, and the Black Hole of Calcutta. Given the proggy knots of “The Atrocity Exhibition” and the dark mystery of “The Unnamable,” it’s a little disappointing to hear Pynchon’s sprawling epic memorialized by a tune that would makes James Taylor smile and tap his feet. Nevertheless, this is a minor criticism of a fantastic album, and most listeners will consider “Mason and Dixon” a pleasant interlude between virtuoso fireworks. Also, any album that pays homage to Clarice Lispector is worth a spin!

Special Thanks To:
The Recognitions—William Gaddis
Pulsations—Clarice Lispector
A Void—Georges Perec
Mason and Dixon—Thomas Pynchon
Progeny—Pierre Guyotat
The Journal of Albion Moonlight—Kenneth Patchen
The Atrocity Exhibition—J.G. Ballard
The Unnameable—Samuel Beckett
Cat’s Cradle—Kurt Vonnegut
Nostromo—Joseph Conrad

Insurrection is an intense new instrumental project featuring guitar wizards Julian Lage and Matt Hollenberg with the incredible rhythm section of Trevor Dunn and Kenny Grohowski. Inspired by some of the greatest experimental novels of the 20th century the music is incredibly varied, combining rock, funk, blues, jazz, classical and more—often in the same song! Gnarly atonal melodies, bizarre harmonies, astonishing guitar fireworks and telepathic group interaction make this one of Zorn’s most scintillating and adventurous new projects. Everyone is playing at their best here, and you have never heard such sounds! As always Zorn pulls the very best out of the musicians and they play some of the most outrageous solos you have ever heard. Essential!

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