The Cleansing (John Zorn and Bill Laswell album)

The Cleansing is a studio album by John Zorn and Bill Laswell. It is the first collaborative album by the duo and was recorded in shortly after the COVID-19 lockdowns ended in 2021 and released by Tzadik Records in January 2022.[1] The album consists of improvised music by Zorn and Laswell that was recorded in the studio in real time with no edits or overdubs.[2]

The Cleansing
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 21, 2022 (2022-01-21)
RecordedApril 9, 2021
GenreAvant-garde, free improvisation
Length46:39
LabelTzadik
ProducerJohn Zorn
John Zorn chronology
John Zorn's Bagatelles (Vol. 5-8)
(2021)
The Cleansing
(2022)
Perchance to Dream
(2022)
Bill Laswell chronology
Sacred Ceremonies
(2021)
The Cleansing
(2022)
Nammu
(2022)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About Jazz     [3]

All About Jazz said:

The resulting music is raw, gestural. Despite the all improv setting, there is a sense of narrative and of forward motion. From the very start, it is evident that the duo has developed a deep musical understanding of each other. The way they interact indicates that they are listening to one another and responding.

— Georgievski, N.[3]

Track listing

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All pieces are real time improvisations

  1. "Brion Gysin" – 10:04
  2. "Aleister Crowley" – 6:52
  3. "Austin Osman Spare" – 6:47
  4. "William Burroughs" – 10:19
  5. "Alejandro Jodorowsky" — 8:56
  6. "The Cleansing" — 3:41

Personnel

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Sound

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  • Scott Hull – mastering
  • James Dellatacoma – recording and mix
  • John Zorn and Kazunori Sugiyama – producers

References

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  1. ^ Tzadik Catalog, accessed January 10, 2022
  2. ^ Liner notes
  3. ^ a b Georgievski, N. All About Jazz review, accessed January 10, 2022