Spy vs. Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman

This 1989 release marked the first recorded documentation of John Zorn’s obsession with hardcore and extreme metal. Teaming up with fellow alto saxophonist Tim Berne (Berne is in the left channel, Zorn in the right), bassist Mark Dresser, and drummers Joey Baron and Michael Vatcher, they blast through 17 Ornette Coleman tunes in just over 40 minutes. And “blast” is the right word: not only do they play at extreme velocity, but the music is recorded with the rawness and intent to overpower of grindcore. The drums are a continuous avalanche, and both saxophonists are in full cry from beginning to end; there’s no deviation from the mission here.