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Inspired by the Harper Lee novel, "Mockingbird" is the fifth album by John Zorn's Gnostic Trio. The Frisell-Wollesen-Emanuel group plays enchanted music that is always meditational and peaceful. As with the last few releases, Bill Frisell is the standout. Indeed, on "Mockingbird," Frisell's notes gracefully dance about the ether. Carol Emanuel plays a supportive role on the harp and Kenny Wollesen creates a mystical ambiance with the vibes and bells. Given the meditative quality, this is wonderful music to play first thing in the morning. Mockingbirds were named on account of their ability and interest in reproducing the sounds of other birds. In an odd parallel, the only drawback to "Mockingbird" is that it's a rehash of the group's previous work. It's stronger than the first album, "Gnostic Preludes," but there's little differentiation between this effort and the previous three albums, "In Lambeth," "the Mysteries," and "the Testament of Solomon." Given a blindfolded test, most listeners would be unable to tell the difference between "Mockingbird" and the last few albums. So it's a beautiful recording, but only completists will need the entire quintet. If Zorn is going to continue this fantastic group, let’s hope that the next album moves in a fresh direction. In the end, "Mockingbird" may be redundant, but the music still takes flight.
Condition: NEW
TRACK LISTING
1 Scout
2 Riverrun
3 Child's Play
4 Porch Swing
5 Innocence
6 Pegasus
7 A Mystery
8 The Mockingbird
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