Product Description

Danny Zamir is an astounding young alto saxophonist/composer from Israel who plays with a passion, command and mastery unheard of in a musician of only nineteen. Moving to NYC in 1998, Danny hooked up with two kindred spirits to create their telepathic trio, SATLAH, which brings together elements of Masada, Steve Coleman, Ornette and David Sanborn into a music very much their own. Featuring John Zorn on three tracks, this is an incredible debut recording of new Jewish music by three musicians you will certainly be hearing a lot more from in the future.
These guys play with a love and passion that s exhilarating - this is the real thing. - John Zorn

Review

At nineteen, Danny Zamir's already a fine alto saxophonist. Here he plays with his trio Satlah, which includes bassist Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz and drummer Kevin Zubek. Executive producer John Zorn makes discreet guest appearances on alto.

Already Zamir has some things in place. He's got fine chops, executing everything so easily he gives the impression of technique-in-reserve. He swings solidly and buoyantly and possesses a fertile melodic imagination; his improvisation has a nice, relaxed flow and good continuity, and he resolves ideas well.

In the music of Satlah, Zamir seems to be synthesizing ideas from various sources: Zorn, Near Eastern and Balkan genres (including a traditional Yemenite melody), Ornette Coleman, and pop-funk. Zamir wrote the originals on this disc, and most of them feature him blowing over repeated rhythm vamps. Actually, there are too many of these tunes; Danny's an imaginative improviser, but including so many harmonically static selections tends to cause monotony. Welcome exceptions here include "Poem 12B," which samples liturgical music, and the pretty "Poem 1"- here Danny shows a lyrical gift. Blumenkranz and Zubek provide springy, strong accompaniment. Like Zamir, they can groove. But a more varied approach would help.

--- Harvey Pekar, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. --From Jazziz